Thursday, November 8, 2012

Sephora's V.I.B. Sale is On!

Sephora's V.I.B. sale has started. I was taken hostage and forced to shop. Twenty percent is 20%. Sephora stole all my blogging time, which was already compressed by fatigue and a busy work project.

I was sleep-deprived after election night. I couldn't stay up while "inconsequential" state after state came in, and I knew states like mine, where people waited in line to vote until 11:00 pm, would be delayed in reporting. I wanted to see the Ohio results, though, so I asked a night owl friend to call and awaken me the moment Ohio was called. He did, and I had to turn the TV back on at about 11:15. I watched for an hour, waiting for more news - or perhaps a glimpse of the candidates. Nothing much happened - except wild celebrations (they were waving flags from trees in front of the White House) - so I went back to sleep around 12:30 and got up at 4:00 to watch again. That was enough to leave me struggling to stay awake yesterday. I drank a lot of Diet Coke. On top of that, my right knee swelled - from waiting in line to vote, I assume - so I had to sit around with ice on it most of the day.

Add my shopping time to the dense clouds we had yesterday, and I have no photos for you today - despite the fact that I have a lot of nice new makeup to feature. I do expect to take my camera and a few new goodies to work with me today so that I can covertly snap a few photos outside in the cold at lunchtime. If the sun reappears.

If you are a V.I.B. at Sephora, make sure to use the code CELEBRATE with your order. I filled my basket last night. One of the items I wanted was sold out when I went back in to order it at 5:00 am. Wow! Don't delay if there is something you want. Order it! If you change your mind later, you can always return it. 

Have you ever noticed that Sephora withholds from posting certain new items until the sale ends? I am dead sure, after years of observation, that the new eye shadow quads from Edward Bess will go up online the moment the sale ends. I could have ordered them from New York, but I didn't want to pay the $12+ postage.

Happy shopping! Come on back and let us know what you ordered. Vicarious shopping is fun.

Photo courtesy of Sephora

26 comments:

Eileen said...

In addition to being able to invite a friend to the opening event, VIB's can share their code with one friend via e-mail--one shared code per VIB. So, ladies, if you aren't a VIB, but you know someone who is, perhaps that person can have the code sent to you. The request has to go through Sephora. I don't know whether it will generate a different code or not. I sent mine to a friend this morning, but she hasn't gotten back to me yet to let me know what form it arrived in.

Jack Black: I stocked up on Jack Black for me and my sons. We all use the lip balm and the Protein Booster Skin Serum. It's great stuff! For you ladies who bemoan the cost of most serums, check out the ingredient list for this one. It's fully loaded and at $48 (discounted price) for 2 ounces, it is hard to beat. It's a wonderful cocktail of humectants, peptides, anti-oxidants, and collagen boosters. It's also vegan, cruelty free, certified organic, and devoid of the usual nasties. Do I sound like a fan? I am! I've been using it for three years. It's one of my staples.

Guerlain Abeille Royal Intensive: I purchased both the day and night versions of this new cream. I was surprised to see that Sephora is carrying it because it hasn't been out that long. It's a fusion of the soothing Abeille Royal and the anti-aging and lifting Success Age Splendid line which is being phased out. I was given some very generous samples of the day and night cream by my favorite Guerlain SA at Nordstrom's and really like it. I felt guilty ordering from Sephora, but 20% is 20%. Forgive me Gizu!

Shiseido: I also stocked up on Shiseido cotton squares. They're really the best. They might seem pricey but they are actually quite cost effective. I can remove all my nail polish with one pad. Any kind of toner, one pad will do the entire face and neck. One pad cut in half will remove all my eye makeup (one half for each eye). Once you use them, you'll never want to go back to drugstore cotton pads again.

That was it for my order. Pretty basic. Perhaps I'll be tempted by some other items over the next few days :-)

Hi Charlestongirl,

That was an interesting comment you made about new items being released after the sale. I've noticed that, too. When I checked to see if the new EB quads were available yet, I wasn't surprised to see that they were not otherwise I'd definitely have picked up a couple.

Happy shopping everyone! And let's hear what you all bought :-)

CGirl said...

Just placed my order! I stocked up on moisturizer, my mom's foundation and powder, and we decided to try Tarte's Maracuja oil. I also threw in a Bobbi Brown high shimmer lip gloss for fun, and was excited to get the NARS 500-point gift. They were already sold out of the Jack Black hand salve and the lip blam I like, but Beauty.com still has them in stock. I'm heading over there now to order more moisturizer (they carry the NARS line where Sephora does not) and the JB stuff. I love sales!

Clarisse said...

Hi Charlestongirl and everyone!
Your Sephora's VIB Sale seems to be quite a big deal...We don't seem to get that here though we do have -20% sales too fairly often (by the way what does VIB mean?!?)
Eileen, what you write about Abeille Royale made me smile: here too I got loads of samples of this line (serums, creams..)Sephora belongs to Guerlain and Dior (actually Bernard Arnaud's group), that may be the reason why we easily find all the new and older products of the brands belonging to B.Arnaud.
I recently purchased Shiseido lipsticks and face/eye creams and Clinique mascara for bottom lashes...and I might fall for Santal Majuscule by Serge Lutens (no Holiday Armani make up at Sephora's, neither in my town nor on line...I will have to wait until I go to Paris...! sigh...)

Unknown said...

I just got back from shopping in store. I picked up my Dior foundation and mascara as well as one of the new sephora/pantone nail trios, a new YSL polish and a few holiday gifts!

Eileen said...

Hi Clarisse,

Interesting. I didn't realize that Sephora and Guerlain have the same parent company. I knew about Dior, though. Learn something new every day :-)

VIB stands for Very Important Beauty. We're the frequent fliers at Sephora so we get some extra perks.

I smiled at the thought of you bound for Paris with a shopping list a mile long. LOL The same thing happens when my sister-in-law visits from Australia. She always has a list of the things that are difficult or impossible to get Down Under so we do some major shopping when she comes :-)

Charlestongirl said...

Hi Eileen,

I wish I had been as restrained. :)

I would love to have ordered the EB quads. I'd bet a dollar they will appear as soon as the sale ends.

Charlestongirl said...

Hi CGirl,

I should review that Tarte oil I have it. I got the NARS 500-point reward too. Why not? Usually the rewards don't move me. :)

Charlestongirl said...

Hi Clarisse,

Very Important Beauty, like a frequent flier.

LVMH owns Sephora. The conglomerate owns a lot. Just like L'Oreal owns many beauty brands, like Armani.

Can you get free shipping from Paris so that you don't have to go there?

Charlestongirl said...

Hi Polish Jinx!

You were much better than I was. I will need to guard my wallet for the rest of the month. Who am I kidding? Year!

Charlestongirl said...

Eileen, not only those! Add Fresh, Benefit, MAKE UP FOR EVER, Aqua di Parma, Nude, and others.

Clarisse said...

Thank you Eileen and Charlestongirl!
I'm a VIB too then, like you (here it's called Carte Gold owner opposed to Carte Noire for average buyers!)
And yes I can order anything online (even one item) and get free shipping any time: Sephora is rather good quality here (I know it's not always the case in the USA)
And everytime I go to Paris I plan a visit to niche brand shops (Patricia de Nicolaÿ, By Terry, etc...)since their shops are only to be found there and it's so nice to visit and get advice from the people there, a real treat:-)

Jo said...

Ladies - I just checked and the EB eyeshadow quads are up on Sephora - hurry before they're sold out! They must read your blog CG! LOL!

Jo said...

Oh. I take that back, they're not in stock. I saw the picture and got all excited but when I went back to order I noticed it says not in stock. Oh well my bad. Hope I didn't get anyone's hopes up! LOL!

Charlestongirl said...

Jo, quick look. My screen says they are out of stock. Did you see them or order them. Help!

Charlestongirl said...

OK, now I see your next comment. Darlin', you almost gave me palpitations.

Jo said...

LOL! Sorry. I looked too quickly!

Becca @ The Beauty Sample said...

Haha I know--I was very curious about the Edward Bess quads but unfortunately, they didn't make it on the site in time (of course). I was also surprised at how quickly things sold out too! I was all ready to order at midnight but then had a problem with my credit card. After I resolved the issue this morning, I went to place my order and 2 of my items were already sold out. One of them was the Caudalie Sorbet Creme that I was buying since they have been sold out of my S.O.S serum for about a week. I REALLY need a moisturizer and LOVE Caudalie, so I looked to other Caudalie items and they were ALL sold out (well, anything under $70, at least). I tried 4 different products and finally gave up and got an eyeshadow palette instead :P

Charlestongirl said...

Isn't it amazing, Becca? Here today, gone hours later.

Becca @ The Beauty Sample said...

Ok darn--I really wish I had read your comment before I placed my Sephora order, Eileen! That Jack Black serum sounds great! I hope they carry it in-stores so I can purchase it when I get my Caudalie S.O.S serum too

Lena said...

Ladies, does anyone have a code for vib friend? I am missing $35 for vib status. If i were to purchace now, my status will update in two weeks! Lol! Should i get mad?

Crista said...

I stocked up on a few staples: Kate Sommerville Quench oil-free, BB corrector, and Lancôme Cils Booster XL. I ordered the famous Illamasqua Naked Rose blush, Hourglass concealer, Givenchy Mr Light, and Dior Addict Eau Fraiche. I also did a purchase for an Aussie friend as high end skincare and makeup are outrageously priced Down Under.
Eileen- thanks for the info on the Jack Black serum, I'll check that out next time I need serum.

CGirl said...

Becca, Beauty.com carries Caudalie and they have 20% through tomorrow (Friday). You have to click through a link, which you can find through the Ebates sites or probably blogs (I believe Temptalia has one under her deals section). I hope this helps!

Eileen said...

Hi Becca,

Beauty.com also has the Jack Black Protein Booster Serum at 20% off. If you act fast, you can get your Caudalie and JB on sale. If you don't already use Ebates, definitely check it out. It's always nice to get extra cash back :-)

grlnxdor said...

My daughter is a VIB so she sent me the friend code. I picked up the following: Spa Ritual Nail Lacquer in Lithophonic, Nars Larger than Life Lipgloss in Como, Smashbox Limitless eyeliner in Golden Ivy and Bobby Brown's new lipcolor in Uber Nude. Hope I made some good choices.

AZ said...

I took a trip to the store today and pretty much most things I wanted were somehow out of stock.. Wanted to get the SK II toner and of course, after I got home today from work its out of stock online... Like you mentioned about new items bring brought in after the sale.. I totally agree! I was hoping Sephora would have the Guerlain Liu collection. Nop.. I bet you it's going to be up after the sale ends as well. I just hope they restock as often as they can...

Shiseido cotton squares are definitely my favorite too. However, if any of you get a chance I highly recommend the ones from Muji. If anyone ever stops by new york definitely check out the store. They not only have great storage units, but their cotton squares are wonderful as well and priced similar to drugstore ones.

Becca @ The Beauty Sample said...

Ooooh thank you for the heads-up on the Beauty.com sale, CG and Eileen!! Definitely going to check that out now! :D