The Best Beauty and Skincare Products to Buy With a $50 Sephora Gift Card
All beauty lovers can agree there isn’t a holiday present more coveted than the tiny striped plastic rectangle that is a Sephora gift card. Not only is it the perfect way to save on wishlist items you’ve been eyeing all year (the holy grail of hair dryers, perhaps?), but it also comes in handy for an end-of-year restock on all your faves. There’s no shortage of ways to spend this gift that’s probably burning a hole in your pocket — the struggle lies in deciding exactly what you should use it on.
Our recommendation? Use a gift card to shop exclusive limited-edition sets and kits. It’s the best way to test out new products without the commitment and discover what all the hype is about. In other words, minis and travel-sized products are your friends. And with so many options under $50 on Sephora right now, you’ll be surprised at just how far your money can go.
Plus, all Sephora Beauty Insiders can save 20 percent on sale items through January 1 with the code SAVEBIG at checkout, so there are savings on savings on beauty, skincare, and hair essentials to kick 2020 off right. Keep scrolling to shop the Sephora must-haves you can add to your cart, all within your $50 gift card limit, to make sure your money is well spent.
First Aid Beauty Fablantis Set
Shop now: First Aid Beauty Fablantis Set, $49; sephora.com
This limited-edition set features five of First Aid Beauty’s best-sellers: Facial Radiance Pads, Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration, Ultra Repair Hydrating Serum, Pure Skin Face Cleanser, and Ultra Repair Lip Therapy. The products will completely revamp your routine and leave you with dewy, hydrated skin.
Glamglow SuperMud Super Clear Pore Clarifying Skin Set
Shop now: Glamglow SuperMud Super Clear Pore Clarifying Skin Set, $45 (Originally $65); sephora.com
Not only does this cult-fave mask deep-clean pores for a visibly improved complexion, it’s formulated with a “Super Six Acid Blend” to boost your skin’s natural cell turnover for a healthy glow.
Saturday Skin Everyday Glow Set
Shop now: Saturday Skin Everyday Glow Set, $30; sephora.com
If you’ve been curious about this millennial pink packaging you spotted in Instagram #shelfies, this five-piece set is the perfect chance to give the products a go. You can get Saturday Skin’s Waterfall Glacier Water Cream, Rub-A-Dub Refining Peel Gel, Wide Awake Brightening Eye Cream, Rise + Shine Gentle Cleanser, and Cotton Cloud Probiotic Power Mask — and still have money left to spend.
Dr. Jart Cica-Care Experiment Kit
Shop now: Dr. Jart Cica-Care Experiment Kit, $43.50 (Originally $54); sephora.com
Brought to you by the same K-beauty brand behind those rubber face masks, this kit is formulated with the soothing power of tiger grass, making it ideal TLC for sensitive and irritated winter skin.
Benefit Cosmetics Precisely Plus One Brow Pencil Duo
Shop now: Benefit Cosmetics Precisely Plus One Brow Pencil Duo, $24; sephora.com
The good news for all of us still emotionally recovering from the early 2000s trend of tiny brows is that bold and big brows won’t be going anywhere next year. You can nail the natural look that’s on our editors’ radar with a few slicks of this ultra-fine brow pencil.
Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Glossy Posse Mini Gloss Bomb Set
Shop now: Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Glossy Posse Mini Gloss Bomb Set, $42; sephora.com
Rihanna blessed us with this limited-edition set of five mini Gloss Bomb shades, all formulated with hydrating shea butter to stand up to winter dryness, so gifting it to yourself should be a no-brainer. Oh, and the best-selling shimmering pink shade, FU$$Y, is included.
NARS Velvet Matte Lipstick Pencil Duo
Shop now: NARS Velvet Matte Lipstick Pencil Duo, $20; sephora.com
At just $20, you can get your hands on two of NARS’ cult-favorite velvety matte lip duos and still have money left to spend. And if you hurry, you can snag it in time for that NYE makeup look.
Huda Beauty Nude Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette
Shop now: Huda Beauty Nude Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette, $29; sephora.com
For $29, you can add one of Sephora’s best-selling eyeshadow palettes to your cart. The mini version of Huda Beauty’s Nude Obsessions features a wide shade range of buttery mattes hues and shimmering shadows, formulated for an easily blended and smooth application.
Pat McGrath Labs LUST Mini MatteTrance Lipstick Trio
Shop now: Pat McGrath Labs LUST Mini MatteTrance Lipstick Trio, $25; sephora.com
Aside from releasing her highly anticipated foundation earlier this year, Pat McGrath also brought her legendary touch to a new collection of lipsticks. You can get this mini lipstick trio full of her iconic highly pigmented shades for just half of your gift card spend; they’re perfect for on-the-go touch-ups.
