Sephoria 2024 Atlanta, Georgia

[SportyGirly125]

Sephoria 2024…..will be in Atlanta, Georgia. Who will be attending this year?  I won’t be able to make it again this year 😔

Rouge presale as announced on IG will be 7/16/2024. 

https://www.sephoria.com

SEPHORiA is a global annual rendezvous specially created to celebrate the world of beauty. Starting in Atlanta (Sept 27-28th), in person events will also take place in Paris (Oct 4-5th), Shanghai (Oct 24-27th), and new locations Rio de Janeiro (Nov 1-3rd) and Dubai (Nov 6-8th).

[danielledanielle]

Ooh, was it Farmacy Lip Smoothie Vitamin C + Peptide Lip Balm @faeriegirl

[faeriegirl]

@danielledanielle  It was the lip smoothie balm but I can’t remember which flavor they used.

[danielledanielle]

Ooh, ok.  I've really liked the one that came in the swag bag, so this just solidifies its goodness @faeriegirl , I think it's Farmacy Lip Smoothie Vitamin C + Peptide Lip Balm Honey Vanilla 

[faeriegirl]

I am loving the one in the swag bag @danielledanielle !

[heartsmyface]

@faeriegirl @danielledanielle i haven’t even opened mine yet.  Here I was feeling so satisfied I got it all picked up off the floor!  

[faeriegirl]

@heartsmyface  I’m finally making some progress on sorting mine! Hopefully I can get mini bags made for my family and coworkers this weekend🤞🏻

[heartsmyface]

@faeriegirl  That was my plan for today but so far I don’t feel like doing anything.  I’m not sick or anything.  Just taking a day of complete zen.  

[faeriegirl]

Zen days are definitely a must @heartsmyface! I finally got mine done this weekend!

[heartsmyface]

@faeriegirl @Ha, how things changed quickly!   That same night I suddenly felt off and tested positive for Covid. 😏

[itsfi]

Hey there, BIC! I got back from Atlanta after midnight the other day. While I'm happy to be home, I miss the time spent with the ambassadors and at SEPHORiA. They are, simply, the best. Truly. 

Pre-Sephoria Shopping

Spoiler

This year's Canadian BIC ambassadors touched down in The ATL on Thursday, and after the lovely @heartsmyface, @missjeanie & @Mellmars1185 checked into their rooms, we were off ... to grab a bite to eat and do some shopping - but not necessarily in that order. After some shopping, we met up with @sister13 and @faeriegirl for dinner and drinks - so good to see everyone, old friends and new ones alike. 

SEPHORiA Day 1 

Spoiler

Well, good morning Atlanta. 

The weather forecast said we would see rain. And that we did. ⛈ Coupled with the rainfall from earlier in the week from Hurricane Helene, the decision to cancel the morning session, while not ideal, made sense. The ambassadors in Atlanta spent our free time chatting, catching up with one another before grabbing a late (but scrumptious) lunch.

And then it was time ...
SEPHORiA 2024: Atlanta, here we come!!!

I spent Session 2 running around from booth to booth, chatting with brand reps about their products and catching up with various BIC beauties. So much fun! Many of the booths had games to be played, such as Plinko, claw game, scratch offs, and this spin the wheel at Natasha Denona. 

I was also able to get a Perk Lip Treatment by Hydrafacial, in the VIP Lounge. I've gotten these lip treatments done in stores back home a half-a-dozen times, usually along with a perkfacial - highly recommend. 👍 There's something oddly satisfying about seeing the gunk that gets pulled out.Those partaking in the lip facial also had the chance to try on some Fenty lip gloss bombs. I love this formulation and they had the new Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Gloss Bomb Swirl Twisted Lip Luminizer Fu$$y Flex. 😍 It's beautiful!

SEPHORiA Day 2 

Spoiler

Back at it again!! 😍 The brands did a great job decorating their booths and laying out their products. One item that caught our eyes was this gloriously bejeweled Fable & Mane Hair Oil. 

The ambassadors were all in agreement that the packaging on this was beautiful and we'd be happy to pick one up if it was actually for sale. (hint, hint). This photo doesn't even do it justice. 

Session 3 - The highlight of Session 3 for me was the Makeup by Mario Masterclass. I attended with @faeriegirl and wow! I'm so happy that the masterclasses are available on Sephora IG. If you haven't checked them out yet, go, go, go!!

He is so down-to-earth and humble. One of the things that came up several times during the masterclass was how much Mario loves to blend and mix products together. I've done that with my foundation and lippies, but that's about it, but am now inspired to do it more with all other products and will plan on doing that for all next month! Okay, maybe for most of October. 😃

He had a surprise guest, a surprise to him as well - Mindy Kaling! She's a fan of his, and he hers. It was so cute when he asked "how does she even know my name?" So humble. Well, Mr. Dedivanovic, she knows your name because you're amazing!!! 

Session 4 - By the time we got around to Session 4, I was beat and decided I was going to just take Session 4 at a more leisurely pace. Or, at least try to. That didn't happen the first hour, but I did find some time to just sit and rest (and go through and consolidate all the beauties we were given) into one bag - yes!!! Then it was off to the last Masterclass - Danessa Myricks. She closed out SEPHORiA in style!! She and her team are fabulous, absolutely fabulous. Having an opportunity to see her in this setting that made me more in awe of how spectacular she is. I was so happy to have attended this session, and even more so, that I was able to experience it with a few of the ambassadors. And to Miss @danielledanielle, I am beyond thrilled for you - not just for the treat that I think you so richly deserve, but for folks there having a chance to see and hear your greatness!  

Good-bye SEPHORiA, good-bye Atlanta, good-bye Ambassadors!

Spoiler

The ambassadors had one last dinner together after SEPHORiA 2024 came to a close, and, as expected, a good time was had - food, drinks and much laughter. Always so much joy and laughter with this group. I love that. After we said 'good night' to a couple of ambassadors as they had early AM flights back home, a few BIC beauties and their SOs went out for a nightcap. More laughter, more conversations, more fun ensued - that was even before drinks were served - and it continued long after we returned to the hotel. 

SEPHORiA Atlanta - The Day After  

Sunday morning. Last day in Atlanta. Look at that sky! 

I was sad that last morning as I thought about it being the last day I had with the other ambassadors - I was already missing the ones that were on their way home, and even though I still had half-a-day with the others, that didn't seem like enough. 

After finishing off some emails and catching up on a couple of threads here, mellmars1185, missjeanie and her SO, and I went to grab brunch. And what a fabulous brunch it was - excellent choice, mellmars! We started off with homemade donut holes for sharing - let me just say that no where on the menu did it say that these were donut holes on steroids. All good though.

These were absolutely delicious! They, along with my hearty brunch entree and 2 cups of coffee, gave me the energy I needed for our afternoon fun - a trip to Atlanta's puppet museum with hearts, missjeanie and their SO's. Marvelous idea for the museum, hearts!

If you find yourself in Atlanta, do yourself a favor and add this to your list of things to do. You won't regret it. For those of us of a certain age, it offers a bit of nostalgia to our childhood; a trip down memory lane.

Finally, on our way back to the hotel, we made a stop for beer and snacks. Then final "good-byes (for now)" to the Canadian BIC ambassadors and it was time for me to head to the airport ✈️ and make my way home. Bittersweet moment.

Acknowledgments and Appreciations:

Spoiler

🎉 Shout out to the Sephora staff members working the event - those on the ground as well as those behind the scenes (and those keeping the fort down while their coworkers worked the event). Getting through security and into the venue as well as out with our swag bags was seamless. Everyone had so much energy and was very helpful and kind. Thank you, thank you! SEPHORiA is a destination and you all help to make it a blast! 

👏👏Kudos to the participating beauty brands and their brand reps - for their generosity (you've seen the contents of the swag bags on social media by now, I'm sure), their knowledge, their kindness, their energy - my word, their energy! They were always so upbeat and present, willing to engage and answer questions and discuss products and tips. There were so many great things I learned and several products that I feel I must have now 😆 - while my wallet is not at all happy about it, I will be having a lot of fun shopping my list during the sales and holiday season. Ohhhh yeaaahhh. Btw, I may have started working my way through my SEPHORiA-inspired/enabled shopping list already. 🛍

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The venue was out of the way and a car of some sort, be it your own or a ride share was needed to get there and back. 🚗 We had an exceptionally AMAZING driver who shuttled us to and fro, and made getting in and out of Pullman Yards as seamless as possible. He was funny, engaging, and accommodating of and patient with our requests for pick up and drop off times. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Yes, 5 of them!! He's the best! And 5 more stars to the spectacular BIC beauty who had the brilliant idea for our own driver. Actually, 5 hearts for you @heartsmyface! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[NOTE: To be clear, this was not a perk or service sponsored, offered or given to us by Sephora or any of its affiliates or business partners. It was a thoughtful gift that we ambassadors were blessed to have made available to us because of the generosity of a fellow ambassador and her husband.]

👟  Soooo, it was brought to my attention 🤣 by a few of the marvelous BIC beauties, that my default-walking-pace may be a smiiiiidge faster than others. I didn't think so and still think my pace is, at best, average, buuuuuuut, to be fair, I did re-assess all the times we had to walk anywhere in Atlanta, and I will acknowledge that perhaps I may empirically have an ever so sliightly faster tempo to my pace than others. But my word!!! It's not thaaaaat fast. And I looked back and waited (most of the time). Again, I wasn't walking that fast. I wasn't. I. was. not. Hmmmph. 😤😂 

You know what?!! There's a heat warning in place in the city today, but I'm going to time myself vis-a-vis the walking time estimated by Google to get to the Sephora store and back. I am fairly certain that I will not be faster than the estimated time.

By the way, my proposal still stands - I'll spend the next year (until SEPHORiA 2025 - because yes!! It has to happen.) trying to dial it back and y'all can spend the next year until SEPHORiA 2025 adding a bit more pep to your steps. I'm sure we can find a happy medium between my alleged race-walking and a stroll. [Tagging @danielledanielle @ElleElleG, @heartsmyface (and D), and @missjeanie (and J)]. 

Final Thoughts:

Spoiler

SEPHORiA never disapoints. And neither do the BIC beauties and community ambassadors. 💖 missjeanie remarked that she's a lifer when it comes to SEPHORiA - she's onto something with that. Can someone get her a "SEPHORiA Lifer" sweatshirt?! 

It's been said (by Charlie Chaplin) that "a day without laughter is a day wasted". There were no wasted days, @TeamBIC. I always laugh so much and so hard when the ambassadors get together. I adore each of you and miss you so much, even though I just saw you the other day. I don't know where SEPHORiA 2025 will be held but I'm already counting down the days until then! 

[tsavorite]

@itsfi 

Thanks for sharing your Sephoria  2024 adventure diary with us!!!    And all of your photos!  I'm so glad that you had a glorious time.

[missjeanie]

@itsfi It feels like yesterday, and yet it feels so far away and I can’t wait for next year already! I have to agree, the laughs and smiles were non stop and to me, that was the best part! 

[itsfi]

@missjeanie, there's always that excitement when people are getting into town, and meeting up with folks never disappoints. Always such a joy to hang out, catch up, and laugh. As for the actual event, we were like kids in a candy store. Ooohs and aaaahs galore; and it was so fun to hear about everyone's experiences after. Oh yes, the countdown to SEPHORiA 2025 is underway. So what if we don't (yet) know the date - we're what, 11 months out?! 1 month down, 11 to go! 😉

[missjeanie]

@itsfi I immediately told work that I would be gone for a week again around the same time next year.  It's a non negotiable here!

[itsfi]

That's awesome @missjeanie! I may have to start blocking out time on the calendar.

[CorgiMommy]

Sounds like you made the most of your time @itsfi .  Great photos and recap!

[itsfi]

@CorgiMommy, thank you. It goes by so fast so it was nice to be able to catch up with some folks during whatever down time we had. 👍🏼 

[Samtian]

@itsfi 🤣 you definitely walk fast!! I'm glad last year @danielledanielle was a pace like mine. Such a fun recap! The Hearts family are true blessings!

[itsfi]

lololol! Oh, goodness gracious @Samtian! You know, this (my walking fast in NYC) was also brought up in the ATL. 😂🤣😂 I almost feel like it's a thing now and that I need to walk fast wherever SEPHORiA 2025 takes us?!! 

The hearts family is incredible!! @heartsmyface 

[Samtian]

@itsfi ...well I could use the cardio.

[itsfi]

@Samtian, a couple passed me by on my walk home today. I thought 'oh, people who walk faster than me.' Then I realized they were actually speed walking and that wasn't their natural pace. 🙊😂