Holiday 2024 Shopping Advice Thread: What’s in Your Basket?

[TeamBIC]

It's tiiiiiiiime: the holiday season is upon us! ✨ And here in the Beauty Insider Community, we believe it’s never too early to start building that basket. 😉 This thread can serve as your destination for getting – and giving! – unbiased shopping advice all season long, whether you’re grabbing gifts for others, or just looking to scoop up a few beauty steals for yourself! Either way, you’ve come to the right place to swap beauty recs with your fellow Community members, show off what you’ve added to your basket so far, and get help making those hard purchase decisions… and don’t forget to share all your beautiful unboxings, swatches, and more! 🎁❄

Don’t be shy! Hit the reply button below. What are you adding to your basket this holiday season? Be sure to tag any products you mention using the “#” sign!

[gonerogue]

After tons of back and forth, here’s my first order:

 

 

For my first order, I focused on restocks and test subjects. The Tower 28 Beauty Jumbo SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray Refill with Hypochlorous Acid 16 oz / 480 mL  will work wonders when refilling my full sized and travel sized SOS sprays, the K18 Biomimetic Hairscience Ultimate Reset + Repair Hair Mask and Shampoo Value Set will be to restock my current K18 bottle and the rest will be test subjects. I’ve used Davines for years now so I have faith in those products and I’m hoping the blush set and brushes will be hits as well.

On that note, if anyone has a favorite cream blush brush they want to recommend, will you let me know what it is? I love cream blushes but most of my brushes are in storage so it’s hard for me to use them with my powder brushes. TYIA 🙂

[CorgiMommy]

Love your choices @gonerogue 

[CynthieLu]

Getting your Sephora Pro Brushes during the sale is the perfect time @gonerogue amazing picks!

[SportyGirly125]

@gonerogue MAC glow play blushes

Patrick Ta duo blushes 

[WinglessOne]

@gonerogue  You’ve already got my favorite cream blush brush coming your way. 🙂 I love the Sephora 99 enough to own 2 of ‘em. I’ve used that brush successfully with Glossier Cloud Paint, Patrick Ta’s blush duos, NARS gelee blush palettes (like the Rising Star palette that doesn’t play nice with more delicate fluffier brushes), Rare Beauty liquid blush, the cream blush in the ND Bloom palette, Danessa Myricks Colorfix and Yummy Skin blush, LYS stick and compact cream blushes, etc. If the 99 could fit inside my small Phytosurgence cream blush jars, I’d also use it with those. 

The 99 is especially good for folks (like me) who usually stamp blush onto skin first and then buff it out to blend. Its shape is ideal for that method, and it’s dense enough to get the job done. Bonus points for softness, with no pokey stabby scratchy bristles. 

[danielledanielle]

@gonerogue, great picks!  I am curious about davines, but wouldn't know where to start.  You went back and forth, but landed well.

You have the 99 on the way which is a great cream blush brush, another great blush better (alright not here) s half magic baby paw brush.  I also like SEPHORA COLLECTION PRO Bronzer Brush #88 for creams

[gonerogue]

@danielledanielle  Thank you for the recco! I picked up the half magic glitter gloss during one of the Diamond perk days and I am impressed by how stunning it is. If the brushes are just as good, I will consider picking them up on my next Diamond haul (coming up in 3 days).

I didn’t think to try bronzer brush for cream blushes but it’s so crazy it just might work. Let me see how this SC brush does and if it’s a flop, I’ll try out the bronzer brush you tagged.

[WinglessOne]

While placing my first order this morning, I went through my Loves List again and found a few things I didn’t include in my earlier “what’s in my cart” post. Adding those to my updated list.


🔬Test subjects: 

• LYS Beauty Triple Fix Blurring and Hydrating Skin Tint Foundation Stick - still gotta swatch some shades in person before buying. 
  
  
• Montale Eau de Parfum Discovery Set - will be in my next order. 
  
  
• Then I Met You Essence Light Sunscreen Broad Spectrum Moisturizer SPF 50 PA +++ 1.69 oz / 50 ml - ordered. 
  
  
• Added: MILK MAKEUP Mini Hydro Grip Primer Pre-Game Pack Set - ordered. I’ve been curious about the “glow” version of this primer so hey, why not give it a go. 
  
  
• Added: caliray Blurry Blush Pore Minimizing Cream Blush with Niacinamide Dream State - ordered. This could be one of the pinks I’ve looked for in a cream blush formula. I’ll find out soon enough. 
  
  
• Added: Armani Beauty Eye Tint Long-Lasting Liquid Eyeshadow 56S Mahogany - ordered. I somehow kept forgetting about this, but not anymore. 😅 Since I’ve never used Armani’s liquid shadows, this’ll be a fun test. 

✔️ Restocks: 

• Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster 0.67 oz/ 20 mL - might be in my next order. I need to doublecheck how many unopened bottles I still have, but I do use ‘em up quickly. 
  
  
• amika Reset Cleansing Oil 6.7 oz / 200 mL - holding off on this since I already have 2 bottles stockpiled. 
  
  
• SEPHORA COLLECTION Dry Shampoo Brush Cleaner - will buy in-store during the sale. 
  
  
• Charlotte Tilbury Exagger-eyes Volumizing and Curling Mascara Exagger-black - will get this at Ulta instead for free (using some of my points). 

🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Expanding the family: 

• Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin 4-Ever Flushed Lip and Cheek Set - ordered. 
  
  
• VOLUSPA Ultrasonic Diffuser Oil .5 oz / 15 mL forbidden fig diffuser oil - ordered. 
  
  
• Added: SEPHORA COLLECTION Essential Brush - 05 Highlighter - yeah, I need a second one. I keep using this brush with certain cream pot blushes and it’s ideal for my application method for that blush formula, even though it’s small for a cheek brush. Will get a backup with either the 30% sale discount or as part of my next Rouge Reward order; haven’t decided yet. 

👻 Haunting me: 

• KILIAN Paris Blue Moon Ginger Dash 1.7 oz / 50 mL eau de parfum spray - still need to spray a tester on my wrist before buying. 
  
  
• Added: Gucci Luminous Matte Beauty Blush 10 Intense Ruby - I’ve tried ignoring this since it launched. Something tells me I’ll cave during the sale, especially since I love my other Gucci blush shade. 
  
  
• Added: #GUERLAIN Meteorites Setting & Finishing Pearls of Powder 02 Cool - ordered. I’ve eyed a couple shades of these pearls for years but never bought any. Now I’ll finally try them as a center-of-face brightener. (I normally use Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Collection Brilliant Nude for that purpose.) 

🔮 TBD (upcoming releases):

• “If LYS releases a mini blush trio this year, I’ll probably buy it” - oh look, LYS Beauty Mini Higher Standard 3-Piece Cream Glow Blush Stick Set dropped right on cue. 🙃 I’ll either buy it during this sale or add it to my next Rouge Reward order. Buying the LYS mini blush set has become an annual tradition for me. 
  
  

Are you looking for a Rouge one-time use code? PM me here on BIC and I’ll give you mine. My shareable code’s been given away. Happy shopping and saving! 🙂 

In case another Rouge member offers their shareable code to you, please make sure your PMs are turned on, or they won’t be able to send you their shared code link. Open the spoiler tag below to see instructions on how to do that: 

Spoiler

Here are my screenshots showing how to change this on Sephora’s website. You cannot access these BIC settings on Sephora’s app. Visit sephora.com with a browser (mobile or desktop) instead. 

In the top BIC navigation bar (starts with the “Community” link), find the cog/gear icon. It’s next to the bell and envelope icons. If you’re on your phone: that whole nav bar can be swiped/slid over to reveal the 3 icons. 

Once you’ve tapped the cog, you’ll see your BIC settings. Here’s where PM settings are: 



I numbered (in red) the links you should tap to reach the PM settings.

Each rouge member only has one shareable code to give away. You can use the shared code only one time, and only during the Rouge early access period (now through November 4th). 

[CynthieLu]

Amazing choices! @WinglessOne I've been curious about those Meteorites for a while. I hope you like them! They sound so magical. 😄 

[WinglessOne]

@CynthieLu  Someone on BIC once called them “magic balls” and that’s how I always think of them now. 😂 I’ve low-key stalked the Meteorites for around 20 years, now that I think about it… I remember seeing them for the first time in a magazine and wanting them, even before learning how they’re meant to be used. 😅

I kinda wish Guerlain would sell each shade in mini containers so folks could try ‘em out before committing to buying a full size. And I forgot that these are fragranced before I placed my order, but hopefully it’s not too strong a scent and doesn’t linger. I’ll still have fun playing with these pearls though. 

[CynthieLu]

I think low-key stalking is exactly what I'm doing with them currently @WinglessOne 😂 Aaah yes! I am not surprised they were described in that fashion, some how it's gotten into my head they are magic, it's definitely from reading about them so many times on BIC, I might have even read that post too. 😜 I'm excited for you! I hope they live up to this reputation aannddd I am excited to read your thoughts on this in the future. 😄

[itslavish]

Im gonna take a chance since I’ve seen people ask on here, if a rouge member has a code, I would appreciate it if anyone could send me one. Thanks in advance!

[Didipie95]

Yes here you go :))

https://www.sephora.com/share/3sl2yig7d73t/hsebaf2024/cceeffc266cdac7cbe69bb90cb81ddfa

[itslavish]

Oops I saw your message too late it’s taken 😞 but I’m so so thankful!! Thank you so much

[Noora212]

Hey everyone! 🎉 I’m so excited about the Sephora Savings Event! I just picked up all of Patrick Ta’s new eyeshadows and blushers, and I couldn’t be happier with my choices! The colors are absolutely stunning and perfect for this season. I also grabbed two eyeshadow palettes that I’ve had my eye on for a while. Can't wait to try them all out and create some beautiful looks! Have any of you tried Patrick Ta’s products yet? Would love to hear your thoughts! 💖✨

[SportyGirly125]

@Noora212 I tried a lot of his products. Some I love and some were just okay. 

[Noora212]

I agree, especially the dual highlighter, it just didn’t work for me. But some of the other products were fantastic!

[itsagreatday1]

Hello, does anyone have a 20% code I can use? TIA!

[ChrissyTMom]

Long time stalker, first time poster 😉 Just here also looking for someone's give away Rouge 20% off code if they're willing to share - thank you in advance.  Looking at some Armani / Patrick Ta and some hair care for this mom that is finally inspired to feel good about herself ❤️  and needs some quality for her "mature" skin 😉

[daaangvo]

I would’ve added the merit trio lipstick but every time I try to click on the product, it says no SKU available and won’t let me add to cart