Sephora has helped us out by listing the bestsellers on their website — but, still, we are left comparing mascara to mascara and hair dryer to hair dryer. So, we've compared the reviews for 25 Sephora bestsellers and came up with your best options.
Mascaras
1. Benefit Cosmetics They're Real! Mascara
Size: 0.3 ounces
Price: $24
Rating: 4.2
2. Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara
Size: 0.27 ounces
Price: $23
Rating: 3.8
Best choice: Benefit Cosmetics They're Real! Mascara
Although these are both probably the best mascaras you can buy, based on the reviews, the main differences were that one may seem clumpier (Better Than Sex) and one may seem thinner (They're Real!). The worst reviews noted that Better Than Sex was heavy and smudgy, while They're Real! was wet and "takes forever to dry." However, several people said that They're Real! created a natural look, lengthened lashes, built volume and had a smooth consistency. Therefore, Benefit takes the cake on this one. It's better to have to reapply to build volume than deal with clumps.
Eyeshadows
3. Urban Decay Naked2
Price: $54
Rating: 4.7
4. Tarte Tartelette Amazonian Clay Matte Eyeshadow Palette
Price: $44
Rating: 4.6
Best choice: Urban Decay Naked2
You will definitely be safe with either of these 12-color palettes, but a few reviews on both stated that they had low pigments — while the majority claims they are very pigmented. Even though it costs $10 more, Naked2 was picked as the better purchase because it includes a dual eyeshadow brush and offers both matte and shimmer options (hey, sometimes you just wanna mix it up). Reviewers considered it to be "creamy and blendable" and did not cause creases.
Foundations
5. Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation
Size: 1 ounce
Price: $62
Rating: 4.3
6. Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation
Size: 1.01 ounces
Price: $43
Rating: 4.3
7. bareMinerals Original Foundation
Price: $28
Rating: 4.6
Best choice: Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation
There's nothing worse than a bad foundation (no pun!) — so shopping for a good foundation can be tough. We've got to consider our skin's texture, shade and oiliness/dryness. When comparing these three top-selling foundations, the worst reviews stated that HD Invisible Cover did not last long and didn't withstand heat; bareMinerals was sometimes cakey or came off too yellow; and Luminous Silk didn't have as much coverage as some would like and didn't last long. But, a majority of reviews for Luminous Silk said it had a great texture, offered a dewy finish and lasted up to 25 hours. Yes, it is $62, but it is definitely worth a try.
Night repairs
8. Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil
Size: 1 ounce
Price: $105
Rating: 4.2
9. Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair
Size: 1.7 ounces
Price: $92
Rating: 4.5
10. Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum
Size: 1 ounce
Price: $90
Rating: 4.5
Best choice: Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair
When spending around $100 for a product, you want to be sure you're getting the most bang for your buck. Estée Lauder offers nearly double the amount of product for about the same price as the others. It is said to be "light and goes on very smoothly" and that "90% of breakouts have gone away much faster." Many reviewers said the Luna Sleeping Night Oil had a horrible scent and some saw no change with T.L.C Framboos.
Dry shampoos
11. Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo
Size: 3.5 ounces
Price: $22
Rating: 3.8
12. Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk
Size: 3.2 ounces
Price: $20
Rating: 4.7
Best choice: Klorane Dry Shampoo
Reviewers raved about Klorane Dry Shampoo. They said it showed no residue, doesn't make your hair look dull and keeps the oil at bay. One person notes, "It leaves my hair feeling soft and it looks like it was just washed!" Unfortunately, Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo has a much lower rating and one of the most common dislikes about it was that it leaves a white residue. No thank you.
Hair treatments
13. Josie Maran 100 percent Pure Argan Oil
Size: 4 ounces
Price: $96
Rating: 4.5
14. Agave Oil Treatment
Size: 4 ounces
Price: $40
Rating: 4.7
Best choice: Agave Oil Treatment
One of the best things about Agave Healing Oil is its price — it is less than half the cost of Josie Maran Argan Oil. Agave Oil absorbed better and did not feel greasy afterwards. Reviewers noted it adds volume and shine, smells great and leaves hair "feeling SO soft." Although consumers loved Josie Maran Argan Oil as well, it received a lower rating — and did we say the price is much higher?
Hair dryers
15. Bio Ionic 10X Ultralight Speed Dryer
Motor: 1800 watts eco drive
Price: $329
Rating: 4.9
16. Drybar Buttercup Blow Dryer
Motor: 1875 watts
Price: $195
Rating: 4.2
Best choice: Bio Ionic 10X Ultralight Speed Dryer
We say go for it. Yes, this is a pretty expensive piece of machinery at $329 a pop — but it may be the best hair dryer you will ever buy. Look at this: It's lightweight, "will dry hair in as little as 10 minutes," uses 75 percent less energy and has a 10-year warranty. If the price tag is really bugging you, one reviewer played it smart: "I bought it at 15% off and saved $50." As far as Drybar's Buttercup blower goes, several reviews said it was short lived and heavy.
Body scrubs
17. DERMAdoctor KP Duty Body Scrub
Size:16 ounces
Price: $46
Rating: 4.5
18. Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish
Size: 14.1 ounces
Price: $65
Rating: 4.5
Best choice: Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish
KP Duty Body Scrub "combines the benefits of a chemical peel and a microdermabrasion." However, some users said it didn't work well. One reviewer noted that it's not eco-friendly by containing polyethylene — which contributes to ocean pollution. For Fresh Brown Sugar, many reviews noted that it was very oily and greasier than they expected. So, if we had to choose, we'd go with Fresh Brown Sugar because it doesn't harm our planet, has a great smell and leaves skin soft — just go easy on the amount of product you use to avoid its greasy effects. (But... if we didn't have to choose, we probably would've skipped Sephora on this one and headed to the drugstore.)
Self-tanners
19. Sephora Collection Tinted Self-Tanning Body Mist
Size: 5 ounces
Price: $16
Rating: 4.4
20. Vita Liberata pHenomenal 2-3 Week Tan Mousse & Tanning Mitt Duo
Size: 4.22 ounces
Price: $54
Rating: 4
21. Tarte Brazilliance Skin Rejuvenating Maracuja Face and Body Self Tanner
Size: 5.5 ounces
Price: $39
Rating: 4.3
Best choice: Tarte Brazilliance Skin Rejuvenating Maracuja Self Tanner
First, hooray for you for buying self-tanner and not hitting the tanning beds! These three top-selling self-tanners all had great reviews, of course, but your safest option will probably be Tarte Brazilliance. Vita Liberata pHenomenal is the most expensive, has the lowest rating and was said to come off in the shower. The downside to the Sephora option was that it was sticky and not even. Tarte Brazilliance had mixed reviews: Some said it doesn't rub off and others said it does rub off on your sheets. But, we chose this one because Tarte is always cruelty-free and has a cinnamon-y smell — just don't use the mitt, it doesn't help.
Firming body lotions
22. Philosophy Amazing Grace Firming Body Emulsion
Size: 16 ounces
Price: $37
Rating: 4.6
23. Clarins Body Lift Cellulite Control (Double Edition)
Size: 13.8 ounces (2 bottles, 6.9 ounces each)
Price: $99
Rating: 4
Best choice: Philosophy Amazing Grace Firming Body Emulsion
OK, we have some bad news for these products: A lot of the reviews said that neither of them really firmed skin or reduced cellulite. For example, one of the reviews on Clarins states, "I've been using regularly for 3 weeks, and while I haven't seen the cellulite disappear, the back and front of my legs are noticeably smoother." Philosophy Amazing Grace had similar reviews but was remarked to have an amazing texture and fresh scent. It also absorbs quickly and leaves skin soft. So, while both may struggle to show immediate results for firming, Philosophy Amazing Grace is hailed to be "a holy grail product" and it less expensive.
Deodorants
24. Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Deodorant
Size: 1.7 ounces
Price: $24
Rating: 4.6
25. Lavanila The Healthy Deodorant
Size: 1.7 ounces
Price: $14
Rating: 3.9
Best choice: Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Deodorant
Although Lavanila is $10 less expensive and is 100 percent natural and aluminum-free, there were several reviews that said it just plain didn't work, while others advised that it takes a month for your skin to get used to it. On the other hand, reviewers for Cashmere Mist deodorant raved about the scent and that "it's worth every penny."
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