Canadian Sephoras Now Carry YSL, Bobbi Brown, St Tropez, Nails Inc

I was at my local Sephora a few weekends ago and noticed a bunch of new brands have been added! Canadian Sephora stores now have YSL, Bobbi Brown, St Tropez, and Nails Inc (and probably others that I have forgotten) that were never available before. This is exciting to Canadians for sure because it's now really convenient to get these brands. I was most excited about Bobbi Brown coming in because the only place that I knew of that carried it was Holt Renfrew and I feel a bit out of place in that store (too posh for me).

Sephora 15% Off For Beauty Insiders (Apr 15-21)

I've been hearing rumblings about this Sephora 15% off event for some time now, well finally I got some details. Take 15% off everything in-store and online for a week, April 15-21. Just enter the code CHIC at checkout to get the discount, or print out the coupon to use in-store (it can be used multiple times). Sadly, for Canadians, this is only valid in-store, online would be nice for those that are not never a store, but I've said this again and again. I am on a no-buy this month, so that makes it easier for me, although I am tempted to still pick something up. Oh Sephora you kill me. You girls getting anything?

Click here to shop and print out the coupon.

Sephora: Awesome Beauty Insider 500 Point Perk Benefit Benefaves

Every time I am at Sephora I scope out what the Beauty Insider freebie gift is, and it's rarely something that I would actually redeem for. Then the other day, while looking up products on Sephora online I notice this awesome Benefit 500 point perk and almost placed an online order just to get it. Then I was at Sherway Gardens (Toronto) tonight shopping and their Sephora had it. So I picked up some things, or so my cousin bought me some Christmas presents and I got this pretty thing. This is the first time I've redeemed my points ever, so it's a big deal for me.

It comes with a full sized Coralista blush (I know full size!), and a 4g size Badgal lash mascara. I have several Benefit boxed blushes and they are pretty good, but expensive and I've always wanted this one, so I am so happy to have it. The blush retails for $36CAD ($28 US) and the mini BadGal I think I saw it for $8 CAD in the store today. So that's not a bad value there.

Coralista is a peachy blush, it has a coral pink sheen which is supposed to look great on the cheeks. It's definitely a sheen and not glittery overload, which I appreciate.

And here is the brush on the Benefit Badgal Lash, pretty average looking I think, it's a big brush for sure. I took it out of the tube for the photo-op and it's going back sealed and in the box until I go through my mountain of opened mascaras.

Anyway, I loved Sephora's little Christmas present to those who spend lots of money in their stores. This was a nice start to Christmas for me. Definitely check out your local Sephora if you are interested in this one, they change around the perks every now and then.

What's the best points perks you've redeemed for at Sephora?

Sephora MUFE Haul and New Almay Hydrating Makeup

I went Sephora shopping over the past two days and picked up some Makeup Forever, along with some other items. During trip #1 I got the HD foundation and Too Faced Shadow Insurance, I wanted to try the MUFE HD foundation for the longest time and finally got it in the shade 117. Then trip #2 I returned the Too Faced Shadow Insurance because it was a watery runny mess, see yesterday's rant here. Now correct me if I am wrong, but I am not happy with Sephora's return policy when using a coupon. I purchased the MUFE HD foundation $46CAD, and the TFSI $24, and used a $20 off VIB discount, the way they do that is take a portion of the $20 off each item (I had two). Then when I returned the TFSI I only got $19.37 back instead of the full amount. I tried asking the cashier why, and she agreed with me, but that's how the system does it. If I had used the $20 off on the foundation and then did a separate purchase with the TFSI I would of not run into this problem. Have you encountered this before? I know it's just $5 but it bothers me you know? I am getting penalized for returning it, but the foundation alone was the $40 minimum purchase.

I also picked up the MUFE Face and Body in the shade #20. I really wanted to get the Mat Velvet +, but after reading review after review about how it's not good for dry skin (which I have) I felt it was better to leave it out. The Face and Body comes with a pump which surprised me because the youtube videos that I watched people do, it did not. And despite being very watery and not great coverage, I think it's a good bet for my skin.

I am a Sephora newbie, but I tried my best to get samples today, since on the first day I got nothing, too scared of the staff there. Today I told the girl that I have dry skin and am looking for a hydrating foundation, she suggested Laura Mercier's Silk Creme Smooth, which was no surprise to me since I heard it recommended before by beauty reviewers, she got me samples in the shades Blush Ivory and Warm Ivory. However, I am probably more likely to buy the one that comes in the pump bottle, which is moisturizing too, we shall see how this one works out. Then I got some MUFE HD blush samples, that at point, she staff girl seemed irritated with me, I got the lilac colour and a peachy coral one, not sure of the numbers, I think it's #13 and #6.

I also picked up the Sephora #55 brush (picture above). This was $44, I know a lot but it was on my "to get" list for a long time and despite having a ton of makeup brushes, I thought this one would be sweet to have. Like others have said before, the packaging on this brush is ridiculous, took me like 5 minutes to get it off. The brush is soft, not super dense, but looks like it will be good for liquid foundation.

I also picked up the new Almay Wake up Hydrating Makeup in the colour 020 Buff. I read about this and the Revlon Mineral Makeup on Nouveau Cheap and noticed it was on sale at Shoppers Drug Mart. Both products are pretty much the same I think, marketed to do the same thing, Revlon has coconut water and Almay has cucumber something or other, both look to be good for dry skin. Almay was $13.99 and Revlon was $15.99 (both are around $20 normally!) so after humming over it for a few minutes I grabbed the Almay. First impressions: The brush is nice, but I won't use it, the powder has a sifter so I left the peely thing on in case too much comes out for me. The powder does have shimmer which annoys me (zoom in on 2nd image above to see it), I wonder if the Revlon one does too.

I am loving Toronto living so far. I can take a streetcar to Union station and then two stops and I am at the Eaton Centre, which is crazy good. But I am afraid I won't be seeing Miss Sephora for a while now because I have no moola to spend on her. But I am excited to try out these new beauties.

Have you tried any of these products? And have you encountered that hassle with returns at Sephora too? Le me know your thoughts.

Sephora: $15 or $20 Off $40 Purchase Beauty Insider Coupon

So I was so excited when I saw a $20 off $40 coupon from Sephora yesterday, I totally wasn't expecting it at all. Sephora and I are not the best of friends you see, living an hour+ away from Toronto before I could not get to a Sephora store and every coupon they had was in-store only, so it left me really annoyed. BUT! As you all know, I just moved to Toronto and Sephora welcomes me right in with this awesome, fantastic coupon.

Alright, VIB's you get $20 off $40, while everyone else with a Beauty Insider membership gets $15 off $40, which is still think is pretty damn sweet. This coupon is valid in-store only in US and Canada from December 2-13, 2010. I was worried cause I didn't get the $15 off one and I have multiple accounts (I've only shopped online with Sephora so I accidentally made several) but turned out it went into my Spam folder! So check your email carefully if you didn't get one, cause you may have. I think VIB's should get more, but whatever, I am using this and loving it. So I am making this post asking you what you guys are getting with your coupon, hmmm?

Going into Sephora is like entering a makeup candy store for me, I get way too excited and have to be very careful to not overspend. I got two coupons so I will be definitely planning this out. I am thinking Makeup Forever HD foundation and Sephora #55 Airbrush powder brush.

What are you girls getting with your coupon?

Sephora Friends and Family 20% Off (October 22-Nov 3)

Sephora has a Friends and Family sale coming up later this month. You can get 20% off your entire order with the code "FF2010". This sale runs October 22-November 3, 2010. Also you can get free shipping with orders over $50. I write this to inform all my readers of this sale, but am pissed off myself because Canada is not included in this sale, and our free shipping is like over $125 normally. I was looking forward to getting something, I order from Sephora very rarely because it can be quite expensive. So if you do order, think of me. :)

Click here to shop Sephora.