Listen to Lena

Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion

Holiday Beauty #2 – Sephora

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The Holiday Beauty Fest continues with a little beauty shop you may have heard of… Sephora!

Christmas came early for me this year when I received an enviable haul of Sephora goodies. I’ve been swatching and sampling all week, and can’t wait to tell you all about them! In fact, there was just so much goodness, I’ll be separating the products into THREE (3) giveaways – lucky you!

Fun Fact: Sephora was founded in 1993 in France by Dominique Mandonnaud, who fashioned the store’s unique name by blending the Biblical name of Zipporah (Moses’ exceptionally beautiful wife) with the ancient Greek term for “pretty,” sephos.

First up – see that little bag at the top? It’s actually not a bag; it’s a box. And inside, you’ll find a euphoric climax of colour – by way of 98 original, iridescent effect eyeshadows, 70 shiny lip glosses, 6 cream eyeliners, 2 lip liners, 3 eyeliners, one mascara and 4 applicators. Ladies, I present to you the Endless Color Blockbuster.

(I took the above picture when I first opened the kit – then proceeded to dance for joy.)

A $565 CDN value for just $62 CDN, this limited-edition palette lets you create virtually any look. It’s perfect for those who don’t like the clutter of pots and tubes of makeup but still enjoy variety and punches of colour. Or, perhaps it’s the kit you keep at your boyfriend’s/ parent’s/ office/ gym locker, so that you’ve got makeup at your fingertips in a sleek, portable format (the case is only 5.75 x 5.75″ closed).

A quick dry swatch of some eyeshadows yielded bright, vibrant coverage with colours that applied smoothly. The lip gloss pots were like dipping into candy – such an array of shades and finishes.  And the addition of colour eye pencils, cream shadows and bronzer is a nice touch; it completes the palette and truly makes it an all-in-one.

Got a few mascara junkies on your list? Well then RUN – don’t walk – to grab Sephora’s LashStash Mascara Deluxe Sampler. For just $50 CDN, you can grab 10 of Sephora’s most sought-after mascaras from the hottest-selling brands.

The set contains:
Too Faced LashLight Mascara in Black (full size)
Josie Maran GOGO Natural Volume Mascara in Pitch Black
Tarte MultiplEYE Clinically-Proven Lash Enhancing Mascara in Black
Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash Mascara in Black
Blinc Kiss Me Mascara in Black
Laura Mercier Full Blown Volume Mascara in Black
Buxom Lash Mascara in Blackest Black
Benefit BADgal Lash Mascara in Black
Sephora Collection Advanced Lash Booster in Black
Hourglass Film Noir Full Spectrum Mascara in Onyx
Tarte Picture Perfect Eyelash Curler

It’s a little more than I’d usually spend for a stocking stuffer, but with enough mascara to conceivably last the entire year, it’s too good to pass up! Buy! Buy! Buy!

Mascara not your thing? That’s okay – you can give your pucker some pizazz with Sephora’s Give Me Some Lip. Just $40 CDN for a lip-smacking holiday set packed with 10 of Sephora’s go-to glosses.

The set contains:
Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss in Tease
Too Faced Glamour Gloss in Sex Pot
Sephora Collection Super Shimmer in Pink Ballerina
Sephora Collection Super Shimmer in Rusted Rose
Tarte Vitamin-Infused Lipgloss in 40 Winks
Cover FX Mint Glaze Lip Gloss
Lorac Multiplex 3D Lip Gloss in Cliché
Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss in Radiant
Tarte Rise & Shine Lip Gloss and Stain in Cherry

Buxom Lips in Roxanne

Love, Love, LOVE this! I giggled with delight when I saw the Lorac Lip Gloss in Cliché – it’s quite possibly the hottest pink ever, and one that has long been on my “must try” list. It pairs perfectly with winter white for a snow princess effect, and brings colour to otherwise sallow winter complexions. I fully intend on rocking this look with a white wool coat and beret. Magnifique!

BUY IT!

All of these limited edition gift sets are available online or in-store – but hurry, they won’t be around for much longer. Make it a beautiful Christmas for a special gal!

WIN IT!

One lucky Listen to Lena! reader will win a $100 Sephora Gift Card! To enter, simply visit the site and check out the beauty value sets. Then leave a comment here, telling us which one is your favourite.

You can also qualify for extra entries! Remember, you must leave a separate comment for each. You can:

(1) Follow my blog, Listen to Lena!
(2) “Like” Listen to Lena! on Facebook
(3) “Like” Sephora on Facebook
(4) Follow Sephora on Twitter
(5) Tweet about this giveaway (tiny URL: http://tinyurl.com/2cmwqvm)
(6) You may Tweet daily.

I’ll draw for a winner on December 31st. Good luck everybody!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  4. I love, love, love the Give Me Some Lip set! I am dying to try the Too Faced Glamour Gloss in Sex Potas well as the Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss in Tease.

  29. Wow! Thanks for the awesome contest…I honestly can't choose just one…so I narrowed it down to my top 3! Fresh Brown Sugar Escape Set, Buxom City Slickers, Sephora by OPI festive nail colour collection! :)))

  36. awesome giveaway and perfect timing with this one since that $15 and $20 off coupon went out recently, I am sure many people will see your giveaway.There are lots of lovely gift sets on that page, too many awesome ones to choose from, but if I had to just get one it would be "Laura Mercier Beauty In A Box: Classic Eye Kit ($103 Value), $42"I follow Listen to lena on FB.And I follow Sephora on FB of course. And this blog too of course. ;)

  64. Hey Lena! You know how much I love make-up!!!my fave value set is… Urban Decay's Book of Shadows Vol. II (one of my fave make-up brands!)

  87. My favourite set is the Chloe Gift Set – but it was SO hard to choose…love the NARS Orgasm Lust Lip and Cheek set too.ellaprettyblog(at)gmail(dot)com

  131. I would just love to get The Best of Basics Set because I would use it all…and the OPI 18 mini polish set…LOVE OPI colors…oh and the Prestige Brush Set…practically everything! LOL!

  147. The Sephora Favorites Deluxe Fragrance Sampler For Her would be a great way to try before committing to a whole bottle of perfume.

  158. I'm a huge sucker for trying out new mascaras so I'd love to try the Sephora Favorites Lashstash Mascara sampler!snadypooh[at]gmail[dot]com

  160. my fav set is the Urban Decay Little Sins Eyeshadow Primer Potion Set its adorable and an amazing product!facesbyfarah(at)gmail(dot)com

  164. I love any of their brush sets – the perfect way to get your brush collection started. I also love their OPI 18 piece mini set (bought it for a friend for Christmas) and the Philosophy Gingerbread House!

  197. I am OBSESSED with getting my lashes to look long and volumized (i have short lashes!) so I love the Sephora Favorites LashStash Mascara Deluxe Sampler – so I can try out all the high end mascaras to hopefully my miracle mascara!

  256. I soooo want to win this. I really need new make up. I like the Stila color wheel eyeshadow pallet.mildlyamusing at gmail . com

  268. I love Sephora's Favorites LASHSTASH collection! Great variety of mascara; like trying a new brand everyday until you find your perfect match for your eyes :)! rmj80 at aol dot com

  293. I love sephora but it really isn't in my budget right now. I'd love to be able to pick up some stuff for free. :)kmmaddox at hotmail dot come

  311. I love the Urban Decay Book of Shadows Volume 3. I can't believe how reasonable it is for this whole set, because I have a single Urban Decay Eyeshadow, and it's the best eyeshadow that I have!

  387. oh wow. Not an easy choice BUT, I'm a huge fan of Urban Decay and I think the value set i like the most is the Urban Decay Beauty in a Box set.angiewith3 at live dot com

  467. I would LOVE the Philosophy Gingerbread girl foaming bubble bath. It is a 2 in one body wash bubble bath. Which makes it convient and when does a Mom NOT need a bubble bath???? LOL oh and I am obsessed with gingerbread people (i guess you can say LOL) So Christmas is my favorite time of year :)