Beauty Diary: 5 Sephora products you absolutely need to buy
When a popular beauty brand released a new product, fans couldn’t help but compare it to its predecessor, with surprise results.
After I discovered a very impressive mascara in Sephora last year, I’d pretty much sworn off using anything else.
The Benefit Cosmetics Bad Gal Bang! waterproof mascara is hands down one of the best lash lengthening product on the market – and that’s a hill I’m willing to die on.
The wand is really flexible with tiny bristles that coat even the smallest lash. It also applies really easily without looking clumpy in just one coat.
It’s so good, that when I reviewed the $44 mascara in The Beauty Diary last year, I described it as “reigning supreme” against all others, which sounds quite dramatic a year on, but it’s completely true.
Recently though, the San Francisco-born beauty brand recently dropped a new lash lengthener, which social media users have described as “better than” it’s predecessor.
Excuse me? How is that even possible?
It was such a wild prospect fans of the cult beauty buy have been pitting the two mascaras against each other in a TikTok battle, with surprising results, so of course I had to try it out.
Of course, I’ve also been trying out a few other fresh launches at Sephora, all of which I’ve detailed below.
Benefit Cosmetics Fan Fest Mascara
Price: $48
So you think you can outdo yourself, do you Benefit? Well, I bow down because you actually have, this stuff is incredible.
The product, which is named after the fact it gives lashes a “full fan effect”, does exactly what it says on the tin.
It’s not clumpy, doesn’t smudge, and best of all, as it’s not a waterproof mascara like its predecessor, it doesn’t require lots of elbow grease to remove.
However, it’s still water resistant, and while I haven’t found myself in tears while I had it on, one TikTok user put it to the ultimate test, declaring: “I did cry while wearing it and it was OK!”
It also gives lashes a more natural look, compared to Bad Gal Bang! which I also really enjoyed.
While Fan Fest has definitely won this battle, I still love my Bad Gal Bang, it’s particularly god for days when it’s humid or wet outside, I wouldn’t wear anything else for a trip to the beach.
Ole Henriksen Dewtopia 20% Acid Night Treatment
Price: $90
Everyone needs a chemical exfoliant in their routine, and this is one of my favourites as it contains a blend of two acids, 10 per cent AHAs and 10 per cent PHAs, which munch away at dead skin while you sleep.
Despite the potent formula, it is surprisingly gentle, and leaves my skin looking buff and dewy (as the name suggests).
Rare Beauty Kind Words Matte Lipstick
Price: $35
I know I’m late to the party, but how amazing are these lippies? They glide on effortlessly and leave lips feeling hydrated and soft. I’ve also been seriously impressed by how pigmented the product is – and the names are also absolutely adorable too.
I’ve been using the shade Fun for a few months now and it has fast become my “go-to” lipstick. I just love how it doesn’t leave my lips with that crusty film we all hate, and it stays put for hours too. Winning.
Rare Beauty Kind Words Matte Lip Liner
Price: $27
You can’t mention the Rare lip colours without talking about the matching liners, as they go hand-in-hand. These are so soft and buttery but aren’t too harsh or aggressive. Drawing perfect lines has never been a skill of mine, but it is easy to buff out if you make a mistake.
It’s also really great as the base before applying colour, because it helps hold the lipstick in place. Love.
Ultra Violette Fave Fluid SPF 50+ Ultralight Skinscreen
More Coverage
Price: $52
Not a single drop of this has gone unused in my house. Will definitely purchase again.
If you have a question about a beauty product or an item you’d like to see road-tested in The Beauty Diary, jump into our official Facebook group where you can join like-minded beauty junkies. You can also catch me on Instagram.