Ask Lex: How to Spend a Sephora Gift Card

By Alexa Alfonso @lexlovescouture

Reader: If you had $30-$40 left on a Sephora gift card, what are some suggestions to purchase to make the most of this amount?

The majority of the time I use Sephora gift cards for three things: foundation, concealer, and lipstick. Foundation and concealer are the most expensive part of my makeup routine because I see the difference in quality (and how long it lasts) in comparison to drugstore brands. When it comes to lipstick while I have no problem going the drugstore route, I like to splurge on occasion. Here are the items I spent my last few Sephora gift cards on:

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation

I see the hype! It has great coverage and really does give your face a filtered finish. It took a while to grow on me because I needed to use a little more foundation than I normally do to get the desired effect. That being said I use an abnormally small amount of foundation in comparison to the average person.

Pro Tip: If you have dry skin like me, you probably need to use a facial mist as a priming base so that your skin stays hydrated. Matte makeup tends to dry skin out.

Tarte Creaseless Under Eye Concealer

The bags/dark circles under my eyes are no joke sometimes. This is the first concealer that I have seen a real difference. It has a thick rich formula that is super easy to blend. It gives you this refreshed well rested look that adulting tends to strip away.

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick

I love this liquid lipstick because it goes on super pigmented with minimal effort. Also, with the exception of after eating, you do not need to frequently reapply. It stays put during your water breaks and coffee sipping.

Throw In: Sephora Sheet Mask

Whenever I am left with a weird number on my gift cards I always throw in a sheet mask. They're great to have for travel or days when you do not feel like dealing with the hassle of washing off a regular mask.

At the end of the day, my best advice when it comes to gift cards is to buy what you need first, try something new second. How do you spend your Sephora gift cards?