
35 Sephora Products You'll Want To Tell Everyone About
A One/Size glass skin setting spray, a skincare-infused elixir by our favorite witch, Patrick Starr. Perfect if you need tons of powder to set your makeup on your oily skin, but then end up looking all cake-y and un-skin-like. This'll melt the powder into the rest of your makeup for a seamless, glass-like blend.
One/Size is a queer, Filipino-owned business founded by makeup artist Patrick Starr to ensure that makeup is really one size fits all, as it should be.Promising review: "WOW Patrick, I never got your first setting spray, but you DEFINITELY got my attention with THIS new one. Of course, I've only used it once, but for me, having to use a setting spray one time makes a difference in whether I like it or not, and WOW, I am OBSESSED. The lay down on this setting spray is GORGEOUS, my new obsession." —nikkicalebPrice: $34
A Too Faced "Better Than Sex" mascara that'll condition your lashes while also adding volume and length, locking your lash curl in place. You'll get the false lash drama without the discomfort.
Promising reviews: "I just ordered it. First day I tried it on, people asked if I had put false lashes on. It's the false eyelash look without the discomfort. Will definitely purchase again." —corsetgirl"Dramatic people must have. I watched It's a Wonderful Life for Christmas, and after bawling like a baby for 30 minutes, my eyes might have been puffy, but that mascara didn't budge." —lowkeykillerbeePrice: $16+ (available in two sizes and shades)
A bottle of Kayali's "The Wedding Silk Santal 36" perfume, the dreamiest fragrance you'll ever smell. With hints of sugared musk, creamy sandalwood, sparkling champagne, and white freesia, you'll be *so* irresistible, you may have a trail of people following your scent.
Promising review: "When this first dropped, I bought a 10 mL bottle. As soon as I smelled it, I immediately bought two 50 mL bottles because I KNEW it would sell out. It sold out the next day and hasn't been seen since! Well, she is back and I stocked up (again). This scent is GORGEOUS! All the rumors are true. It's soft, sweet, feminine, romantic, and enchanting. Not as loud or bold as V28. Compliment magnet. Don't be left out again. Just add to cart." —Sarel360Price: $32+ (available in two sizes)
A jar of Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum body cream made with a caffeine-rich guarana extract formula to help smooth, hydrate, and tighten skin, all while smelling absolutely delicious.
An alcohol-free daily brush cleaner spray that'll help you remove the caked on foundation build-up on your brush in between your monthly deep cleaning. This'll be the best $10 you've ever spent, truly.
Promising review: "Exceeded my expectations! I just spray on a paper towel, and it legitimately takes off all of the makeup and dirt from my brushes, and they're like new again! So much easier than using soap or something." —HanCenzPrice: $10
An Ilia milk essence moisturizer, a lightweight, hyaluronic acid-packed bottle of goodness that's perfect to incorporate into your skincare routine before sunscreen and makeup. Dry skin and redness are no match for this barrier-renewing miracle.
Promising review: "I don't think I will ever NOT have this product as a staple in my skincare routine. I have combination skin, more so dry, and it is actually hydrating enough. It also provides a perfect base for makeup. Doesn't pill when used with other products either." —Kris10NicolePrice: $28+ (available in two sizes)
A pack of Peace Out's microneedling dark spot dots for anyone who's absolutely fed up with their hyperpigmentation, which is a direct consequence of popping their pimples. It's me, I'm fed up, and these are in my cart. They're infused with niacinamide and tranexamic microneedles to help fade discoloration. Miracles come in many forms, and in this case, they're lil' dots you stick to your face.
Promising review: "The Microneedling Dark Spot Brightening Dots are incredible! These little dots work wonders in lightening my dark spots and hyperpigmentation. I love how easy they are to use, and the results are noticeable after just a few uses. Highly recommended for anyone looking to fade dark spots and achieve a more even skin tone." —ronibeteshPrice: $28 (12 patches come in a pack)
A Huda Beauty plumping lip gloss that isn't sticky and pairs gorgeously with their lip liners. Exhibit A, look at the pic below. I have four of these lip combos currently in my cart. Hydrated, smooth lips with blurred fine lines? Sign me up.
Promising review: "PERFECT gloss!!! I finally found my new fave lip gloss after many failed attempts. It makes your lips look fuller, but without the tingling sensation that plumping lip glosses have. Obsessed." —kaylaluckyPrice: $21 (available in two finishes and 11 shades)
A Nars soft matte concealer so magical, you'll be searching for a witch to thank. The creamy, full-coverage formula will blur and conceal any imperfections and leave you looking soft, natural, and matte as heck.
This product has held it down for me for YEARS. I especially use it when I dance; it lasts me through long, sweaty show days and still looks flawless by the end of the day. I like other concealers, but this one is *top-tier*; it never fails me. I always return to this because she's reliable, matte, and has perfect, long-lasting coverage. Since I'm as oily as it gets, I do prefer this to the radiant one, although I do like that one, too. There's just really nothing like this, it def hits different. It was the first makeup product I tried and decided I'd repurchase forever. And the little pot lasts for a looong time. At them moment, I'm getting over a terrible, stress-induced breakout where I popped every pimple I had cuz I ran out of pimple patches, so now I have tons of dark marks. This is the only concealer out of the entire drawer full that I own that actually covers my dark spots. If you're as shiny as Tamatoa from Moana, you won't regret a single thing about this purchase. Promising review: "Always have been a fan of Nars, but this took it to a whole new level. Product is so full coverage. I can cover up my dark spots without any worry of having my light coverage foundation seep through." —yadira2001Price: $32 (available in 30 shades)
A Refy brow sculpting, shaping, and lifting gel you'll wanna text everyone about cuz it'll have your eyebrows looking their absolute best. A sweatproof, waterproof, flake-free hold, plus the defined, laminated look without the defined, laminated price — who rubbed a lamp and made a wish?
Promising review: "My first time trying this product was years ago. I loved how it went on and laid my brows, but it flaked. The hold also wasn't strong enough for my thick brows. This redo was much needed. Now it gives the look that no other brow product does (most similar to brown lamination) and now a super strong hold that lasts all day without white residue/flaking. Will now be purchasing this regularly. You gotta love when a brand listens and improves their staples! Bravo Refy!" —Zoebear92Price: $24
Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen that can also be used as your makeup primer, offering broad-spectrum SPF 50 without feeling greasy or leaving a white cast. I know, I know, trying to make sure you wear sunscreen on your face can be a pain, especially if you wanna wear a full face of makeup butttt, that's why this baby is so perfect! A win if I ever knew one.
An active acne scar primer made by Topicals for those with acne-prone skin. Not only is it great for blurring pores and raised bumps for a flawless makeup application, but it also can help reduce texture over time with regular use. Makeup + skincare wrapped into one bottle?! Pinch me, I *must* be dreaming.
Topicals is a Black woman-owned small biz!Promising review: "This is it. This is the one that *actually* blurs and fills in significant pitted scarring and large pores. My skin is oily/dehydrated. After years of trying every single primer available and being let down, I am astonished. On a totally bare, clean face, I press it into the scarring (don't rub, just tap it in) and wait for 30 seconds. The primer dries completely and levels itself into smoothness. I use Estée Lauder Double Wear foundation on top, and it actually stays put all day. I was worried about the silicone in this primer causing foundation separation issues, but after a 10-hour day, everything is still in place. I did look a tad oily after six hours and had to re-powder." —lcsftwPrice: $34
A Milk Makeup cooling water jelly lip and cheek tint stick, a sheer, hydrating, buildable burst of color with a ~cooling~ effect you'll be obsessed with all summer.
Promising review: "This blush has made me obsessed with sheer stains. It looks so natural and fresh. Now, other types of blush seem heavy and overwhelming. I'm just loving the sheer look, and using it on my lips also adds an overall polish I love." —kiwibPrice: $24 (available in seven shades)
A dual-ended foundation + face brush by Makeup by Mario to make blending and building foundation easy as heck.
Promising review: "A makeup artist used this on my face, and I had to get it. This makes your life so much easier. I use the bigger side for foundation and the smaller one for concealer. It's perfect! 2-in-1, the products go on so smoothly, and I am impressed at how quickly it blends everything. A must have!!!" —vvpcPrice: $32
A Fenty lip oil for anyone who loves immediate hydration and locked-in moisture for their pout. This trio of perfection — vitamin E, passionfruit oil, and shea butter will help nourish and condition your lips *and* the colors of the oils are stunning. Everything you could want in a lippie product.
Promising review: "This is my most favorite lip oil that I've tried! The iridescence is beautiful any time of day, and it smells so good it makes me want to eat it! I wear it to work, around the house, and out running errands — you really can wear it for any occasion. I also appreciate that it's not sticky feeling!" —DrStassiPrice: $26 (available in two finishes and nine shades)
A Tower 28 cream blush that can *also* be used on your lips. If you've been searching for an unbelievably pigmented blush with a radiant, luminous finish, look no further.
A viral Too Faced Born This Way Concealer so you can skip foundation because really, who has the time? It's a lightweight, full-coverage formula that magically conceals, contours, highlights, *and* retouches all at the same time, significantly cutting the time spent on just getting your base ready.
Color Wow — a heat-activated anti-frizz treatment to apply before you blow dry. With anti-humidity technology, sorcery, and moisture repellent, it works kinda like a mini keratin treatment and seriously DELIVERS some incredible results. Oh, and Chris Appleton, celebrity stylist to both Kim Kardashian and J.Lo, swearssss by this stuff.
A Touchland misting hand sanitizer that you'll quickly realize is far superior to all other sanitizers. First of all, it's a spray (genius), it's hydrating, not sticky or greasy, and will leave your hands sanitized and smelling good as heck. Whether you like fruity smells like watermelon and mango, or warm smells like sandalwood and vanilla, these'll serve as the most perfect sanitizers ever. You'll def want 'em all.
Promising review: "I have fallen in love with this product, it smells like pure happiness if that makes sense, and it is a must-have! Also, the product doesn't dry out my skin. It helps sanitize and lasts forever!" —SanFillPrice: $10 (available in 11 scents)
A Beauty Blender dual-sided powder puff to set and lock in powder, leaving you looking like an ethereal airbrushed angel. One side is for setting, the other is for buffing, blending, and refreshing. If perfection was a makeup tool, it'd be this one.
Promising review: "Amazing!!!!! I love this product! It's perfect for makeup baking, and creating a poreless, crease-free, matte look. Will definitely repurchase." —PoutPerfectlipsPrice: $18
A Sol de Janeiro SPF 50 body spray with niacinamide, coconut water, and pongamia seed extract to keep your skin bright, even, protected, and hydrated. Sunscreen is such an important skincare step, and this one'll leave you with a gorgeous sheen *and* scent (Cheirosa '87, to be exact).
Promising review: "Not only does it smell great, but there's no residue! It's like wearing summer. It works so well, too, I was outside in the sun for a few hours and no sunburn." —MelandGPrice: $20+ (available in two sizes)
A Danessa Myricks skin-blurring balm powder that'll keep your oil balanced all day and suck up your sweat. It's matte, but still helps you maintain hydration so your skin doesn't look all dry and cakey.
Danessa Myricks Beauty is a Black woman-owned biz!Promising review: "FINALLY! A foundation that does what it says it's going to do. I apply it with a wet sponge, and the coverage is perfect each time. I don't worry about it easily transferring to my clothes, hallelujah! To make things even better, I have NO SHINE. I have oily skin and have tried all the high-end to low-end brands to make my skin look matte, and nothing worked until NOW! I have slept in this makeup, and my face still looks good. I have recommended it to everyone I know." —Nainah8584Price: $36 (available in 22 shades)
A Pat McGrath Labs powder bronzer sure to put you in a magical trance and make you fall in love after you see the flawless finish it delivers. Perfect, blurred skin with a naturally radiant glow? Yes, please.
Pat McGrath Labs is a woman-owned biz!Promising review: "I've had three strangers comment on my 'perfect skin' since I started wearing this. It's the perfect shade for my skin. It has a blurring effect that makes skin look flawless and blends like a dream. I've already repurchased." —TexylvanianPrice: $39 (available in five shades)
A set of six Topicals under-eye patches packed with all the good stuff like niacinamide, caffeine, and kojic acid to help brighten, hydrate, de-puff, and cool your under-eye skin. TikTok is obsessed with these lil' dark circle- and discoloration-targeting miracles.
Topicals is a Black woman-owned small biz!Promising review: "I'm someone who rarely ever writes reviews, but I had to step up for these. I have really bad dark under eyes, like, no matter how I did my concealer, it would never cover them. These things right here? I have used four pairs so far, and on my fourth, I noticed a huge difference. I'm going to keep trying these out, but I'm super impressed. I thought these wouldn't do anything for me." —falizzlePrice: $22 for six pairs
A One/Size oil sucker extreme mattifying primer you KNOW has to be good — oil sucker?! Sign me up. This stuff is like Iron Man in Endgame and the grease in your face is Thanos — shine stands no chance.
Promising review: "After using this primer for a couple of months now, I can confidently say this is a game changer for my long lasting makeup routine. As an extremely oily skin girl, this is the one product I've tried that has made a noticeable difference in how long it takes for me to get shiny, if at all now. I lightly moisturize, let it sink in, apply a small amount of the primer, let it dry down for at least two minutes, then continue to apply my makeup as normal. When paired with the One/Size setting spray, my makeup really does last all day without breaking down. Would definitely repurchase!" —tiffanyt95Price: $34
A Tower 28 daily facial spray that'll help balance skin pH and help minimize irritation, redness, and flare-ups. Formulated to mimic the makeup of our bodies, this bad boy delivers ✨hypochlorous acid✨ (no, it's not a spell for incredible skin), which is found naturally in white blood cells.
A Fenty Beauty blurring tinted moisturizer because summer is right around the corner and heavy foundation + sweat + being so hot you basically wish you could take off a layer of skin = not a good time. It's oil free, transfer-, water-, and sweat resistant, lightweight, and perfect for a fresh, no-makeup makeup look.
A Milk Hydro Grip primer to help your makeup cling to your skin the way a 5-year-old clings to their parent's leg on the first day of kindergarten. This sticky, magical primer locks your makeup down to help avoid any fading or transfer.
A BaByliss titanium flat iron (1") that'll give you bone-straight, sleek, shiny hair. It heats up quickly, delivering some seriously fabulous salon-quality results.
A Haus Labs concealer with buildable coverage to help visibly blur, brighten, and conceal blemishes and discoloration. One use, and you'll be texting the group chat and talking about it non-stop. You won't be able to stop yourself, it'll be like word vomit, like when Cady couldn't stop talking about Regina. This concealer is definitely *so fetch*.
Promising reviews: "I really like this. I was surprised. It's very creamy, hydrating, and doesn't crease in my lines. I have mature, dry skin, so it's difficult to find concealers and foundations that don't pill or crease." —kittenfkuffies"This is simply the best concealer I have ever used in my life. It blends like a dream, never creases, is super buildable, and it's the only concealer line that includes proper undertones to conceal properly!" —mcy0106Price: $32 (available in 31 shades)
An oil-based cleansing balm by Then I Met You that'll remove your makeup (even water-resistant sunscreen!) and cleanse your skin of impurities and excess oils. It's chock full of seaberry oil, persimmon extract, olive oil, and vitamin E to help soften and protect your skin. So good, you'll go on a *witch hunt* for whoever conjured this up so you can thank them and make 'em your new bestie.
A Drybar interchangeable styling iron because you don't have space for all those dang hot tools. You'll get a 1-inch wand, a 1.25-inch curling iron, and a waver all in one fantastically compact, frizz-reducing ionic styling tool.
Plus, it has a 60-minute auto shut-off feature and comes with a heat-resistant carrying bag!Promising review: "Best curler I've ever had! If you have really thick or coarse hair and struggle to find a non-damaging, curl-holding device, I HIGHLY recommend this device. Yes, it's a little expensive, but it's worth it! It gets super hot, which I liked, but you can adjust the heat, and the product gave me a glossy-looking finish. The attachments are super easy to use and switch. Also, I sometimes have issues storing my hair products, but it comes with a heat protective little case, which is super convenient. I 100% recommend this!!!" —NDR36Price: $199
A Kulfi Beauty hydrating crease-proof concealer that's long-lasting, conceals dark circles, hyperpigmentation, and blemishes, banishes redness, and ~illuminates~ the under eye. This stuff will give you the plumpest, most moisturized, smooth, supple, balanced skin of your life without even needing to crack open a spell book.
A deep conditioning hair mask with rice protein and biotin in it so you can have pillow-y soft, moisturized, luscious locks. It's perfect for color treated hair, damaged strands, split ends, and frizz, and will help make your hair exxxxtra strong.
A Kiehl's night serum that'll help visibly smooth your skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and deep wrinkles. This stuff contains *pure retinol*, which is basically *pure magic* and will help with loss of firmness and elasticity.
Promising review: "I recently added this to my night regimen, and after two weeks of using it, I already notice a big difference. The lines on my forehead and between my eyes (11s) have already begun to fade. I'm impressed. It's well worth the cost. The bottle will probably last me three months; a little goes a long way. I've tried A LOT of different wrinkle serums and treatments, but this one is by far my favorite!" —JeskaPPrice: $88
The daily brush cleaning spray showing up in your life to help with cleaning your beauty tools:
The reviews used in this post have been edited for length and clarity.
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2 days ago
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17 Jaw-Dropping Facts About Classic Film Production
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2 days ago
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Juneteenth events and Black-owned businesses in Albuquerque
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3 days ago
- Business Insider
I visited Olive Garden for the first time in nearly 20 years. The meal wasn't perfect, but I can't wait to go back.
I visited an Olive Garden location for the first time in almost 20 years. I ordered four of the "create your own pasta" dishes, which came with soup or salad and breadsticks. Some of the meals were better than others, but overall, I was impressed by the dining experience. When I go to a chain restaurant, I know I can typically expect reasonable prices, decent food, a few crying babies, and a completely full stomach by the time I leave. On a recent trip to Olive Garden, my son and I experienced all of that and more. I hadn't been to the Darden-owned chain in nearly 20 years, so I was excited to see how the experience would stack up against other restaurant chains I've been to recently. Here's how the meal went. The chain is known for serving classic Italian-American fare. The Italian-American restaurant chain opened its first location in Orlando in 1982. It's owned by Darden — the same company that owns brands like Longhorn Steakhouse, Ruth's Chris, and Yard House. Today, there are nearly 900 Olive Garden restaurants around the world. However, my son and I visited a busy location in Long Island, New York. We started with the chain's unlimited soup, salad, and breadsticks. Since I hadn't been to an Olive Garden location in nearly 20 years, my son and I decided to order four different "create your own" pasta dishes to get a feel for the chain's offerings. Each meal came with the chain's signature "never-ending" soup or salad and breadsticks. To try a bit of everything, we asked for two servings of salad and two soups — pasta e fagioli and chicken and gnocchi. I wouldn't call the Olive Garden breadsticks memorable, but they were definitely bountiful. We were able to have as many as we wanted, which would have been great if we didn't have so much food coming. Although we enjoyed the bread, I found other parts of the first course to be more memorable. The salad was a bit overdressed and heavy on lettuce, but the croutons were tasty. I was impressed by the soups. Both soups, however, were better than I expected them to be. The chicken and gnocchi soup was rich, creamy, and loaded with an excellent balance of meat, gnocchi, and spinach. I also thought the pasta e fagioli was savory and balanced without being overly salty. After sampling each, my son and I agreed that the latter was the better of the two. When our meals came, I wasn't a fan of the pasta with marinara sauce. I make a decent homemade marinara sauce from scratch using a can of tomato sauce, chopped onions and garlic, salt, sugar, and a basic blend of herbs. The process, not counting the slow simmer, takes less than 10 minutes and is anything but a challenge. So, getting a dull marinara sauce from an Italian-themed restaurant was disappointing. I thought the marinara ($14) tasted like it was poured right from a can, without any additional handiwork by a chef. It was salty and tasted like — well, tomato sauce. The addition of freshly-grated Parmesan, black pepper, and red-pepper flakes helped some, but frankly, I'd choose my own marinara sauce any day of the week. I didn't love the meat sauce, either. Olive Garden's meat sauce ($14) tasted just like the marinara, but included ground beef and Italian sausage. The sauce was a bit too thin for my linking (it wasn't watery, but it wasn't thick, either) and the beef was a bit on the tough side. Without the tomato sauce, I'm willing to bet the meat would have been quite dry. Unless the chain changed up its marinara recipe, I likely wouldn't order either of these dishes again. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the creamy mushroom sauce. I typically detest mushrooms, but in the name of honest journalism, I ate several of the noodles that came in the creamy mushroom sauce ($14). I was pleasantly surprised at how good the taste was, even though I didn't eat any of the sliced mushrooms in the bowl. My son did, however, and said the dish was superb. My tasting of the noodles revealed a rich, creamy, flavor you'd expect from a classic Alfredo sauce, and I can see how anyone who enjoys mushrooms would've found the dish a pleasure. We loved the five-cheese ziti al forno. The five-cheese ziti al forno was more expensive than the other "create your own" pastas we ordered, but it was well worth the $19.30 price tag. It was heavy on cheese but didn't feel overwhelming. Overall, the dish had a flavor that reminded me of vodka sauce, and I loved the fact that it was baked. The fresh parsley sprinkled atop the pasta also added a nice herbal profile. Of the four meals we tried, we took home the least leftovers from this one. Overall, I enjoyed my meal at Olive Garden If you go to an Olive Garden expecting a Michelin-starred experience, you'll leave disappointed. However, if you come expecting food that will be filling, satisfying, and priced fairly, I'll wager that more times than not, you'll be happy with your meal. I never had a strong opinion about Olive Garden, but after visiting for the first time in almost 20 years, I'd definitely consider it on my list of places to return to.