Sephora VIB Sale Fall 2017 Haul

~ stashy

Finally, I’m posting about my Sephora VIB sale haul! I had early access so I was able to start hauling on Nov 3rd. After the first window of shopping, this is what I ordered:

As mentioned in my shopping list post, I really did not need many things. The ONE item that I really wanted, the Surratt Beauty Artistique Cheek Brush, became out of stock right when the sale started on the Friday!!! I was so annoyed! 😡

I was a little sad looking at everyone’s hauls so I that’s why I didn’t stick 100% to my original plan. First, the items that I was going to 100% buy:

• Lavanila The Healthy Deodorant in Fresh Vanilla Lemon – $17  $13.60


• Clinique Purifying Cleansing Brush Head Refill 2 Pack – $54  $43.20
I bought these in the store because I didn’t see the 2 pack online. I used a gift card toward this as well.  The Smashbox 24 Hour Photo Finish Shadow Primer that I wanted also remained out of stock and I couldn’t decide on an alternative. I might just get the Smashbox from Shoppers Drug Mart with my Optimum Points instead.

To make me feel slightly better about the Surratt brush being out of stock, and pathetically only getting 2 things at the sale, I picked these up:

• Sephora Collection The Painter Airbrush Sponge – $15 originally  $6  $4.80
• Sephora Collection The Pointer Blending Sponges – $15  $12
I found the blue sponge in the sale section. I always end up in the sale section to “window shop” during the sale. 😉 The Pointer sponges fit over your finger – I’ve been wanting some smaller sponges for under eye concealing but wasn’t keen on those mini Beauty Blenders since they look finicky to hold.  These have good reviews online. [Edit: see The Pointer sponge in action here.]

I also redeemed 500 points for this set:

• Murad Brightening Effects Set which includes:
– 1.5 oz/ 44 mL Murad Essential-C Cleanser
– 3 Murad Rapid Resurfacing Peel
– 0.25 oz/ 7.4 mL Murad City Skin Overnight Detox Moisturizer
– 0.17 oz/ 5 mL Murad Eye Lift Firming™ Treatment
– 8 Murad Eye Lift Firming Treatment™ Pads

And, I realized that I never did receive my welcome gift for VIB Rouge earlier this year.

• Sephora Collection PRO Flawless Airbrush #56
A tiny blending brush… this might be good for concealer? I hope it’s good – I really liked the little Nars blush in Goulue that I got last year.

Just so you’re following my mental anguish about that Surratt brush at this point (dramatic face!), I even toyed with getting these items:

• Clinique Crayola Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm – so cute, right? I do NOT need this. I’ve got a bag full of lip products that I need to purge.


• Drunk Elephant Volume 2: Come C About Me set – was very tempted by this because I was in the market to replenish my vitamin C serum BUT I decided to try out something from The Ordinary first.


• Huda Beauty Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette – while I was waiting in line to buy that Clinique brush head 2 pack, I spied this since it has so much hype. I turned over the box to read where it was made and guess what? It’s made in CHINA! This is selling for $35 for something that probably cost them $3 to produce? o_O

Speaking of ridiculous, I saw this Sephora Collection Swarovski Pro Airbrush #55 in the sale section for only $250! It was originally $350:

“only a few left” 😆

I guarantee you that the brush itself is made in China – it’s a synthetic brush head brush. And don’t get me started on Swarovski crystals… it’s just fancy glass + lead. 🙄  And hey, Sephora is giving the #56 brush away for free as their VIB Rouge welcome gift (see above)!


I chose a bunch of samples since I was ordering for other people, I split up the orders to maximize samples (but without being a jerk!)  In total, I probably ordered 80% on behalf of friends and 20% for myself.

But I was holding out that they might possibly restock the Surratt brush. I put up an email alert in faint hope that they would restock before the end of the second phase of the sale on Nov 15th. Lo and behold, at 3am on Nov 15th, I received an alert to say that the Surratt Artistique Cheek Brush was back in stock! 😱  It was fate, I tell you!

Look at this beauty! ❤

Much glamour shots ahead:

• Surratt Beauty Artistique Cheek Brush – $125  $100 😇

The reveal… cue dramatic theme song from 2001: Space Odyssey…


It is *so* soft, it’s ridiculous! 😍

Also, I went through ebates for my online orders so I will be receiving an additional 2.5% back in rebates. 😀 All in all, a potentially downer of a haul turned out pretty well (I know, first world problems). What did you haul during the Sephora sale? And have you tried any of the items that I picked up? I’m off to stroke my face with the Surratt brush… don’t mind me. 😛

73 thoughts on “Sephora VIB Sale Fall 2017 Haul”

  3. Oh that Surrat brush handle is pretty, but not as pretty as the swarovski (I love swarovski jewellery, but that’s more as I just really enjoy the style more than anything!) I don’t think I could bring myself to spend that on a brush though, it would need a lot more off as I can’t imagine it’s comfortable to hold either!
    Did not expect the Huda to be made in China, I am still tempted though as they’re so travel friendly and dinky having seen them in person they swatch lovely too!

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    1. Don’t get me wrong, I do like how Swarovski looks but the price of that brush was ridiculous! I was given a Swarovski bracelet from my coworkers when I left my most recent job. It’s really pretty. 🙂 I recently learned that Cubic Zirconia is more durable than Swarovski with a harder structure, closer to diamonds. But CZ suffers from negative connotation of being “fake” whereas Swarovski has done great marketing.

      What is it about the Surratt brush that has you concerned about how comfortable it is to hold? It’s really lightweight actually. The handle is made of wood and painted with the gradation.

      Nothing wrong with the Huda being made in China… just why is it so expensive? Compare that to a $100 brush… which is made by hand in Japan, the hair tips not cut but with their natural ends, and will last me years and years. That’s how I justify the purchase. 😛

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  4. Yeahhhhhh I’m so happy your haul had a happy ending, LOL! Totally a first world problem, but it’s a sad day when the one thing you wanted most is sold out! I had that problem too, hehe.

    The blue sponge is such a steal! I love the idea of the small sponges for under the eyes, but could never justify like $20 for a dinky sponge.

    That Fresh lip balm that you got as a sample looks pretty awesome, as does the Drunk Elephant cream. Another benefit that VIB Rouges get: better samples, since all the good ones are gone by the time the other tiers start their sale.

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    1. I know I whined the whole time during the sale about the Surratt brush being out of stock and then the LAST day it comes back in stock… way to stress me out, Sephora! 😛

      True about the quality of the samples – I got prime picks when I was ordering on the first day and by the time I ordered on the 15th, it was just perfume and shampoo samples left!

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  5. Have you seen Real Techniques mini sponges? I found them tricky at first but now I always use them for under my eyes. That’s disappointing Huda’s sets are made in China. So many of the holiday sets are cheaply made in China too so I’m avoiding them x

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    1. I haven’t seen the RT mini sponges. I just feel like I’ll keep dropping the little itty sponges! (am clumsy!)
      I checked other Huda palettes – the larger ones are made in Italy. Terrible they cheapen the holiday releases but still charge an inflated price. I’m fine with made in China if they’re not marked up so much!

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      1. Haha trust me I’m super clumsy but they’re not easy to lose😊 That’s good. I have the two bigger palettes and the quality seems good, so it’s strange they’ve made the small palettes in China not Italy. I agree. The holiday palettes are usually over inflated prices x

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    1. The blue one I haven’t tested yet but the Pointer one is GOOD! I tried it 3 times last week, once dry and the other times wet and I liked how it blended both my under eye concealer and around my nose. I think I actually prefer it dry than wet. But overall, I recommend it! 🙂

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    1. The sale section mainly ONLINE, but yes some Sephora stores do have a sale section in the back (hidden) or sometimes random items throughout the store will have a red circle sign showing the price is dropped.

      The Surratt brush is glorious! I have enjoyed using it with various blushes – applies very naturally and feels like kitten paws on my cheeks!

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  9. Did you get the code for $25 off $50+ today too? I made another purchase. They got me.
    Got the Brazilian Set $58…

    YAY I’m so glad that you got the Surratt Brush you were pining over! It looks so beautiful. Have you started using it yet? In past years when things have gone out of stock I’ve watched it like a hawk and called numerous stores near me. I think the most expensive brush I ever purchased was one of those Sephora + Hakuhodo cheek brushes. Still not rouge again. I never got that red brush though where did you see it as an option it looks nice but can’t tell how tiny it is!

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    1. Yes I got the code for the $25 off $50 and for the life of me I can’t figure out what to get! Each year I target spending only ~$50 with that code or else it defeats the point of getting a significant percentage off (I know, I’m petty). I’ve browsed through Sephora for way too long to try to find something in the $50 range that I want / need…

      I used the Surratt brush a couple times already and it it SWOON worthy! It applies blush so naturally. I love the whole experience. I bought one of those Sephora + Hakuhodo brushes (it was a foundation brush) and was kind of disappointed.

      Review: hakuho-do + SEPHORA PRO Kusabi Brush


      The main gripe I had was that the bristles weren’t a high quality as what Hakuhodo is known for.

      I’ve bought other spendy brushes including Shu Uemura, Shiseido (from Japan – sadly Shiseido doesn’t sell brushes in North America), MUFE and Nars – but this Surratt one is a whole other level! The Shiseido ones I have may come close to it.

      I found the free Rouge brush in the section when you’re logged in:
      https://www.sephora.com/profile/BeautyInsider
      Then click on Rewards Bazaar:
      https://www.sephora.com/rewards

      I used to always forget to claim my free samples or check what point perks were available so now I make a point to check! I’m still sitting with 3300 points…

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      1. Did you end up figuring out what you wanted to spend the code on I guess it expires exactly 1 week from now haha? I just got the Bum Bum Beauty Escape set in the mail and love it so far!
        https://www.sephora.com/product/bum-bum-beauty-escape-P424116?skuId=1997675&icid2=sol_de_janeiro_lp_collection_carousel_us:p424116

        Thanks for the link to the Hakuhodo review I’ll check it out. Makes sense why it was on sale! I love all the glamour shots of the Surratt brush!

        Oh my gosh that’s a lot of points. Have you had a chance to redeem for any of the larger point items in the rewards bazaar? I know the quantities are super limited and different items for Canada but I FINALLY DID IT got them down to under 100 whew. My last one was the IT Cosmetics Set. Was pretty bad at 4K at one point.

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        1. Yes I finally figured out what to get! Not any makeup or skincare… but instead, more makeup TOOLS. I ended up really liking those Sephora finger sponges so I got another pack, and I picked up a Burberry eye brush. I had a makeup application done at Burberry before and they used Burberry brushes on me and I liked them a lot so I decided to get one to try out for myself.

          I’ve never redeemed for one of the high value rewards but have been curious – they don’t last long! I just redeemed a few more 100pt perks in my most recent order including 2 mini lipstick – one Bobbi Brown and another Tom Ford so I can test for myself why everyone raves about it…

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  10. Oo I’m digging the Surratt brush and the cool box that it comes in. That feature just makes it so classy without being OTT. What are some of your much loved brushes? (affordable or expensive?) I am looking for some new brushes but I don’t know where to start. (I only have Real Techniques and a few EcoTools.)

    I also try to stay clear of beauty items that are made in China too!

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    1. I read somewhere that the box itself is made in France… it also looks to be hand made or in small batches. The attention to detail definitely elevates the brush to another level.

      I’m planning on devoting an entry on my favourite brush since I’m in the midst of setting aside some that I’ve picked up over the years that I no longer use. I own probably over 250 eye brush alone… 😮 What type of brushes are you looking for? Eye, brush, powder?

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      1. I look forward to that post then! I would like to get some new foundation brushes…that would be really nice. I think new brushes overall so I was looking more at brush sets rather than singular…but any recommendations would be good! I just don’t know where to start. 🤔😥😅

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        1. To be honest, you don’t need to spend much on foundation brushes since they’re all synthetic. I personally like ones that have a slight flop to the bristles to help with blending – some brushes I find to be too dense and they drag the foundation instead of blending. Ones I like (I’ll stick to non-Real Techniques brands):
          Coastal Scents Bionic Flat Top Buffer (not sure if they ship to the UK?):
          https://www.coastalscents.com/products/bionic-flat-top-buffer

          bdellium tools 959 Powder Blending:
          https://www.bdelliumtools.com/products/green-bambu-959-powder-blending
          I just got this and I’m in love! Blends wonderfully and who cares the name is “Powder Blending” – I use it for liquid.

          Have you tried any of those “toothbrush” type brushes? I really like the MAC one:

          MAC Masterclass Oval 6 Brush


          I use mine regularly and am considering buying a 2nd one. I really want MAC to release a SUPER large one so I can blend my foundation in 3 swipes! I have 2 other brushes in this style from other brands and the material / density of the MAC one is perfection – it’s not too dense or too floppy (the Goldilocks effect 😉 )

          Similar to my dislike for pre-made palettes, I think brush sets can be a trap too. There are always duds in the bunch and I often don’t love the shape and material of every brush that one particular company offers. I end up not using a lot of brushes I get in brush sets. And it frustrates me to no end when companies offer a stellar brush ONLY in brush sets! Grrrr. So um… what I’m saying is, I can’t in good conscience recommend a full brush set to you. 😛

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          1. I see. I am sure they sell bdellium brushes in my local store aka Superdrug so I’ll check that one out! Similar to you, I also prefer brushes with a slight flop. I own the RT face expert brush and most of the time it is too dense for me, doesn’t blend the way I want it to and ends up leaving brush marks! (Which is why the stippling has become my most favourite). Hmm what you said about the brush sets is very interesting so I’ll take that into account, thanks. 🙂
            I have not yet tried any toothbrush style brushes (I have forgotten the correct name too haha) but I’ve heard very good things. I shall have to pop into a MAC store soon and have someone run me down with the different brushes that they do! But anyhow, thanks for your advice!

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            1. That’s awesome you have easy access to bdellium! I can only order them online. I should also call out the bdellium Studio 957 Precision Kabuki. It is also great – I forgot about that one.

              I thought a little more about brush sets and I do have one brush set that I would recommend because it’s not too pricey and I ended up liking 90% of the brushes it contains. The e.l.f. 11 pc Studio brush set:
              https://www.elfcosmetics.com/p/eleven-piece-brush-collection

              Well worth the money and the stand out brushes for me were the eye shadow “C” brush, powder brush (which looks like a long handled flat top kabuki) and blush brush. I see they offer quite a few brush sets now:
              https://www.elfcosmetics.com/makeup/tools-brush-sets
              The Luxe brush collection and 19 pc collection are worth a look!

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    1. I know, it’s a little insane and I hope I haven’t gone down some crazy path. I’ve bought some pricey brushes before but none over that $100 mark! I definitely see the quality in this though – the brush is hand made and the tips aren’t cut to shape them so the natural tapered tips of the hair remain intact. I’m planning on purging a bunch of brushes I don’t reach for and only keeping ones I absolutely love (and not based on price point either).

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    1. Thank you! Hehe, I like how you wished me many happy makeup moments – I love that! 😀
      I’ve used the finger makeup sponge a few times now and I like it a lot! I prefer it dry rather than wet though.

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  14. That’s so lucky that the brush came back in stock for you! I hate when there’s a sale and the one thing I really want isn’t available.
    I didn’t realize that the mini Huda palette was made in China, now I’m glad I didn’t buy it! Great haul!

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    1. I wasn’t holding my breath that the brush would go back in stock. I honestly think Sephora PURPOSELY pull stock out during the sale! I have no proof but it’s a theory…

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  15. I did place an order during the sale, but since the discount doesn’t work for international orders I paid full price (I knew this going into it though). I got 2 foundations and a few eyeshadow palettes. I am back at making my inner palette junkie happy again after more than a year of holding out to save up for the house.

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    1. That’s too bad international customers don’t get the discount! Palettes are like drugs… I’ve held firm on not buying any and I’ve been good so far…
      I think saving up for a house is a worthy cause – I’m glad you achieved it! 😀

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  16. So glad you’re back posting again! I always look forward to your posts 🙂
    I had a sad sort of VIB haul this year too. I’m kind of annoyed with Sephora as of late so I haven’t been buying from them quite as often anyway.
    I really need to start paying attention to where makeup is manufactured. I really appreciate that you always make a point of identifying the origin! That’s totally cured me of any interest in the Huda palette.

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    1. Aww thanks! I’m not entirely happy with frequency / quality of posts right now but I’m doing my best. I’m just crazy busy with work – ugh.
      Similar to you, I’m not shopping at Sephora as much as I used to. Now only really only take advantage of the discounts / coupons and that’s it.
      Yes, it’s a habit of mine – always check country of origin! This is an older post but it’s all about that topic:

      Where was it made?

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      1. I tend to be feast or famine with the frequency of my posts. But you’ve got to do what makes you happy. If the blogging thing isn’t as enjoyable right now, that seems pretty natural. I say just go with it! 🙂

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  17. That Clinique lip crayon is soooo cute omg!! I’m a sucker for cute packaging… I know that feel though. I have so many makeup items in my stash that I should probably use before getting new stuff… During this sale, I only got one item for myself! I got another item as a present for my mom.

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    1. I was *this* close to getting one of those Clinique lip crayons – the packaging is adorable! I imagine if I pulled it out to apply, people would think I was using a real crayon to colour in my lips! 😆

      You did so well with restraining yourself during the sale. Did you post about what you bought? If not, can you tell me what you bought? 🙂

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  18. I was almost worried while reading that you never got the Surratt Brush but thank goodness that you did! I love how the second half of this post was dedicated to it haha 🙂 It looks like such a great brush!

    You saw my haul (sans the gifts for other people) I feel I was mostly getting items I needed rather than wanted. I was tempted to get one of the Huda Beauty Palettes too because they looked so gosh darn cute, but decided against it because instead, I got the Just Peachy Palette.

    Let me know how you end up liking the Sephora sponges, I actually own the mini blender and it’s the dumbest thing ever! Never get it. I feel the beauty blender for cheeks would be a better size for around the eyes because the eye one is so hard to hold.

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    1. I had to weave in some suspense about getting that brush because it was like a roller coaster ride for me… 😆

      I’ve used that Sephora Pointer / finger sponge several times now and it is GREAT! I was skeptical but it works really well blending my under eye concealer and around my nose area. I prefer it dry rather than wet. It fits awesomely over my fingers – I felt a bit silly at first like I was putting on a finger puppet? But it works! I’m thinking of buying another set to rotate them when I’m too lazy to wash them daily… 😛

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      1. Haha! Great weaving, the suspense was killing me before the end.

        Good to know those sponges work. I have a few sponges from Sephora I like actually, I don’t know why I even bother purchasing the beauty blender.

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  23. I almost purchased this Huda Beauty last night but ended up getting something else. ☺️ and I am drooling over the Surrat brush.. looks amazing!😁

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