My Sephora VIB Rouge Shopping Basket

Once a year, Sephora runs a sale on the stuff that never gets marked down—high end makeup, skincare, and fragrances. And the beauty world goes absolutely insane. Mind you, 20 percent isn't a huge discount, but it's a nice opportunity to stock up on tried and true products. VIB Rouge members get first crack at the sale, followed by their far less VI brothers and sisters.

Of course, it's a source of complete shame to me that I'm VIB Rouge at Sephora. COME ON. You have to spend $1,000 in a single year to reach that level. And I'm already on record as believing that Ulta and Nordstrom reward their regular shoppers much better than Sephora does. What do you get when you become Rouge--free makeup classes? Pfft—I could teach makeup classes. Next! Wait—you mean you get a free red lipstick??? YAY. My scorn was infinite.

And then, I made Rouge.

In my defense, when the Girls (bird, Martha MacGyver, and Susie Sunshine) were in town last month, we went to Sephora, where we made epic hauls. And some of the Girls—I name no names—gave the cashier my Sephora ID when they checked out. This added to Sephora's perceived total of my spending, and I qualified for VIB Rouge status.

This makes for a fun time when I search my purchase history. Like today, when I was trying to figure out what to buy to take advantage of the current sale. I'm just bird-brained enough to wonder "But if I bought that foundation, where did I put it? I don't remember trying it, and I can't find it anywhere."

Anyway. I was planning to shop in easy stages, because now that I'm Rouge, I get free three-day shipping. I thought that I could buy the really important stuff first, and then really wallow in guilt ponder through things thoroughly, because I had until November 7th to finish shopping.

But then the one thing I really planned to buy—the thing that made me feel like a Savvy Shopper—went out of stock in a couple of hours. So I went in hard. This is what I bought.

Sunday Riley Good Genes

I just started using this product this summer. I started out with a sample, then popped for Sephora's Power Couple. I've fallen hard for this genius softening-exfoliating-glow-giving wonder product, and planned on buying two large bottles to ensure a constant supply at a discounted price.

I placed two bottles in my shopping cart, but when I went back to purchase them, the large size was out of stock. So I bought two of the one-ounce size.

The large size I didn't get. Pout.

Chanel No. 5 Eau de Parfum

A long-time staple. I've gone through multiple bottles of this and am once more down to a tiny driblet.

Guerlain Rouge G in Gracia

Another staple. I'm currently eking out my oldest tube with a lipbrush at home, and carrying the new one in my purse. When I started wearing this shade, I think it cost $48. Now it's up to $54. If there was ever a product I deserve to save money on, it's this lipstick. Honestly, Guerlain, it's lipstick, not world peace.

Estee Lauder DayWear SPF25

I've been using this oil-free moisturizer for at least two years and really like it, even though it's expensive for what it is. (At Sephora, what isn't?)

Before I switched to this product, I swore by Garnier's SPF28 moisturizer, but the Garnier feels heavier and is generally less cosmetically elegant. The Estee Lauder product feels almost like a creme-gel hybrid and melts into my skin.  I use very high SPF Asian sunblocks when I'm really getting a lot of sun, but this is a good daily moisturizer with decent sun protection. It's extremely hydrating, and it's great under makeup.

Sephora collection Blush 101 Face Palette

Finally, something new and different!

The reviews of this palette mentioned that it is a good value, although the blushes aren't very pigmented. Since I'm very fair-skinned and usually wear the lightest shade of blush I can find, I thought this would make a nice all-purpose palette with both pink and coral shades. Also, it's pretty. and on sale, and for $15 (less 20 percent and a 4 percent rebate from eBates) I decided to go for it.

WTF, Sephora?

I followed a link from bird's blog to a page full of lovely-sounding oils at Sephora.

While there, I decided to check and see what my 1,170 Sephora points would get me these days.

For anyone who doesn't already know, once you join Sephora's Beauty Insider program, you receive one point for each dollar spent at Sephora. These points don't expire, and can be spent on deluxe samples as well as larger kits of bite-sized products.

Full disclosure: I did not spend $1,170 at Sephora last year. I've banked my points for years, waiting for really good stuff to pop up.

This is what I found today in the larger, 500-point selections:

- Laura Mercier – Foundation Primer - Radiance (0.5 oz)
- SEPHORA COLLECTION – The Mascara - Volume, Length & Definition (0.67 oz)
- Formula X – The Colors in X ♥ Rouge (0.13 oz)
- Buxom – Full-On™ Lip Polish in Dolly (0.05 oz) 

OK, first of all, four products? That's it?

Second, "Night-Out Necessities?"

A primer, mascara, nail polish, and lipgloss might be things I'd use when going out at night, but the implication is that you'd be carrying them in the so-called "clutch," which would never happen.

I don't know about you, but when I go out at night, I tend to carry a small purse, not a shaving kit, and I keep it pared down: my lip color du soir.  A comb. Tissues. Maybe a powder compact.

Definitely a powder compact now that I own this pearl-encrusted beauty from Estee Lauder. I intend to pull that baby out even if my nose doesn't need powdering, just to strike my friends dumb with its beauty.

What I don't carry: nail polish. Or primer, which, hello, goes on first, under the rest of my makeup.

Also, please note that Sephora manufactures Formula X nail polish, so half the offerings are Sephora products.

But enough with this grumpiness! On to the next idiotic 500 point bonus.

 - SEPHORA COLLECTION Express Eye Makeup Remover Wipes (0.101 oz each)
- SEPHORA COLLECTION Colorful Face Powders –  in 05 Sweet On You (0.006 oz)
- Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Aging Cleansing Gel (2 oz)
- Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment (0.07 oz)
- Marc Jacobs Fragrances Daisy Eau So Fresh (0.04 oz)
- Dolce&Gabbana Dolce Floral Drops (0.06 oz)
- Origins GinZing™ Refreshing Face Mask (0.24 oz)

OK, this one has seven products, but that's about the only nice thing I have to say.

This one's a "conveniently curated" collection of samples to help out at the gym. Hmm, let's see: two Sephora products, a cleanser, a face mask, a lip balm, and two fragrances.

Color me underwhelmed.

I may be overweight and middle-aged, but I spend a lot of time at the gym, and I can tell you what would be useful at the gym: crap you might have forgotten to pack in your gym bag. Crap you might have forgotten to pack in your purse.

I would suggest: packets of sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner, a small bottle of Micellar water with some of those amazingly soft Japanese cotton squares, tinted SPF lip balm, a BB cream, a hair tie, an emery board, and yes, this would be a great opportunity to sling along a trial-size mascara.

Poppy's theory

I'm using my mighty intellect to deconstruct these kits, and this is what I've got: Sephora has a overabundance of samples. Sephora wants to push its own products. Sephora tells some marketing schmo to find a way to get this stuff out the door. Marketing schmo decides to copy Estee Lauder, ipsy, etc., and plop half a dozen things into a plastic cosmetics bag.

Why Poppy is grumpy

These kits basically represent Sephora's gratitude for having spent $500 at their stores.

Pause for a moment and imagine what you'd get for buying $500 worth of Estee Lauder, Clinique or Lancome, if you shopped intelligently and took advantage of GWP events. Or say you waited and bought your high-end products during a beauty event at Barney's, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, or Space NK.

You would end up with a suitcase full of samples. I know this from personal experience. How did I get into my current situation with regard to samples? Well, it wasn't shopping at Sephora, I can tell you that.

I'll say it again, because it bears repeating: WTF, Sephora?