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Sephora Favorites: LUXE – The Elevated Essentials Review

Jessica Hapak
ByJessica HapakSep 15, 2021 | 8 comments

group shot showing all of the products next to the box

Sephora Favorites
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Everyone knows Sephora is a beauty store where you can find almost anything and everything related to makeup, skincare, body care, hair care, and self-care, but did you know they also frequently release curated limited edition sets? They recently released the LUXE- The Elevated Essentials Collection, and it only cost $25 while being packed with luxury product samples! Of course, I couldn't resist the urge to grab one.

FYI – this kit is still available for purchase (while stocks last)! 

My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

First Impressions

 

This set comes packaged in a red and pink striped box that's sturdy and can definitely be repurposed. It also has an info sheet with more details about the products. Also, don't forget that with every Sephora purchase you can choose two free samples, and all purchases over $25 qualify for various gifts with purchase- I chose a sample of a Supergoop! sunscreen I haven't tried before.

The Breakdown – What’s Inside This Limited Edition Box From Sephora

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture Satin Lipstick in 70 Le Nu, 0.03 oz - Estimated Value $8.77 (buy the 0.13 oz version for $38)

 

I love, love, love this lipstick- it is a perfect nude color for my skin tone, and the formula is creamy, hydrating, and non-sticky. It's really comfortable to wear and has both the color and formula that works really well for a quick swipe and go. This is the kind of lipstick I could wear every day to work and not have to worry about it getting all over my face or teeth while still giving enough color to help me look polished.

Guerlain L'Or 24K Gold Radiance Primer, 0.17 oz - Estimated Value $12.58 (buy the 1 oz version for $74)

clear primer sample with flecks of gold next to black box it came packaged in

Gold? In my primer? I've actually tried it before thanks to the YSL Touch Eclat primer, but I was game to try this equally luxurious one from Guerlain. This primer has a lightweight gel texture that absorbs easily into my skin and leaves it feeling prepped for foundation. There's no noticeable gold left on my skin once I pat it in, but I still feel fancy when I use it, and I liked how my concealer laid on top of it.

Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream with TFC8® Face Moisturizer, 7 ml - Estimated Value $39.67 (buy the 15 ml version for $85)

white tube of moisturizer next to grey box

I had an interesting experience with this moisturizer- I'm not sure if I got a bad sample, or if this is a moisturizer that is just prone to separation. Even after giving this tube a good shake, I didn't get a full moisturizer dispensed out-it was a lot of oils and then some solids. I still put it on my face though- at $170 for an ounce, I kind of had to. And it still was really hydrating to my skin, even if I'm not sure it was the right consistency. Did it leave my skin so soft I could justify the price tag? No, but that's why I love sets like these that allow me to try these products at a significant discount.

Tatcha The Deep Cleanse Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser, 0.85 oz - Estimated Value $8 (buy the 1.7 oz version for $16)

mini blue bottle of cleanser standing next to black box it was packaged in

I actually used to have a full-size version of this cleanser a few years ago when I was sorely misguided and thought my dry skin was actually oily! This didn't work too well for me- because it's designed for actually oily skin. On me, it was too drying and stripping. The texture of the cleanser is a gel, and it lathers up really well once water is added. This cleanser has Japanese luffa fruit that was allegedly harvested under a full autumn moon. That fancy fruit gently exfoliates each time you cleanse, but that was still too much for my sensitive skin. If your skin isn't as dry and sensitive as mine, I think you'll have better luck. And I still really like the Tatcha brand as a whole, and hope to see more from them in future boxes.

Christophe Robin Volume Shampoo Paste with Rassoul Clay and Rose Extracts, 1.35 oz - Estimated Value $10.26 (buy the 2.5 oz version for $19)

 

I was excited to try this shampoo paste out-it's a new product to me, but I love their salt scrub. I was a little nervous with this being a clay-based shampoo, but it actually wasn't too drying on my scalp, and it rinsed away cleanly without stripping my hair of its natural oils. I'm not sure if I actually noticed a difference in volume, but my hair is so heavy that I didn't expect it to. This isn't my new favorite shampoo, but I am happy I was able to try it.

Jo Malone London English Pear & Freesia Cologne, 0.3 oz - Estimated Value $22.20 (buy the 1 oz version for $74)

 

I love, love, love Jo Malone- I bought myself a big bottle of the Peony and Blush Suede perfume as a law school graduation present to myself, and that's the perfume I wear every time I have a scheduled court appearance. That bottle is huge and will last me until I retire, but I still love trying out new perfumes. This has notes of pear, freesia, and patchouli with hints of amber and woods. It's a true floral scent with softness from the pear, and the patchouli and amber round it out to make it a bit more complex than your standard fragrance. This lasts all day on me, and I love that we received a mini spray instead of a mini rollerball- I'm not a big fan of applying fragrances I can't spray on.

Value – Was This Box Worth It?

The Cost: $25

Cost Breakdown: 

  • YSL: $2.16
  • Guerlain: $3.10
  • Augustinus Bader: $9.77
  • Tatcha: $1.97
  • Christophe Robin: $2.53
  • Jo Malone: $5.47

This set promises a $96 value and my math adds up to $101.48! For $25, you save more than 75%

Keep track of your subscriptions by adding this box to your subscription list or wishlist!

Key Takeaways

I am a huge fan of the curated sets from Sephora Favorites, whether it's their LUXE line (usually $25 with five high-end samples), their Hello! line (usually $10 with five samples), or their other sets that feature various full-size and sample-sized items. That held true here- I thought this was an awesome assortment of luxury brands with high-quality samples. I would say my favorite products are the Jo Malone perfume and YSL lipstick, but it was fun to try all of the items inside. Even if you just want to use this to stock up on travel-size high-end beauty products, this is still a great way to do it.

Other Things You Should Know

Can you still get this box if you order today? Yes, this set is still available for purchase!

What do you think of the Sephora Favorites: LUXE- The Elevated Essentials set? What sample would you be most excited to try?

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Sephora Favorites are exclusive, limited edition sets filled with Sephora's top-selling and highly coveted beauty and skincare products. Sephora Favorites kits are released several times a year and the curated collections sell out quickly.

Jessica Hapak
Jessica Hapak
I am a staunch believer that pineapple doesn’t belong on pizza and when I’m not working as a family law attorney I enjoy hiking the Louisiana trails (alligator sightings are a favorite!) or relaxing with Duchess, my cat. I’m a sucker for anything labeled a mystery box and I’ve never met a bath bomb I didn’t like.

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8 comments

Jacki

These are my favorite boxes! I’m trying to purchase more fragrances in mini bottles, because I never get through full sized ones. The same applies to lippies.And who doesn’t find little gold flakes on your skin bougie?

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Jessica Hapak

Jacki, you and I could be good friends 😍

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Tammy g.

i loved this box…everything in it was great..looking forward to more..thanks Sephora.

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Jessica Hapak

Trendmood had some spoilers of upcoming Sephora Favorites kits that should be released in November and they look 🤯🤯

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Jessica

I was surprised by how much I loved the lipstick, given it was a “neutral”. It was a very pretty soft pink on my fair skin.

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Jessica Hapak

I am right there with you! Such a pretty neutral

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Snow

This was a great set minus the nude lipstick that broke as soon as I tried to apply it grrrrrrr 🤬 Into the trash that went like I was shooting a basket.

Not really into primers either (they tend to frustrate me more than help in any sort of way).

Perfume was lovely as well as the actual box this set came in ha ha. Hoping Sephora keeps pumping these out as they always seem fun to get ☺️

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Jessica Hapak

That is such a bummer 😩 hopefully that means no lipstick can break on you for at least the next 7 years.

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