Millennials and Gen Zers grew up in the YouTube convention era, when events like Comic-Con, BravoCon, and BeautyCon were created so fans could turn online communities into real-life connections. There are plenty of fan groups out there in the ether (does anyone remember Vine’s MagCon?), but the aesthetic may be too broad to be encapsulated in a single convention center. To deal with this, sephoria Born in 2018—Dedicated Sephora Shoppers were in the same room with their favorite beauty founders, influencers, and brands, and I had the chance to get a first-hand look at what this beauty utopia had to offer.
between Master classes with celebrity makeup artists and hair stylists like mario dedivanovic (makeup by Mario) and chris appletonLike meet and greet moments with founders/internet celebrities claudia sulewski (producer cyclar), and attendees got plenty of product to take home with their tickets, there was no shortage of aesthetic delights at the Downtown Los Angeles Convention Center. When I analyzed my surprise bag of best-selling perfumes, travel-sized gifts, hot skincare launches, and more, I knew I had to share the wealth to test them all.
WWW associate beauty editor Alyssa Brascia with her take-home bag from Sephoria
Lucky for me, my parents and some of their close friends were in NYC shortly after my return from LA, which meant I had some extra helpers when it came to testing my running. After a few weeks of experimenting with over 120 Sephora products, my (very picky) mom and I got together to discuss which products we would actually buy again. Below, check out our winners from Jo Malone, Makeup By Mario, and more.
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top fragrance
joe malone
Raspberry Ripple Cologne
My mom has been a lifelong fan of Jo Malone fragrances, but that doesn’t mean she loves every scent from the brand. In fact, she is generally strictly against sweet fragrances, so I got the shock of a lifetime when she wrote a complimentary review of this fruity fragrance. “I Love “The new Jo Malone Raspberry Ripple,” she wrote, citing its fresh sweet scent as the reason. Its berry brightness is balanced with white musk – one of his favorite notes – which may explain this phenomenon. Still, it’s a new spring and summer favorite.
floor
Honey Moon Eau De Parfum
From the moment I smelled this juicy floral perfume at Sephoria, I knew I’d be wearing it all summer long. There’s something about this honeyed-citrus scent from Fleur that takes me straight to the beach — probably because I wore it immediately after trying it at the conference in Miami just a few days later. From the first whisper, the ripe blend of mandarin, manuka honey, sandalwood, orange blossom and saffron smells like a white sand holiday in a bottle. hold one travel size If you don’t want to commit to anything big just yet. You’ll want to take it on every trip.
Ouch
St. Bart’s Hair and Body Mist
My mom’s friend excitedly messaged me after snagging a mini version of the Ouai St. Barts Hair & Body Mist from my Sephoria stash. “It’s a light, tropical, warm scent that lasts all day,” she praised. “I actually had someone recognize me immediately and say it was her favorite too! I would absolutely buy the full size.”
Top Skin Care & Body Care
gods
Instant Angel Lipid-Rich Firming Moisturizer
Editors everywhere praise Dykes’ non-comedogenic moisturizer, known for providing divine skin with just one layer of this nourishing formula. The moisturizer is rich and medium-thick, which is why I use it as a night cream over a makeup base, but my skin always thanks me in the morning.
isdin
Fusion Water Magic SPF 40 Sunscreen
I recently tried Isdin’s Multitasking Sunscreen on a hot trip to Miami and not only achieved optimal sun protection—a miracle for my sunburn-prone skin after a long NYC winter—but was also surprised by how well it hydrated and smoothed my skin. It also works as a great makeup primer, giving my foundation something to hold on to without pilling or creasing.
ultra violet
Sheen Screen SPF 50 Hydrating Sunscreen Lip Balm
One of my biggest skin concerns is my lips burning in the sun (if you’ve ever had this, you’ll understand why), so I try to use an SPF lip balm whenever possible. However, this was a forced habit for years, as most were only available in sticky formulas that left unsightly white stains and tasted like chemicals. That was until glossy lip balms like Ultra Violet joined the chat. Sheen Screen provides SPF 50 without turning your lips into a rubbery shell, instead leaving them shining with a pink, glossy glaze. I’ll take 10, please!
tower 28
SOS Daily Hypochlorous Acid Spray
I have rosacea, often experience eczema and inflammation after testing new products, and work up a sweat at the gym, so this spray from Tower 28 was practically made for me. It has just three ingredients – water, hypochlorous acid and sodium chloride – and keeps both breakouts and irritation at bay with just a few quick spritzes. This is now a gym-bag essential.
josie maran
Whipped Argan Oil Firming Body Butter Jar in Topless Tangerine
WDW Beauty Director Erin Jahns has long praised Josie Maran’s body butter with this delectable citrus scent, so I didn’t miss the chance to try it for myself at Sephoria. I snorted with joy when I smelled its sophisticatedly sweet scent – a chic, sensual wash of sparkling citrus – and I was even happier when I realized how easy it was to blend it into my skin. Some body butters are overly thick and leave a white layer, but this one practically melts into my skin and keeps it hydrated for hours.
olehenrixen
Banana Bright+ Vitamin C Eye Cream
My mom’s friend also praised this famous eye cream from OleHenriksen. Known for its brightening and softening effects, this creamy elixir quickly earned a place in her everyday routine. “I love the refreshing scent, and my skin feels smooth and soft after use – not greasy at all,” she wrote.
estura
Etobarrier365 Cream
I’ve been a fan of this sensitive skin-friendly cream for a long time, but my mom recently got into it. They appreciated the silky, comfortable consistency of the cream and how nice it felt on their skin. This is my personal favorite for travel, because it’s intensely hydrating as an overnight treatment, yet can be used for light, everyday use.
elemis
Dynamic Gentle Resurfacing Pad with Lactic Acid
After a satisfactory test of these exfoliating pads my mom messaged me, “Elemis facial pads make my skin glow in the morning.” The circular woven pieces, soaked in a cocktail of lactic acid and fermented probiotics, work to gently remove dead skin cells and resurface new, smoother skin underneath. My mom has sensitive skin, and these daily exfoliants never caused her any discomfort – in fact, quite the opposite. I’ll have to buy a jar for myself.
Top Makeup Products
idem
Le Chouchou Peptide Lip Balm
Idem makes some of the trendiest lip balms on the market, and I never owned one of these iconic silver tubes until my tenure at Sephoria. I got the gist of it right after the first swipe and the formula is deeply hydrating without feeling sticky or overly shiny. With both intense moisture and a sheer wash of color, it’s quickly become my favorite lip topper.
danessa myricks beauty
colorfix files
I’m a big fan of Danessa Myricks’ matte Colorfix pigments, but this was the first time I got my hands on the famous foils. The highly pigmented liquid works brilliantly as a metallic eyeshadow, but you can also dip a fine liner brush into the pigment to swipe it along the lash line for a singular eyeliner moment. If you really want to experiment, try applying it on your lips or blending it on your cheeks for a versatile moment.
Haus Labs
Color Fuse Hydrating Glassy Lip + Cheek Blush Balm
Ever since I found the Haus Labs Glassy Blush Balm in my goodie bag, I haven’t been able to get it off. The impressively hydrating formula is easy to spread, delivering a watercolor glow on cheeks, which is great for the blush-blocking trend that experts predict will dominate in 2026. It’s easy to build intensity for a strong bloom without disturbing the layers below. Unfortunately for my credit card statement, I need every color.
Pat McGrath Labs
Liquilust: Legendary Wear Matte Lipstick in Elson 4
Taylor Swift’s red lip of choice is rumored to be the classic blue-red from Pat McGrath Labs (Elsen 4, for those who are curious), and we took home a matte liquid lipstick after our Sephoria trip. As someone who swore she’d never wear a matte liquid lipstick again after the drying formulas of her youth, I was hesitant to put this thing on my lips — until I realized how little time it took to get a full red pout and how lightweight it felt. PML’s Liquilust is a testament to modern liquid-lipstick formulation, and I’m officially adding it to my collection.
makeup by mario
Soft Pop Plumping Cream Blush Veil in Perfect Pink
I’ve waxed poetic about Mario’s Makeup by Cream Blush more times than I can count, both in writing and to anyone who would listen IRL, but my mom’s friend was the latest to join the fan club after taking this compact home. “It’s very pigmented and lasts all day,” she wrote. All you need is a sheer layer on your fingers, a soft brush or a sponge to get the buildable flush of your dreams.
top hair products
color wow
XL Bombshell Volumizer
Okay, there’s only one hair product that I’ve completely incorporated into my routine since Sephoria, but you could say I’ve saved the best for last. I’m always looking for the next best volumizing product, and this hair volumizing mousse from Color Wow is the best option. I used a few pumps of the mousse from roots to ends and noticed that the foam was clearly volumizing my hair – the formula giving “fingers” as it was heat-styled to hold the hair, thickening the hair and adding volume all around.
