21 Days of Beauty Guide | March 2020
Whelp. I know I’m not the only one feeling like I’ve been whiplashed over the last week. Everything has changed so drastically and escalated so quickly with COVID-19 and I feel like it’s taking everything I have to just keep my head on straight. On top of that, I am currently being treated for Strep Throat and Tonsilitis, so it’s been extra hard to stay calm with my own health. I’ve debated whether or not to even put this post together because talking about a makeup sale feels frivolous and ridiculous during a time of real issues. However, I also know that the things that are helping me the most right now are things that help life feel normal, and shopping this sale and talking about beauty and makeup are all things that make me feel normal! So, here’s my newest guide to this year’s 21 Days of Beauty Sale!
Ulta’s 21 Days of Beauty is a semi-annual event (held in the spring and fall) where they mark down a ton of high-end products for one day (usually 50% off or more.) Each day features a new product at a significant discount, so you have to act fast to get your hands on that product because once the day is over, the discount disappears! Most of the sales are offered in-store, but there are also some that you can only get online. There are also “hot buys” that last the duration of the sale at their discounted prices, although this year, they are switching out the hot buys every week. Additionally, Platinum and Diamond members get additional perks (like free shipping on any deal) and there are usually some last-minute items added throughout the month that aren’t advertised as a surprise!
Because it’s my goal to help reduce the overwhelm you feel when you walk into a makeup store like Ulta (or look at a sale list like the 21 Days of Beauty) I always put together a guide to help you know what products are worth the purchase and which ones you can skip! I’ll be honest – there are more products I’m purchasing for the first time to try out this year than I have already tried (and I’ll list those below as well) so my recommendation list isn’t as big as previous years. But there are a few things I can whole-heartedly recommend and a few things I can say “HARD PASS” to!
But first, some tips for getting the most out of this sale:
- Most of these one-day deals are offered both in-store and online. With the way the country is right now, however, there are some ULTAS closed temporarily. They have a full list of what those stores are listed on their website. There are some deals that are offered only online, however. They are still offering a buy online and pickup in-store, so if you don’t want to wait for shipping, you can try that option out!
- If you are going to order a product online, the deals normally launch at midnight, so I’d recommend getting on the night before if you’re up to order. If not, try to do it as early in the morning as you can, because products sell out FAST. I usually set calendar reminders on my phone for the deals I want to get to remind me to get on and order them!
- If you are going to shop in-store, the same thing applies. I’ve swung by Ulta during my lunch break to find that the product was already sold out.
- I’d also sign up for the Ulta emails if you don’t have them coming to you, to begin with. As I said, they sometimes offer last minute deals that they don’t advertise and that’s the first place to find out about them!
What to Buy:
March 16th – Dermalogica Sound Sleep Cocoon Mask (ON SALE for $41.00 each, regularly priced at $82.00) Diamond/Platnium Online Deal only – I’ve been REALLY into skincare lately and working hard on educating myself on what ingredients to add, avoid, and use to help improve my skin. Dermalogica is a fantastic skincare brand and this sleep mask is a game-changer. This sleep mask targets dryness, fine lines, and uneven texture/skin tone and is free of all sulfates, parabens, and synthetic fragrances. It also doesn’t have any active ingredients (AHA or BHA) so it’s great to layer with an active serum before bed.
March 17th – Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream (ON SALE for $44.50 regularly priced at $89.00) – This cream is life-changing and one of my all-time favorites, ever. It’s so pricy on its own, so I’m definitely snagging two during this sale. This cream specifically focuses on smoothing fine lines and wrinkles and I’ve seen it work wonders in my big forehead wrinkle. Definitely one to pick up if you are looking to improve wrinkles and fine lines!
March 17th – Ofra Cosmetics Highlighters (ON SALE for $17.50-20.00, regularly priced at $35.00-$40.00) – These highlighters almost always are included during this sale and for good reason: they are some of the best on the market. They are pigmented, smooth, and pack a legit punch of glow. They are also MASSIVE pans, so you get a lot of product, especially at the sale price. My favorite shades are Pillow Talk, Glazed Donut and Rodeo Drive!
March 21st – Tarte Shape Tape Concealer (ON SALE for $13.50, regularly priced at $27.00) – One of the BEST concealers on the market, especially if you’re looking for something that’s full coverage and won’t crease. It’s had my holy grail stamp of approval for almost two years now and one that I’m never without. I will definitely stock up on a few (one that’s my skin color for blemish concealing and one that’s a few shades lighter for under my eyes and highlighting purposes!)
March 21st – Tula 24-7 Moisture Hydrating Day & Night Cream (ON SALE for $26.00, regularly priced at $52.00) – I picked this up during the last sale to try because I feel like Tula is a pretty talked about brand in the influencer world and wanted to give it a go on my own. I’m stoked to report that this cream definitely lived up to its hype. I loved the whipped texture and the use of probiotics in the formula, which help reduce inflammation.
HOT BUY – March 15th-21st – ItCosmetics Bye Bye Pores Bronzer & Blush (ON SALE for 30% off) – The Bye Bye Pores Pressed Powder is my HOLY GRAIL of all pressed powders and ItCosmetics does not disappoint with their bronzer version. It truly gives you an airbrushed look and blends out beautifully (no patchiness!) The undertone of the bronzer is also perfect – not too warm and not too muddy. I haven’t tried the blush formula but would expect it to deliver the same results.
March 22nd – Lorac Unzipped Eyeshadow Palette (ON SALE for $17.50, regularly priced at $35.00) – One of my first high-end eyeshadow palettes and a great one for those of you looking for pretty rosy tones that are easy to use for both simple and smokey looks. This is my go-to palette on the rare occasions I do bridal makeup because the colors look great on every eye color and the metallics really brighten up the eyes in general.
March 26th – Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner (ON SALE for $11.00, regularly priced at $22.00) – If you’ve been with me for a while, you’ll already know: my holy grail liquid liner. Can’t stop, won’t stop. Easy to use, wears all day and black as night. ALWAYS recommend this liner and ALWAYS stock up on it when it’s on sale!
March 26th – Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner (ON SALE for $11.00, regularly priced at $22.00) – If you’ve been with me for a while, you’ll already know: my holy grail liquid liner. Can’t stop, won’t stop. Easy to use, wears all day and black as night. ALWAYS recommend this liner and ALWAYS stock up on it when it’s on sale!
April 4th – Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow Eyebrow Gel (ON SALE for $12.00, regularly priced at $24.00) – A tried and true tinted eyebrow gel that keeps brows locked in place and helps fill in sparse areas. It’s a solid product and one I always recommend when it’s on sale!
April 4th – Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum (ON SALE for $19.50, regularly priced at $39.00) – I received this serum in my BoxyCharm box at the end of last year and this serum has become a STAPLE for me. I’m OBSESSED! It’s lightweight but so moisturizing and I feel like I’ve been watching my pores become invisible over the last few weeks. My skin literally feels like glass! I’ve also noticed that my makeup has been even easier to apply lately because there’s no texture on my skin to disrupt it! This skincare brand, in general, has really become a go-to for me because it’s effective and at a good price point!
HOT BUY – March 29th – April 4th – Urban Decay Vice Lipsticks (ON SALE for $13.30, regularly priced at $19.00) – I love the Comfort Matte and Sheer formulas on these lipsticks and the shade ranges are awesome. They are also long-lasting and feel very hydrating! Colors I am picking up this round are Hideaway, Trip, and Wrong Number.
What to pass on:
I have a few things that I would recommend that you pass on, and here’s why:
- Estee Lauder DayWear Cream – This is what one of my favorite skincare influencers calls a “legacy product” – AKA a product that all our moms wore and has a good reputation but isn’t necessarily the best on the market anymore. While I didn’t have a bad experience with this cream, I definitely would recommend the Tula one over it any day.
- Benefit Bad Girl Bang Mascara– The Benefit “They’re Real” was my first high-end mascara and I remember LOVING it SO MUCH! I haven’t used it in a long time to know if I still love it, but I did try the Bad Girl Bang mascara much more recently and that is a hard pass. It makes your eyelashes SO stiff and it’s impossible to get off without pulling eyelashes out.
- Becca Backlit Priming Filter – While not awful, I would recommend the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Filter or the L’Oreal Lumi Glotion over this.
What I’m Buying:
I’m for sure going to be grabbing the Tula Moisturizer, stocking up on Shape Tape and Stila liquid liner. Here are a few deals I’m personally going to snag up for products I haven’t tried yet:
HOT BUY – Peach & Lily Super Reboot Resurfacing Mask – (ON SALE FOR $30.10, regularly priced at $43.00) – As I mentioned above, Peach & Lily has become a skincare line that I’ve become really impressed with and I wanted to get my hands on this mask as I’m almost out of my Drunk Elephant one. This mask has active ingredients in it (AHA and BHA) to help exfoliate the skin and unclog pores. It’s recommended for those who have rough, textured skin, uneven skin tone, and prone to acne. It also has great reviews! Sign me up!
March 26th – Sunday Riley Flash Fix Kit (ON SALE for $12.50, regularly priced at $25.00) – I’ve wanted to try the Good Genes Lactic Acid treatment for a while now, but it is EXPENSIVE! I love snagging these little kits, especially when they are on sale, so I can try out the product before investing in the full size. It’s how I tried out the Drunk Elephant Baby Sukuri Facial (also an expensive full-sized product) to find out if I liked it!
WHEW! As always, that was a lot, but we made it to the end. I truly hope that this helps you feel confident about treating yourself to a fun product or two during the sale. I’ll do my best to update my IG stories daily to remind you when my recommended products go on sale, that way you don’t miss out on them, so make sure you’re following me there! Let me know if you have any questions!
