I worked at Sephora for 11 years. Here are my favorite products under $20 at the retailer.

Thu, 04/25/2024 - 07:57

A hand holds a $20 bill in front of a Sephora store inside of a mall — Customers can pick up a great product at Sephora for $20 or less.
Nora Candreva

I worked at Sephora for 11 years, so I have a few favorite products that cost $20 or less.
The Inkey List caffeine eye cream is great for reducing under-eye puffiness.
The Dr. Jart and Sephora Collection sheet masks can help treat various skin concerns.

As someone who worked at Sephora for 11 years, I'm often asked which products are worth buying — but also won't break the bank. Luckily, Sephora carries plenty of high-quality items that cost $20 or less.

Online beauty sales are expected to grow by nearly 50% through 2027, but it can be hard to choose the right shade or type of item when buying products on your phone or laptop. When you can't test a product in person, the right recommendation from an expert can help.

I spent over a decade recommending the right products for Sephora customers, and I still love helping people choose items based on their skin and hair types.

As a freelance makeup artist and former Sephora employee, here are some of my favorite makeup, skincare, and hair-care products under $20.

Don't overlook great deals in the minis and more section.

Shelves with Gisou, Laneige, and Glow Recipe products in a section with a black sign reading — There are plenty of great items in Sephora's minis and more section.
Nora Candreva

Though a high-quality product can definitely be worth the splurge, I recommend trying mini versions of some beauty items to ensure they're the right fit for you. The minis and more section, usually located near the cash registers, houses several products around or under $20.

Almost everything in this area, including hair oils, lip products, and skincare items, is travel-sized. Some mini items are also located in the same section as the brand's full-sized products.

The Ilia mascaras create full, voluminous lashes.

Two gray cardboard boxes of Ilia mascara. One package says — I like to layer the Ilia mascaras on top of each other.
Nora Candreva

I now work as a brand ambassador for Ilia at some Sephora stores, but I've always loved the Limitless Lash lengthening clean mascara. This mascara contains organic shea butter and arginine, which helps to condition and strengthen lashes.

I like to apply multiple layers or top it off with the Ilia Fullest volumizing mascara for a dramatic look. Mini sizes of both mascaras cost $13.

The Tower 28 Beauty ShineOn lip jelly nonsticky glosses are pigmented and hydrating.

Several pink, light-brown, and orange Tower 28 lip glosses on a display at Sephora — The Tower 28 Beauty ShineOn lip jelly nonsticky glosses come in various shades of pink, red, nude, and orange.
Nora Candreva

The Tower 28 Beauty ShineOn lip glosses were a bestseller at my location when I worked at Sephora.

The gloss doesn't make my lips feel sticky, and it contains apricot-kernel oil to help hydrate and prevent dryness. I recommend the shade Pistachio, a semi-sheer nude pink that gives the lips a pop of color.

The ShineOn lip glosses cost $16 each.

I apply the Benefit Cosmetics Hoola matte bronzer when I want a sun-kissed glow.

A hand holds a mini dark-red box Benefit Hoola bronzer in front of a large display of Hoola products — The mini Benefit Cosmetics Hoola matte bronzer can be used on the cheeks or eyes.
Nora Candreva

For years, this iconic bronzer was a top-selling Benefit Cosmetics product at my location. It comes in three different sizes and four distinct shades to help achieve a perfect, sun-kissed glow.

I even apply this bronzer as a crease color when I'm doing a quick five-minute eye-shadow look. The mini Hoola bronzer is $19.

The Inkey List caffeine eye cream is great for helping to de-puff tired eyes.

A hand holds a black-and-white box of The Inkey List caffeine eye cream in front of a The Inkey List display at Sephora — I use The Inkey List caffeine eye cream to treat puffiness before applying concealer.
Nora Candreva

The Inkey List caffeine eye cream was a top-selling product at my location because it can improve under-eye puffiness while hydrating the skin. It's also the perfect product to prep the under-eyes for a smooth concealer application.

This eye cream is only $11.

The Caudalie Beauty Elixir Prep, Set, Glow face mist is a versatile spray.

A clear-glass bottle of Caudalie beauty elixir on a shelf with a light-pink sign with an image of a woman smiling and holding a Caudalie product next to it — I apply the Caudalie Beauty Elixir Prep, Set, Glow face mist when I'm traveling.
Nora Candreva

This amazing face mist can be used at almost any step of your beauty routine, whether you're prepping bare skin for makeup or sealing everything in.

I apply it while traveling for a refreshing feel or after my skincare routine for an extra glow. The Caudalie Beauty Elixir is $20.

The Dr. Jart sheet masks treat many different skin concerns.

A shelf of sheet masks with white packaging and colorful images. Some have blue, red, and yellow designs — The Dr. Jart sheet masks can hydrate and nourish skin, or treat acne.
Nora Candreva

The Dr. Jart sheet masks treat a variety of concerns, from acne to dehydration.

I love the Cicapair option, a hydrating mask made with tiger grass to calm redness and irritation. These sheet masks usually cost $10, but sometimes go on sale for as low as $6.

The Sephora Collection sheet masks are made with fruit extracts.

There are plenty of options to choose from, but I like the Sephora Collection skin-perfecting and radiance sheet mask made with blueberry extract.

Nora Candreva

I use a selection of Sephora Collection sheet masks, many of which are compostable and made with hyaluronic acid, to help hydrate my skin.

My favorite is the skin-perfecting and radiance sheet mask, made with blueberry extract to brighten and calm the skin.

The Sephora Collection sheet masks are $6 each.

I take care of my tools with the Sephora daily brush cleaner.

The Sephora daily brush cleaner sanitizes synthetic and natural bristles.

Nora Candreva

When it comes to taking care of my makeup brushes, I use the Sephora daily brush cleaner. This product cleans and conditions both synthetic and natural-hair brushes.

I also love its quick-drying, alcohol-free formula. The standard-size Sephora daily brush cleaner is $16.

The JVN Complete hydrating air-dry hair cream adds shine to my curls.

Four light-beige boxes of Jvn dry cream on a shelf at Sephora — The JVN Complete hydrating air-dry hair cream can be used on curly or straight hair.
Nora Candreva

The JVN Complete hydrating air-dry cream is perfect for when I need to smooth out my curls or minimize any frizz after a blowout.

The formula is made with hemisqualane, which can gradually improve hair health and strength. Some people may also use the air-dry cream to slick back their hair in a bun or ponytail.

The product can be used on all hair types, from straight to curly locks. The mini air-dry cream costs $14.

The Touchland Power Mist hydrating hand sanitizers can soften and sanitize hands.

A hand holds two packs of Touchland hand sanitizer in front of an orange sign reading — The Touchland Power Mist hydrating hand sanitizers come in several scents, but I prefer the Pure Lavender one.
Nora Candreva

The Touchland hand sanitizers, which won an Allure Best of Beauty Award in 2022, hydrate and soften hands while killing germs.

Each mist is small enough to throw in your bag for on-the-go hand sanitation. I keep the Pure Lavender scent in my brush belt while I'm working.

The Touchland Power Mist hand sanitizers cost $10.

I also pick up products like the Mane hair ties and clips at Sephora.

Several Mane hair-care products on a shelf. One package is blue, another contains clips and is light pink, and another is yellow — I like to grab cute accessories like the Mane hair ties and clips at Sephora.
Nora Candreva

The last time I was in Sephora, I noticed a bunch of products from Mane, a brand founded by celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin. I love finding cute accessories at Sephora, so I had to add these to my basket.

Packs of 16 fabric hair ties and cute mini hair-clip collections were $12. Claw clips perfect for pulling hair back in the spring and summer were just $15.

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Retail, Retail, Skincare, Makeup, Sephora, employee, Beauty, Freelancer, freelancer-le, evergreen-story, makeup-artist, beauty-products, hair-care

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I worked at Sephora for 11 years. Here are my favorite products under $20 at th…