We rate these Sephora bestsellers – are they *really* worth the money?

If there’s a beauty product making waves you better believe we’re trying it out/already tried it yesterday. With new and exciting beauty launches just about every week it can be hard to keep up let alone discern what’s worth spending your hard-earned money on vs. what’s not. Thankfully, we’ve made it our mission (tough mission we know…) to try them out for you.

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So, without further ado, read on for our honest verdict on these cult Sephora bestsellers…

Caudalie Gentle Cleansing Milk, $42

Soft, velvety and gentle on skin – what more can I ask of a cream cleanser. After searching high and low for a proper cleansing milk I stumbled upon this little gem. Wallet friendly and not overly scented, this ticks all the boxes for the second step of my double cleanse routine. Added bonus is the handy pump making it easy to travel with. I’ve already repurchased multiple times so it’s safe to say this is now part of the skincare routine – bh’s Maily

Marc Jacobs Beauty Youthquake Hydra-Full Retexturizing Gel Crème Moisturiser, $34

I had high hopes for this re-texturizing moisturiser but it didn’t give me the lush, smooth glow I was hoping for – just constantly dry, peely and pilling under my makeup - bh's Megan

IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream SPF50, $70

After only being able to buy this on holiday in the US, I love how I can replenish my supply locally. If you like a hefty dose of sunscreen, good coverage with a sprinkling of excellent skincare ingredients on the side, this gem totally lives up to its hype – bh’s Tracy

Becca Backlight Priming Filter

I wanted to love this, I really did. Becca has a huge cult following in the states and Chrissy Teign has done multiple collaborations with the brand. Touted as one of the best brands to achieve the ultimate glow the idea of ‘backlight’ sold me. Easily achieve that lit from within filter look? Sign me up and take my money. Unfortunately, as much as I wanted to believe I saw a difference when I applied this, I honestly didn’t no matter how I applied it. Given the price point and the hype, I was definitely expecting more – bh’s Maily

Slip Pillowcase, $109

When I was first given one of these years ago I seriously underestimated the difference it would make in my (beauty) life! Better skin, zero sleep creases, blow waves that last for days and days…  these pillowcases aren’t cheap at $109, but IMHO they are worth every cent – bh’s Helene

Tarte The Buffer Airbrush Finish Bamboo Foundation Brush, $55

I talk about this guy a lot, but this brush seriously revolutionised my foundation application and made all my base dreams come true. After reading about it online I first bought it in Sydney, in the bad old days that Sephora hadn’t launched in NZ. It’s a big boi, with a thick handle and large, soft fluffy brush head. This makes it super easy to buff in liquid foundation seamlessly and quickly, for a flawless finish that doesn’t look too thick or OTT.  Literally cannot rave about it enough.

Fenty Beauty Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter Duo, $65

I thought RiRi could do no wrong but for me this was a huge disappointment.

1. It’s way too glittery (like festival level glitz!), an odd shade combination 2. You really have to dig your brush right in because the product doesn’t pick up easily, which leads to too wastage 3. It wears terribly 4. Odd shade combination – one too glittery, the other too subtle 5. For this price point it’s ridiculously small – you can get far superior quality highlighters like BECCA for this price or alternatively great dupes like Wet n Wild for less than half the price - bh's Erin

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter, $66

Now THIS is a highlighter worth splurging on. As a beauty ed highlighters regularly come across my desk but I’ve been dipping into my own pocket since day dot because nothing compares. Available in 10 shades — Champagne Pop being the #1 — this gem has firmly established itself as the matriarch in my makeup bag. Unlike many highlighters it binds seamlessly with the skin to delivers that coveted glossy, luminous glow that Becca is renowned for - bh's Erin

Sephora Collection Lip Stain, $21

I feel like these are such an undiscovered secret but these velvety lip colours dry matte but feel comfortable on, wear off evenly and have amazing depth of pigment for the price. The 01 Always Red is a great universally flattering tone too – bh’s Megan

Olaplex No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo, $58

I’m a fan of having Olaplex added to my service when I go to the salon, so was seriously excited at the prospect of adding its powers to my regular routine. This was a dud for me though, giving me limp, dank locks rather than the nourished, bouncy ones I’d hoped for. Maybe it’s not right for my hair type, but it was a serious disappointment – bh’s Helene

Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother, $58

By contrast, I am OBSESSED with the Olaplex No. 6. My blonde hair drinks this magical potion right up. If you get confused with what each Olaplex number does you’re not alone. This one is as the name suggests: it bonds hair back together. For my bleached ends it works a dream, helping to strengthen and seal the cuticle. I couldn’t believe the difference in my ends after using it – it looked like I’d just got a fresh cut! Pro tip: use sparingly - a little goes a loooong way, especially if you have fine hair. I apply the tiniest amount onto my ends only - bh's Erin

Tarte Shape Tape Contour Concealer, $46

According to the brand, one is sold every 12 seconds. This concealer is like no concealer I’ve tried before. It’s not heavy, cakey or creasy – instead it’s creamy, brightening and super-blendable. From covering blemishes and under-eye circles to brightening and illuminating darkness, this iconic concealer is definitely no one trick pony - bh's Erin

Have you tried any of the above Sephora products? What were your thoughts?