Think of all the beauty goodness that's inside those walls. (Getty Images)(Jeremy Moeller via Getty Images)
The holy grail of gifts for any beauty lover is a Sephora gift card. This coveted plastic rectangle lets you choose your own present and restock your favorites for the new year. But beauty products can be expensive, and $50 might not stretch as far as you think. Sephora’s lineup of goodness is overwhelming as it is, and navigating it with $50 in tow is especially daunting.
If you have a $50 Sephora gift card at your disposal, we can help you make sure your money is well-spent. We've carefully curated a list of Sephora shopping carts with products that add up to $50 (plus a handful of actually-worth-it $50 splurges). Each cart focuses on specific categories, whether you're looking to drop your gift card on an anti-aging skin care haul or stock up on minis for your next vacation. All you’ll have to do is pay tax — and enjoy your Sephora beauty spoils, of course.
While no anti-aging skin-care product will perform magic overnight, clinical studies have shown that ingredients including niacinamide, vitamin C and retinoids are great options. Luckily, there are a handful of excellent products at Sephora that can create the ultimate anti-aging skin-care routine for under $50.
Total Cost: $50
Sunday Riley's C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum and Luna Sleeping Night Oil can help create an anti-aging regimen that brightens and transforms your complexion.
These wrinkle-fighting eye masks contain retinol to help firm up skin and leave eyes looking ultra-refreshed.
Hydration is an important part of any skin-care routine. This classic Mario Badescu face mist revives dehydrated skin to deliver a dewy glow.
Because this niacinamide formula comes in powder form, you can mix it with whatever skin-care product your heart desires to create your very own fine-line targeting, skin-plumping must-have.
This heat-activated sheet mask is made with a thermosensitive gel to help promote skin's elasticity and firmness.
Target fine lines and wrinkles, dryness, dullness and uneven skin texture in 15 stress-free minutes with this dry sheet mask from Charlotte Tilbury.
This biocellulose mask, saturated with vitamin C and lactic acid, aims to visibly brighten skin, boost radiance and reduce redness.
Pop these cucumber eye masks on for a classic, spa-like "ahhhh" moment.
This silky smooth hair oil aims to increase shine, softness and vibrancy while minimizing flyaways and frizz. It also offers heat protection for whenever you’re using a styling tool.
This liquid blush melts into your skin so you never have to worry about it looking caked on. It's also light enough to work with oily skin.
Everyone needs a gentle cleanser that won't destroy their skin but can still take off every last bit of makeup. TikTok users say this option — available for just $6 in the mini size — fits the bill.
Beauty lovers of all ages have been using this not-quite-lipstick, not-quite-glossy-tinted-balm for ages. The cult-favorite Black Honey shade is famous for its chameleon-like ability to flatter all skin tones.
Available in 12 shades, Brow Wiz by Anastasia Beverly Hills is hard to top. The super-fine pencil allows you to shape, detail and define your brows in a number of ways, while the attached brush perfects your look.
This is basically perfectly tousled sexy hair in a bottle. So, yes, it's great for vacation (or anytime, really).
This editor-approved mascara aims to create long, luscious lashes — you'll be channeling Audrey Hepburn in no time.
Stop worrying about your nails chipping while on vacation. Just pop this baby in your carry-on for a long-lasting mani.
Full of nourishing ingredients including niacinamide and vitamin C, this gentle body wash is like a spa in a 3.4-ounce bottle. Plus, the eucalyptus scent is refreshing after a long day of travel.
One spritz of this celeb-favorite toner helps minimize skin irritation and redness while keeping flare-ups at bay. (Author's note: I never travel without it.)
Remember the viral tightening eye gel? Well, Peter Thomas Roth created one for your entire face. This quick-fix treatment helps tighten, firm and smooth the look of fine lines, deep wrinkles and pores.
"I have been using this product daily every morning for over a year and I love it and will never be without," one happy Sephora customer says. "All my friends thought I had work done! I am 62 and look 45."
This long-lasting, weightless hybrid of skin care and foundation promises a flawless-looking complexion. Considering Charlotte Tilbury is the queen of all things makeup, this is a great product to have in your beauty arsenal.
"I normally don't spend this kind of money, but got a gift card so of course I'm going to try this," a Sephora shopper writes. "Well, I now have a new fave foundation and it's money well spent! Feels like air on, blends beautifully. There was no oxidization, and it lasts and lasts!"
There are many reasons to love this thick, intensely moisturizing Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask — and the cute packaging is just one of them.
"Flight Attendant here! I LOVE this product," one five-star reviewer writes. "I use the Jet Lag Mask as my daily moisturizer before heading out on a flight, and it is my best friend. I have very dry skin to begin with, and to top it off, being in a plane for long periods of time makes my skin drier. This product has been a lifesaver!"
When was the last time you cleaned your makeup brushes? This high-quality brush set (worth $134) is well worth considering if you can't remember.
"Very happy with this set," one reviewer says. "Faves are the blush, powder and concealer brushes. Blush brush is dense enough to pick up color, yet soft enough for even blending. Concealer brush blends product beautifully and seems to help eliminate creasing under eyes. Also have used the brow brush as a liner brush and it worked well. The brushes also wash well and dry quickly. No shedding, quality brushes."
This fragrant, skin-firming Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum cream is a cult favorite that your $50 gift card can cover.
"I have dry skin and nothing helped the ashy skin go away until I used this," one Sephora shopper writes. "It also made my skin look and feel a bit smoother. It’s become a must-have for my daily routine."
Start the new year by treating yourself to sheet masks — especially when a gift card is footing the bill. Sephora is stocked with good options that promise to brighten, firm, hydrate and reduce puffiness. Put on that mask and queue up your current Netflix obsession for some much-needed you time.
Total Cost: $51
It's fair to be skeptical of TikTok's zillion and one viral beauty products. Luckily, you have a gift card, so your bank account doesn't have to take the hit. Still, you're going to want something that's actually good — and that's everything in our haul below.
Total Cost: $50
Everyone should have at least two beauty icons in their arsenal — and fortunately, not all iconic beauty products cost $200 (ahem, La Mer). There are plenty out there that you can snap up for under $50. Just be prepared to buy them over and over again, because they're that good.
Total Cost: $49
Shopping Sephora's mini section is one of life's greatest joys — and using a gift card makes it even better. Minis are ideal if you need some TSA-approved travel staples or want to try something without paying for a full size. This haul features a texture spray that creates beach-ready hair, Hailey Bieber's favorite calming toner and a lash-lengthening mascara.
Total Cost: $49
Sometimes a $50 gift card can only get you one product — or put a dent in a particularly luxe purchase. If you want to splurge on one really worthwhile item, check out our favorites.
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
Drink 'em in: We've tested and reviewed formulas from CosRx, Charlotte Tilbury, Cetaphil, La Roche-Posay and more.
BeautyHappy birthday, Dolly! We're stocking up on goodies — up to 50% off — to mark 77 years of the Backwoods Barbie.
BeautyClinique, Sunday Riley, Murad and more: From anti-aging heroes to flawless foundations, there's nothing more thrilling than shopping for skin-care gems with free money.
BeautyWe've tested and reviewed hundreds of face creams, serums, peels, toners and masks — these are our favorites.
BeautyThe secret to youthful-looking hands starts here: from CeraVe to Gold Bond, Neutrogena and more
BeautyFrom $10 caffeine serum to a French pharmacy staple used by Parisians for decades, the best eye creams for dark circles will brighten even the darkest orbital day.
BeautyWe tested dozens of under-eye patches — find out why Shiseido's Benefiance Express tops our list.
BeautyThe Body Exfoliator by Nécessaire is the GOAT when it comes to body scrubs — find out why we ranked it the best of the best.
BeautySpoil them with the Revlon One Step Dryer, Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask and so much more.
BeautyWe tested dozens of moisturizers, but there's a reason our top pick hasn't changed.
BeautyDr. Dennis Gross, Drunk Elephant, SkinMedica and Cerave will exfoliate your face and give you angel-soft skin.
BeautyWant to get serious about signs of aging? Don't overlook these potent helpers from Saint Jane, Vichy, Glow Recipe and more.
BeautyAfter testing several moisturizers for mature skin, we think this one from Dr Dennis Gross is the best — here's why.
BeautyAdd to cart, immediately: Cerave, PCA Skin, Bioré, Glow Recipe and more oily skin cleansers to kick sebum and dirt to the curb.
BeautyIn dire need of a hydrating face oil without all the scary stuff? Add The Outset Boosting Oil to your skin care routine and thank us later.
BeautyDark circles, begone! These best-in-class gels, creams and sticks will make you look more rested than you are.
Beauty'Saved my hair': Shoppers say this bestselling shampoo set is an anti-thinning powerhouse
BeautyFrom towels and tablets to leggings and lipstick, these tried-and-true buys won't disappoint.
Beauty
