it is that time of the year again when Sephora hosts their VIB Rouge and VIB sale event. a few years ago this used to be a friends & family affair, but now it is only available to those who are beauty insiders (their loyalty program, free sign up) who hold a VIB Rouge status (spend $1000 per calendar year) or VIB status (spend $350 per calendar year). know anyone with that kind of status? ....take them to lunch, then casually stop by Sephora.....

if you are a friend of a VIB Rouge or VIB member, you can... 1) ask to piggyback on their online order, or 2) accompany them in-store. both member types should have received a coupon voucher to use in store as well.

this is a GREAT time to buy gifts! that's right. START EARLY. Sephora has released a ton of gift sets to jump start the season so check them out! gift sets are always a good way to try a few bestsellers from a particular brand. in addition, there is a gift set for any beauty product lover--nails, hair, lips, eyes, fragrances etc... again, if there is something you can buy off Beauty.com's F&F do that first since you can get it tax-free.

i tried to order this morning and the site actually crashed a few times due to the amount of traffic!

here are my picks:

Bobbi Brown Mini Long Wear Cream Shadow Stick Trio

Radical Skincare Skin Perfecting Screen SPF 30

01 | Bobbi Brown mini long wear cream shadow stick trio in smokey topaz (brown heather mauve), espresso bean (rich black chocolate shimmer), pink sparkle (light pink sparkle) -- great for the quick and easy eyeshadow application, or even liner!
02 | Formula X the X look: holiday edition in obsessed (opaque classic merlot), impassioned (purple pearl), thrilling (opaque heather grey), temptation (iridescent gold pearl) -- gorgeous holiday colors!

03 | NARS digital world lip pencil coffret in two velvet matte lip pencils in Cruella (passionate scarlet red), Iberico (intense coral), and three satin lip pencils in peach coral, shocking pink, yu (shocking pink) -- haven't tried these but love the range of colors.
04 | Hourglass opaque rouge liquid lipstick -- i picked this up in the travel size tube in icon, a blue red. haven't tried it but i'm sure it won't disappoint considering it is by Hourglass
05 | Radical skincare skin perfecting screen SPF 30 -- this is a new brand to Sephora, i've read a lot about it and picked it up to try. SPF is ALWAYS A MUST.

Note: all these products are limited edition (except 01 and 02). which means once they are out that is it! so grab em while they are still available.

01 | Tom Ford matte lip color in plum lush (holiday 2014 collection) -- ok, you know my love for TF based on my true coral lip color review. his holiday collection boasts eight matte lipsticks, six will become part of the permanent line and two are limited edition (black dahlia and first tease). pictured here are my top two. i cannot wait to try them! right now they are available on the following websites: Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales and Tom Ford Beauty.
02 | Tom Ford matte lip color in ruby rush (holiday 2014 collection)
03 | Tom Ford cream color for eyes in platinum (holiday 2014 collection) -- i've read good things about these cream eyeshadows. i think it would be great for those who don't have the time to apply multiple eyeshadows but want some color on the eyelids. single color + apply with fingers = foolproof. you can probably also double up and use this as an eyeshadow primer.
04 | Hourglass ambient lighting blush palette -- Hourglass knows how to make powders. their ambient powders and blushes are amazing. this palette features two blushes from their regular line; luminous flush (champagne rose, i do own this in the regular size and it is quite pretty), mood exposure (soft plum), and one limited edition shade in incandescent electra (cool peach). basically, it is three universal blush shades packaged for traveling.
05 | Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner in black scotch (Scotch on the Rocks collection) -- "a chocolate caviar with golden copper flakes." a twist on regular eyeliner with a little glam. perfect for the holidays.
06 | CHANEL le vernis nail colour in sweet star (CHANEL'S Delights collection) -- "unique metallic silver shade reveals an iridescent glow that changes with the light." everyone can use some metallic, ain't that right?