Sephora’s Epic Fail of its “Epic” Rewards

rewardsIt seems kind of a joke that Sephora named their rewards system, where users had banked between 1,000 to 10,000 points their “Epic” Rewards when it was a complete and utter epic failure. Users, like myself, were disappointed by what Sephora promised to be amazing gifts. They’ve been getting everyone geared up leading into Epic Rewards by offering 2x/3x/4x points on all purchases. It was a good strategy too. It led to an amazing surge in sales by women trying to bump up their beauty point banks and score some of the amazing gifts being offered (I have the full list below). Gifts ranged from Nars and Dior to a trip to Paris. If you’ve worked hard to reach Rouge status and you had a bunch of points just waiting this was the time to get amazing gifts. Except Sephora completely screwed it up.

First, they refused to give an official launch time. Women sat waiting, some waiting all night. Some time before noon they tweet that it was launching soon but couldn’t say when. And then….it was gone, all gone. If you had something in your cart, it was taken out; if you tried to checkout you were logged out and your items were removed. Everything was gone in mere seconds leading a lot of people to wonder….just how many of these rewards did they actually have? Because it seems NO ONE is happy. And to add insult to injury, they have the nerve to say “Well, you can still get your 100, 250, 500 points value gifts”. You mean the crap women have been passing on repeatedly and that’s why their points are so high? Yeah, no thanks. How about letting women cash in points for a gift certificate? Sephora better come up with something soon. Because the only person who scored Sephora’s EPIC REWARD was Ulta, and that’s handing all its best customers to another store.

Here is a breakdown of what was offered and their estimated values:

Reward Description Value
1,000 Givenchy-Le Rouge $144 + bag
1,000 Becca $186
1,000 Dr Dennis Gross $156
1,000 Smashbox $157
1,000 Fresh $150 + booklet
1,000 Bumble and Bumble $157 + extras
1,000 Anastasia Beverly Hills $170.50 + signature
1,000 Dior $208
2,000 NARS $59 + $40 + signature
2,000 Yves Saint Laurent $610
2,000 Sephora $425
2,000 Skin, Inc. $310
2,000 KVD $428 + box + signature
2,000 Bobbi Brown $257 + bag
2,000 Benefit $186 + bags
2,000 Stila $264 + bag + booklet
5,000 Georgio Armani $816 + bag
5,000 Elizabeth and James $1,010
5,000 Formula X $800
5,000 Too Faced $588 + 2x Bag + 2xNecklace
5,000 Drybar $575
5,000 Tarte $725
5,000 Tory Burch $898
10,000 Marc Jacobs Bag: ~$2,000 + $692 makeup
10,000 MUFE – NYC Trip $596 makeup + trip + class
10,000 Glamglow – LA Trip $531 + trip + tour
10,000 Chloe $563 in beauty + ~$1500 accessories
10,000 Viktor & Rolf Previous sold at Neiman Marcus

for $2,500 USD

10,000 Lancome – Paris Trip $200 giftcards + ~$200 products + trip

(minimally, flights from the US to Paris

usually start around $1,000 each.

10,000 Bvlgari $465 beauty + ~$2,000 bag

Rocksbox Monthly Jewelry Subscription

Rocksbox is this great jewelry service that will send you three pieces of jewelry based on a style survey you complete. Each box is curated specifically towards you and what you like to wear. You wear them, return them when you’re done and they’ll send you three more pieces out. You also have your own personal wishlist that you can add items to, so they know exactly what you’d like to try out. I’ve kept boxes they’ve sent me for four weeks and some four days. I’ve received some amazing Kendra Scott pieces in my Rocksbox at discount prices. So if you like what you receive they will sell it to you at a discounted price. They also give you a $10 credit each month to go towards the jewelry you want to keep in addition to the discount. So keep it or wear it and return it.

I think the best thing is that it gives you a chance to change up your jewelry without committing to buying it. Sometimes I buy jewelry thinking it’s a great piece and wear it a few times and then I’m bored and it never really sees daylight again. So this way I can wear my Rocksbox jewelry a week or whatever and then send it back for a whole different set of options.

Rocksbox has been kind enough to extend a free month to all my readers! Just use code “cocoforbeautyxoxo” to get a free month of jewelry.

Here are a few pictures of boxes I’ve received and also how I styled a few of the pieces.

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imageThis Lauren Hope necklace was such a beautiful color! I didn’t keep it but it was fun to “borrow” it for a couple of weeks.

imageimageThis CC Skye necklace I kept and I wear it almost daily. CC Skye is this amazing edgy jewelry designer. I have a pair of her earrings on my wishlist right now.

They try to taper each box so the pieces work together. In this picture I was sent the earrings, necklace and cuff in one box and it all worked beautifully together. This Lauren Hope cuff I ended up keeping.

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Target Beauty Box is Back – $7 Shipped

The Target Beauty Box is back – $7 includes shipping. It is valued at over $35. Boxes are very limited and sell out extremely fast. Here is a full list and description of the products that are included. There are two full size products and the rest are samples or deluxe sized samples. These boxes sell out super fast and are limited in number, so don’t wait.

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Covergirl Super Sizer Mascara by Lashblast – plumps lashes 400% fuller with a unique load and comb brush – full size, $5.99

imageClairol Hair Food Moisturizing Mask – deep cleansing mask removes dulling residues to reveal luster and shine. I have used this product before and it made my hair really soft. The reviews on this are excellent. This one item alone more than pays for the box – Full size, $11.99

imageFekkai Pre-Soleil Hair Mist – a pre-sun spray that helps protect your hair from sun damage while also boosting shine. I’ve used this before and it’s great for sun protection, very hydrating! This looks to be a deluxe size sample – full size is $19.99

imageTwo Olay face products in sample sizes – Moisturizing Toner and Day Lotion

imageCrest 3D Whitestrips 1hr Express – teeth whitening strips to remove stains – looks like you get one or two of these.

Lilly Pulitzer for Target – 6 days and Counting!

Who else is getting super excited about the Lilly Pulitzer for Target launch on April 19th?! I plan on doing both online and in store shopping. Who else thinks this will “break the internet”? Lol! I’m excited for the cute little girls outfits that come in the same prints. Very southern to match with your daughters, especially in an LP print. The clutches, the straw bags for the beach, the sandals, the swimsuits, the dresses, the scarfs….it’s also going to break my bank account. I hope you all get the pieces you’re coveting. Here are some of my favorite LP for Target pieces. Good luck and happy shopping!

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Target Beauty Box is back for $5 Shipped – $38 Value

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The Target Beauty Box is back and the price has come down from $7 to $5! It is listed as a $38 value and it does have some nice products. The lipstick is valued at $5-7 so that one product right there justifies the price. Hopefully I’ll receive a good color for my skintone. I’m really excited to try the setting spray, those are always so pricey at makeup stores.

http://www.target.com/c/beauty-box-ways-to-shop/-/N-54wll#?lnk=snav_rd_beauty_box&orginalSearchTerm=beauty+box

Here are the products it includes:

Pout Perfection – For long-lasting color, use a lip pencil to line and fill in your lips (we recommend a neutral color or one that’s slightly darker). Then, top it off with Maybelline Color Elixir for a high-gloss, high-impact look. PRICE $5.49-6.99

 Get Set – The secret to flawless skin is just a spray away. First, prep and prime skin to create an evenly moisturized base. Then, add a fave foundation like L’oréal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation. Lightly mist L’Oréal Infallible Pro-Spray & Set over your lips, eyes and face to finish the look. PRICE $13.29

 Double Agent – Quench thirsty skin in the morning with a light, non-greasy moisturizer. Before bed, using a thicker cream can help with skin renewal as you sleep. No time for two products? No problem! Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream instantly absorbs like a gel, but intensely moisturizes like a cream. PRICE $17.99

Brilliant Blowout – Start with a renewal shampoo like SheaMoisture Superfruit Complex 10-in-1 System to clean and brighten locks. Next, condition the bottom 3/4 of your hair, starting at the tips and avoiding the crown of your head. Layer in your favorite styling products, then blow dry from roots to tip using a round brunch to get super-soft hair for days. PRICE $10.99

(un)Done Updo – Pull hair back into a high but loose ponytail. Fasten with pins into a top knot and spray with TRESemme’ TRES Two Extra Hold Hairspray for a messy but pulled-together look. PRICE $1.47

Azature – Midnight in Paris Nail Polish Collection

What girl doesn’t love a nail polish that contains real black diamonds?! I had the honor of testing out the newest collection, Midnight in Paris by Azature. I started using Azature polishes about three months ago and I fell in love. It really has the most amazing shine and shimmer in a nail polish that I’ve seen. And what really made me happy was how well it stands up against my every day running around, Momma of 4, craziness, because I chip my polish pretty easily. Azature didn’t show any signs of chips until a good 6 days later. My usual go-to polish brands are Essie and Butter London, but Azature has easily replaced those as my favorite. So I wanna show you the new collection and then share with you some of the other beautiful manis I’ve done using the polish. AND you can get 10% off by using the code at checkout, AZVIP10. You can make purchases on their site http://www.azature.com

Midnight in Paris, aren’t these colors ah-mazing!

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First off, I’m not a huge fan of black polish. I don’t know what it is. It just doesn’t look good on me so I really don’t ever wear it. I love a navy or dark red, but black just always puts me off when I wear it….until, I received this black in the Midnight in Paris collection. It has the most amazing sparkle and shimmer. It’s multidimensional, so it doesn’t look like a basic flat black. It is called Boudoir. A camera cannot catch the luster. You can see other colors within it.

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Next I did a little party nail. Well, that’s what it looks like to me, a nail party. I used the  color “pearl” as the base with the shimmer flakes over the top and the gold as a tip. A party on the nail!

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Now this red is a beautiful burgundy. It is a deep wine tone. I love to wear red polish. It’s such a classic. So this is a great red alternative to a normal bold red nail. It’s definitely the perfect fall/winter nail polish.

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I also wanted to share with you some of the other nail polishes that I have used of Azature. It is not the Midnight in Paris collection but it still available to purchase on their website.

My absolute favorite classic nail polish using Azature Blush with a silver metallic tip. I get a million compliments when I do this look. It’s classic but with a twist.

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This cobalt blue has a beautiful shimmer in it, along with the metallic silver polish. No taping off for this, just a steady hand. It’s really easy. Give it a shot!

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Azature Blue with a glittered corner. I wore this polish to Disney World since it reminded me of Cinderellas dress and it received a lot of compliments. I do love a blue polish!

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This is a great neutral polish, Nude.

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