Don't buy these things from Sephora Spring Savings Event...

Hi there, and welcome to Take Your Time, a space where I share pieces of my world in the hope that they spark inspiration. Today’s dispatch is a love letter to all of you shopping the Sephora Spring Savings Event…

Being a Sephora brand founder means I’m lucky enough to spend a lot of time traveling around the country visiting Sephora stores. When you log your actual or metaphorical 10,000 hours anywhere, you start to notice patterns. In this case, it’s what clients are actually buying, what’s in seemingly every basket, and what’s genuinely worth the hype.

For me, the Spring Savings Event is all about restocking the things I use every single day and trying new products that customers and the beauty advisors can’t get enough of.

So this dispatch is exactly that: the staples I’m excited to repurchase — the formulas I trust, the textures I love, and some of the newer things that we’ll give a try and see if they should claim a spot in my dialed lineup.

Let’s start the way most people start their Sephora love affair... with:

I. Makeup

Foundations:

1. The one everyone is talking about right now.

2. The one I’ve come back to after trying dozens.

Concealers:

1. The one that keeps me hydrated and is loved by all over 40 skin.

2. The one that lasts all day.

3. The classic that’s consistent.

Tints:

1. I’m on my 10th tube.

2. My makeup artist is NY, LA, and Miami all love this product.

Blush:

1. The best duo in the game.

2. Best for on the go. 

3. The final powder layer that makes your cheeks pop.

Eyes + Brow:

1. The only palette you need.

2. One eyeliner to rule them all.

3. The other classic that never fails for the perfect brown hazy liner.

4. Lifted lashes, unlocked.

5. Essential for fool-proof brows.

Lip:

1. Foolproof liner that looks good on everyone.

2. Layer this in the middle for a nice ombre.

3. A perfect gloss layer for on top. Love the subtle coconut scent, too.

4. The first lipstick I’ve ever actually stuck with.

5. The best formula I’ve found that’s between a lipstick and a balm.

Gloss:

1. This and this are best gloss all around.

2. Best plump moment.

3. Most nourishing, no question.

4. Cushiony with great color.

Brushes:

1. Upgrade your cream bronzer.

2. This and this are my two favorite concealer brushes.

3. The most mega blending brush ever.

Setting Spray / Mists:

1. Best for a blur.

2. The best clean option out there.

3. The opposite of clean, but this stuff works.

4. To refresh your barrier.

5. All purpose hydrating.

II. Okay, time to move into skincare/body territory.

1. Holy grail for lightweight hydration.

2. This formula gets me endless compliments on how glowy my skin looks.

3. A favorite serum for redness.

4. This helps with hormonal breakouts.

5. And this and this for spot-treatment post breakout.

6. If you’re on the hunt for a new sunscreen. And this is a classic for me now.

7. The body lotion that you can literally put pants on right after.

8. Best natural deodorant.

III. Hair + Fragrance:

1. Multi-time Allure best of beauty winner, now in travel size, too.

2. Deal of the century, IMO.

3. The fragrance I wear almost daily. It’s the perfect fresh scent.

4. I want my whole home to smell like this.

5. A next-level Air Dry (and styling) Cream.

6. A magic wand for when you Air Dry+.

7. The sale is always a good time to buy this.

P.s. There’s a really special campaign running right now with 11 different Sephora brands called Planet Beautiful, which Crown Affair is honored to be a part of. I always say that caring for the planet is a natural extension of caring for yourself. It’s truly all about taking time to care about the world and the things around you — it’s essential when putting things into the world to give back and make an impact in any capacity.

When you shop from Crown Affair and other brands in the Planet Beautiful collection at Sephora locations across the US, $1 from every product sold from participating brands will be donated to rePurpose Global to fund plastic recovery. You can learn more and find participating stores at planetbeautiful.com.

Happy sale shopping and take care, and take your time, always,

Dianna

And now… Three Things I Love and A Haircare Tip

1. AndFocus — If you need help locking in, this is it. I’ve been using it for over a year on days when I really need to concentrate, and it’s a game-changer. Created by my friend Jayme Cyk —her Substack on the why behind it is worth a read—and I’m genuinely so grateful for it. her substack on why she created it, and all I can say is that I’m so grateful.

2. The Case — The perfect size travel case, water-resistant, and fully squish-able when you need to squeeze one more thing in your bag. I have one for everything—makeup, brushes, hair, SPF for the beach. The zip wraps almost all the way around, which means you can fit a lot in the case.

3. Optimize by Sarah Wragge Wellness—The only way I’m consistently getting 45g of protein in the morning and enjoying it. I’ve tried so many over the years, and this is easily my current favorite.

A Haircare Tip: Double Cleanse For The Best Wash Day

If your hair isn’t reaching it’s full potential, it may be time to look at your shampoo habits. So much of how your hair looks and feels begins at the cleanse, and one of the most overlooked steps? Double cleansing.

There’s a reason “lather, rinse, repeat” became an iconic instruction —but somewhere along the way, in the ’80s and ’90s, shampoos became harsher, packed with aggressive surfactants that stripped the hair. Naturally, people started avoiding a second wash.

But with modern, gentler surfactant systems, this is where the magic comes back.

The first cleanse breaks things up—oil, sweat, product buildup. It lifts everything from the scalp and strands. The second cleanse actually washes it all away, allowing your shampoo to properly do its job. You’ll notice a richer lather, a cleaner scalp, and hair that feels lighter, softer, and more balanced.

It’s the same logic as double cleansing your skin. Clean first, then truly cleanse.

If you want better hair days, don’t skip the second wash.