If you’ve ever seen an episode of Netflix’s Queer Eye or listened to the podcast Getting Better with Jonathan Van Ness, you know Jonathan Van Ness can dish out uplifting advice like no other. I remember watching them on Queer Eye, sobbing while they built up the confidence of guest after guest, not just with a (sensational) beauty makeover, but also with endless empathy and compassion. Since then, I always stop scrolling when JVN appears on my timeline, and today they’re having some fun spilling how to build a beauty capsule with just eight products—all included in Sephora’s Spring Savings Event.
“Not sponsored, just love these beauties,” the Instagram caption begins. “Build my beauty capsule with me 😁 & my 8 current favs… also it’s perfect timing because 1) it’s the @sephora Beauty Insider Event that happens like twice a year so that means stock up time or try new products time, and 2) umm tariffs so stock up asap. Also, please tell me any items I NEED to try in comments. K thanks. 🫶”
“Ya’ll it’s the Sephora BI sale, I’m going to give you the present of talking about building a beauty capsule,” JVN continues mid-video. “It’s important for us to engage in conscientious spending, and a sale is kind of a cute time to do it, but it can be overwhelming when everything is on sale at the same time,” they elaborate, before adding: “Ah, oh my god, let’s go shop!”
On that note, here’s exactly what JVN is shopping during the Sephora Savings Event, on now through April 14.
1 / 5
“One of the first things I would start with for a beauty capsule, especially if you’re newer to the makeup game, is a palette. I love palettes that have like a bronzer and like a highlighter and a blush so you can really get a lot of bang for your buck. One of my favorite palettes is this Danessa Myricks Groundwork one. It’s gorgeous. Her formulas are [chef’s kiss].”
2 / 5
Fragrance Samplers
“Next thing I would say for beauty capsule… I’m just like, I don’t know what happened, I became obsessed with fragrances. So, Henry Rose (originally $28, now $22 with Rouge) or PHLUR (originally $39, now $31). I think a sale’s a great time to get a sampler, because that way you can investigate ‘What is my signature scent? What scents do I respond to? What do I like?’”
3 / 5
Body Care
“Another thing I think we need in our beauty capsule is good body care. I do think body moisturizers are a great place to start. I love Nécessaire (originally $30, now $24 with Rouge). Gorgeous body moisturizer, and also, for like, I’m approaching 40, I just turned 38, and I feel like a body retinol. Oui the People (originally $45, now $36 with Rouge), they have a great body retinol oil that I love.”
4 / 5
“The next thing I would say, and this is good for my sustainability queens, anything that you do a lot of or that you’re using over and over again but creates a lot of waste, like under-eye patches… I love an under-eye patch because it holds the product close to the under eye, it makes your makeup stay on better… Dieux Skin makes a reusable one that I’m obsessed with. I’ve had the same pair for like two years. They’re so durable. You just wash them with soap and water, you put them back in their little holder, they’re amazing.”
5 / 5
Hair Care
“Last but certainly not least, it’s hair care. So many things that I think we need in a good capsule collection for hair care, but I would say just upping your maintenance game either through a bond gloss or a mask. [JVN] Nurture Mask (originally $36, now $29 with Rouge) is incredible, [JVN] Bond Gloss (originally $36, now $29 with Rouge) is incredible. It’s part of why my hair is this long, this shiny and this healthy—especially with highlights. It’ll help you keep your hair longer and stronger.”
