As a shopping editor who’s written about an endless number of deals, it’s rare that I come across one that entices me enough to actually pull out my wallet. But, of course, Violet Grey found a way to turn even the most critical of editors into a googly-eyed shopper. After all, the content and commerce destination has become a pantheon for the beauty-obsessed to discover expert-backed products.
On August 22, Violet Grey will revive its beloved Put It in the Bag event. But lucky for you, ELLE readers will be able to shop the luxury beauty finds at a fraction of the price starting today, thanks to ELLE’s early access. “Put It in the Bag is our way of saying, ‘Psssst! We’ve got something great, and we suggest you jump on it, ASAP,’” Sarah Brown, chief brand officer of Violet Grey, tells ELLE. “We avoid the word sale—because, yuck—and we like to think that when we do offer our very special product curation (hand-selected and vetted by industry experts on our Committee) at a discount, it is an event, and one worth celebrating!”
Unlike traditional sales that offer stale leftovers, Violet Grey is serving up a five-star selection from 111Skin, Dr. Barbara Sturm, Westman Atelier, and many more.
I asked Brown to share her top five picks, and the list is filled with luxurious skin care, makeup, and hair tools. “I could never pick just five, but here are the first five that came to mind,” Brown says.
“The genius of this, for me, is that it feels like a lightweight lotion but acts like a super-luxe cream,” Brown explains. “And it gives me the gleaming glass skin of my dreams. This is one of those products that completely delivers and always feels like a treat. I love it alone or before foundation (and come fall, I will be hauling out the foundation once again!).”
“Speaking of foundation, Westman Atelier’s Vital Stick Foundation has landed in my serious permanent rotation,” Brown adds. “No one is more surprised than I am to be using (and devoted to) a stick foundation. Dabbed on (just a touch in each quadrant of the face) and buffed out with a brush, it gives me the airbrushed-yet-natural quality I want 24/7.”
“Austrian aesthetician Susanne Kaufmann is secretly the maker of the very best cleansers,” Brown reveals. “I live for both her Deep Oil Cleanser (melts away liner and mascara, not the least bit greasy) and her Purifying Gel Cleanser formula (decadent, refreshing, non-drying). They come in refillable glass bottles and are basically all I want to use on my face.”
“Eighth Day Resurfacing Tonic is the daily blast of lactic and glycolic acid (accompanied by a soothing hit of cucumber and aloe) that keeps my pores feeling super-clean and my complexion primed for the serum regimen I layer on afterward,” Brown reveals.
“Yves Durif’s hairbrushes are a staple at Violet Grey and, for our team, kind of represent a rite of passage,” Brown says. “The Vented Hairbrush is beloved for the ultimate blow-dry, and I am a fan of the chic travel comb and petite brush set.”
And that’s just the beginning—discover more indulgent ways to treat yourself during the Put It in the Bag event, below.
Alexis is the Commerce Content Lead at ELLE.com. In this first-of-its-kind role, she gets to combine her love for shopping with her obsession for innovative content strategy. Alexis is constantly thinking of new ways to elevate the online shopping experience. And when she’s not browsing the market for the latest fashion trends, you can find her nerding out listening to a business podcast or taking a long hot girl walk.