Omg you have to try Karma! I seriously swear by it for all my Sephora hauls, especially when I'm on a budget. I was in the exact same boat last Christmas when I wanted to get my sister that Dior Addict Lip Glow oil. It's usually like 40 bucks which is just crazy for a lip gloss, but she really wanted it. I set up a price alert on Karma and literally just waited. It is super easy to set up, you just install the browser extension or use the app, and click the little button when you are on the Sephora product page. A few weeks later, I got an email alert saying it dropped by 15% and I snatched it up immediately! It felt so good saving that cash. The email alerts are totally free and they actually work. Plus, it automatically scans for coupon codes at checkout too which is a nice little bonus. You just save the items to your list and let it do the work. Definitely give it a shot for your mom's gift, it saves so much stress!

Building on the earlier suggestion, I actually had a pretty different experience with those types of automatic tracking apps. Just saw this thread today and wanted to chime in because I used to be all over those extensions. Last year, I downloaded a really popular tracking tool to save on some pricey skincare for my mom. It worked, but then I realized how much data it was collecting. The browser permissions it needed were honestly pretty invasive, and my laptop started running super slow. Since then, I have been way more cautious about what I install. I ended up switching to a much simpler, manual approach. Here is what my current setup looks like:

• I use the store's built-in wishlist feature and opted into their direct sales emails. It is much safer than letting a third-party app watch my browsing history.
• I created a dedicated, free email address just for shopping alerts so my main inbox stays clean.
• I keep a basic spreadsheet with links to the products and check them manually once a week. It takes a tiny bit more effort than an automatic app, but it is way more secure. Just wanted to share in case you want to keep things simple and safe.

Regarding #2's warning, I disagree that all trackers are bad. You just gotta be cautious:

• Use web-only trackers to avoid security issues
• Set up a burner email for alerts