December Play! by Sephora Review

This will be my last Play! by Sephora review for a while, possibly forever. I decided to unsubscribe after my December box; read on to find out why.

*Disclaimer: This box was purchased by See, Shop Love!

I was so excited when I first subscribed to Play! by Sephora, mostly because of their waiting list. It made everything seem more exclusive, and I knew they'd send good stuff because, well, it's Sephora! But I also was concerned that I'd be paying for samples I could get for free.

The first boxes I got were a lot of fun and they did have products I loved and would use. This is my seventh box, my first one was in May of this year. I decided to unsubscribe after this box because I started to feel like every box was pretty much the same. There was a skincare product I didn't need, a perfume sample I didn't like, and a lip product I didn't need more of. That's not to say that this isn't a great subscription--I think it's more that I just have way too many samples and beauty products already, so I wanted to take a break from receiving the box.

That being said, I still think Play! by Sephora is a great way for beauty enthusiasts to treat themselves and to discover new products. I think it's perfect for someone who maybe doesn't have as many products as someone like me, so you can really take the time to test them and find new things to enjoy.

Well, now that that's out of the way, here's what was inside December's box:

• Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray - This is definitely my favorite item this month. I was skeptical about setting sprays before I started using them, but they really do work. I have oily skin, so this one in particular does a great job of keeping my makeup on all day (or all night!).
• Sephora Cream Lip Stain in Always Red - This is a gorgeous bright red lip stain, which is a color I love, but I have about 500 other beautiful red lip products to use so I posted this for swap. It's a lightweight stain that moisturizes.
• Lancome Hypnose Drama Instant Full Body Volume Mascara - I've used this mascara before and I found it to be too flaky. I actually have three or so sample tubes of it from a prior Lancome order I placed. It definitely gives volume, but too much of it would smudge throughout the day so I don't recommend it.
• Elizabeth and James Nirvana Rose - This is Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen's perfume brand, and the Nirvana Rose scent has notes of Rose de Mai, geranium, and vetiver. Unfortunately rose makes me sneeze like crazy, so I don't think I will be able to use this. I might pass it off to my mom, she likes florals.
• Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo - Dry shampoos are one product I will happily accept my samples of because it's something I use quite often. I've never used Drybar's products but I know they're very popular so I hope this works well for me.
• Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Primer - Primers are another product I use often, but this sample just doesn't seem fun to me. I know Make Up For Ever is a great brand, but after a while all these little tubes start to add up and I just feel like I'll never get around to trying this. This is the smoothing version for minimizing large pores and fine lines.

Bottom Line: Overall this box just left me feeling "meh." I'll definitely use the setting spray and dry shampoo, but everything else was a version of something I already have too much of. I think it's a good idea for me to take a break from Play! by Sephora right now, but maybe in the future I'll resubscribe.

November Play! by Sephora Review

I'm not a fan of the vague themes that Play! by Sephora puts out every month, but I guess it's good because the products are always a surprise. This month's theme was "Best in Glow" and I was very interested to see what they'd include.

*Disclaimer: This box was purchased by See, Shop, Love!

Play! by Sephora costs $10 per month with free shipping, and there's sales tax if you live in New York like me (bringing it to $10.80). I really like this box because they send high end samples of products that are all available at Sephora, plus you'll also get a Play! Pass that entitles you to a tutorial with the products and 50 extra Beauty Insider points with any  purchase.

I've noticed that every box recently has contained a perfume sample, so I think this will be a regular occurrence. I used to really hate perfume samples, and while they're still not my absolute favorite, I'm okay with getting them because I've been expanding my fragrance collection.

• Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Rose Gold - I like eyeshadow sticks because they're portable and convenient. This one is made with high-pigment shadow that glides on and blends in easily. The shade is more gold to me than rose gold, but it's still really pretty. I swatched it but didn't bother posting the photo in this review because it blended in with my natural skin color so you couldn't really tell what the color looked like.
• Maison Margiela Replica in Lipstick On - This is an interesting perfume. It's definitely feminine and more for a night out. The notes are powdery and floral, which are normally not my favorites, but I don't dislike this. The bourbon vanilla, patchouli, and Tonka bean base notes ground it enough for me so that it isn't overly floral.
• Cover FX Illuminating Primer - I've used Cover FX products before and they've worked really well for me. This primer is silicone-free and has a light-reflecting mineral complex to help eliminate dullness.
• GlamGlow ThirstyMud Hydrating Treatment - I've used this mask before and it's great for wintertime. It's a hydrating moisture mask that also smells really good.
• Sephora Collection Ultra Shine Lip Gel in Pin Up Pink - I don't need any more lip glosses! This is a bright pink shade that isn't really my style, so I will probably post this for swap. I feel like it's more appropriate for a woman younger than me.
• Caudalie Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet - This gel cream softens skin and calms redness and congestion, which is great for my oily skin. It's made with organic grape water and grape seed polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants.

Bottom Line: These products perfectly fit the "Best in Glow" theme. I really liked the Laura Mercier eyeshadow stick and the GlamGlow.

October Play! by Sephora Review

Last month's Play! by Sephora box was a little ho-hum for me, so I was hoping October's would have something a little bit more exciting. I ended up liking this box a lot more; it had some known favorites and new things I really liked.

*Disclaimer: This box was purchased by See, Shop, Love!

There probably aren't many beauty or subscription box enthusiasts out there who don't know about Play! by Sephora yet, but just in case, it's a beauty box that sends 4-5 deluxe samples for $10 per month. All of the products are available at Sephora, and each box also contains a Play! pass that entitles you to a tutorial in-store with the products and 50 bonus Beauty Insider points with any purchase. There's a waiting list to join, but it seems like they're opening spots up more and more frequently.

The little bags that hold all of the items each month always have cute designs but I have no idea what to do with them. They're nice for storage, I guess, but they're starting to add up and I don't want to throw them out. Anyone have any ideas for reusing them?

The first sample I noticed was the blinc mascara, which is one of my favorites. It's not a full-sized tube, but it's still a really good size for a sample. I was pretty excited to try everything else, too.

• Smashbox Always on Matte Liquid Lipstick in Driver's Seat - I love this shade and I really want to try it to see how the formula is, but I have so many lip products. I have this organizer that hangs on the back of my bedroom door and no joke, it's 80% full of lip products. So I'll save this for later use.
• blinc Mascara Amplified - I've used this before and I love it because of the unique formula. It applies like any other mascara, but it dries as tubes that coat your lashes. It stays put really well and is easily removable with water (it won't budge with eye makeup remover, though).
• Yves Saint Laurent Mon Paris - I wasn't sure about this perfume because the name made me think it was going to be overly powdery or floral, but I actually am IN LOVE with it! It may be my new favorite. It's a fruity-floral fragrance with top notes of bergamot, pear, raspberry, and strawberry; middle notes of white datura, jasmine, and citrus blossom; and base notes of musk, patchouli, and ambroxan. I love the fruity top notes and the woodsy base notes mix perfectly.
• Skin Inc. Pure Revival Peel - This is a non-abrasive peel that removes dead skin cells and gently exfoliates. I love using peels like this because I think they work a lot better than traditional scrubs. It's a gel formula that you apply to dry skin, massage in circular motions, then rinse off.
• belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb - Moisturizers are another thing I have a lot of, so I posted this for swap. It sounds great though, it's from a South Korean brand and has Scottish botanicals to tighten and smooth skin.
• Christophe Robin Regenerating Mask with Rare Prickly Pear Seed Oil - I was really excited to try this because my hair is dry and damaged from heat styling, so I'm always looking for a good deep conditioning treatment. I've used this twice and it's just okay--you're supposed to apply to damp hair, add water to lather, leave in for two minutes, then rinse. It didn't really lather that well, but it left my hair feeling decently soft.

The Skin Inc. peel, belif cream, and Christophe Robin treatment

Bottom Line: This was a pretty good box. I really liked getting another blinc mascara, and the Yves Saint Laurent perfume is absolutely wonderful! I appreciated the variety of items and found some new favorites for sure.

September Play! by Sephora Review

My Play! by Sephora review is late again this month, but I still wanted to share my thoughts about the box. September's theme was "The Unbasic Basics," and when I saw the spoilers for it I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Basics can be pretty boring, but this box turned out to be pretty good!

*Disclaimer: This box was purchased by See, Shop, Love!

Play! by Sephora costs $10 per month for deluxe samples of products available at Sephora. I've really enjoyed these boxes, as they give me access to higher-end products that I normally wouldn't buy. Subscriptions are still on a wait list, but be sure to sign up if you haven't already because it seems like they've been opening up subscriptions more often lately.

Last month's box was just okay to me, so I was hoping this one would be more exciting. I was much happier with this month's samples and I felt there was a really good variety. Here's what was inside:

• Atelier Cologne Sud Magnolia - Atelier Cologne makes my favorite perfume (Vanille Insensee), but I wasn't sure if I'd like this one because I generally don't like florals. This isn't in-your-face floral-y, though, so I actually liked it quite a bit. It has notes of bitter orange, pomelo, blackcurrent, magnolia, Bulgarian rose, saffron, cedarwood, sandalwood, and musk. I think the woodsy base notes were what attracted me to this.
• Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation - This is an oil-free moisturizer that's really light and silky. I love the texture and the way it feels on my skin! It works to soften, brighten, and even out skin tone.
• Sephora Collection Rouge Shine Lipstick in Love Spell - The shade is a cool pink (see photo below) and looks flattering, but I have so many lip products already that I posted this for swap instead of trying it. The formula is supposed to be moisturizing and creamy.
• Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Gel - I wouldn't purchase a brow gel because I feel like it's non-essential, but I am happy to receive one in a box because I'll still use it. This is nice and lightweight and holds brows in place without feeling too sticky or rigid.
• Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper - I love Kat Von D's products but I've never used the Tattoo Liner. I've heard great things about it though, and it's waterproof with a brush tip. I haven't used it yet since I save liquid liner for special occasions, but I'm excited to try it.
• Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Night Cap Overnight Perfector - Living Proof is another favorite brand of mine, and this solution gives a full week of softness and shine. I've used it once and it definitely made my hair feel softer, but I wouldn't say it lasted for a whole week.

Bottom Line: This month's Play! box featured some brands I love, plus had some new products that I really enjoyed. The only downside is that the full-sized versions are pricey, but at least I get to try them through the box.

August Play! by Sephora Review

I took my time posting this review because this month's Play! by Sephora box wasn't that exciting. I knew when I saw the theme spoiler, "The Eye Openers," that this probably wouldn't be my favorite box. It wasn't completely terrible, I just wasn't that into most of the samples.

*Disclaimer: This box was purchased by See, Shop, Love!

Play! costs $10 per month and there's 80 cents in sales tax for me in New York. Shipping is free. I think there's still a wait list to join, but it seems like they've been opening up spots more frequently, so hopefully you won't have to wait too long to get a subscription.

Each box comes with deluxe samples of products you can purchase at Sephora, and there's also a Play! Pass. This pass gets you a free tutorial at a Sephora store using the items in the box, and you'll get 50 extra Beauty Insider points if you make a purchase (can be used towards any purchase, you don't have to buy the items sampled).

So, as one can infer from the theme, this month's box was all about eyes. I actually love eyeshadows and doing eye makeup, but this box fell flat for me. Maybe it's because I already have so many eye products.

• Make Up For Ever Artist Shadow in I-544 - This is a really pretty "iridescent pink granite" shadow according to the info card, but I call it mauve. It doesn't have a lot of shimmer once applied, so it's appropriate for the office. I like adding it on the week days for just a touch of color.
• Lancome Energie De Vie Smoothing & Glowing Liquid Care Moisturizer - This is a really interesting little moisturizer. The info card says that it's a mix between a serum and an essence, which is pretty accurate. It has a low viscosity (it's really liquidy) and basically feels like water. It's supposed to relieve dullness, diminish signs of fatigue, and promote a healthy-looking glow. It absorbed quickly into my skin and didn't feel heavy at all, which was much appreciated during the hot days we had here last month.
• Algenist Eye Renewal Balm - This is a nice creamy eye cream that reduces dark circles, puffiness, and wrinkles with anti-aging alguronic acid. It's a pretty standard eye cream, but I like to use them for preventive care.
• CLEAN Reserve Warm Cotton - I had never met a CLEAN perfume that I didn't like until I tried this one. I was willing to give it a try because it was described as a blend of floral and musk (and I love musk), but it just smells like laundry. It certainly smells the way it should based on the name, but I don't really want to walk around smelling like laundry.
• Sephora Collection Contour Eye Pencil 12hr Wear Waterproof in Love Affair - This is a plum eyeliner that's really easy to apply. I'll use this for when I want to add a little something to my look without it being as dramatic as a black eyeliner.
• Urban Decay Perversion Mascara - I've gotten this as a sample before so I posted it for trade. It's supposed to be lengthening and volumizing, but it did neither of those things for me. It's just a pretty standard mascara in my opinion.

Bottom Line: Like I said, this box was just okay. I didn't love any of the products and won't purchase any full-sized versions of them. They can't all be winners, though, and hopefully I'll like next month's box better,

July Play! by Sephora Review

When I saw that the theme spoiler for July's Play! by Sephora box was "Effortless" I thought, well that isn't helpful. That could be anything. Turns out they included samples for an effortless summer, and the box is pretty good!

*Disclaimer: This box was purchased by See, Shop, Love!

If you haven't heard of Play!, it's a fairly new box from Sephora. Subscriptions have been on a waiting list and the waiting time has been long and frustrating for some, but I think they're opening up more and more subscriptions recently. You can check your status by entering your email address into the Play! site, and you should also get an email when a spot opens up.

Anyway, it costs $10 per month and shipping is free, but if you live in NYS like me there's sales tax, bringing the total to $10.80. That's nothing terrible, though, because I think this box is an excellent value for the price.

Each box comes with a little drawstring bag with the samples inside. I think this is a cute idea, but I don't really know what to do with the leftover bags each month. I guess I'll figure out a way to use them as storage for all the samples I have building up in my closet!

You also get a Play! pass that's good for a tutorial with a Sephora associate using the products in the box and 50 extra Beauty Insider points with any purchase.

I think this month the samples varied a little based on your Sephora profile. I have oily skin, so I received the box catered towards that skin type.

• First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Deep Cleanser with Red Clay - I actually use this cleanser currently and I really like it. It's not too expensive for a full-sized bottle and it works well to remove excess oil and balance my skin.
• Nest Fragrances in Citrine - I've never tried a Nest perfume that I didn't like, but I wasn't sure about this one since it has notes of freesia and fresh lotus flower. I generally hate anything freesia, but this one is so nice! It's not overly-floral and the woody base balances out the floral perfectly for me.
• OUAI Wave Spray - I used to use wave sprays all the time when my hair was longer, but for some reason they don't work so well on my short hair. It doesn't make sense to me. Anyway, this one is formulated to give extra texture, volume, and shine. It smells really nice and did give my hair added texture. I'll use this as an alternative to my styling cream.
• Smashbox Photo Finish Pore Minimizing Primer - The last time I tried this primer it made me break out, but so far so good this time around. The texture is velvety smooth and it's especially formulated for oily/combo skin.
• Too Faced Soleil Matte Bronzer in Chocolate - This is my favorite bronzer! It smells like chocolate and gives a great matte glow. I prefer bronzers without shimmer and this one is perfect.
• beautyblender blotterazzi - I've really wanted to try this for a while because I love my original beautyblender, but I wasn't quite sure how effective it would be and I didn't want to waste my money on something that didn't work. I'm glad I got this in a box and didn't purchase it at retail price because it did absolutely nothing to soak up oil on my skin. If you have a regular beautyblender, just press it against your face because that's basically all this does. It didn't absorb any oil, in my opinion. Do not recommend.

Bottom Line: I loved everything in July's box, save for the blotterazzi, but I'm still glad I got to try that because it confirmed that I shouldn't buy a full-sized version!

June Play! by Sephora Review

June marks my second month of being a Play! by Sephora subscriber and I'm still crazy excited about this box! This may be my new favorite subscription overall...

*Disclaimer: This box was purchased by See, Shop, Love!

Play! by Sephora is a new-ish beauty box that costs $10 a month with free shipping. Tax is $.80 more if you live in New York state like me, and probably for California, too.

If you're familiar with the subscription box world then I'm sure you already know this, but for those who don't, this box has a wait list. Enter your email here and keep your fingers crossed that you'll get an email saying a slot has opened up for you. I was on the wait list for months before I got that email. You can also check back from time to time and just enter your email to see if an opening has been created.

As you can probably guess, all of the products are beauty samples of items you can purchase full-sized versions of at Sephora. I'm a VIB and am always looking to spend too much money in that store, so this box is a win-win for both me and Sephora (probably more for Sephora). Like I said, this is only my second box, but so far I've been very impressed by the quality of items they send out. If you're more into high end brands, then you really can't beat this box at only $10.

This month's theme was The Minimalists, and all of the products were tailored around a low-maintenance look for summer.

• Tocca Florence - I like Tocca's perfumes as a whole, but this scent isn't for me. It has notes of bergamot, violet petals, and blonde wood. It's too floral for me but is perfect for summer and someone who likes florals.
• benefit They're Real! Mascara - I love this mascara! It actually works really well for me and I like the shape of the brush (it has a sphere at the end to help you reach all of your lashes). I already have a full-sized tube, though, so I posted this for swap.
• Bumble & Bumble Don't Blow It - I'm obsessed with B&B products and this one is new to me. It's a creme that's meant to be added to fine or medium hair when air drying. Now I know why I haven't ever heard of this before--I have thick AF hair and never air dry it. I'm still willing to give this a try, though.

• Bare Minerals bareSkin Bronzer - This is a liquid bronzer that can be worn alone or over foundation. I've never used a liquid bronzer before so I'm curious to try this out. I don't have the special brush that Bare Minerals makes for their liquid products but I'll just use my fingers and my mini beautyblender instead.
• Tarte TarteGuard 30 Broad Spectrum SPF 30 - I didn't know Tarte made sunscreens so I'm so glad this was in the box! I've been looking for a lightweight SPF to use on my face and I think this will be perfect.
• Becca Backlight Priming Filter - Ooh, I love this! I don't own any Becca products but I've been hearing a lot of buzz about them recently. I used this last night and it made my skin look so luminous and wonderful. It's a primer, but it's special in that it helps blur imperfections and give your skin a soft-focus look.

This month's box was really good! Even though the perfume wasn't my style, I still liked everything and found some new products to try and fall in love with and burn more money on! I didn't use my Play! pass last month but I think I will this month because I have to restock on some things (you get 50 extra Beauty Insider points with any purchase when you use it) and I'd like to get a tutorial on how to use the Bare Minerals and Becca products. I think I'm using them fine, but any helpful hints can't hurt!

Bottom Line: My second Play! by Sephora box was wonderful and I can't wait to see what's in store for next month!

May Play! by Sephora Review

I finally got off of the wait list for Play! by Sephora last month and this is my first box! I was waiting for months to be able to subscribe, and it was so worth it. This box is fantastic!

*Disclaimer: This box was purchased by See, Shop, Love!

Play! by Sephora costs $10 a month ($10.80 with tax if you live in NYS like me) and shipping is free. Subscriptions are closed, but you can sign up for the wait list here. I think Sephora said you'll get an email when it's your turn to sign up, but I actually saw on MySubscriptionAddiction.com that they were opening subs to some people on the wait list so I tried and got in. I then got an email three days later. So I guess you can wait for an email or just keep plugging your email into the site once in a while to see if you can sign up!

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this box. There are two very similar boxes at the same price point (okay let's just say it, Birchbox and Ipsy), and one of them (Birchbox) I really love and the other I've never cared for (Ipsy). Luckily, this first month of Play! has been fantastic!

Not only do you get samples of products that are all available at Sephora, but you'll get a Play! pass that's good for an in-store tutorial on how to use the products and 50 extra Beauty Insider points with a purchase.

I also really liked the canvas bag that everything came in. I'm sure that they'll get old and I'll end up recycling future ones, but for now they're good for storing the myriad of other samples I have lying around.

This month's theme was "The Forces of Nature," which was a great one for me to start with because I love natural and organic products. I'm not really sure that any of these are what I would consider natural and organic, but there was still some good stuff inside.

• Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche in Kimchi - This is high pigmented lipstick that delivers hydration using 12 edible oils. I haven't used it yet because the shade is bright pink (see photo at the end of this post) and I'm not sure it'll look good on me, but maybe I'll use the Play! pass and a Sephora associate can give me some tips on what other colors to wear it with! I also like that it's named Kimchi because I'm Korean and I love kimchi.
• Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask - This is the second sample of this that I've gotten and I'm not sure if I'll use it. It sounds wonderful, it's made with naturally-derived ingredients, but I have a lot of deep conditioning masks to use up already. This may be swapped.
• Korres Wild Rose Sleeping Facial - I love Korres products. This is an overnight mask that brights and moisturizers with wild rose oil. I've never used an overnight mask before but I'm excited to try this one.
• Origins Maskimizer + Drink Up & Clear Improvement Masks - This is such an interesting product! The Maskimizer is a mist to use pre-mask to optimize the skin's condition. They also included a charcoal mask (Clear Improvement) and an overnight moisture mask (Drink Up).
• Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine - Atelier Cologne makes my all-time favorite perfume, Vanille Insensee, and this one is also very nice. It's a great citrus scent for summer.

Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche in Kimchi

Korres Wild Rose Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial

Origins Maskimizer (in atomizer) and masks

Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche in Kimchi

Bottom Line: Love, love, love(!!!) this box! It may be that my excitement is heightened by the fact that I waited so long to be able to subscribe, but overall I think there was a good mix of products here. I'm a Sephora VIB so I'm always looking for new products to try and buy from there.