Play! by Sephora is a monthly beauty and makeup subscription. Each month they send you six samples, a PLAY! BOOK of tips and tricks, and a PLAY! PASS for in-store learning.
I used to work at Sephora so I naturally couldn’t resist this subscription!
FYI – Play! by Sephora's waitlist just opened, so if you’ve been waiting to be able to sign up – go, go, go!
This month they included all of the samples in this adorable drawstring bag!
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
The Subscription Box: Play! by Sephora
The Cost: $10
The Products: Five deluxe samples plus a fragrance sample, a PLAY! BOOK of tips and tricks, and a PLAY! PASS for in-store learning.
Ships to: US
Check out all of our Play! by Sephora reviews and all of our reviews of Cheap Subscription Boxes for other similarly priced boxes!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
Each box comes with a Play! Pass, which is a card you can use at Sephora (in-store) to get 50 extra rewards points, and you can also get one-on-one tutorials and tips of products from a Sephora consultant.
Although I do have to mention, you can walk in and get shown any tips and even a “mini makeover” (which is where a consultant will do a small demo on you like a certain eye look, how to do your brows, how to contour, matching you with a foundation, etc) anytime! So if you don’t have this subscription (or can’t get off the waitlist), you can still go to your local Sephora and try out all the products featured, or any other products you’ve had your eye on.
Oh, and don’t be afraid to ask for samples! They should give you any you ask for (FYI - general guideline is 3 free samples, but if you ask for more they shouldn’t say no).
Sephora has an excellent info card – it feels like reading a magazine! This month’s theme is all about “eye openers.”
Also – their info sheet is interactive! On the right side there, it says to download the Sephora To Go app for iPhone to scan product images in the info sheet and it’ll teach you more about the products and you can shop the full sizes. Very cool.
They have such thorough information on each product and brand! There’s also lots of great tips and tricks for application and use for everything.
Sephora Collection Contour Eye Pencil 12 Hr Wear Waterproof, Flirting Game - 0.017 oz, value: $4.25
Sephora Collection makes terrific eyeliners! Plus, Sephora’s brand is the lowest price point you’ll find across their store. The formula of this eyeliner is very creamy and smooth and went on very easily. It smudges well, too. This shade, Flirting Game, is an easily wearable, shimmery taupe. I wish this had been full size! (I’ll show a swatch and a look using this below)
Urban Decay Perversion Mascara - 0.1 oz, value: $5.50
Urban Decay’s 24/7 Eyeliner in shade “perversion” is known by Sephora Employees by being the blackest black eyeliner pencil we sell. Urban Decay created this Perversion mascara to reflect the same intensity. This formula is creamy, and not clumpy. It lengthens and adds volume, and I experienced zero spidery-ness on my lashes even with multiple coats.
Caudalie Resveratrol Lift Eye Lifting Balm - 0.16 fl oz, value: $19.84
Holy Hydration, Batman! This Caudalie Eye Balm is fantastic! This may be my new favorite find. It melts right into my skin, feels slightly cooling, and my eyes felt super hydrated for quite some time after.
Eye balms/creams are one of the products I can’t live without. I apply every morning and night and throughout the day when I need to feel a little pick me up. Eye products are super important for anti-aging and it even helps keep your under-eye makeup from creasing and apply much better. Remember, apply eye products on the brow bone, sides of your eyes, and under eye gently with your ring finger. Pat it on, don’t rub! Your under eye skin is super delicate and any pulling (especially with something you do 1-2x a day) will speed up signs of aging. And don’t worry about rubbing product all the way up to the edge of your under eye – eye products are made to spread, and that way you can avoid getting product in your eyes and irritating them.
Lancôme Énergie de Vie The Smoothing & Glow Boosting Liquid Moisturizer - 0.16 fl oz, value: $12.75
This liquid moisturizer is, well, liquid, so it’s quite runny. The info packet says it’s “thicker than an essence but thinner than a cream.” The result is a quickly-absorbing and lightweight moisturizer. It’s great on its own for these hot and muggy summer days. I have dry skin, so I’m not sure I would love this just by itself for my skin type, but I’m happy to try this! I love Lancôme.
I will note that my little bottle of this stuff seemed half empty, though.
Clean Reserve Blonde Rose – 0.05 fl oz, value: $1.33
Clean’s line of perfumes are very fresh, clean, and often unisex. This Blonde Rose fragrance is categorized as “Sophisticated, Classic, and Feminine.” Notes include Aldehydic Watery, Rose, Peony, Jasmine, Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Musk. Personally, this fragrance isn’t a hit for me. It smells much older than I prefer to wear.
MAKE UP FOR EVER Artist Shadow Eyeshadow and Powder Blush, I-544 Pink Granite - 0.02 oz, value: $6
I was almost giddy to see that we’d be getting an MUF product in our box this month! I adore their products, and they’re not cheap. This shade is called I-544 Pink Granite. The “I” in the beginning indicates that it is iridescent. They have indicators like this for all their finishes – ME for metallic, D for diamond/glitter, M for matte, etc. It’s a perfect shade to use all over your lid.
The info booklet calls this a “gel-powder,” but I think that’s probably a little confusing. They call it this because it’s designed to have little hydration spheres that burst when you apply the product to really amp up the pigment – the texture is never really a gel but it’s an insanely creamy and smooth powder shadow.
I’m in love with this shade. When I saw these spoilers, I was seriously hoping this would be full-size but a full pan of this shadow is $22 so I knew that’d be unlikely. Make Up Forever is an incredible brand when it comes to long-lasting products with crazy pigmentation! In fact, Cirque du Soleil has even used MUF products for their performers.
Here’s a swatch of the shadow and the eyeliner. I love both these products!
Today I wore everything in the box, including the shadow, eyeliner, and mascara that you can see here (and below). As noted above, I was very happy with the mascara – application was easy and I felt it lengthened and volumized without clumping or looking spidery. And it built multiple coats well. It also applied easily and lightly to my lower lashes.
Here’s a better look at the shadow and liner. I used the liner for a thin, traditional line on my upper lid and on the middle and outer sections of my lower lash line. For the shadow, I applied it all over my lid, and I blended a similar but matte shade from my Urban Decay Naked 2 palette into my crease, and a darker matte shadow in just the very outer corners of my eyes. I really wanted the Make Up Forever shadow to be the star since it’s such a gorgeous shade.
Verdict: This is one of my favorite Play! by Sephora boxes yet! I loved trying some new skincare products from brands I love, and getting deluxe cosmetics samples that all add up to a complete eye look (shadow, liner, mascara). I’m thrilled that we got a Make Up Forever product and that I found my new favorite under-eye balm. The value adds up to over $49.67 so I’m definitely happy with that for $10.
What do you think about the August Play! by Sephora box?
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