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 is currently in semi-waitlist mode. Their waitlist just opened, so if you’ve been waiting to be able to sign up – go, go, go!
Hopefully, everyone who wants a subscription is off the waitlist, but if you are still waiting for an invite, check the comments on this post for lots of tips.
Every 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). Keep in mind I don’t mean they will give you free deluxe samples or pre-packaged samples (those are typically reserved for 100 point rewards) – Sephora employees can make you samples of any product!
Sephora has an excellent info card – it feels like reading a magazine! This month’s theme is all about “unbasic basics.”
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.
Dr. Jart+ Water Drop Hydrating Moisturizer – 1 oz, value: $10.90
This moisturizer is a new product to me, though I’ve liked Dr. Jart+ skincare products for a while. This moisturizer hydrates with hyaluronic acid, which helps pull moisture into your skin cells. It also helps brighten your skin tone. The texture is silky and I really think it would be good for any skin type (Yes, even oily!). The silky texture actually makes this moisturizer double great as a foundation primer.
PRO TIP: If you struggle with oily skin, you avoid moisturizing, and you wash frequently, then I can tell you confidently that your skin is actually likely dried out and stripped from being washed, so it’s overproducing oil in order to try and hydrate itself! Wash your face at just night (and maybe in the morning), try using a moisturizer morning and night, and you’ll probably see a huge difference! It may take a couple days for your skin to adjust, but if you provide it with moisture (via moisturizers) then it’ll get the hint that it doesn’t need to try to hydrate itself as much!
Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Night Cap Overnight Perfector – 1 oz, value: $7
I’ve tried this product before thanks to Birchbox, and I like it alright. I think it works well to hydrate and smooth my hair, but I don’t know if I really see a difference for a whole week like it says. The main reason I don’t love it is that I don’t care to sleep in hair treatments, but that’s just me.
FYI – the packaging says to apply to your hair at night (damp or dry) and comb through, and wash out or style in the morning. Based on the reviews from Sephora’s site, if you’ve been unimpressed when you’ve tried it and washed in in the morning, you may have better results if you wash at night and apply to damp hair, and then style without washing in the morning.
Kat Von D Tattoo Waterproof Liner in Trooper – .007 fl oz, value: $7
Yay! This is my go-to liquid liner. I have used this liner pretty much daily for years. I really love it because it has a brush tip which gives you so much control and makes you feel like you’re drawing or writing on your eyeliner instead of swiping it on like a pencil liner (or maybe it’s just me and I like to romanticize the act of applying liquid liner. I don’t know). The formula is a super intense, opaque black. I absolutely love that it doesn’t bleed into creases at all and I can trust it to maintain a stark line all day long and I’ve never had a hard time washing it off at night with a makeup remover!
I love using this liner for a cat-eye or kitten-eye (which is basically just a tiny, non-dramatic cat-eye) look, and it makes it easy.
Tony Burch Jolie Fleur Verte – sample
This fragrance is meant to feel “tomboyish” and laid back. The notes include Lily of the Valley, Jasmine Absolute, Mandarin, Neroli Oil, Dewey Green Accord, Cedarwood, Sandalwood, and Musk. I like how it’s floral and green and not too sweet. This definitely feels like a summertime scent to me.
Here’s a close-up of the brush tip of the Kat Von D liner – more than 300 bristles!
Sephora Collection Rouge Shine Lipstick in #14 Love Spell – .035 oz, value: $3.37
The Sephora Collection has some fantastic products and it’s always going to be the lowest price point in the store. Don’t think that means low-quality; Sephora is owned by LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE) and you know those two names won’t put something out that’s low-quality.
This lipstick is a moisturizing, slightly cool-toned rose pink. It’s a sheerer formula and easily wearable. I think many subscribers will find it refreshing to receive such a wearable, non-intimidating shade from Sephora, particularly after receiving some super bold colors in recent boxes. (swatch below)
FYI – the Sephora Rouge Shine lipsticks are sheer and buildable. If you’re looking for a bolder/more pigmented formula, try their Rouge Intense lipstick. There are also 9 different shades of this Rouge Shine on sale for only $5 online!
Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel - .085 oz, value: $6.68
Yay, another favorite of mine! Anastasia Beverly Hills is a brand that is all about the brows! They have some of everything as far as brow products and formulas go. This brow gel is clear and fantastic for setting your brows after you fill them with powder or pencil. Personally, I swipe it on to shape and hold after doing my brows with the Anastasia Brow Wiz pencil, which makes brow-shaping super easy. (Brush with the spooly end, fill/shape with the pencil end, blend with the spooly end again to help it look a little more natural. Oh, and you have some control over the intensity of the pigment by how hard you press the pencil).
FYI – Anastasia Beverly Hills also has tinted brow gels! If you have full brows already or just prefer a more natural/less-bold look to your brows, the colored brow gels are awesome for a little bit of tinting. I once had a client come in and sheepishly say she used mascara on her brows. When I lead her to the tinted brow gels she loved that we found something that matched her hair color perfectly, worked better for brows, and was just as easy to use as mascara!
Here are some swatches of the eyeliner and the lipstick. The top lipstick swatch is with a few swipes to build color, and the bottom swatch is only one swipe.
Here I am wearing the Water Drop moisturizer (as a foundation primer), the Kat Von D liquid eyeliner, the Anastasia Beverly Hills clear brow gel (over my usual filling/defining with her Brow Wiz pencil), and the Sephora Rouge Shine lipstick.
The liner is perfect for creating a cat-eye, and I love how natural and easy-to-wear the lipstick is.
The Verdict: This was a great Play! By Sephora box for me! There were some new products as well as everyday favorites of mine. The value this month adds up to $35.95 which I’m definitely happy with for a $10 box.
What do you think about the September Play! By Sephora box?
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