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Play! by Sephora #264 Subscription Box Review – May 2017

Haley Faye
ByHaley FayeMay 20, 2017 | 42 comments

Play! By Sephora #264 Makeup Subscription Box May 2017

Play! by Sephora
3.8 overall rating
564 Ratings | 55 Reviews

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!

Play! By Sephora #264 Makeup Subscription Box May 2017

My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

Play! By Sephora #264 Makeup Subscription Box May 2017

Every month they include all of the samples in a mini bag with a different design. Normally they use an illustrated drawstring bag, but I’m loving this month’s bag! It’s a flexible plastic cast that snaps shut! It feels super sturdy, too – this would be great for keeping important odds and ends separately in your beach tote or purse.

FYI - The box variation I received this month is box ending in #264. To find out which box you’re receiving at the beginning of each month, follow these instructions:
If you log in through a browser, not the app, and go to my account > account details > online orders and open the play! Order Details, you can see the “item number” next to the image.”

Play! By Sephora #264 Makeup Subscription Box May 2017

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: U.S.

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!

Play! By Sephora #264 Makeup Subscription Box May 2017

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.

I do have to mention, you can walk in and get shown any tips and even a “mini makeover” at the Beauty Studio (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. and teach you what they’re doing) anytime – with or without a Play pass! 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.

Play! By Sephora #264 Makeup Subscription Box May 2017

This month’s theme is “The Rising Stars” and the info booklet shares 7 things you didn’t know you can do at Sephora. Here’s what they are:

  1. Show your Play! Pass to get a one-on-one tutorial from a beauty advisor (Haley’s note: you can do this anytime, actually, with or without a Play! Pass)
  2. Get matched with Color IQ and scientifically determine the precise color matches for your skin tone. (Haley’s note: This is actually super cool and if you want help getting foundation matched, be sure to ask about this if the Beauty Advisor doesn’t offer it, which they should. Also, ask what your code is after they scan you – write down your 4-digit skin tone code and you can type it into Sephora.com and find all the foundation formulas that match you best while shopping online!)
  3. Ask a beauty advisor for free samples of just about any product for you! (Haley’s Note: Even perfume! They can make custom little spray samples. There’s a way to make a sample out of almost anything.)
  4. Attend a Play! Date to learn more about this month’s products, and bring a friend!
  5. Check out new, cool brands featured under the “Scouted by Sephora” signs.
  6. Stop by the Skincare/Beauty Studio for a complimentary mini-facial (Haley’s Note: This is also a skincare consultation – it’s just like a makeup tutorial but for skincare. The beauty advisor should ask you about your skin type and needs and then recommend products while showing you how they work/feel!)
  7. Redeem your Play! Passes with any purchase for 50 more bonus Beauty Insider points, which you can exchange for more deluxe samples.

Play! By Sephora #264 Makeup Subscription Box May 2017

Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt1.35 fl oz, Value $9.50

I’ve never used a hair/scalp scrub before! This is a detoxifying shampoo with sea salt to cleanse and soothe oily and sensitive scalps while also delivering hydration. This is definitely an interesting and innovative product. Applying it felt a little awkward, but once I added some more warm water it lathered up and became much more shampoo-like. I followed with my usual conditioner and my hair feels very silky and has a little extra volume, I think! I’m definitely curious to see how this does with a couple more uses. It might be a little intense on your hair/scalp for daily use but using it in a rotation would probably work well.

Play! By Sephora #264 Makeup Subscription Box May 2017

The texture is almost like a face or hand scrub! At first, I didn’t even realize it was for hair.

Play! By Sephora #264 Makeup Subscription Box May 2017

Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Clay Cleanser – 1 oz, Value $10.71

I’m always thrilled to get any product from Sunday Riley! This is called a “clay cleanser” but really, the texture is much more fluid and light than I was expecting from that name. This is a natural, pore-perfecting, deep cleanser. This felt gentle and left my face feeling fresh and clean. Because of how gentle this is, I bet using something like a Clarisonic with it would really up its cleansing powers if you want a little more oomph.

Play! By Sephora #264 Makeup Subscription Box May 2017

TreStique Highlight & Perfect Multipurpose Stick – .05 oz?, Value $8?

(no weight listed – I’m guessing some here) I have to admit, I didn’t realize TreStique was a brand Sephora carried; it must be new. I’ve only seen it in Ipsy before. Regardless, I like this highlighting stick! Stick formulas are convenient and fast, and this one gives a nice shimmer without being glittery.

Play! By Sephora #264 Makeup Subscription Box May 2017

NudeStix Magnetic Matte Lip Color in Greystone – Value $9?

(Again, no weight listed.) I love NudeStix! This lip pencil has great pigmentation and goes on creamy but has great staying power! It’s a three-in-one lip color, stain, and liner. This “Greystone” shade is a greige, which is trendy, but also a polarizing shade. Some will love it and some will hate it. Even so, I think most subscribers will appreciate not receiving yet another red or bright pink this month. I like it, but I’m more likely to wear brighter/lighter shades for this Spring and Summer season. Swatched below.

Play! By Sephora #264 Makeup Subscription Box May 2017

Grande Cosmetics GrandeLIPS Hydrating Lip Plumper – sample size, Value $4?

This hydrating lip plumper is meant to be used in a “regimen” routine in order to help your lips look fuller long-term. You can apply it throughout the day but it also suggests to apply before bed at night.

Play! By Sephora #264 Makeup Subscription Box May 2017

You’ll supposedly see max results by using twice daily for 30 days. I have only used this for the last couple, but I can’t say that I notice a big difference so far. I also don’t tend to have problems with how full my lips are or aren’t, so I may not be noticing any subtle changes? For an “instant lip plumper with long-term benefits,” I didn’t see any plumping I could tell in 3-5 minutes as it claims. Maybe it gets better with use, though. I’m just not the target customer for this product.

Also good to know: this stuff didn’t burn or tingle my lips at all.

Play! By Sephora #264 Makeup Subscription Box May 2017

Maison Margiela Replica Beach Walkhttp://bit.ly/2q3PBVS – sample vial

Wow, I actually really love this perfume! It’s meant to smell like a summery walk on the beach. It just smells so fresh and perfect for Summer for me. Notes include bergamot, pink pepper, ylang ylang, coconut milk, heliotrope, musk, cedarwood, and benzoin.

Play! By Sephora #264 Makeup Subscription Box May 2017

It’s sweet without being a specifically sweet fragrance, and it played well with my body chemistry. I went online to order a rollerball, but this perfume is completely sold out on Sephora.com except in candle form, which is tempting. A lot of people this month must have loved in their Play! box and I went to order too late!

Play! By Sephora #264 Makeup Subscription Box May 2017

Here’s swatches of the highlighter stick and the NudeStix lip pencil.

Play! By Sephora #264 Makeup Subscription Box May 2017

Here’s how the Nudestix pencil and the TreStique highliter look on. I think the highlighter does a good job at not being over the top, so I may play with it and even use it a little more than I did here throughout the summer. I love the NudeStix lip pencil! The formula is creamy, has great staying power, and excellent pigmentation.

Verdict:  All in all, I really liked my May Play! by Sephora box! Aside from the lip plumper, everything was a new discovery for me that I ended up really liking and I know I’ll use. I love getting Sunday Riley and I am always extra excited when I love the perfume sample enough to want to buy it. The value this month adds up to around $41, with my guesses on a couple values. Even if I’m being generous and it’s a little less, I am still really happy with what I got for a $10 box! Definitely a win for me.

What do you think about Play! by Sephora? What box variation did you get?

Starting at $10.00
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PLAY! by Sephora is a monthly beauty and makeup subscription box. Each month, Sephora sends you a mix of six samples (including cosmetics, haircare, skincare, fragrances, and other beauty products) personalized to match your preferences and a PLAY! BOOK of tips and tricks.
Haley Faye
Haley Faye
Haley Faye first discovered the wonderful world of subscription boxes in 2012 and began writing for MSA in 2014. Over the years, she has found many subscriptions to love. Now a mom of three, her favorite boxes are ones that dress her kids, help her get organized, feed her family, send her snacks, and offer educational fun for her children.

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42 comments

Siren

Was anyone else curious about the clear bag with this Play sub and the clear bag with Ipsy the same month? Strange? Odd? Marketing team in cahoots?

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Holly

I got box 298 and I am overall pretty happy with it! I would say this has been my favorite box so far along with the February box. The only thing I am not that excited for is the tresitque highlighter which everyone got anyways. I am just not a fan of stick highlighters because they are just harder to blend and I just don’t end up picking them over all my other highlighters. I still haven’t even touched the Watt’s Up highlighter they sent a few months ago. Aside from the highlighter everything else seems really nice. I am most excited for the MILK primer because it is a newer brand and I haven’t gotten any samples from them before. It looks like a pretty good primer to me and I will see if it actually minimizes any pores. I am happy I only got 1 lip product and it was the grande lips because I actually was quite curious about it when I saw it in other box spoilers because it also a newer brand I’ve seen but haven’t tried anything from before. I like that it is clear so that it just goes with anything, The tata harper is also nice because it also something I haven’t seen before and seems to have good reviews and can give a radiant finish for the summer. The Christoper Robin looks nice too, I might not use it on my hair because it seems a bit harsh, but maybe just not on my scalp. It is a very generous size which probably makes up a good chunk of the value of the box. Lastly, I always love another NEST perfume sample and this one is a new scent. Overall, a great box that is the complete opposite of last months which was terrible. Last month just had a bunch of repeats while this one gave me newer brands and stuff I’ll actually use! Hopefully they can keep this up for next month and send exciting stuff that I normally would never get for myself!

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Michelle

I think that lip color is beautiful on you Haley. I wear colors like that and so there are people who can pull it off. Live a little you might enjoy edging up your world.

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Mariah

I received #264 as well, and I was 50/50 on the products this month. I agree with Hayley on the CR scrub – it’s fantastic and smells amazing! I agree that it probably shouldn’t be used everyday. The highlighter and the cleanser also worked for me.

The other three – the lippie (the color just isn’t for me), the perfume (I’ve gotten this before and isn’t my favorite), and the lip plumper (it did tingle/burn on my lips probably because they’re always dry, and like Hayley, I’m not the target audience for this product because I don’t really care about having plumper lips) just aren’t for me. I do appreciate being sent brands/products I haven’t used before though!

Overall, I’m still happy with this month, the products I didn’t use will go up for swap on MSA. 🙂

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Redwoods301

Instead of this box, I received the version with the Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask, which I love, Nest’s Black Tulip fragrance, and Milk’s Blur Stick, which I’m very interested in trying out and is a TINY sample. Everything else is the same. Any box twins out there?

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April Rodriguez

Only difference is I got the clean perfume.

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Kim

I got the same box!

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Cherie

This is my very first box, I reall like most of my samples however being a 57 yr young fair skin woman I am not too sure about the lip color

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Lola

I’m just a tad younger than you but same fair skin. I love the lip color. On me it is like a dark neutral brown and I don’t really like neutral but this one is good. It is bold but looks great. You can always top it with a light pink, nude or peach gloss or liquid to soften it up. At our age we have earned the right to be bold.

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Kaitlynn Marie

This is my box this month! I’m really glad that the plumper doesn’t tingle or burn because the Too Faced on fucked up my lips something fierce! I’m not loving the color of the lippie, it’s a little too brown for me. I also really hope the perfume is something my sister likes. Regardless of if I like something, being in such close proximity (half hour car rides to and from work every weekday) means I have to be conscious of how the scent affects her. She has a bloodhound nose and if it’s too sweet, it will give her a migraine. Here’s hoping for the best, lol!

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Jenn

The Nudestix looks beautiful on you Haley! It gives me hope when I receive mine. I am happy to have a travel size highlighter to carry in my purse. This month was a definite score!

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Sharyn

They should have named that lip color “morbid”! Not really sure who could pull off a shade like that . . .

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vanessa

Thanks for tips on how to use the Play card!

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Julie

I received box #306 today. It’s ok, better than last months (opposite of everything in my profile) box.

The clean perfume smells like men’s cologne 🙁

I’m cancelling after 6 months of products that don’t work for me. I’ve only bought one full size item that was from my box. The other items I bought were from boxes I didn’t get.

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Jessica

This was also my box. My trestique highlighter came broken, the highlighter was in the cap 🙁

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Renee

yup my highlighter was broken too. booo my first box too!

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Lynn

I got box 272 and my highlighter was broken too. It was stuck in the cap. Must be a common problem.

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Stephanie

Mine too. I contacted customer service and they were unable/unwilling to send a replacement product so they gave me 100 points in my VIB account.

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trisha bontempo

Mine was broken too, if you call they send replacements now.

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Linda

Same here!!

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Jess M

This was one of my Play boxes and my favorite of the two I received (the other one was 306). Other than the highlighter, I love everything here! Beach Walk is one of my favorite perfumes. It sold out at Sephora when they were offering triple points on perfume purchases a couple weeks ago and hasn’t been restocked yet, but I’m sure it will.
I’m surprised the scalp scrub has sulfates in it (which I usually steer clear of) but since it’s not something you’ll use often and will use sparingly, I’m anxious to try it and see if it really works!
And I’m excited to use the lip “plumper” because unlike those we’re used to that sting/tingle/burn to give a plumped look, I think this is meant to be more moisturizing and line-filling to give a soft, fuller look.
Also, for those of you unsure about the lip color, I would suggest trying it as a cream blush. A few dots blended with a stipple brush gives a nice, nude (almost bronzey) flush with a smooth, matte finish.

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Tamara Dungan

I didn’t get the Nudestix but I love the color. I saw so many people complaining about it that I was expecting it to look like a puke gray color. Also, for those who don’t really like the darkness of the color, you can totally downplay it with a topper, gloss, or sheer lip color.

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Viola

I’m with tamara on this I get a lot of lippies that are to dark for me…. I top them with the dry powder highlighters I receive in these boxes an they rock and stay in place.

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Tamara

I just want to say “ditto” to almost everything you said. 😀

The greige color is indeed trendy and also hard to pull off. I liked it on me more than I thought I would but not quite enough to try it in public. Maybe I’ll be brave one of these days. BUT I had mixed feelings about the formula. It feels smooth and wonderful applying it. And it does last a long time. But it eventually felt pretty drying and it started to flake off the interior of my lips. And doing touch-ups was not easy.

TreStique IS new to Sephora and I was surprised when they started carrying it. I’ve always found their products to be hit or miss (but what brand isn’t, really) but I hate their packaging. It always tricks me into thinking I lost the cap! Ugh.

The Nudestix IS almost full size, but the full size also comes with a built-in sharpener. So I don’t know how that affects the RV.

I am still scared to try the hair scrub. But your​ review is encouraging. 🙂

The Replica brand is the only time I am interested at all in whatever fragrance they send.

The Grande Lips is dumb. Kudos to you for even bothering to try it.

I like this bag, too! It’s a fun and potentiallly useful departure from the drawstring bags.

🙂

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Chillybeans

This box was a disappointment for me, I’ve been with sephora play since the very first box and usually love them. I have dry skin and hair so both cleanser and hair scrub are a miss for me. The scrub contains sulfates so not understanding why Sephora is recommending as a “post coloring treatment ” on the product sheet. The lipstick color is uglyand unflattering (thanks for the eye liner suggestion!). I like the lip plumper and perfume but unfortunately the perfume leaked and i lost half of it. I’m not sure why Sephora has you fill out a profile to them send you the exact opposite of what you need?? Next miss for me and I’m canceling. I would have loved the Tatcha oil!!

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Angie

For the nudestix I think she meant as a lil liner. Be careful when using certain colors near your eyes, especially reds.

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Angie

*lip

Haley Faye

I agree – Liz got me into LOVING Tatcha but I have a hard time justifying a full priced item so any and all I can get from a sub is amazing! Wish I had gotten it too.

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Diana

The hair scrub is my new favorite hair product! And it smells like heaven while making my hair feel so clean. I’m splurging on the full size. A little goes a long way so I can see even the sample being enough for a while!

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cookie

This was my box and I really liked it. The Nudestix is definitely not a color I would have chosen but it’s nice to get out of my comfort zone and try something different. But the formula is amazing so I will probably buy the full size in a different color.

The highlighter is actually really nice. Didn’t expect that after everyone was complaining about it.

Love the Sunday Riley, haven’t tried the scrub. The lip plumper is probably lost on me since my lips are fairly full. But I like the perfume a lot.

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Julie E

This lip color is absolutely terrible on me. It straight up looks like I ate a melted candy bar. However, the formula is amazing and very long lasting. I used it as a thick eyeliner instead and it worked perfect and stayed all day 🙂 When i was testing this I was home alone & had no makeup on, I put this on my lips, one eye as a full lid shadow and the other eye as a liner to see what all would look like. I got busy with something else and totally forgot about it. I ended up answering the front door 2x looking like that!! They probably thought I was crazy…

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Katie

Haha! This is great! Reminds me of how I once answered the door for the mailman when I was a nursing mom and was standing there with my boob hanging out and didn’t even realize until I closed to door again. I was mortified. That poor mailman. I also love the idea of using the lip color as an eyeliner.

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Julie E

Haha! That’s great! 🙂

Patricia

Haley you have the most beautiful eyelashes would you mind sharing what brand of mascara you use?

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Haley Faye

Thank you, Patricia and Donna! I use a curler before my eyeliner (the Jersey Shore Cosmetics curler is what I’ve been using and loving – I got it in Ipsy and it totally changed my opinion that all lash curlers were the same! It’s great) and then for mascara I love Benefit’s Roller Lash mascara, and often I top the ends with a coat of Too Faced’s Better Than Sex mascara.

One thing I actually found that also made a big difference was a Lash Serum I used every night for a couple months! I got it in a Beauty DNA sub box and was pleasantly surprised to see it help, so that may be something to look into, too.

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Donna

I agree – I would also love to know your secret on curling them! I have trouble with that as one eye curls wonderfully and the other straightens the moment I remove the eyelash curler! I can actually see the lashes straightening out as I apply mascara!

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Sara

I think the NudeStix is listed at 2.5g which is nearly full size. It was just too dark for me, the hair scrub smells amazing. And I love the perfume sample, though it didn’t seem to last on my skin.

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Paola valle

Yes . Nudestix is 2.5g. $21.43
Full size is 2.8g for $24.

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Haley Faye

Thank you!

Jamie

I believe the Trestique stick is the same size as Ipsy featured in bags before. Ipsy claims the size is 0.04oz so you’re about right! I wish these items had sizes listed on them (Grande Lips, Nudestix, Trestique..). Isn’t that required..?

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Christine

Wish I had gotten that Sunday Riley ceramic slip. If you have Sunday Riley’s Good Genes, I read during fashion week they mixed the ceramic slip with good genes for a quick mask for the models.

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Redwoods301

Also, someone in a thread over at Caroline Hirons’ blog mentioned Pixi’s Clay Cleanser being a dupe for it for those of us with wallet concerns.

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