Play! by Sephora All-Star Edition Review – August 2017
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!
Sephora recently released a special All Star Edition box that was initially released as an exclusive for VIB Rouges (the highest status level in their points program), and then opened up the next day to normal VIBs and then the next day to everyone. This was a one-time purchase and not a monthly subscription.
FYI: This box is now open to all clients and still available for purchase!
This box came with a little envelope containing info cards (designed like Tarot cards) about each featured item!
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
The Box: PLAY! by SEPHORA The All Star Edition
The Cost: $20
The Products:
- AmorePacific Moisture Bound Rejuvenating Creme 8 ml
- Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer 4 ml
- Tom Ford Lip Color in Indian Rose 1g
- SK-II Facial Treatment Essence 10 ml
- Victor & Rolf Flowerbomb 3 ml
- Dior Disorshow Mascara in Black 90
- Collectible bag
- PLAY! guide to all-star beauty in the form of an exclusive tarot deck
Ships to: U.S.
Check out all of our Play! by Sephora reviews and all of our reviews of Beauty Subscription Boxes!
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The tarot info cards were packaged so pretty! The main envelope had holographic font printed on it.
The front card said to shuffle the cards and pick 3 without looking. Lay them face up, left to right, and in that order they “represent your past, present and your future.” It’s a cute way to present the info cards for sure!
Each product has its own entire card.
On the back of each card is a little blurb about the product, a PLAY! fortune, and some words of wisdom.
Here’s a look at the other cards:
The special bag for this limited edition Play! box was a holographic silver.
Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb – 3 ml, Value $9
Flowerbomb is a perfume that certainly has its own hyped up cult following! I was really excited to see a little travel spray included in this box.
The notes include bergamot, mandarin, a “floral explosion” heart note comprised of jasmine, freesia, rose, osmanthus, plus amber, woody, patchouli, vanilla, and praline. It’s a very warm floral scent! Even a little spicy. I really like it.
SK-II Facial Treatment Essence – 10 ml, Value $13.20
This is a facial treatment essence that you apply after cleaning, but before moisturizing (like a toner). It has a bio-ingredient rich formula that is designed to help with dullness and uneven texture, loss of firmness/elasticity, and uneven skin tone. I am fortunate enough not to have any big problems with those things, but this still felt great on my skin. One or two uses isn’t enough for me to notice a difference but I’m excited to see if it still helps brighten my skin with a little time.
AmorePacific Moisture Bound Rejuvenating Creme – 8 ml, Value $24
This is a pretty pricey cream! The full size (1.7 oz/50 ml) costs $150. When we first heard Amore Pacific was included in this box, I think most of us assumed it’d be the enzyme peel that has shown up in several other subscriptions, including Ipsy and such. I’m so glad it’s a moisturizer instead!
This cream includes bamboo leaf extract and stabilized bamboo sap for an intense hydration, along with hyaluronic acid.
This cream feels great! I have dry skin and I loved how light but intense this felt on my skin. It absorbed quickly but left my skin feeling hydrated.
Dior Disorshow Mascara in Black 90 – 1.5 ml, Value $4.28
This mascara is another product with a really large following! I heard many clients describe it as a holy grail product for them when I worked at Sephora.
The formula is fantastic – it’s a very dark black and I had zero issues with smudging! The brush is big and fluffy, which I don’t normally prefer (I tend to prioritize separation with mascaras), but it was actually excellent for coverage, volume, and length, and didn’t clump at all. This really worked well for me! (FYI the cap opens by just pulling the brush out. I may or may not have spent a dumb about of time pointlessly twisting it until I realized that.)
Tom Ford Lip Color in Indian Rose – .03 oz/1g, Value $16.20
I have never tried out any Tom Ford cosmetics, so this is a really exciting sample for me. First of all, I love the packaging of this mini lipstick! The metal case has bold gold bordering and didn’t feel cheap.
It even had a little engraved TF on the lid! It’s one of the most luxe mini lipstick cases I’ve seen.
This formula is also luxurious. The pigment is nice, it applied well, and it felt moisturizing on my lips. The wear time was really good for a cream lipstick as well. I’m so glad they included this really wearable color! It’s a medium nude pink – I think it’d work for anyone!
Here’s a swatch of the lipstick.
Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer – .14 oz, Value $7.56
This primer is oil-free and feels very silky and lightweight. It has a very smooth texture but isn’t like the slick feeling that typical silicone-based primers feel.
This is supposed to conceal redness, minimize appearance of pores, fine lines, and wrinkles, and provides SPF 15 (hurrah!)!
It takes a lot to impress me with a primer because I’ve tried so many, but I’m a big fan of this one. It’s light and smooth and helped my makeup apply more smoothly (and it took less product for full coverage).
Here I am wearing everything, though you can really only see the mascara and the lipstick. I love both! This color is so great for wearing every day.
I’m really pleased with how this mascara wears. It did a serious job with coverage and volume, and stayed put all day.
Verdict: I had so much fun with this All-Star Edition Sephora Play! box! This is the second of the one-time Play! boxes they’ve released, and I hope they do more because I am a fan. I’ve found some great new favorites and brands in both so far. I love the more high-end brands and larger sample sizes. To be honest, I was pretty simply satisfied when I opened the box but after actually trying each product I’m really happy with everything. Maybe I got lucky, but every product works well for me. The value of this box adds up to $74.24 (not including any value for the bag) – I’m happy with that for just $20!
What do you think about the Sephora Play! All-Star Edition box? What was your favorite new find?
Written by Haley Faye
I loved loved loved this box. Did not try essence too much, but everything else is usable, and I am already looking at AmorePacific moisturizer, ordered the perfume and even if I am not planning to buy the mascara or lipstick again, they are not the ones to get into trashbox directly. This box worked better for me than the boxes “tailored” to me with my beauty profiles.
This was a really fun box, even though I haven’t tried everything yet. I’m always curious to see how higher end items will compare to the less expensive, everyday items that I normally use.
The Dior mascara was a pleasant surprise because it really held the curl in my long, sparse, straight lashes. I wasn’t too impressed with the volume, but I’m not sure I applied enough-the tube is so small that the mascara does not appear to coat the entire wand.
I was a little shocked at how small the SKII sample was. I realize it’s an expensive product, but I got a 30 ML sample in one of my first Allure boxes (over a year ago) along with a sheet mask. By comparison, the 10 ML seems more like a free sample size you’d get at a beauty counter than a “deluxe” sample that you are paying for.
Overall, I think this is a great collection of makeup and skincare items, but I will be paying attention to sizes in the future since it seems that all the samples are getting smaller and smaller…
So bummed. Sephora is out of stock and cancelled my order. 😢😥😿
i have mine listed on the swap site
I wasn’t crazy about the Hourglass primer packaging. I’m not sure how I will get all of the product out of the tiny glass tube. The little spatula that is included in the cap doesn’t reach all the way into the tube. Otherwise, I really like everything else.
Essence goes after toner and before your moisturizer.
Fantastic review! In fact, I purchased because of your review! Congratulations on your new addition!!!
I’m very happy with this bag! Love, love, love the review! It’s always so nice to try the higher end products, and just the AmorePacific alone is worth it to me!
I LOVE this box. I tried the amorepacific last night with my Tidal cream from Sunday Riley and my face looked AMAZING in the morning. I also loved the hourglass primer. I was nervous at first because I was hoping it wouldn’t feel super silky when I initially put it on, but it dried amazing. Really makes my face look brighter and conceals the redness I had. The bag is sooooo pretty. I love holo! The Dior show mascara is a cult classic and I love it. I wish I loved the Tom Ford color more. I’m a nude lip person. I also used the SK-II and it’s pretty amazing as well!!
Just saw that it’s out of stock 🙁
its in stock right now!
I bought this and I can’t wait to try everything! Now especially that I’ve seen your review! Every single item looks like it’s going to be perfect for me. I wish I had bought two!
Everything looks gorgeous on you , lip color is beautiful. I need to know what is your eye line? It looks so smooth
Paulette, I use Kat Von D’s Everlasting Liquid Liner! It has a brush tip so you get so much control! It’s the only liquid liner I’ve used since I discovered it while working at Sephora.
What a great review! I bought this box but haven’t tried anything yet. After reading your take on the products I’m excited to dig in.
It didn’t take long to realise that Liz didn’t write the review. You each have distinct styles – although equally fun and informative!
Helen, that’s so great to hear. Thanks for reading!! 😀
I just want to say I really look forward to your reviews. I like that you show the make up on as a look it gives so much more information that way! I bought 2 of these and loved them!
Thank you, Tara! That means a lot. 😊
Thanks for letting us know this is still for sale! It must have come back in stock, because I tried to purchase it last night, and it said it was out of stock. I was able to get one just now though! I already have all of these in my stash, except for the lipstick & perfume (I think), but I never mind receiving duplicates of high end samples, especially if that means it’ll take me that much longer to having to purchase the full-size! 🙂
It’s back out of stock again but I’m glad I got it earlier when it was in stock.
I bought 2 bags and love every product. Not crazy about the tarot card idea in the them but that’s me
I think the cards are pretty and different but I don’t know if I’ve ever been particularly excited about info cards in general, lol. They’re nice for reference but they still always get thrown out anyway.
I loved the lipstick, not enough to buy the full sized, but with the size of the sample, it should last a while. I thought the tarot cards were a cute way to describe each product. I would definitely buy if they do this again. To receive over $70 worth of samples for $20 is a good deal to me, even if I have tried some of the products before. At least I liked those samples and know they worked for me. Great review, it’s nice to see all of the products in action.
WOW this review really makes me want to get this now!! At first I think I thought it wasn’t enough for 20$ but seeing this products on there own makes me really see the value!
I liked this limited edition bag as well and hope they continue to release them more often.
Yes, this was fun!
Welcome back! I’ve missed your reviews as well (and not just because we have the same skin tone, colouring, etc.).
Thanks so much, Sher! I’m taking things easy on the review load in preparation for my second baby due in October, but I’m still around! 😀
Congratulations on your impending arrival! 🙂
I miss your reviews! I bought 2 of these since I always end up sharing. I will for sure keep probably a whole bag for myself though.
Thanks so much, Kate! I’ve slowed down a bit in preparation for this new baby (October!) but I’m still around! 🙂 Thanks so much for reading – I love sharing my sub box loot, too.