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!
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
Every month they include all of the samples in a mini bag with a different design.
FYI - The box variation I received this month is box ending in #627. 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 (it was dated 11/1 for me), you can see the “item number” next to the image.
About Play! by Sephora
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.
Play! by Sephora December 2017 #627 Review
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.
Attached to each info sheet is a Play Pass card that gives you an extra 50 points with any in-store purchase.
This month’s theme is “Glam Straight,” and I definitely appreciate the pun. The box is curated to help you create your ultimate night-out look.
Drybar Triple Sec 3-in-1, .35 oz – Estimated Value $2.72 (buy a 1.67 oz. trial size for $13)
This spray creates texture, volume, and body. It’s meant to cut down on your full hair routine and let you go with perfectly tousled hair, or revive an old blowout. It smells amazing! Unfortunately, I couldn’t even get a full use out of what tiny amount of product was actually in the can.
Caudalie Vine[Activ] Energizing and Smoothing Eye Cream, .16 fl oz – Estimated Value $12.48 (buy a .5 oz tube for $39)
If you’ve read my reviews for a while you’ll know I love a good eye cream and never go without one. This Caudalie one is actually one of my favorites! It feels soooo soothing on and I feel it immediately hydrates and brightens my under eyes. I actually have a different sample of this stashed in my makeup bag for pre-makeup application and am happy to have more!
Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Au Naturel, .035 oz – Estimated Value $20.30 (buy a .05 oz. tube for $29)
This sample is more than half the full size, which is nice. I was surprised at first that they’d include such a subtle, natural color in a box meant to help you make a night-out look. Reading the pamphlet, they say to use this on your lids OR to highlight your brow bones and inner eyes. This is too dark for my pale complexion to use it as a highlighter, so it’s a shadow for me.
I do have to say after I tried this on I actually really loved it. It wears and blends well, and the color is so subtle but it definitely has an effect.
Clinique Pretty Easy Liquid Eyelining Pen .34g – Estimated Value $10.50 (buy the full size for $21)
I love a good liquid liner pen! This is a new product from Clinique and was featured in every Sephora Play box variation this month. Overall, I’m happy with it. The bristles aren’t quite as stiff as I’m used to with my Kat Von D liner so it takes a more delicate hand to have good control. It’s a wetter formula so that can add to the trickiness a little and you need to let it dry to avoid smudging.
So, it’s not the most beginner- or user-friendly but I definitely got a good result with it.
Make Up For Ever Artist Rouge Lipstick in Fuchsia Pink, .04 oz – Estimated Value $7.33 (buy a .12 oz. tube for $22)
I know I can’t be alone saying that I initially wrote this sample off a bit when I opened this up and saw the color. It’s bright! It’s a cool-toned pink, too, which I know may not work on everyone but it’s also something I feel like we don’t necessarily see much in subscriptions. I feel like we get a ton of reds, corals, and warm pinks.
This is another product that really surprised me only after I tried it on. I ended up actually loving it. You can see this and everything else swatched and on my face later in this article.
Stella McCartney Stella Eau de Parfum, .05 fl oz, Estimated Value $5 (buy a .25 oz. rollerball for $25)
This perfume is a classic, described as “sensual, intense, and feminine.” The notes include Rose, Peony flower, Mandarin, and Amber.
Opinions on fragrances are so individual; for me, it’s alright but not something I’ll wear.
Here’s the MUFE lipstick, Clinique liquid liner, and Laura Mercier shadow stick swatched.
Here’s a look using the eyeshadow stick, eyeliner, and lipstick. I’d say it’s much more of a versatile look than a specifically night-out look, but that’s okay because I actually love it. And the lipstick works way better on me than I thought it would!
I mentioned how the eyeshadow color was really subtle, but it’s perfect for playing up with a dramatic cat-eye look (obviously, with the included liquid liner) and a bold lip! Cat eyes are something I love to do with my makeup regularly, so all the pieces together this month work really well for my daily makeup “uniform!”
Verdict: This month’s Play! by Sephora underwhelmed me at first but after actually trying and playing with the products, it turned out to be a really fun one for me! I’m disappointed that the hair product was practically worthless since I really couldn’t use it for even one full use. Everything else worked well for me, though, and even became some new favorites.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, you will receive next month's samples, curated based on your Play! Profile. Get email alerts for monthly spoilers!
Value Breakdown: At $10 for this box, here’s what you are paying approximately per item: 58.33
- Drybar Triple Sec 3-in-1: $0.47
- Caudalie Vine[Activ] Energizing and Smoothing Eye Cream: $2.14
- Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour: $3.48
- Clinique Pretty Easy Liquid Eyelining Pen: $1.80
- Make Up For Ever Artist Rouge Lipstick: $1.26
- Stella McCartney Stella Eau de Parfum: $0.86
Check out all of our Play! by Sephora reviews and all of our reviews of Cheap Subscription Boxes for other similarly priced boxes!
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What do you think about my Play! by Sephora box? Which variation did you get?
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