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Play! by Sephora #627 Subscription Box Review – December 2017

Haley Faye
ByHaley FayeDec 24, 2017 | 19 comments

Sephora Play Box 627 december 2017 box closed

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!

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

Sephora Play Box 627 december 2017 inside box

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.

Sephora Play Box 627 december 2017 review

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!

Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!x

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

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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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19 comments

Michelle

I finally cancelled this morning. I am so over getting the same stuff I get in other boxes weeks before I get this. They take my money on the first and I haven’t even received my box yet. It gets later and later and isn’t worth the wait.

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Tina

Not worth it. I was so excited when I read the description of PLAY by Sephora. After providing answers to the questions on the questionnaire, i just knew this Box or bag was gonna be tailored to me… not at all…and the quality was poor.I was very disappointed it was like nothing the bag shown on website that was advertised for the current box..nothing more than samples you get out of Sunday paper. I have received better free samples from a Mac, Nordstrom or Macy’s beauty purchase …huge let down.

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Nan

Love that lipstick on you!

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Christine

I always get the same box as Hailey. I think we must have similar profiles. I found pairing the fuschia lipstick with a red lipliner works well to make it more wearable and to give the color more depth.

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Marilyn

I usually get the same box as Haley, but I got 601 instead. Wonder what’s different in our profiles. I think I would have liked trying the fuchsia lipstick, but the red (401) is good for the holidays and probably better for me. I’m sorry I didn’t get the LM eye stick as looking at Haiey wearing, I might have tried it too. — I’m always more adventurous with the items Haley demos!
I love the caudalie eye cream also and would have loved getting another sample. Never can have too much good eye cream.

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Carolyn

I think my number was 601 or something? Either one, It should get here after Christmas. It made it about three hours away over a week ago, and hopefully after the Christmas madness is over, it will be able to travel three more hours to my house!!!

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Susan

Seriously, Haley, you have the prettiest skin! Whatever you’re doing, keep it up!

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Drminniecooper

I was looking forward to my play box arriving, but the post office lost it! Said they delivered it but it never showed up! I will see if I can find out more on Tuesday from either Sephora or the local post office.

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JHarrison

Is their Customer service very poor? I just purchased as gift and this thread has several complaints.

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Drminniecooper

No, actually their customer service was great about this as my replacement box is on the way. My local post office is another story though. I think that it was probably delivered somewhere else.

Haley Faye

Harrison – I’ve always had great experiences with Sephora’s customer service!

M

This box was garbage and really pissed me off honestly. I love the hair product but it’s already gone, I would never wear that lipstick, I don’t use liner (especially liquid), the eye cream is just boring I personally feel like they are a waste of money and the shadow stick is also useless to me. They need to start letting us pick out one of the boxes they are offering each month. Basically everyone would be happy!

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Cookie

Just FYI, the Eyeliner did not come in every box. I had Box 585 and it wasn’t in mine.

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Melissa B.

It wasn’t in mine either. (577) I am really happy with my box though.

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Sara

Mine either, but I would have been okay getting it.

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Mary

The lipstick looks horrible on me. Straight into the trash with it. Same problem with the drybar spray. And, the perfume sample was only half full. It might be time to cancel.

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Rie

The drybar sample was really disappointing. I got to smell it, but that’s about it. At least the LM shadow stick was a good size.

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Alicia

Haley, you look great!

My Drybar can arrived empty 🙁

The lipstick and liner are up for swap.

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Mel12

My Drybar was almost empty as well. I emailed customer service and they shipped a full replacement box out to me the same day. Wish I liked the other items in the box (601)!

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