Note from Liz: I’m so happy to introduce our newest reviewer to the MSA team! Welcome, Abby!
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 #405. 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.
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 June 2018 #405 Review
The theme for this month’s Box is “Summer Nights”, which is illustrated with a cute neon light font on the info poster. The back of the poster describes the product and how to use it.
Sephora also sends a Play! Pass which gives you 50 extra reward points to use with purchases in store; it can also be used to get tips on the products you received in your box.
Clinique Take The Day Off Makeup Remover For Lids, Lashes & Lips, 1 oz. - Estimated Value $5.62 (buy a 1.69 oz. bottle for $9.50)
I typically go for a gentle micellar water option for makeup removal, but I could see this one doing some heavy duty cleaning (I’m talking lash glue and waterproof mascara territory). It is your traditional two-way formula, so I shook the bottle, saturated a cotton pad and held it to my eyelid for about ten seconds, swiped and (POOF!) my waterproof liner was gone! It left an oily residue, but that washed away easily.
Cover FX Perfect Setting Powder, 1 g - Estimated Value $3.50 (buy a 10g jar for $35)
This setting powder is a dream for dry skin! It goes on smoothly and my foundation wore for eight hours without any touch-ups. It is a translucent powder with two color options, Light Medium and Medium Deep. Three key features that won my praises: it is talc free (good news for acne prone skin); it is not stark white (no flashback!); and it didn’t make my skin feel tight after a full day’s wear.
Marajo Nourishing Cleansing Cream & Deep Treatment Butter - 2, 7ml samples - Estimated Value $1.87 (buy the full-size due for $16)
Both cleansing cream and the treatment butter have thick textures that feel like a luxe treatment you would get at the salon. The cleansing cream smells of coconuts, reminiscent of Nexxus Therappe Shampoo, whereas the treatment butter smells subtly of hair dye solution. The chemical smell didn’t bother me, but I could see it being offensive to some.
Living Proof No Frizz Nourishing Styling Creme, 1 fl oz. - Estimated Value $7 (buy a 4 oz. bottle for $28)
This styling cream was my introduction to the Living Proof No Frizz range, and I’ve never looked back! I apply a dime-sized amount to damp hair, comb through, and blow dry to my heart’s content. This styling creme manages to smooth and nourish my fine hair without weighing it down, and the citrusy floral fragrance is nearly addictive.
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, 0.84 oz. - Estimated Value $4.73 (buy an 8 oz. jar for $45) UPDATE: Retail Value $10
I’ve been so curious about this cream after all of the hype, and finally, I understand! The sweet caramel smell and the texture made a great first impression as I opened the sample. This cream goes on like silk, sinks into the skin as it dries in almost record speed, and doesn‘t leave a sticky or greasy feeling after application. This product claims that it will tighten and firm the skin, but I haven’t seen an improvement after just one use. The size of this sample is a bit of a tease (although bigger than I expected!).
Too Faced Melted Matte Liquified Long Wear Matte Lipstick in Queen B, 3 ml - Estimated Value $5.34 (buy a full-size tube for $21)
My sad, desert lips find liquid lipsticks to be intolerable, and this one is, unfortunately, a formidable formula for me. The color is a soft, matte mauve, and even with a balm underneath, I felt the cracking to be inevitable. With over 2,000 reviews and a four-star rating on sephora.com, it looks like a lot of people have had a better experience than me. Queen B swatched on my arm and lips below:
Verdict: This month’s Play! by Sephora box has a value of about $28.06 UPDATE: $33.33. I can use most of the products in my daily routine, and I love discovering and sampling new high-end products. Sephora has really stepped it up following our individual beauty profiles, too! I remember wondering why I received certain products in the past, but this month’s box felt like it was meant for me.
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:
- Clinique Makeup Remover: $2.00
- Cover FX Setting Powder: $1.25
- Marajo Shampoo & Conditioner: $0.66
- Living Proof Styling Creme: $2.50
- Sol De Janeiro Bum Bum Cream: $1.69
- Too Faced Liquid Lipstick: $1.90
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!
What do you think about my Play! by Sephora box? Which variation did you get?
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