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!
FYI - The box variation I received this month is box ending in #871. 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.
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
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: The U.S.
August 2019 PLAY! by Sephora #871 Review
Each box comes with a foldable info sheet. The front always has a design related to the theme. This month is "The Adventures of PLAY! Bae."
Each box comes with a PLAY! Pass, which is a card you can use at Sephora (in-store AND newly online as well! Woo!) to get 50 extra rewards points, and you can also get one-on-one tutorials and tips on products from a Sephora consultant.
The opposite side of the info sheet has pictures of each item and details about what they are, how to use them, and why Sephora thinks you’ll love them.
Every month they include all of the samples in a mini bag with a different design. This bag is 100% recyclable and zips shut like a baggie.
Clinique Moisture Surge 72-hour Replenishing Hydrator, 0.5 oz - Estimated Value $11.62 (Buy a full-size 1.7 oz for $39.50)
I've tried this moisturizer from Clinique before. I generally really like their brand but this moisturizer has just never hydrated my skin the way I need it to. I have dry skin, and even though this moisturizer is supposed to have long-lasting effects up to 72 hours of moisture for your skin, when I use it I just want to put a different moisturizer over it a few minutes later. It has really great reviews, though, so I feel like maybe I'm in the minority? If you got this as a sample I think it's always worth trying everything to see how it works for you.
Briogeo Farewell Frizz Blow Dry Perfection & Heat Protectant Crème, 0.75 fl oz - Estimated Value $4.50 (Buy a full-size 4 oz for $24)
This is a really great hair product! I don't generally have an issue with frizz but this creme still does very nice things for my hair. It smooths it, makes it feel really soft, and it seems to protect from heat well. It also smells really nice!
GLAMGLOW Supertoner Exfoliating Acid Solution Toner, 0.24 fl oz - Estimated Value $1.44 (Buy a full-size 7 oz for $42)
This toner is new from GLAMGLOW! I was instantly intrigued because they make some pretty interesting products. It had a very subtle tingle, and felt like it got off the last of anything lurking on my skin after cleansing. Unfortunately, this isn't made for dry skin complexions. It did feel a little drying, so I won't continue using it. It's designed for normal, combo, and oily skin, and is supposed to help with the appearance of pores and have clarifying properties, due to the charcoal it contains.
Sunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinol Serum, 0.17 fl oz - Estimated Value $14.45 (Buy a full-size 1 oz for $85)
I'm always happy about getting Sunday Riley in subscription boxes! This serum has a high concentration of retinol (6.5%) which means it's really helpful for anti-aging, evening complexion, and reducing the appearance of wrinkles. Generally, retinol can be pretty drying but this serum feels more lightweight and hydrating to me. You should definitely still use a moisturizer after but in comparison to other retinols I've tried, this one is less harsh on my skin.
bareMinerals Dew Mist Setting Spray, 0.33 fl oz - Estimated Value $2.71 (Buy a full-size 3.4 fl oz for $28)
I could only find a "Shimmering" version of this setting spray online, but this spray says nothing about shimmering or highlighting, so I'm assuming they're different versions? Regardless, this one doesn't seem to have any kind of shimmer in it, and feels really nice when I used it. I have dry skin so I love keeping some kind of hydrating facial spray nearby to refresh throughout the day, especially as the cold weather comes back. It's best to use setting sprays held a little ways away from your face, and this has a nice, fine mist to help provide even application.
NARS Velvet Matte Lipstick Pencil in Dance Fever, 0.06 oz - Estimated Value $18.84 (Buy a full-size 0.086 for $27)
Overall, I like this matte lipstick pencil and I'll wear it, though I have to admit that it isn't my favorite to reach for. The brownish rose shade is pretty, but better worn for fall on my complexion. The finish is definitely matte but it felt a little on the dry side when applying and showed any dry patches on my lips, despite the fact that I had used a lip scrub first. It lasted a good amount of time, though! I got a few hours out of it before I felt it had completely worn off. And I have to point out that it's over half the full size. That's always nice.
Verdict: This month's PLAY! by Sephora box has an estimated value of $53.56 which is an awesome value out of a $10 box. For me, this month was a little middle-of-the-road. One sample isn't designed for my skin type, one I know doesn't work for me from trying it in the past, but I always love getting brands like Sunday Riley and NARS, and the hair cream will get used up, too. Even without considering the couple samples I'll be passing along, I still get a good value from the box, though. Overall, I'm happy.
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:
- Moisturizer: $2.17
- Hair Cream: $0.84
- Toner: $0.27
- Sunday Riley: $2.70
- Setting Spray: $0.51
- Lip Pencil: $3.52
Check out all of our PLAY! by Sephora reviews, our best beauty boxes, 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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