What is the Play! By Sephora?

The Sephora PlayBox is a monthly subscription delivered to your home that costs $10 per month. The box includes 5 travel/deluxe sample size products. Each month has a specific theme to coincide with the contents of the box.

When I initially signed up in August of 2016 I was given a survey to complete that was aimed to target the best products for my skin and hair care needs. The subscription has allowed me to try out products I may have overlooked or wasn’t sure about without spending the full retail price. Even as a beauty lover with great knowledge of products, Sephora can still be intimating for me.

Every month the box contains a pamphlet that breaks down the purpose of each item and how they can be used. Attached to the pamphlet is the Sephora Play card that is worth 50 points when redeemed with an in-store purchase. The items are placed in a small cloth that’s decorated to match the theme of the box for the month.

The Contents of April 2018's PlayBox

Buxom Full On Lip Polish (Celeste)

In my honest opinion, I did not like this lip gloss! For starters the tube was extremely small and in  my opinion it could've been made a little bigger. The overall look to the gloss shows a lot of shimmer and looks very pretty. I can't really say if the lip gloss lived up to it's name to plump up the volume as I have pretty decent size lips and was too distracted by the "plumping/tingling" sensation.

Let me say I was taken by surprise by the tingling sensation that the gloss contained. I've tried other glosses like this in the past. However, this one seemed more intense than others that I have tried. Four hours later, yes,  four hours, after initially applying the gloss l could still feel the tingling sensation. Lastly, I found the gloss very thick and sticky. For me this is a no go.

Dr. Dennis Gross: Wrinkle Recovery Peel Wipes (contains 2 wipes)

Described on the Sephora website- as a Pro-Strength ferulic and retinol peel that rapidly retextures the appearance of skin and supports natural repair. For optimal results it’s recommended to be used 2-3 times a week in the evening.

A few months ago I used the Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel for time span of 1 week alternating every other night. I didn’t see a dramatic difference with my skin. It gave me a healthy glow, but I feel like this would be more of a maintenance type of product. The Wrinkle Recovery Peel Wipes seems a little more promising and I’m looking forward to using them!

Retails for $88.00 (16 treatments)

Living Proof: 5 in 1 Styling Treatment

Formulated to add volume, smoothness, condition, strengthens, and adds shine. The directions indicate that the product should be applied to damp hair and then blow dry. I have naturally curly-coily hair and have used this when straightening my hair with a blow-dryer in conjunction with a heat protector. I like it and I feel that it definitely delivers all 5 benefits to my hair.

Full Size Retails for $28.00

Sunday Riley: CEO Rapid Flash Serum

Described as a highly-potent, fast absorbing serum infused with 15% of Vitamin C to help treat dullness, dark spots, and discolorations. Sunday Riley is one of my favorite brands. I haven’t tried this serum yet, but I’m looking forward to it. I try my best not to try out too many products at once or products that may have negative interactions with one another!

Retail Price: $85.00

Peter Thomas Roth: Skin to Die for- No Filter Mattifying Primer & Complexion Perfector

Described as sheer, lightweight, mattifying primer that provides immediate results. I have combination skin (normal and oily in my t-zone). I tend to wear primers in the warmer months even without foundation to help control my oils. I really like this primer. The texture was very smooth and also applied as light moisturizer. I like that it doesn't have a heavy silicon feel that most primers do. After applying it my face my pores appeared blurred AND was actually smoother! I like that it didn't make my face look extremely dry or extremely oily. This primer truly lives up to it's name and is worth trying out. I would suggest this to people of all skin types.

Full Size Retails for $28.00

Make Up Forever: Ultra HD Perfector Blurring Skin Tint with Sunscreen SPF 25

Described on the Sephora website as skin tint that blurs and enhances the look of skin. This appeals to me as I don't like to wear foundation on regular basis. The tint would ideally appeal to those who are only looking to achieve a light to medium type of coverage.

The shade range starts at 3 (natural finish) to shade 12 (Warm Brown). The color I received was shade 10 golden honey, which was not my shade. I was really bummed to not receive my correct shade. During my next stop in to Sephora I'm going to make it a point to pick up a sample of my right shade!

Retails for: $36.00

Final Thoughts .....

Out of the 5 product samples of the box, I've only tried one prior to receiving the box. I'm looking forward to testing out these new products in the upcoming weeks. In my opinion, the subscription price of $10 is small price to pay to try out and receive 5 travel/deluxe size samples every month from high end brands.

If you're thinking about signing up, click here !

If you’re still on the fence about signing up, let me know!! I’m more than happy to answer any questions about the subscription box and show more upcoming boxes. Also for the products I haven’t tried out yet and would like me to review, please let me know!