Play! By Sephora January 2017
Play! By Sephora is a monthly subscription box by Sephora. It costs $10 a month and you received 5 beauty and skincare samples plus a perfume sample each month. Previously, you needed to put yourself onto a wait-list and wait to receive an email before you could subscribe, as they were rolling it out to limited quantities.
In addition to the products, Sephora includes a booklet that includes information about the product, the brand, and then tips of how to use the products. Also at the back of the book is a Play! PASS. This Pass gives you a complimentary one-on-one session with a Sephora artist as well as an extra 50 Beauty Insider points when you scan the pass at the register with any purchase. If you have the Sephora app, you can also scan the images of the products to learn more about them.
Previously, everyone received the same exact box. They had a few months where they had two different boxes that went out, and this month it seems like they have a variety of different boxes that went out following their theme of Beauty, Set, Go.
As a heads up, the boxes are a little bit larger and will not fit into a small apartment sized mailbox. For reference, a Birchbox box is able to fit almost perfectly into my mailbox, but this one has no chance. Therefore, I’ve had to go to the post office both months to pick up my box.
The products I received this month are as followed:
IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream with SPF 50 (Full-Size $38)
The first product I will talk about this month is a CC cream. I have heard a lot about IT cosmetics and every time that I go into a beauty supply store (usually Ulta but also Sephora) I stop and touch their makeup brushes because they are so soft. I have never actually used anything by IT, so I am excited to try it! This is one that I will probably save for a special occasion since I don’t typically wear foundation or CC creams on a daily basis. It does seem a little more similar to the original Korean CC creams in that it has properties that are meant to help with the skin and not just cover up problems.
Tarte FRIXXXTION Stick Exfoliating Cleanser (Full-Size $22)
This product is an exfoliator/mask/cleanser that is built like a deodorant. It is meant to draw out oils, reduce shine, and purify pores, while at the same time exfoliating your skin. A lot of the reviews on the website are from people who claim to have sensitive skin and they say that it hasn’t irritated them, so that is always a good sign. I just used it for the first time last night and it was so much fun! I can’t yet make any claims for its effectiveness or how my skin reacted. I will say that it felt gentle and that the exfoliant was very fine. I only used it as an exfoliator/cleanser and not as a mask, so I’m looking forward to trying it that way as well. Overall, it’s not a bad price for a cleanser and it’s nice to have one that has a gentle exfoliant a few times a week. This might be on my list next time I need to replace a cleanser!
Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream (Full-Size $60)
I was really excited to see another product by Drunk Elephant in my box! I enjoyed the serum that I received a few months ago, so I’m looking forward to trying the moisturizer. This particular moisturizer has a whipped texture and is meant to improve firmness, decrease fine lines and wrinkles, and help with dryness. It claims to be lightweight, so I definitely will need to try this one both in the winter and the summer. I’m curious to see if a lightweight moisturizer pack enough punch to help my skin against the Chicago winters. If not, it will definitely be nice to have a lightweight moisturizer in the summer when it gets hot. I am a little disappointed that it doesn’t include an SPF and it has a faintly Play-Doh like scent.
Whenever you take a picture... a cat will be there ;)
Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey (Full-Size $17)
While Clinique calls this an “almost lipstick” I’d call it a tinted lip balm. It has that chapstick feel and is very moisturizing on the lips. The color is very sheer and if you want an even amount of color you will need to apply a few layers. When I first put it on, it was a very faint and patchy look. I waited a few seconds to let it settle and then applied some more. The color is a bit more brown than I would usually go for, but it’s a pretty color for the winter and fall.
Ouai Treatment Masque (Full-Size $32)
This hair mask is meant to repair damaged hair, mend split ends, and increase resistance to future damage. Before you shower, you put it in your hair, leave it in for 5-10 minutes and then rinse. They even recommend putting it in your hair before you go to the gym and then let it sit while you work out and rinse during your post-workout shower. I am usually a little lazy when it comes to hair masks, but my hair has been super dry and had a lot of split ends lately so I will have to make an effort to try this one. The full-size packaging looks like individual foil packets which I’m not crazy about. It has a really nice floral scent, so even if it doesn’t work well I think I’ll enjoy the scent it leaves!
Tory Burch Love Relentlessly (Full-Size $86)
I currently own the original Tory Burch scent and I received another one of her scents in a previous box. I liked the other scent, but I didn’t like it on me. This one I love when I put it on! It has notes of pink pepper, rose, orris, patchouli, amber and sandalwood and it is beautiful. It is that just right mix of sophisticated and sexy. The only unfortunate thing is that I find that the Tory Burch perfumes don’t have a long staying power. This is a bit of a bummer considering that they aren’t cheap, but I do get comments on them when I wear them. I can’t wait to try this one again and see what my husband thinks.
This box is definitely one of the best I’ve had in a while. The past few months have been a bit meh for me and I’ve been wondering whether or not it was still worth it for me to keep getting them. However, this box really put them back in the game. I’m really excited for the February box now!