Play! By Sephora May 2016 — Books, Beauty, & Buys

Play! By Sephora is a new monthly subscription box b 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. However, I think that as of the month of May it is now completely open to the public.

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.

One of the differences between this box and other boxes is that it is not personalized. Everyone who signs up for this subscription receives the same products. The theme changes each month and the products follow that theme. This month’s theme was The Forces of Nature, featuring natural products.

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 were as follows:

Atelier Cologne in Orange Sanguine (Full-size $120)- This perfume has notes of blood orange, bitter orange, jasmine, geranium, amber woods, tonka beans, and sandalwood. It’s a very nice citrus smell that is a bit masculine. I feel like this could almost be a unisex scent. When I first smelled it I wasn’t quite sure about it, but once I put it on I liked it. It definitely has a cologne scent as opposed to a perfume and I enjoyed it. It is a bit expensive though.

Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask (Full-size $28)- This product is a nutrient-rich repair treatment that is meant to strengthen, restore moisture, repair split ends, and increase elasticity. It is an overnight treatment which kind of confuses me, but is neat. You are meant to massage it in and then wash it out in the morning. I am not a morning shower person, so I don’t know how often I will use this but I will try to give it a try at least once.

TARTE Tartiest Lip Crayon in Latergram (Full-size $18)- This Lip Crayon is a two-in-one lip liner that works as both a liner and a lip primer. The color itself is a bit brown for my tastes, though I might have a lipstick that it matches. I also didn’t find it to be smooth when I used it on my hand. It felt like I needed to use a lot of force to get a decent line. It is hard to get off though so it should las a while!

Left Swatch-TARTE in Latergram Right Swatch- Bite in Kimchi

Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche in Kimchi (Full-size $26)- Bite Beauty is a brand that makes lipsticks with all edible ingredients. Their lipsticks are known to be highly pigmented as well as nourishing. I currently own a lipstick of theirs and I really like it. The pigment is great, it doesn’t feel drying, and they last and wear really nicely. This color is no different. Even though it’s matte, it never felt like my lips were dry. I was also able to eat dinner and was left with a nice stain of color on my lips. I’m really excited to have this bright pink for summer!

KORRES Wild Rose + Vitamin C Sleeping Facial (Full-size $48)- While I may not be able to get behind an overnight hair mask, I can definitely get behind an overnight face mask! This mask is said to even skin tone and improve skin texture. Vitamin C helps to brighten skin and the ingredient imperata cylindrical extract is meant to release moisture. I really like the KORRES brand so I’m looking forward to trying this product. During the night is when your skin works its hardest, so night creams, serums, and masks are very important.

Origins Maskimizer Skin-Optimizing Mask Primer (Full-size $22)- This is a new product that is meant to prime and optimize your skin for masks. It claims to improve speadability and rinseability of masks. It sounds a bit gimmicky to me but seems like it could be fun. It does mention that it is not good to use with peel off masks, so if that’s the kind you use, this isn’t going to be for you.

BONUS- Origins Clear Improvement Masks- With the Maskimizer, Origins sent two masks to try. I’ve only ever heard good things about their masks but have never tried them. One of the masks is a charcoal mask, which is meant to help clear pores. The other is the Drink Up Intensive overnight mask that is meant to hydrate. I am so excited about both of these bonuses! Now I have not only one, but two overnight masks to try.

This box is great! I am excited about almost every one of these products with the exception of the hair mask and the TARTE lip crayon. This box is a great value and if you’re looking for a new beauty box I would highly recommend it. For only $10 you receive some high end brands that you wouldn’t receive in boxes of the same price.