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!
Every month they included all of the samples a little drawstring bag with a different design.
The box variation I received this month is box ending in #832. 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.)
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.
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!
Each box comes with a Play! Pass, which is a card you can use at Sephora (in-store) to get 50 extra rewards points, and you can also get one-on-one tutorials and tips of products from a Sephora consultant.
Although I do have to mention, you can walk in and get shown any tips and even a “mini makeover” (which is where a consultant will do a small demo on you like a certain eye look, how to do your brows, how to contour, matching you with a foundation, etc. and teach you what they’re doing) anytime! So if you don’t have this subscription (or can’t get off the waitlist), you can still go to your local Sephora and try out all the products featured, or any other products you’ve had your eye on.
This month’s theme is “the partygoers” – products that will keep you looking fresh all night long!
On the very inside of the folded info sheet is thorough details and tips about each featured product. They always give helpful information and advice so I definitely recommend making sure you read these.
Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara - 0.1 oz, value: $15
I’ve actually never tried Bobbi Brown mascaras before, so I was excited to receive this one! I really like the thinner brush because I feel like I have a little more control over placement. The pigment is very black and I’ve been wearing it all day with no smudges under my eyes. It added length and volume and I didn’t find it to be clumpy, either.
Sephora Cream Lip Stain, “Always Red” - 0.04 fl oz, value: $3.31
I love liquid lipsticks! And the formula for this one is nice – opaque, it goes on smoothly, and the applicator gave me a lot of control. It dries down matte and has great staying power! The info booklet gives some top notch tips: use a lip exfoliator and lip balm before applying your lip colors, and for easier application, start at the middle of your lips and move outwards to the edges.
Here’s a swatch to see the color better. This is a bright, true red shade.
Elizabeth & James Nirvana Bourbon - 0.07 fl oz sample
FYI - The brand Elizabeth & James is actually by Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen. Their Nirvana fragrance line has perfumes that are feminine but not really sweet. Nirvana Black is even a little peppery and spicy. I sold a lot of their fragrances while working at Sephora, but the Nirvana Bourbon fragrance is new this year. No surprise, I love it! It’s a “blend of sultry vanilla bourbon, oakwood, and a hint of tuberose for a bold, oriental-woody scent with intoxicating confidence.” This is perfect for this season, especially.
Make Up For Ever Step 1 Smoothing Primer - 0.16 fl oz, value: $5.92
Make Up For Ever released an extensive line of “Step 1” primers for every skin type and finish you could ask for last year. This is a sample of the mattifying primer, and I have to say it did an excellent job. I personally prefer a more natural/radiant finish to my skin, so trying this out, in contrast, I definitely noticed a difference. The formula is comfortable and doesn’t feel like anything and did a good job smoothing my skin’s texture, helping my foundation cover more with less, and really stay on well the whole day.
Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo - 0.8 fl oz, value: $7.43
Dry shampoo is a fundamental requirement for my day to day life. This one from Drybar absorbs oil and adds body, and my hair felt very clean with it, too! The scent is nice, but a little soapy and quite strong. It could be better but definitely could be worse. The formula didn’t leave patches of white in my hair when used from 6 inches away and was easy to work into my roots. I like this, but I wish it were unscented.
Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray - 0.5 fl oz, value: $3.88
This product is a long-time love of mine! I used this to finish up each client’s full-face makeover. Urban Decay worked with SKINDINAVIA to create this setting spray, which works to actually temperature-control your makeup to keep it fresh literally all night. To get the best use out of this, hold it 8-10 inches from your face and spray in an X and I shape on your face.
Here I am wearing the primer, mascara, and lipstick. I can definitely tell how well the primer mattified my skin, even when I was using a tinted moisturizer. If you have dry skin and prefer more natural or glowy/radiant skin finishes, I’d try a different primer from MUFE’s (Make Up For Ever’s) line than this one.
The lipstick formula is great, but I’d love to dry some deeper colors for my own complexion – a berry or brownish red would be great this season for me!
Verdict: This was a great Play! by Sephora box for me! I will use every single product up. I got to try some totally new products, new versions of favorite products, and a long-time favorite that I always welcome more of. All of the products I got this month work well, too. The value adds up to $35.54 not including the perfume sample, which is on the lower end for this sub but definitely still great for a $10 box. I’m happy!
What do you think about the December Play! by Sephora? What variation did you get?
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