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Play! by Sephora Subscription Box Review – June 2016

Haley Faye
ByHaley FayeJul 20, 2016 | 90 comments

PLAY BY SEPHORA JUNE 2016 - BOX

Play! by Sephora
3.8 overall rating
564 Ratings | 55 Reviews

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!

My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

PLAY BY SEPHORA JUNE 2016 - PACKAGING

This month they included all of the samples in this adorable drawstring bag!

FYI – Play! by Sephora is currently in semi-waitlist mode.

Hopefully everyone who wants a subscription is off the waitlist, but if you are still waiting for an invite, check the comments on this post for lots of tips.

PLAY BY SEPHORA JUNE 2016 - ALL ITEMS

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: US

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!

PLAY BY SEPHORA JUNE 2016 - PACKAGING 2

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 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) 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.

PLAY BY SEPHORA JUNE 2016 - INFO 1

Sephora has an excellent info card – it feels like reading a magazine! This month’s “theme” is focused on minimalist products that make it simple and easy to do natural/neutral/understated looks.

PLAY BY SEPHORA JUNE 2016 - INFO 2

They have such thorough information on each product and brand! There’s also great tips on how to use each item and ways to get different looks with the lip products.

PLAY BY SEPHORA JUNE 2016 - items 1

BareMinerals BareSkin Sheer Sun Serum Bronzer - .1 fl oz, value: $2.80

If you’re familiar with the serum foundation that BareMinerals released a couple years ago, this serum bronzer is a very similar formula. It’s very lightweight and thin and a little goes a long way. You can use this to contour your face, you can add it to your foundation to warm it up/darken it to match your tan, you can add it to your moisturizer for an all-over face glow, and you can even add it to your body lotion and get a sun-kissed look that way.

BECCA Backlight Priming Filter - .2 fl oz, value: $7.60

This is an illuminating primer from BECCA. The shimmer is very fine and you won’t get any glitter-face. This is another very versatile product – my favorite way to use it is to mix it with my under eye concealer for instant brightening and an extra boost of hiding under-eye circles and the fact that it’s a primer means that it also helps my under-eye concealer not crease and stay all day. This is designed as a primer but you can also use it as a general highlighter.

PLAY BY SEPHORA JUNE 2016 - items 2

Here they are swatched. A little goes a long way with both.

PLAY BY SEPHORA JUNE 2016 - items 3

Tarte TarteGuard Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen Lotion - .23 fl oz, value: $4.33

Tarte came out with this sunscreen lotion last summer and I love it! It smells great, feels very hydrating, and the bottle is actually glass (not plastic) so it feels a little nicer/more expensive than the typical sample packaging I was expecting.

Bumble & Bumble Don’t Blow It Hair Cream - .5 fl oz, value: $3.10

This is a product for days where you just let your hair air-dry. It’s supposed to help add volume and a “laid-back look.” Unfortunately I didn’t notice too much of a difference, but my hair is the flattest and straightest of them all. Let me know how this works for those of you with some natural texture to your hair!

Benefit They’re Real! Lengthening + Volumizing Mascara - .1 oz, value: $8

This is one of my all-time favorite mascaras. It’s amazing for separation, length, and volume, and it has serious staying power – I’ve never experienced it getting under my eyes throughout the day. I always recommended this one to clients when working at Sephora.

PLAY BY SEPHORA JUNE 2016 - items 4

Tocca Florence – sample

This perfume combines the notes of Italian Bergamot with Crushed Violet Petals. It’s a pretty nice perfume – sophisticated, floral, and feminine. I prefer sweeter perfumes myself, though.

PLAY BY SEPHORA JUNE 2016 - items 5

And here’s a look with me wearing the BECCA Backlight Filter as a highlighter/mixed with my under-eye concealer, the BareMinerals Bronzing serum, and the Benefit They’re Real mascara

Verdict: I really liked my June Play! by Sephora box! I like the packaging, presentation, and info sheet. I think the “minimalists” theme was pretty well curated, too. The samples are all a pretty decent size that lets you get a lot of uses out of them. I love keeping up on new releases from my favorite brands that I learned about or discovered while working at Sephora. The value this month adds up to $25.83, which I’m happy with for a $10 box!

What do you think of Play! by Sephora? Did you get off the waitlist this month like me?

Starting at $10.00
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PLAY! by Sephora is a monthly beauty and makeup subscription box. Each month, Sephora sends you a mix of six samples (including cosmetics, haircare, skincare, fragrances, and other beauty products) personalized to match your preferences and a PLAY! BOOK of tips and tricks.
Haley Faye
Haley Faye
Haley Faye first discovered the wonderful world of subscription boxes in 2012 and began writing for MSA in 2014. Over the years, she has found many subscriptions to love. Now a mom of three, her favorite boxes are ones that dress her kids, help her get organized, feed her family, send her snacks, and offer educational fun for her children.

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90 comments

Brittany

If anyone was disappointed in their box and is willing to sell it, let me know! I’m subscribed for July but I missed out on this one and I would actually love and use everything ?

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JL

I’m so upset, my box says “delivered” when I track it but it’s not in my mailbox. When I call usps they tell me I have to call fedex and when I call fedex they tell me I have to call usps. Idk what to think, I’ve never in the 10yrs that I’ve lived in this address have ever had a package “disappear” from my mailbox. I’m thinking that it was never delivered. All Sephora could do was refund me but I want my box 🙁

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Annette

I just got my June box yesterday. I hope you get yours as well 🙂

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Kelly

A similar thing happened to me with my Allure box several months ago. USPS told me that for some reason the carrier didn’t scan it as delivered even though it was marked out for delivery. It ended up showing up in my box about a week later. Hope you have similar luck.

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Julie

If it was USPS, their scanners have GPS now. They can tell you exactly where the package was scanned when it was delivered. I’m a mail carrier. 🙂

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Jen

So far I have been really liking the play box, I just wish we could get the extra 50 points with an online purchase too.

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Claudia

Just subscribed. Will I be getting the box this months

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K.B.

The Bumble and Bumble doesn’t work for me at all, I have fine hair. This product just made it flatter. The Bare Minerals Bronzer I accidentally shook lightly and a lot of it went down my bathroom sink. Learned my lesson on that one. But it’s a decent product and I did like it for highlighting. I’ve had the Benefit Mascara before and did not like that wand at all. I don’t use priming filters, so that’s a waste for me. I’ll use the sunscreen and I love perfume samples. At least the box is worth a little more than double what I paid for it, but I wonder why Sephora is going down in their price points for what’s in the box? I abhor these little muslin bags and the shipping box is very difficult to re-use. I like to re-cycle and I’d rather have the original black box back. Is it still worth it? Yeah, it is. Still getting higher-end products, altho very tiny and I really can’t tell from these micro-mini sizes if I’d really like the product. That’s problematic. It would be nice if they sent at least one full-size or larger premium sample in the box along with these micro-minis. There’s so much to compare them to, they can’t continue to live on their name alone. Just because it’s a “Sephora” box doesn’t mean it’s a HG box. And I think people are definitely finding that out. There’s a world of subscription boxes out there to choose from to spend your money on. I’m thankful for these wonderful reviews so I can comparison shop and decide who will get my dollars!

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Crystal

I just got the “You’re off the waitlist email” but when I click on it, it just takes me back to the original website. Help!?

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Crystal

Nevermind! I didn’t realized I have to put the same email in. Then it takes you to checkout. 🙂

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Airon

Anyone else with this sub missing a few samples? I was missing the primer and the perfume samples when my June box came. ? When I called Sephora, they said all they could do was credit my account 200 points. That was fine, but I was really looking forward to trying the primer.

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Heidi

Just a heads up to other subscribers: I received an email on June 14 that my box had shipped. I tried tracking today (a week later) and although a label was printed, the box had never actually shipped. The c.s. representative wasn’t bothered at all by the lack of shipment offered to refund me the $10.00 because they couldn’t reship the box – no more left. I’ve seen on other sites that other subscribers have also had this issue and the remedy is just a refund – no reshipping of the box.

This was my second month and the samples to me are not overwhelming (nor were they last month), so I cancelled my subscription. On the bright side, that will open up a spot for someone else 🙂

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Kimberli

I’m pretty excited to start getting these boxes. Even if the samples are relatively small, it’s $10 and a whole lot better than Ipsy!

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Christina

I just got an email saying a spot was open. I think I was on the waitlist for about a month. Thanks for the review and I enjoyed the video !

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Laura

I finally got off the waitlist this month but I’m kind of hoping my first box doesn’t ship until next minth. This is definitely meh for me.

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Georgia Hartman

I’m one of the lucky ones. I’ve gotten Play almost from the start (only missed the first one) . Like any subscription box you have things you really use and others that you just play with but for 10 dollars I’ve been more than pleased. But I’ve found some new products that I would have never found otherwise.

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Anne

I am very happy with Play – this is my second box and I loved both of them. I like the samples and the variety of products from different and relevant brands. I also really love that they provide new types of products that I haven’t tried before and I am a beauty product junkie. The instructions in their pamphlet are wonderful and I look forward to all the video instructions. I had fun with this month’s samples and it did feel like play.

I had the opportunity to use all the products yesterday for a hot, humid and laid back day. The Bumble product wasn’t too bad – my hair was soft shiny and manageable. It did not get frizzy. I have straight, thick and coarse hair. I am going to keep trying it and see how I feel.

I hate perfume samples btw.

So far I like it better than Birchbox. I feel like I am getting the same things over and over again. I think the sample sizes aren’t bad in Birchbox, but its the repetitiveness of the brands and products. I also have been getting too many perfume samples – I did not used to get so many, but it is making me wonder. I liked Birchbox because it helped me discover new products and brands, but lately, I haven’t been feeling it.

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Dana

I was unimpressed by this box, and last month’s didn’t wow me either…literally the only reason I have yet to cancel is that the website doesn’t seem to have a way to do so! It says, to cancel, call their 800 number…kind of makes me wish I’d never signed up for this one.

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Steffy

Same for me, except you CAN cancel online now through your account under your Play! account/subscription area, just FYI.
I just did today no problem, without having to call. Hopefully someone can use my vacancy who will appreciate it far more than I have this past few months 🙂 I’ve gotten back into arts and crafts so decided to switch my beauty box subs to ones like Beadcrate, Bargain Bead Box, Handmade Beauty Box, Sketchbox, ArtSnacks, etc.! Thank you MSA for bringing us all the sub boxes goodness!!!!

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Starla

I called and canceled today. My advice is speak very clearly, Like if you are spelling “man” say M for Mabel, A for and, and N for Nancy. You get the idea. It was like pulling teeth for her to get my email address (which is quite a simple one really) typed in and they can’t cancel you until they get you pulled up by the email address in the computer system. Once she did it was over in a blink. Good luck.

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Laura

I had to call to cancel – it was pretty quick. They didn’t press me to stay subscribed but they did ask why I was canceling – I said that I thought they would have bigger samples.

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Kay

This is my second month and I really enjoyed your review and especially the video, Haley! Especially if the products have more than one way to use it, very informative, so keep the video coming!!!
I agree with others that since they opened the subscription to the mass, the total value went down, so hopefully they will come back. But I will use all the products this months!

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Lauren

I didn’t receive the Becca primer or the perfume. I was really hoping CS would be able to send them to me but they actually issued a full refund. BUT I can go to sephora and get a Becca sample for free… just the mall. Blah. I’ll nab it when I redeem my points.

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Airon

Same here! I didn’t receive the Primer or perfume either. But when I called CS, they didn’t offer to give me a refund; just 200 points. Did you have to do anything special to get the refund?

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Katherine

Ahhhh, it was so informative with the video. Nice to get a little tutorial with each product, and also to hear some “secret Sephora info”, lol. Thanks again for the great review, Haley! Loved to hear your baby in the background, too. I usually am constantly apologizing when I’m on the phone and my little one is babbling away. Or worse, screaming. :/ Anyways….can’t wait to see more from you in the future and hope this becomes a trend for other MSA reviewers. 🙂

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Jttwinly

Thanks for the review Haley, I’m wondering what under eye concealer you use? I have yet to find one that doesn’t crease under my eyes, thanks in advance!

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Haley Faye

Hi! Right now I’m using the Stila Perfecting Concealer because it was on sale/being liquidated on Sephora.com. The palest shade in Stila’s foundation and concealer aren’t pale enough for me usually but I have gotten some color since running/walking everyday lately. Usually what I use under my eyes is Urban Decay’s Naked concealer. I’ve heard good things about IT! Cosmetics concealer too.

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Karen

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye concealer is good but is very thick, kind of tacky. The best way to apply it is to put a little on your hand and warm it up and then apply with a concealer brush. What I have discovered is that if you have fine lines under your eyes, don’t set the concealer with powder else the lines show up more. I just ordered Too Faced’s Born This Way concealer. I’m excited to try it.

Crystal

After this review I went to sign up for Sephora Play. I was able to sign up!!! Got my email confirmation. Cant wait!!!

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Amanda

Your video was great. Can you do this for every unboxing? Very informative!

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Jen

I had a feeling a lot of people would be confused with the serum bronzer. I got a liquid bronzer in my Ipsy bag a few months back and was confused as heck. It took some playing around with it before I figured it out, and now it’s my favorite product discovery ever. Ditto on the BareMinerals version. I love that I can add it to my moisturizer or foundation. Or I can just add a drop to my blush brush and sheer it out that way over my cheeks, nose, and forehead. It’s gorgeous, even on my pale skin.

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Mary

I really love how much you put into your reviews!

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Kristine

The samples in these boxes are NOT deluxe-sized.I’ve already cancelled.

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Jeein

Yeah I was at a loss how small they were… Its another BB.

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AmyM

With the exception of the perfume, which is an extra, the samples are all the sizes that you can get for 100 Beauty Insider points. I’d rather get 5 in a box every month for $10, than spend 500 points on them. To each their own.

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Steffy

Compared to foil packets… so what do you consider “deluxe” sample sized then?

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This box was very ‘meh’ for me. I only have use for the BECCA product really. I gave everything else to my roommate.

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JoyW

Love, love, love your video! Every month please?

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Caligirl

I agree!

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