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.)
Every month they include all of the samples a little drawstring bag with a different design.
FYI - The box variation I received this month is box ending in #444. 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.”
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.
I do have to mention, you can walk in and get shown any tips and even a “mini makeover” at the Beauty Studio (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 Shine is Now,” all about shimmer, glow, and highlighting.
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!
Benefit Cosmetics Watt’s Up! Cream-to-Powder Highlighter – 0.08 oz, Value $7.27
This is a great highlighter! It’s been one of my favorites to use for a couple years now. It’s just super convenient in stick form and it blends to be more of a powder as you apply and blend. This is super easy to apply to your brow bones, nose, cheekbones, etc., and you can just use your fingertips to blend (although the full-size has a little sponge on the opposite end for blending).
Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Shadow Stick in Golden Pink – 0.01 oz?, Value $6?
This shade is called “Golden Pink,” but it’s definitely closer to copper – it’s warm toned, not pink/cool, which is fine and works for me. The pigment is gorgeous (swatched in a later photo), and the formula is really creamy. You can use this all over your lid or in your inner corner and brow bones as a highlighter (or all of the above). For best results you should blend a little with your fingers to make sure you don’t have too much product sitting on top of your lids which will make even the best long-wearing cream shadow crease or set funky.
GlamGlow Glowstarter Mega Illuminating Moisturizer in “Nude Glow” - 0.24 oz, Value $6.92
I’m happy to get this deluxe sample in my box this month because it’s something I’ve heard a lot about (and even tried some smaller samples before). It adds a really natural and brightening glow to your skin! I really like it (and it smells amazing), and works great as a priming moistutizer. It says it’s in shade “nude glow” but it’s really not tinted. The shimmer color tone leans warm, and there may be the tiniest tint in the cream but it’s really not enough to show up on your skin. I don’t really know why they’d name it as a shade unless they’re seeing how this new release goes and plan to release different tones of it later.
Anyways, I couldn’t bring myself to spend $50 on the 1.7 oz full-size product ($28.82/oz) even though I love this “glotion,” so I have actually purchased First Aid Beauty’s Hello FAB Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturizer about a month ago, which is $28 for 1.7 oz, and I love it just as much plus it doesn’t have the warm tint to it.
Josie Maran Surreal Skin Argan Finishing Balm – 0.1 oz, Value $7.20
This is a very similar product to the Glow Starter, only it’s by Josie Maran. Her brand revolves around moisturizing argan oil and I’ve been a fan since I discovered her while working at Sephora. This is a new product from her, though, which I haven’t had the chance to try until now!
The formula is also a “glotion,” and has a subtle shimmer. This can also be used as a moisturizing primer before makeup, or you can use it as a cream highlighter and tap it along your cheekbones, brow bones, and other high points of your face. The formula is hydrating and absorbs well and leaves a subtle shimmer/glow. The undertone of this is more pearl/nothing vs. the warmer-based GlamGlow. I was a little disappointed with the amount of product that was actually in this pretty, little container, but there’s enough for 2-4 applications for me so I guess it’s still enough for discovery!
I like this, but I still have to recommend the First Aid Beauty moisturizer I mentioned above, because I really think it’s comparable to these Glam Glow and Josie Maran products (FYI – this Josie Maran balm is more expensive than the Glam Glow at $72/oz – the full size is $36 for only 0.5 oz).
Living Proof Full Dry Volume Blast – 3 oz, Value $15
I love trying new products from Living Proof! This is a volume and texture spray you use on dry hair. You’re supposed to spray it in sections from root to end, or just the root for some focused boost there. I tried it just on my roots and I definitely noticed a difference! It smells nice, too. Note that this isn’t a dry shampoo, though; definitely a texturizing spray.
Chloé Fleur de Parfum – vial sample
Chloe is a fragrance with a sort of cult following, from what I gathered while working at Sephora. I like this fragrance, which is really light and floral. The notes include lemon essence, absolute verbena, freesia, rose, cherry blossom, white cedar essence, bitter almond, and amber. Sephora categorizes it as “feminine, soft, and luminous.”
Here, I’ve swatched the Benefit Watt’s up (top), the Bobbi Brown cream shadow, GlamGlow Glowstarter, and Josie Maran surreal skin balm (bottom). All of these products definitely offer a boost of glow and shimmer! I love that these products this month can all be used in a low-key makeup look as well as used to boost your normal makeup look.
Verdict: I actually really liked my March Play! by Sephora box, though I wish I could have tried the new Algenist luminizing drops that came in some other box variations because that’s another favorite brand of mine. I like the theme a lot – I love highlighting and shimmering products, especially because I have dry skin and for their multitasking abilities. I can see how some people may have preferred a little more variation across items, but I’m personally happy with my product selection. All in all, I really have fun getting to try new products and new releases through Sephora’s subscription. The value adds up to $42.39, which I’m happy with for $10.
What do you think about the March Play! by Sephora box? What variation did you get?
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