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Play! by Sephora Review – December 2017 – Box #585

Liz Cadman
ByLiz CadmanDec 21, 2017 | 28 comments

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.

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

Every month they ship all of the samples a drawstring bag with a different design. How cute is this Art Deco themed design?

FYI – There are variations of this boxThis review is for the box # ending in 585.

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 (it was dated 11/1 for me), 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: 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!

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. 

ALSO, OMG the MSA logo is on the card! (MSA readers voted Play! by Sephora as the best beauty box of 2017.)

This month’s theme is “Glam Straight.” Now, on to the items!

 

IT COSMETICS Confidence in a Cream - 7 ml Value $5.69

I LOVE IT Cosmetics (their Bye Bye Undereye Concealer is one of my makeup staples), but I'm still new to their skincare line, so I was thrilled to see this sample in the box!

It really is a luxe cream! It almost feels like a gel/cream hybrid, and it moisturized my skin and left me with just a subtle glow. It's designed to smooth texture, intensely hydrate, and enhance the firmness of skin overtime. I'm happy with just the results of one use - my skin looked instantly plumped and hydrated!

TOO FACED Better Than Sex Mascara - 3.9 g Value $9.18

(This sample is just a smidge smaller than the $12 mini size.)

This mascara is a cult classic for a reason! The formula provides amazing volume and lash definition - perfect if you want a dramatic eye look.

MAKE UP FOR EVER Artist Rouge Lipstick in c211 - 1.4 g Value $8.80

This lipstick formula is creamy, moisturizing, highly-pigmented, with a satin finish = A+! The blended berries and cream shade is so lovely, too. (Swatched in lower photo.)

Smashbox Cover Shot Eye Shadow Duo in Golden Hour - 1.7 g total Value $6.49

This little duo includes two shades: Turned On and Psyched.

These are both shimmery shades that are highly pigmented and easy to blend. Here they are swatched above the lipstick:

I'm really loving all these colors!

BUMBLE AND BUMBLE Thickening Spray - 1 oz Value $5.50

This is a spray you use on damp hair before blow-drying. I like the scent, the addition of texture, and it didn't make my hair feel sticky or weight it down. This was a great find!

DIOR Miss Dior – The New Eau de Parfum - 1 ml Value $2.47

This is a sweet floral scent with notes of Bergamot, Grasse Rose, Rosewood. (You can typically expect to receive one fragrance sample in every Play! by Sephora box.)

Verdict: This box has a value of about $38.13. I think that's good for a $10 beauty box, especially since the box will always include high-end brands. I really lucked out with the makeup shades this month, and both the skincare and haircare items are wins for me, too.

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No. You have to sign up by the 15th to receive that month's box, so as of today (12/21), your first box will be the January box.

Coupon – No coupons available for this subscription.

Value Breakdown: At $10 for this box, here’s what you are paying approximately per item:

  • Cream: $1.49
  • Mascara: $2.41
  • Lipstick: $2.31
  • Eyeshadow: $1.70
  • Hair Spray: $1.44
  • Perfume: $.65

What do you think about the December Play! by Sephora box? What variation did you get?

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.
Liz Cadman
Liz Cadman
Liz is the founder of My Subscription Addiction. She's been hooked on subscription boxes since 2011 thanks to Birchbox, and she now subscribes to over 100 boxes. Her favorites include POPSUGAR Must Have, FabFitFun, and any box that features natural beauty products!

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28 comments

Erin

Liz-
Which shade do you use for the bye bye undereye? We have the same skin tone and I never seem to get the it right when choosing.

And congrats on the logo feature!

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Alina

I truly enjoy reading reviews here everyday! You guys all together made MSA such a special platform! Great job!

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Jody

So happy MSA is on the box. Should make you feel like the “big leagues”. I am so grateful for finding this site. Thank you very much.

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Sharyn

That lipstick shade is gorgeous! I see so many women wearing pale, nude lips that wash them out big time. There’s nothing wrong with some pretty color!

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Frances W

I’m so glad this was my box this month! I had previously rec’d the IT Confidence in a Cream, as a points reward and love it. It’s super rich and creamy which my dry skin just drinks up.

And Congratulations to Liz and MSA for being recognized on the product list insert!

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Sharyn

Yes! Congrats 🎊

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Katy

This is the box I wanted, so bad! I don’t like one single thing in mine 😔

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Tamara Dungan

I got the same box and I’m pleased with it.

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couronne.de.roses

I got the same box and can’t wait.

Somehow they didn’t deliver it yesterday. Hope everything is ok!!!! I processed a change of address but I still want my package at the address on it.

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Angie

I got my box yesterday and it’s awesome. I can never complain yet about Sephora play! Their products are nice and the collection to meet criteria of their customers is hard but they are On point for me at least! And the bag is lovely 😊

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Luna

Congrats Liz with MSA being mentioned on Sephora’s insert! That’s pretty cool! 🙂

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Jackie

This was my box and my first Sephora box since starting 6 months ago that I LOVE!! Excited to try the mascara, face cream, and lipstick (live the color!). Already tried the perfume and I love it!! The hair thickener might be good too, but I just cut my hair shorter and it’s already trying to be too fluffy! LOL. I can always give it to a friend though.

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editorialdragon

I got box 627, and REALLY wish I’d gotten this one instead! I could actually use everything in it. I received the liquid eyeliner (never wear eyeliner period esp liquid), a bright pink lipstick (not my shade), and a volume spray that I can’t use because silicones. Hoping to figure out swapping because I really like some of these other boxes!

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Kele

I’m also really bummed about box 627 and to top it off it’s only being delivered on Dec 26. I received my Beautyfix box last week and Boxycharm on Monday. I ended up canceling my sub with Sephora. I’m to tired of feeling like I just get the left over mix bag that has nothing to do with my profile.

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zen

Same here. Lots of complaints on the Sephora site about this box. I have no idea why they thought fuschia was a great color match for my lips.

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Julie

This is my box and I really feel like I got the best version for myself! I’m actually looking forward to every product and I can’t wait for it to arrive so I can try everything out! I also love the art deco graphics.

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Alex

I love the shadows and the lippie. Such lovely colors.

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Michelle

I wish I had received this version, or any other version with skin care.

I have no idea how Sephora decides which box to send to people, but I have never purchased makeup from them, nor have I ever selected a makeup sample (I have received them though, as their ability to actually give you the samples you select stinks). So it makes perfect sense they would send me an all makeup play box, right?

Needless to say I canceled my sub after the disappointment that was box 635. When I suggested they take customer preferences into consideration, CS told me to fill out a profile – I didn’t receive a response when I told them I had filled out a profile.

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Izza

I signed up this month and ended up cancelling right away when I filled out the profile and they never asked what products you actually like the way they do with Ipsy. There’s always only one or two boxes I would really like, and they would have no way of deducing that based on the questions they ask.

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Natasha

I’m bummed because I was really looking forward to my first Play! box.
Subscribed on the 5th yet when I didn’t get shipping info they told me I subscribed too late and will get December as my first box…
#Bummed
#NotAGoodStart

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Tamara Dungan

This is a December box.

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Natasha

I meant January lol

Becca

I received the same exact box today and was happy with its contents. Been a little peeved at Sephora and their samples. I always get fragrance when I didn’t request it. The way to get customers to buy is to let them sample it! Bluemercury has the best samples ever.

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TK

I agree! The last few times I’ve ordered from Sephora they ask me to choose my samples but what they actually send(perfume samples) is NOT what I selected. Why ask?? There are other places to order online that give great samples ie. Nordstrom so I no longer order from Sephora. I will still shop in store though. I buy a lot of products based on “trying a sample” and I’m sure others do too. Sephora is losing sales with their random sample issue.

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Rebecca Rizzo

This is my experience from the last three online purchases. They just don’t care anymore.

cookie

This was my box and I like it except for the hair spray. I have thick hair so I have no use for a thickener. But everything else is good. The lipstick is a very pretty color; so are the eyeshadows. I was worried they’d look orange, but they don’t at all.

At this point I’m just resigned to getting mascara and black eyeliner in beauty boxes. On the bright side I never have to buy mascara or black liner again.

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zen

LOL- Yeah same here. Mascara & eyeliner. Black of course.
I have 4 daughters and I can’t continue gifting to them either. Thank goodness I can use the black liner on them and their teammates for their Cheer competitions, otherwise it would be a total waste.

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Nicole Smith

I have the same problem, so tired of getting eye liener, mascara and even red lipsticks! Considering unsubscribing. I literally have a bag full of duplicates I’ve gotten this year.

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