Facebook PixelPlay! by Sephora Review - August 2018 | MSA
My Subscription Addiction
My Subscription Addiction
Our reviewers research, test, and recommend the best subscriptions and products independently; click to learn more about our editorial guidelines. We may receive commissions on purchases made through links on our site.

Play! by Sephora Review – August 2018

Liz Cadman
ByLiz CadmanAug 6, 2018 | 48 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.

FYI – There are variations of this box. Sephora sent me this box early for the review, but I don't have the box # associated with this box. We'll share box # spoilers as soon as we get them!

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. 

Now, on to the items!

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Gel - 2.5 ml Value $6.47

This is a clear eyebrow gel that kept my brows in place all day and I could apply it on top of my brow powder without any issues. It's definitely a classic for a reason!

Make Up For Ever Artist Rouge Cream Lipstick C211 -1.4 grams Value $8.80

This lipstick formula is creamy, moisturizing, highly-pigmented, with a satin finish = A+! The cool pink shade is my favorite lip color, too!

Here it is swatched:

Lancome Advanced Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate – 8 ml Value $20.80

This serum is designed to reveal “smoother, more radiant skin in as few as seven days.” It’s formulated without phthalates, parabens, or sulfates. And my favorite part? It instantly made my skin feel smoother!

Ouai Repair Shampoo + Conditioner - 7 ml each -  Value $1.39 total

I always appreciate when a subscription box sends both the shampoo and conditioner - I need to sample the full set! I've sampled various Ouai products before, and I'm always impressed with the formulas, too. (One thing to note on both this shampoo and conditioner and the spray below is that they are pretty fragrant.)

OUAI Volume Spray - 25 ml Value $4.64

Post-shower, I sprayed this pretty liberally on damp hair, then followed with the blow dryer. I could definitely tell a difference in the volume and the texture of my hair with this product. The difference in volume is subtle, but it helped my hair hold curls better, too.

Lancome Monsieur Big Mascara - 2 ml Value $6

My first thoughts after applying it? DRAMA! This mascara gets an A from me in both volume and length! It gets a B in lash separation, but all in all, this is a fab formula!

Verdict: This box has a value of about $48.10. I think that's great for a $10 beauty box, especially since the box will always include high-end brands. Most of these products I've sampled before, but everything is awesome, so I'm more than happy to have duplicates, and if you are new to these products, I think this would be an amazing box to sample!

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Yes! You have to sign up by August 10th to receive this month's box! (There will be some box variation, so you might not receive this exact box.)

Coupon – No coupons available for this subscription.

What do you think about the August Play! by Sephora box? 

Starting at $10.00
Subscribe Now
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!

Join the Conversation

Please do not enter your email address in the Name field or in the comment content. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Remember to post with kindness and respect. Comments with offensive language, cruelness to others, etc will not be approved. See our full comment policy here.

48 comments

shannon gilmore

Mine is box 191 it was just shipped today…

Reply ButtonReply

missann

If anyone has box 338 or 422 please post your contents for me. TIA

Reply ButtonReply

tammy g.

sorry, but nobody knows anything, s.p. is not giving out any info. this month, and i’m ready to cancel this. I mean it’s our money, we should know what were getting…..why should we wait, what or we waiting for?..

Reply ButtonReply

Alyssa

I cancelled when I read the bonus was going to be a free makeover. I’ve been with them since the beginning and can’t help but feel that was really lame. On average I get one item out of the box I actually care about. I don’t like any of the skincare they send. It’s always smelly and just tends to make me breakout. I always want Drunk Elephant though and I have only gotten it once. I think that the possibility of Drunk Elephant products may be the only reason I didn’t cancel this box sooner. I love lipstick but it seems to be the same colors over and over! I use mascara everyday but almost all of them have been duds that are worse than drugstore mascara! The only positive thing they’ve done so far is ease up on the perfume samples. I don’t care for the spoilers for this box. Honestly it’s a very mom/grandma selection of products. I’m more impressed by the Allure spoilers. I love my ipsy bags and maybe that’s because I’m younger or because they are more customized. I wish I loved Play! but I don’t. I always feel they just make our bags primarily out of old leftover promotions.

Reply ButtonReply

Me

I totally agree with everything u said…. they match u with the products they send u… I have large pores and oily skin and never get products for my skin type…. I always get products for dry skin… and I love drunk elephant too… I’m defin going to cancel… at least they picked a better lip color this time… who’s wants 15 red lipsticks… I sure don’t…

Reply ButtonReply

Jess34974

Glad I cancelled this box so not impressed

Reply ButtonReply

Angela

My box doesn’t show as charged–so it’s not even listed– and my account is active. Anyone else have this issue?

Reply ButtonReply

Leah Donnally

Same with mine. I looked last week and it showed my box number, but not when I look it shows nothing. I didn’t get an email saying there was a problem but it’s strange.

Reply ButtonReply

Irina

That makes me want to resubscribe to play box👍🏻

Reply ButtonReply

SP

I really hope I get this version! Yet, historically this means I probably won’t …..

Awesome review as always!

Reply ButtonReply

Shawn

I hope this is box 386!

Reply ButtonReply

Shawn

I meant box 387…

Reply ButtonReply

Daniela Vargas Blanco

This is box 395

Shelly Morrill

I really hope this is my box!

Reply ButtonReply

Amber

I called and got the items in my box

Reply ButtonReply

Jamie

Amber, what are you getting and whats your box number please?

Reply ButtonReply

Tanvi Gupta

If you don’t mind, can you share your items and your box number please..

Reply ButtonReply

Amber

361 box
Algentist eye balm
Lancome genifique
Makeup forever eyeshadow in pink granite
Sephora eyeliner in love affair
Urban decay perversion mascara
Clean cotton scent perfume

Kyuu

The contents of this box seem excellent (though it’s been a while since I subscribed to Play! and this hasn’t tempted me back) but also doesn’t seem to match its theme…. It feels like it would be for a much older crowd than hs/college which is time to be vibrant and experiment. oh well.

Reply ButtonReply

tammy g.

oh, I hope this is box 346…..I would love all this.

Reply ButtonReply

Courtney

That is my box # as well, lol. 👌

Reply ButtonReply

Luna

Hopefully I get a box like this one. I’d keep everything in it, which is a rarity in any box I get!

Reply ButtonReply

Chelsea

What is your box number ?

Reply ButtonReply

Stella Marina

I LOVE that lipstick!!! I got it in another box and it is the absolute perfect shade for my lips. It also has a great texture and real staying power. I’m happy to get it again—and I hope it’s in my box.

Reply ButtonReply

Jamie

This isn’t a terrible box. It’s not my favorite. I don’t enjoy cream lipsticks, plus I already have that exact one, same shade and all, from somewhere. I already have the brow gel and I’ve found it to be just ok. My brows need a lot of holding power to make them sit right and this doesn’t quite have it, but it would be a good swap item. I’m getting a mascara in my ipsy already and besides, it’s not waterproof. I really wish it was since it’s summer, basically melting season where I live. I know that brand/formula comes in waterproof too which is a shame. Another good to swap item I guess. Maybe all these things will net me something nice on the boards lol 😉

Reply ButtonReply

Dani

I’m too excited to see what the extra thing is that they mentioned for 6+month subs. I know I’m going to be disappointed but I want to knowww :'(

Reply ButtonReply

Sarah

It’s a free custom makeover.

Reply ButtonReply

Jean

Is it really? That’s a bummer. I’m Rouge so I already get free makeovers. That’s so disappointing.

Dani

Oh. I guess that’s nice for some people :/ darn it I should have canceled

Jamie

Dani, it’s a free makeover for the ppl that have been subbed for over 6 months at any Sephora store. I’m not sure if they’re doing them at the Sephoras inside JCP or not though. All I know for sure is in not eligible and I don’t really mind lol. There’s not a real Sephora store within 100miles of my house and the one inside JCP is staffed by the most awful, most snobby girls. I would never let them touch me.

I hope you have a free standing Sephora near you!

Reply ButtonReply

Dani

I do have like 2 near me but all I ever wear is eyeshadow and lipstick. I have no need for it lol. I guess I could give it to a friend or something. I would have liked to choose a real delux sample(like half of the full size or something larger than what we usually get) or maybe a special bag.
I also wouldnt like to use the products in store, I dont trust that theyre really sanitary. I’ve seen someone lick their fingers to get food off then touch the tip of a eyeliner. Nooooope

Emma

Liz, does your box have a barcode sticker on the bottom with a number? It’s not a UPC sticker, just a little barcode with what I think is the item number… at least, it’s always seemed to match my item number.

Reply ButtonReply

Christine

The review for Sephora Play seems early this month. I’m surprised Liz already got her box.

Reply ButtonReply

Emma

She disclosed up above that they sent it to her early for the review.

Reply ButtonReply

Ks

:O

All I can say

Reply ButtonReply

Julie

I already have that lipstick from a previous box, but it’s great, and I’d forgive the repeat since the whole box looks good.

Reply ButtonReply

Haley Faye

Love that lipstick color!

Reply ButtonReply

Leah

Hi Liz!

Sorry to bother you with this question, but I can’t figure out my box number. The item number next to my order has 7 numbers. If you can clear this up I would really appreciate it!

Reply ButtonReply

Liz Cadman

The last 3 numbers should be your box number. Hope that helps!

Reply ButtonReply

Leah

Thank you so much!!!

Joan

I hope this is my box!

Reply ButtonReply