PLAY! by Sephora Subscription Box Review | Oct. 2015
It’s that time of the month when the second -ever- Play by Sephora (#SephoraPlay) subscription box arrives! I am one of the lucky ones in four cities in the U.S. that is currently able to partake in this $10.83/month joy. Check out last month’s review and financial analysis here. Let’s get to the Play by Sephora October 2015 review…
This box revolves around healthy, dewy skin. It features some new-to-the-U.S. asian brands; highlighting the Korean beauty skincare craze that’s causing beauty editors to put down the phone and cancel their Botox or laser appointments. I am pretty psyched to test out this box, as I’ve never tried ANY of the products. Shocking, I know.
Like last month, I’ve broken down the financial value of the box. Keep reading if you’re interested…
// PRODUCT LIST (Sephora Customer Rating)* + FIRST IMPRESSIONS //Â
- Boscia Detoxifying Black Cleanser (4.3/5) – a deep-cleaning grey-colored gel cleanser.
- Boscia (mini)Â Konjac Cleansing Sponge With Bamboo Charcoal (3.9/5) – an extra gentle, natural exfoliating facial sponge.
- Sephora Pearl Mask (4/5) – a brightening sheet mask.
- Dr. Jart Ceramidin Day Tint SPF 15 (4.5/5) – a tinted moisturizer with UV protection.
- Fresh Black Tea Age-Delay Instant Infusion Treatment Toner (4.6/5) – an essence/toner used after cleansing to refine pores and moisturize.
- Belif True Cream/Aqua Bomb (4.4/5) – a lightweight but deeply hydrating facial moisturizer in a bouncy gel-cream formula.
- Atelier Cologne, Mandarine Glaciale (4.5/5) – a fresh and clean citrus scent with light floral notes.
*customer rating pulled as of 10/26/2015
It’s kind of a bummer that there’s only one cosmetic item (the day tint), but this box focuses on skin, so hopefully next month will be more in the color category.
Like last month, the box included an extremely handy booklet that fully explains the usage of the products, gives fun facts, some editor hacks on alternative uses to the items, as well as a pretty neat ‘regimen’ to utilize the new products in the morning and evening to maximize their efficacy in achieving the dewy skin glow. It also includes another PLAY PASS to earn 50 points for any purchase at Sephora. I really love the booklets they are including.
I would say I’m most excited to test out the konjac sponge, toner and belif moisturizer. I’m always looking for the most gentle way to exfoliate my combo/oily skin and anything that’s going to help with pores is excellent for me. The belif moisturizer has been all over the bloggersphere lately, so that should be interesting to try. I’ve been a fan of Atelier and recently finished a small bottle of one of their colognes and so far, I like the scent of the sample included, as well. Basically, I can’t wait to play.
My least intriguing items include the day tint and the sheet mask. The tint seems extremely sheer and very light so it may give me a ghostly cast and I don’t really love sheet masks. They’re just huge and slimy and I much prefer a traditional cream/clay/gel-based mask.
// Financial Breakdown //
I thought this box was going to be a lot higher in value compared to the first box, but they’re basically the same (within 50 cents). Also, the konjac sponge is about 3/4th the size of the full-size sponge, so I guesstimated its value the closest I could measure. The monthly subscription fee is $10.83 in Houston, so like September, I got a great value and I’m happy with the samples.
November’s box will be all about Sephora store exclusives – items only able to purchase at Sephora. They’re hinting at a moroccan hair product and lipstick (I’m thinking BITE beauty). It will also be my third month of subscribing to PLAY by Sephora and then I can better assess my final thoughts on the value/perks of the box. I like to give any subscription box three months to trial a variety of the samples before making a final judgement.
Have you received the #SephoraPlay box or tried any of the items included? What are your first impressions so far? Comment below and let me know 🙂
Happy unboxing,
-Steffanie
I get the Allure Beauty Box and the Ipsy bag. I just cancelled Ipsy, because it’s just been “ok” for the last few months. The Allure box always has very nice sized samples and a lot of skincare. I absolutely love it! Thanks for sharing this box. I haven’t heard about it before.
I used to get Ipsy but also cancelled it because it was ‘meh’ to me. I felt like the samples were mostly cheaper makeup, which is fun, but I prefer to try more higher end things in sample size before deciding to splurge, which is why I liked Birchbox more and so far, Sephora’s is decent, too. I hear great things about the Allure box but haven’t tried it myself yet. Do you do the smaller box or the big, (i think it’s quarterly?) one?
This sounds like a pretty cool subscription. Looks like you get a really good value. I really like how you did your review and broke down the prices. That was very helpful. Thanks!
Thank you! I’m glad it was helpful. So far, decent values, but I am not totally SOLD or in love with the box yet, so only time will tell, haha.
I’m a subscription box addict but haven’t enter the makeup arena yet. Food boxes are my weakness
Ohh i haven’t tried a food one yet! I’ve tried a few makeup ones – birchbox, ipsy and now Sephora’s. And I LOVE barkbox for my pups! Which are your favorite food ones? I may have to look into a few…
My favorite is Nature Box. Good value for what you get. Love their nut choices. I’ve been getting it for about a year. I’ve tried Try the World. Very interesting. A little pricey. Tried two boxes so far. Another snack box – Graze. Only got one trial box. Not my favorite. Very small portions for pricing. Plus you have to do every 2 weeks versus once a month.
sounds like naturebox is the best so far, haha. I’ll have to check it out. thanks so much 🙂
My favorite is Nature Box. Good value for what you get. Love their nut choices. I’ve been getting it for about a year. I’ve tried Try the World. Very interesting. A little pricey. Tried two boxes so far. Another snack box – Graze. Only got one trial box. Not my favorite. Very small portions for pricing. Plus you have to do every 2 weeks versus once a month.
I’ve been looking into different subscription boxes to give as holiday gifts. I I hadn’t heard about sephora’s yet. Hopefully they’ll continue to expand their reach!
I’ve been looking into different subscription boxes to give as Christmas gifts. I didn’t know Sephora had a service. Hopefully they’ll continue to expand their reach.
Yes! I hear they are supposed to launch nationwide in 2016, so very soon 🙂
WOW I had no idea these existed and for such a great price. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the review! I’ve been on the waitlist for this beauty box, but it’s so fun to see what others get so I can see if I want to pay for it when I get off the wait list!
I am happy to help! I’m curious to how everyone will respond once it’s nationwide. PS totes have the KVD shade light eye palette on my VIB sale wish list haha!
I had no idea Sephora made these.
I am absolutely loving the packaging on these.
I may have to look into subscribing to this.
xoxo, Jenny
Yes! They’re testing it in 4 cities in the US currently, but plan to release it nationwide sometime in 2016. You can sign up to be on the waitlist here: http://www.sephora.com/play
I am going to have to look into this!! That’s awesome 🙂
I’ve used the Sephora Pearl sheet mask & I love it. I keep a small stash of sheet masks with my travel toiletries. Airplanes & hotels usually have my skin craving a little something extra. Sheet masks do the trick & TSA doesn’t seem bothered by them in a carry on bag. Coincidentally, I haven’t used a sheet mask at home for the same reasons you mentioned, but in a hotel room they are an easy, breezy gift to my skin.
Yes I totally agree – Love traveling with sheet masks. The Pearl one wasn’t bad. The Honey one I tried a year ago did nothing whatsoever. I really want to try the SKII sheet mask but one is $17 -__-