But how do you know which subscription is the best? Well that all depends on taste. Based on my experience, I noticed ipsy would send out unknown and obscure brands. However, I've really fallen in love with Sephora's Play! Box. Not only do they send me samples of the brands I know and love, they also send out samples of new products that will make appearances in the retail stores soon.
For those of you who do not know much about Play! by Sephora let me give you a quick little rundown. Play! is beauty subscription service that includes six samples from high end brands that you know and love from Sephora. For $10 a month you get six awesome samples plus some other perks, like 50 bonus Beauty Insider Points and a free one-on-one tutorial with a Sephora Beauty Expert. Not a bad deal right?
Let's take a look at what the September Play! Box had to offer, inside were the following products:
Fall time is the best time to start breaking out the dark and edgy lipstick shades. But with the changing weather it is important to keep your lips moisturized and chapped free. The Wander Beauty Wanderout Lipstick in Wanderberry Burgundy is the perfect lipstick for fall time. Not only is the color an absolute gorgeous dark red, it is also bold and long lasting. Never before in my life have I had my lipstick survive after eating a Chipotle burrito, but my Wander Beauty lipstick lasted throughout my entire meal. What is also amazing about this lipstick is that it is a hydrating formula that applies smoothly and ends up having a matte finish. Easy to say, I think I found my new favorite and go to lipstick!
The Sephora Collection Contour Eye Pencil 12hr Wear Waterproof in Black Lace is great standard and typical eyeliner. It is long lasting with a strong pigment that does not smudge easily when applying. The Sephora Collection has a variety of options when it comes to their eyeliner. There are 25 different shades which also include matte, shimmer and glitter finishes. The best thing about Sephora's house brand eyeliner is the variety of options and it truly is a great quality eyeliner.
When you're 25 years old the last thing you're ever thinking of purchasing is any kind of youth preserve or anti-aging cream. So to find those two products in this Play! Box was interesting to say the least. The Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream with Super 7 Complex is a daily moisturizer that smells very earthy, almost like a garden of succulents. The only flaw with this cream is that it does irritate your skin at first while it tightens your skin. The second youthful cream in the box was the Algenist Genius Ultimate Anti-Aging Cream. Like the Lotus Cream it tightens your face, however the irritation isn't as strong. In fact, I found the Algenist cream to be more hydrating and it left my skin feeling soft. When I start to encounter wrinkles, this would be my go to face cream.
Now normally with the Play! Boxes, the sixth sample is typically a fragrance. However, this month instead the bonus sample was the Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask. On a personal preference, I'd take haircare products over a fragrance any day. So this was a pleasant surprise! The Deep Conditioning Hair Mask is a weekly treatment that hydrates and strengthens your hair. What I really love about this deep conditioner is that it truly does help treat damaged hair and makes it even softer and healthier. Plus it smells so good!! My only complaint is that I wish had more!
The September Play! Box was filled with great products perfect for transitioning into fall weather. My favorite product had to be the Wander Beauty Wanderout Lipstick while my least favorite was the Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream. But overall, I was still impressed and I'd give this box 4/5 stars!
Now let's see what the October Box has to offer! This box has the sole intentions of keeping your complexion flawless and establishing a caring and thought out beauty routine. Inside were the following products:
Primer is a complete must have for creating your makeup look, but finding a good one is easier said than done. The Urban Decay Quick Fix Hydracharged Complexion Prep Priming Spray is one of the best primers out there. Instead of a cream that claims to hydrate your skin, this primer is a gentle mist that truly hydrates your face while minimizing pores and brightening your complexion. With the mist under your skin, it is easier to apply your makeup and have it long lasting. This liquid spray is magical, it does not smudge and it has a tropical scent that you will just adore.
In a box focusing solely on one's complexion it's no surprise there is a foundation sample present. The Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation not only applies and blends well it also gives a flawless coverage that lasts for a long amount of time. Plus it also smoothes your skin and it doesn't feel heavy on your face. What is also great about this particular liquid foundation is that it is available in 40 different shades!
Micellar water is a lazy girl's best friend when it comes to washing her face. For those of you who have been living under a rock and do not know about the amazing beauty trend, micellar water is a facial wash, makeup remover and moisturizer all rolled into one product. Now since it has become a hot ticket item, every company out there is trying to get in on the trend. In fact Sephora has created their own version and stuck it in this Play! Box. The Sephora Collection Triple Action Cleansing Water probably would not be my go to micellar water to purchase, but it is not bad. It's very cleansing and soothing. The only thing is that is leaves your face a little sticky once you first use it but after a bit your skin feels fresh after.
Next up is the Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum, a moisturizer filled with Vitamin C that brightens and hydrates skin. What is really great about this moisturizer is that it softens your skin and give it a natural glow. Plus the citrus scent is to die for! The only problem with this is that the consistency is on the sticky side, but a little water can clean that up.
Blemishes are inevitable, no one has perfect skin 24/7. And that's okay, because that's human nature. Concealer is a must have, but finding one that gives long lasting and flawless coverage can be tricky. However, the It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Illumination™ Full Coverage Anti-Aging Waterproof Concealer provides hope. This concealer is not only a waterproof under eye concealer, it also provides anti aging benefits and reduces dark circles. It truly does give a flawless coverage and it blends well all while brightening your complexion. This concealer may specialize under the eyes but it really can cover up any blemish or dark circle you want to hide.
And for the bonus sample for October, Sephora came back with the fragrances! The Gucci Bloom Eau de Parfum For Her is a sweet floral scent that is perfect for any time of the year. The sweet scent reminds you of smelling a garden when the flowers are just about to bloom, you can't help but smile when you smell it. If you're a big fan of floral scents this fragrance is perfect for you.
Overall the October Box was very impressive! Each product had positive qualities and there was nothing terribly wrong with any of them. My absolute favorites from this box were the Urban Decay Priming Spray and the It Cosmetics Under Eye Concealer! I'd give this particular box 4/5 stars. After using all these products my complexion feels better and brighter. I can't wait to see what the next boxes will have to offer. If you liked what Play! has to offer check out their website here and subscribe.
Until next time.
