Every makeup junkie loves to get their hands on the hottest products of the season. But purchasing the latest products every so often can really burn a hole in your wallet. That's why beauty subscription services like Play! by Sephora, ipsy, Birchbox and etc exist. They offer samples of the hottest products of each month at a low price of $10 a month. In hindsight, this is the best deal and option for the beauty enthusiasts out there who are constantly shopping for the best products.

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:

Touch In Sol Metallist Liquid Foil & Glitter Eye Shadow Duo in Talia Silver

Wander Beauty Wanderout Lipstick in Wanderberry Burgundy

Sephora Collection Contour Eye Pencil 12hr Wear Waterproof in Black Lace

Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream with Super 7 Complex

Algenist Genius Ultimate Anti-Aging Cream

Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask

Statement eyeshadow and eyeliner are always on trend in the beauty community, it's no surprise that the Touch In Sol Metallist Liquid Foil & Glitter Eye Shadow Duo in Talia Silver was inside the Play! Box for the month of September. The eyeshadow duo has a liquid formula that you apply first to set the look, then add a layer of the glitter shimmer on top for a bold and sparkly look. The liquid formula can also be worn alone for a less statement look. The only problems that I encountered with the duo eyeshadow was that the liquid end is on the dry side. It gets to the point where you end up using too much of the liquid and it gets very heavy and thick on your eyes. When it comes to the formula it is important to remember that a little will go a long way. However the pigmentation and quality of the shadow is impeccable.

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:

Urban Decay Quick Fix Hydracharged Complexion Prep Priming Spray

Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation

Sephora Collection Triple Action Cleansing Water

Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Illumination™ Full Coverage Anti-Aging Waterproof Concealer

Gucci Bloom Eau de Parfum For Her

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.

It's been a long time since I posted a Sephora Play! Box review. In fact, I think my last post was about the December and January boxes. Yikes, my bad. Life has been extremely busy, but now it is time to finally get back on track. So since my last review was basically forever ago, I'm going to skip forward and tell you all about the last two boxes I received, which happen to be for May and June.

For those of you who have never heard of Play! by Sephora, it is beauty subscription service that includes five samples from high end brands that you know and love from Sephora as well as a bonus fragrance sample. So for $10 a month you get six samples plus some other perks from Sephora, like 50 bonus Beauty Insider Points and a free one-on-one tutorial with a Sephora Beauty Expert. Not a bad deal right?

The May Play! Box by Sephora highlighted some of the top products Sephora has to offer while also showcasing some new brands that are currently on the rise! Inside the Sephora Play! Box for the month of May were the following products:

• Tocca Stella Eau de Parfum
• Rahua Omega 9 Hair Mask
• TrèStiQue Highlight + Perfect Multipurpose Stick in Maldives Luminescent
• Belief Hungarian Water Essence
• Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil
• Nudestix Magnetic Matte Lip Color in Greystone

The Tocca Stella Eau de Parfum is a sweet scent that combines a mix of fruity and floral smells. The mixture of blood oranges and freesia comes together to create a sweet scent that is flirty and fresh. It truly is the perfect scent for spring time and the beginning of summer.

Finding great quality hair products that are cruelty free and vegan can be hard to find. It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack. But luckily, I know I can always count on my Sephora Play! Box to provide me with some great options. The Rahua Omega 9 Hair Mask is a vegan and cruelty free hair mask that has a professional strength formula that gives great results. The mask is made with omega rich oils which provides your hair with shine and vibrancy all while treating damaged and dried out hair. After shampooing, apply the mask and leave it in for 10 to 15 minutes. The mask has a very earthy smell, you will either love it or hate it. Once your rinse the mask out and dry your hair you can already feel the change. It softens your hair and gives it a nice shine. The one problem with this product is that it is only available online.

Back in the day when I was a loyal ipsy customer, I became very familiar with the brand TrèStiQue. In fact I received the TrèStiQue Highlight + Perfect Multipurpose Stick in Maldives Luminescent in an ipsy bag as well as this Sephora Play! Box. To be quite honest, I was surprised to see this brand on the Sephora website because years ago you would never have found this brand in stores. But today, I learned otherwise, in fact, my local Sephora carries some TrèStiQue products. The more you know! However, it still seems like a majority of their products are available only online. But I digress. When you first apply the highlight, it is unnoticeable due to its very light shade. But when the light shines on the highlight, you can really see the glow.

When it comes to the Belief Hungarian Water Essence, I'm not sure what to make of it. It's technically not classified as a moisturizer, instead it is an additional step to add before. But the sole purpose of the product is to hydrate and moisturize your face. In my personal opinion, it's just an unnecessary product and step, unless your moisturizer is not getting the job done. But at that point, you're probably better off finding a new moisturizer. But anyways, I digress. When applying the water essence it can feel a little sticky at first, which definitely can throw you off. But after you apply it, your skin hydrates and softens over time.

One product that I was truly intrigued by was the Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil. It's called an oil but it acts more like a cleanser which is very interesting. It lathers very well and gets very foamy. This cleansing oil is hydrating while it removes any dirt or leftover makeup from your day.

The last sample in the May Play! Box was the Nudestix Magnetic Matte Lip Color in Greystone. This lip pencil is very thick and applies very well. However, do not be fooled by the color of the Greystone shade that is displayed online. On the website it looks like a light nude, however when you look at it up close and personal and put it on, it is actually a really dark brown. The shade itself is dark and bold, a little too dark for my taste but it is one of those shades that is in style at the moment. The color lasts all day, the only downside is that it is not hydrating whatsoever, so your lips may feel a little dry at the end of the day.

Overall Sephora's May Play! Box was not too shabby! A lot of the products were very good and only one product was a miss, so I'd give this box 4/5 stars! The one hit was the Tocca Stella Eau de Parfum and the one miss was the Belief Hungarian Water Essence. Now let's see what the June Play! Box has in store!

Now for the June Play! Box, Sephora chose six different products that were perfect for summer time. Whether you're poolside, chilling on the beach or trying to survive the heat each product can help you no matter what situation you find yourself in! Inside the Sephora Play! Box for the month of June were the following products:

• BVLGARI Omnia Crystalline Eau de Parfum
• Verb Sea Spray
• Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk
• Coola Makeup Setting Spray SPF 30
• Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Lovesick
• Benefit The POREfessional Face Primer

Sometimes when it comes to fragrances the scents can end up smelling really fresh and great while other times the scents end up smelling like your grandmother's closet. Sad to say but the BVLGARI Omnia Crystalline Eau de Parfum is one of the few that needs to be locked away in your grandmother's closet. The scent is so strong and overpowering you can't get a clear idea what it is supposed to smell like. In fact to me, it smelled nothing like bamboo or a crystal. Instead it smells like rubbing alcohol. So for me, this fragrance is definitely a no go.

If your hair is naturally straight like mine, it's a blessing and a curse. Sure you don't need to flat iron it daily to get sleek straight hair but curling it or having volume or texture is such a chore. But with the Verb Sea Spray adding texture and volume is not a problem at all! The sea spray is infused with sea salt and hydrating seaweed to give your hair effortless beach waves. The spray itself smells really good and naturally blends in your hair without feeling sticky later.

Dry shampoo is probably the greatest beauty invention of all time. Anything to help push back washing your hair an extra day and not have it feel greasy and gross is a lifesaver. Normally, I stick to the regular drugstore brands, like Batiste or Not Your Mother's for my dry shampoo necessities. But every once and a while I like to indulge and treat myself to a more luxurious brand. I would definitely say that the Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk is a luxurious dry shampoo, it also helps that it is an award winning product. The dry shampoo freshens up your hair instantly and also makes it feel fresh and clean. The oat milk spray smells really good and that scent transfers over to your hair very well. Sure it may be on the expensive side compared to others but if you have the extra bit of cash to splurge, why not?

Setting spray is another beauty lifesaver. Without setting spray, your makeup won't look as fresh at the end of the day. However when it comes to the Coola Makeup Setting Spray SPF 30, I have mixed feelings. First and foremost, I love how the setting spray contains SPF 30 in it for sun protection. However, when you're using the spray on your face it literally feels like you're spaying sunscreen on your face. For the first spray, it stinks and it stings. You need to close your eyes extremely hard otherwise they will burn. The first time you use the spray, it is absolutely the worst. You will smell like a skunk and your face will sting. If you're brave enough to try the spray again after the torturous first time, you'll feel slightly better. The smell goes away and the spray does not burn as much.

For the past couple of years liquid lipsticks have been all the rage. Every brand you can think of most likely has hopped on the bandwagon for this trend. In fact, one of the most popular liquid lipstick brands is Kat Von D. The Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Lovesick is a matte liquid lipstick. The shade, Lovesick, is a gorgeous pink nude that looks good on everyone. The liquid lipstick itself is very creamy and lasts for a very long time!

Primer is a makeup necessity, using a primer helps your foundation look smoother and last longer. There are also primers out there that do much more than just the bare minimum. Take a look at the Benefit The POREfessional Face Primer. Not only does it set your foundation, it also minimizes the presence of pores on your face. Luckily, I don't have too many problems with pores but this primer still does a good job setting my foundation and making my skin feel soft and smooth.

Overall the June Play! Box was all over the place. There were a lot of hits, and unfortunately a lot of misses. This was most likely the worst Play! Box I have received to date, which is why I'd give this box 3.5/5 stars. Which if you think about it, that's not so bad! The big hits in this box were the Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk and the Verb Sea Spray. On the other hand, the big misses in this box were the BVLGARI Omnia Crystalline Eau de Parfum and the Coola Makeup Setting Spray SPF 30. I can't wait to see what the end of summer Play! Boxes have in store!

Until next time.

An investment in a beauty subscription is the best way for beauty enthusiasts and newbies to get try new products before fully committing to purchasing the full size version of a product. It's a great way to save money while keeping up with the latest beauty trends. One of the best subscription boxes out there is Play! by Sephora.

For those of you who have never heard of Play! by Sephora, it is beauty subscription service that includes five samples from high end brands that you know and love from Sephora as well as a bonus fragrance sample. So for $10 a month you get six samples plus some other perks from Sephora, like 50 bonus Beauty Insider Points and a free one-on-one tutorial with a Sephora Beauty Expert. Not a bad deal right?

Now that you know all about Sephora's Play! Box, let's get to the good stuff. The boxes themselves and the samples inside! let's go all the way back to December 2016, and see what we got!

The main emphasis of the December Play! Box was on the products you would absolutely need to look your best for a fancy night out and end the year right. In the December Play! Box were the following samples:

• Elizabeth and James Nirvana Bourbon Eau de Parfum
• Drybar Bay Breeze Hydrating Shot
• Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Primer
• Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara
• Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain in Always Red
• Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray

When it comes to fragrances, I'm a sucker for scents that are either very sweet or floral. So when I saw the sample from the Olsen twins brand: Elizabeth and James, I was intrigued. I have heard a lot of good things about the Nirvana Bourbon Eau de Parfum, and I was impressed. It has a very sweet yet musky smell. The blend of vanilla bourbon and spice wood with a little pinch of a floral scent makes an interesting and edgy combination.

Drybar is known for their high end and luxurious products that gives any woman salon quality hair every time. Drybar has been on my Must Try list for years, so when I saw the Drybar Bay Breeze Hydrating Shot in my Play! Box, I was stoked. But sadly, my hopes were just way too high. The Bay Breeze Hydrating Shot is to be used after shampooing and it is suggested to use the entire bottle in one sitting. Which makes sense, because there is not enough spray in the bottle to use again. In fact, there's barely enough to use one time, especially if you have long and/or thick hair. The spray is also nothing like a spray, instead it is really creamy and it gets clogged in the applicator very easily. Plus, the creamy spray is really hard to spread throughout your hair, you literally need to spray it everywhere, if you can. Once you wash it out, your hair will feel rough for a bit bit it will get softer once it dries.

For any makeup enthusiast, primer is absolute must have product. But finding a primer that makes your makeup long lasting and soothe your face can be difficult to find. However, Make Up For Ever's Step 1 Skin Equalizer Primer can do both very well. The primer's formula does a great job of balancing the texture of the skin by making it really smooth. Sine the formula spreads so well, you do not need to use a lot at one time. Take a little bit of primer and massage it onto to your face and your skin and will feel very hydrated and super soft. After that, apply your favorite foundation or tinted moisturizer with no fear since the Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Primer will support and strengthen it all day.

Finding an amazing mascara that can lengthen and thicken your lashes is similar to finding a needle in a haystack, extremely rare and can take a good amount of time to find. However, the Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara comes pretty close to perfection. Even though it doesn't add a lot of length to your lashes, it does a great job defining your lashes while providing a creamy coat that does not clump or smudge even after coating your lashes multiple times.

Right now liquid lipsticks are all the rage. Celebrities like Kylie Jenner and Jeffrey Star have their own liquid lipstick brands that cost a lot of money and are constantly sold out. However beauty lovers are still obsessed with their products which in all honesty are not the best quality. But luckily, other brands like Sephora have created great quality liquid lipsticks at an affordable price. The Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain comes in every shade you could think or dream about. The consistency of the lip stain is very creamy and spreads very well, a little will go a long way. Plus it dries super fast so there are no worries about it smudging or fading away. The lip stain is hydrating and lasts all day. The shade Always Red is a classic bold and bright red, which every lady truly needs.

Whether you wear your make up for ten minutes or ten hours, setting spray is a must have! No one wants their makeup to smudge or fade right away, that's why setting spray was invented. A spray for your face that keeps your makeup in tact, that's genius. The Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray is by far the best setting spray out there. Some setting sprays make you feel like you're spraying yourself with a water bottle, but Urban Decay's setting spray is a gentle mist that soothes your face and keeps your makeup in tact for a long period of time. The one and only problem with the setting spray is with the applicator. The button will occasionally get stuck, which makes it hard to spray. But other than that, this spray is absolutely magic.

The December Play! Box was full of amazing must have products for not only a night out on the town but for daily life. Whether it was for an office holiday party, a New Year soiree, or ringing in the New Year on the couch, these products had you covered. I'd give this box 4/5 stars. The real gems of the box were the Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain in Always Red and Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray, while the biggest disappointment was the Drybar Bay Breeze Hydrating Shot. Now, let's see what January had to offer!

The January Play! Box really started the New Year off right. It contained products that were essential to giving your look a fresh feeling and brand new start. It really took the idea of new year, new you to a whole new level. In the January Play! Box were the following samples:

• Tory Burch Love Relentlessly Eau de Parfum
• Ouai Treatment Masque
• Drunk Elephant Lala Retro™ Whipped Cream
• Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey
• Tarte FRXXXTION Stick Exfoliating Cleanser
• IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better™ CC+™ Cream with SPF 50+

Romantic scents and fragrances are different for everyone, what could be romantic and sultry to one person could have the opposite effect on another. But when it comes to the Tory Burch Love Relentlessly Eau de Parfum it truly is the definition of romance, but not for the reason you're thinking. This scent is actually based off of the love story of Tory Burch's parents. Burch's father would write love notes to her mother and have them published in their local paper. The notes were signed Love, Relentless, and it was a secret for the two of them to share. Just the story alone is romantic. But when you smell the sweetness of the floral perfume, it honestly does smell like love. When you smell Love Relentlessly it feels like you're falling in love.

Whenever your hair needs a little pick me up, a good deep conditioner or hair mask always does the trick. I'm a big fan of hair masks so I was excited to try the Ouai Treatment Masque! The mask itself smells really good, and that nice fresh smell transfers right to you hair while making it silky and smooth. If you have damaged hair, this mask will be your best friend because it really does revitalize and strengthen your hair. The only problem with the hair mask is that you do not get enough, especially in the sample size. My half ounce bottle was not enough and I really wanted and needed more!

If you want to try out an award winning moisturizer, then you need to check out the Drunk Elephant Lala Retro™ Whipped Cream. In 2016, it won the Allure Best of Beauty award and it is easy to see why! The cream is extremely hydrating and moisturizing, it's perfect for dry and fine skin. Plus it smells really good! What's also so great about the brand, Drunk Elephant is that they are a cruelty free brand that supports the International Elephant Foundation. A great quality product from a great quality brand, can you ask for anything better?

If you're looking for a lipstick that gives no color or tint to your lips then Clinique's "Almost Lipstick" is what you're looking for. In all honesty, "almost lipstick" is just a clever name to give to a sheer lipstick. But really, who would honestly buy a sheer lipstick? Isn't the point of lipstick to add some color to your lips? The only thing the Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey has going for it is that it is hydrating and moisturizing. This product is basically an overpriced "tinted" balm.

Most face washes or cleansers are not necessarily very travel friendly or convenient to use. They can be bulky or even leak through the top lid. I can't tell you how many times I have had some of my beauty products leak all over my toiletry bag while traveling. It is an annoying circumstance to say the least. So when I find products that are perfect for traveling, I get excited. My latest discovery came from this Play! Box, the Tarte FRXXXTION Stick Exfoliating Cleanser! The cleanser comes in a little stick, which is very similar to a glue stick. It's very easy to apply, all you have to do is apply it directly on your skin in circular motions. This cleanser is gel that is also good for all face types and it can even be used as mask too. The cleansing stick is only one ounce, so you can take it anywhere! From traveling on an airplane or to the gym for your post workout shower, this little cleanser is the perfect when you're on the go.

On the days when you don't feel like wearing a lot of makeup, a CC cream or tinted moisturizer can be your life saver! It gives your face the coverage it needs with little to no work. One of the best CC creams out there is the IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better™ CC+™ Cream with SPF 50+. CC cream stands for color correcting and this cream provides a full and flawless coverage while protecting your skin with SPF 50. It is also very soothing on your face. There are five different shades for this CC cream, and each shade is adaptable and true to its tone.

Overall, the January Play! Box was a smashing hit, filled with a variety of great quality products to start the New Year off right. I'd give it 4/5 stars, the major hits of the Play! Box were the Tarte FRXXXTION Stick Exfoliating Cleanser, IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better™ CC+™ Cream with SPF 50+, and the Drunk Elephant Lala Retro™ Whipped Cream. The only miss was the Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey, which was a major thumbs down. This Play! Box would have scorn higher but that "lipstick" really brought down the overall value of the box.

But on the bright side, I know whenever I get my Play! Box from Sephora, there will be some amazing products to test out! In fact, February and March's boxes are already looking promising, be on the lookout for that upcoming review!

Until next time.

Today there is so much competition when it comes to beauty subscription boxes. Before there were mainly two competitors: The Trendsetter, Birchbox and The Wannabe, ipsy. But now there's a new opponent in this competition. Let me introduce you to Play! by Sephora.

Just like ipsy and Birchbox, Sephora's Play! box includes five skin care, makeup, or hair care samples plus a bonus fragrance sample all for $10 a month. All the samples come in a cute draw string collectible bag that goes with each month’s theme.

Now for those of you that are wondering if I left ipsy because I got off the waitlist for Sephora's play box, that is 100% correct. Once Sephora announced they were creating their own beauty subscription service, I was fully committed. Unlike ipsy, Sephora gives me samples of the brands I love and want to try. By some chance I don't know the brand, I already trust it because it is backed by Sephora. When I would receive an unknown brand from ipsy I was always hesitant to try it, especially if they did not have their own website and were only sold on Amazon.

Something that Play! offers that the other subscription services do not offer is the Play! Pass. With the Play! Pass you can redeem it in store for 50 bonus Beauty Insider points when you make a purchase and it also includes a free one on one tutorial with one of Sephora's Beauty Experts. The passes do expire after 30 days, it is normally good until the end of the following month. I have yet to use the Play! Pass to redeem my one on one tutorial, but I plan on using that sometime in the future! Also in the Play! box you will find the Play! Book. It includes tips, tricks, how-tos, and beauty advice for the products in the box. The Play! Book introduces you to each product and helps you get the most out of them.

Let's get down to this Play! Box for November 2016. The theme was "Best In Glow" so all products were focused on radiating your beauty. What all these products have in common is that they will enhance your look with a natural shine. Even the little draw string bag came with a cute little design that showed off a cartoon woman getting ready to pamper herself to a spa day.

Now let's get to the good stuff! Inside this Play! Box were the following products:

• Cover FX Illuminating Primer
• Sephora Collection Ultra Shine Lip Gel in Pin Up Pink
• Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Rose Gold
• Caudalie Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet
• Glamglow Thirstymud™ Hydrating Treatment
• Maison Margiela ’Replica’ Lipstick On

The Cover FX Illuminating Primer is a glow inducing and silicone free primer that does indeed give your skin a nice glow. However if you use a too much primer in one setting it can make your face look a little oily, so it is important to remember that a little goes a long way. This primer is not irritable at all so it is good for sensitive skin.

I'm not a huge lip gloss fan but when it comes to subscription boxes, I can't escape lip glosses. The Sephora Collection Ultra Shine Lip Gel in Pin Up Pink is a sheer gloss that comes in a hot pink tint. Since it is very sheer, you only get little bit of color. But it does add a nice shine to your lips.

The best item in this Play! Box had to be the Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Rose Gold, hands down. The rose gold shade was gorgeous and added a strong shimmer to your eyes. What's so great about this eye crayon is that it glides on so smoothly and it lasts all day.

One of the most needed products for the winter time is moisturizer. So when I saw the Caudalie Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet in the Play! Box, I was really excited to try it out. This moisturizer is a light gel cream that hydrates and softens your skin. Once you apply the cream to your face it makes your skin feel smooth and strong. This moisturizer is really gentle and did not cause any irritation, so it's a thumbs up for those of you with sensitive skin!

The Glamglow Thirstymud™ Hydrating Treatment was the most high end beauty product, well besides the perfume sample. The mask itself is amazing, it smells really good and it really soothes your skin. Plus it will absorb right into your skin, so there is really no need to rinse off after. It makes a great overnight mask. The only downside of this product is the price, the full size version of the product is $69 and you only receive 1.7 oz. I will definitely be cherishing this sample.

Lastly but certainly not least, there is the perfume sample, Maison Margiela ’Replica’ Lipstick On. Getting a perfume sample is something I really love about the Sephora Play! Box. Trying out new perfumes is always fun! The Maison Margiela ’Replica’ Lipstick On is a sophisticated floral scent that smells really good.

For my first Sephora Play! box, I was really impressed. I received a lot of brands that I like and some that I really have been dying to try! So far, Play! has made a lasting impression on me and I would give this box 4 out of 5 stars. I can't wait to see what else Play! has in store!

Until tomorrow.