August Sephora Play Unboxing

Mommylicious

I know I am a month late with this blog, but I have a good reason. I moved to a new city in a new house because of my husband's new job. Sephora failed to update my new address on time and had my Play Box shipped to my old address. Thanks to USPS I got my August Sephora Play Box at my new address (although 3 weeks late). Unable to wait so long I did check the social meeds to check what others received in this month's Sephora Play box. And let me tell you I wanted this box so bad. I was just hoping that the Play box was not left at my old house's doorsteps (and someone would steal it!! Oh God no!)

The Sephora Play bag is all black and white this month. I miss some color on it. It has a cute little wink on it that says Wink Outside the Box.

The playbook exposes the theme that was hinted at on the bag. The theme of Sephora Play Agust is The Eye Openers. So, you kind of know that most of them will be eye products. Exciting!

Getting into the box..

 

Make Up For Ever Eyeshadow

This eyeshadow is in the shade Artist Shadow I-544 and it is kind of an iridescent pink granite color. It has a nice shimmer to it yet is very smooth. It is a really pretty smoky color, which is very buildable. I love how Make Up For Ever eyeshadows are so pigmented and have great color payoff. This shade in particular is something that you can play around with. It can be used during the daytime and nightime, by simply intensifying the color. Love it.

 

Sephora Eye Pencil

This is a waterproof, 12 hour wear contour eye pencil in the shade Love Affair. It is a rich plum color. And may I add it matches the Make Up For Ever Eyeshadow so well. It has a nice shimmer to it too. This color can be smudged to make a smoky eye, so perfect for the Fall. I love that it is waterproof and is long-wearing. The only qualm I have is that it is so tiny.

Urban Decay Perversion Mascara

This is a lengthening and volumnizing mascara from Urban Decay's Perversion line. The Perversion line is known for its jet-black color. I love how this mascara does not clump up and made my lashes look really dramatic. The more coats I applied the greater was the drama. Oh, I am in love with this mascara already. 

Algenist Eye Renewal Balm

This eye balm comes at such an appropriate time. I have been wanting an eye cream for a long time and Sephora has granted my wish. Running after a 1 year old and moving into a new house has not been too great for my already exhausted eyes. I am so close to having raccoon eyes. I hope this eye balm manages to calm my eyes down. The Algenist Eye Renewal Balm is supposed to reduce dark circles, wrinkles and puffiness because it has Alguronic Acid with anti-aging properties. I am hoping the microalgae in it will help new mommies like me. This eye balm is light and moisturizing, but how effective it is I am yet to determine. 

Lancome Smoothing and Glowing Liquid Care Moisturizer

I am super excited to have received Lancome. It is basically a moisturizer with the goodness of Goji Berries and Lemon balm. This moisturizer is really lightweight and great for the California heat. It is supposed to give a healthy glow to dull and fatigued skin (that's me!). In it goes in my daily skincare routine.

Clean Reserve in Warm Cotton

This is the bonus fragrance. Who does not love a little extra something thrown in with the regular products? Trying new fragrances just makes me feel all the more excited. I have actually not purchased any perfume in the past few months in an attempt to use up all my Sephora Play fragrance samples. Saves me a pretty penny! Now, as the name suggests, this fragrance smells like cotton or fresh linen. I like it as it is a welcome break from the regular floral scents.

Overall, the August Sephora Play box has impressed me a lot. I do love eye products and I am not complaining with a bag full of them. Apart from the Lancome moisturizer, all the other products can be used all the time. And the fact that the moisturizer is from Lancome, keeps me just as excited. Sephora can come up with monthly themes based on areas of the face like this. And may be throw in a few beauty accessories too, like an eyeshadow brush would make the August Sephora Play Box more desirable. This box is totally worth the $10 I paid for. 


  

May Sephora Play Unboxing

Mommylicious

A nine month wait to get my hands on the highly-coveted and much-awaited Sephora Play box in May. Sephora Play is a sample beauty subscription box. They don't send full-sized products. It works for me as I get to try before I buy. It is easier to use up small sample-sized products than be stuck with huge containers of products I dislike. I like getting well known high-end brands. So, I am hoping Play! just might be the subscription service I was waiting for all my life.

Let's see if it was worth it. I am going to jump straight into the products from the box. However, if you interested in a detailed review of the Play box, you can get it here.

 

The theme of May 2016 is The Forces Of Nature. The selection of products are natural and high performing. The products came in a cute little white satchel which says 'Let's beauty together'. Inspiring. It is all about Spring cleaning your beauty. 

Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask

It is an intensive treatment to restore hydration and bring back luster to the hair. It is free of parabens and sulfates, silicones etc. making it natural. You have to use it after shampooing your hair and leave it there for about 10 minutes and rinse it off. It is to be used once a week. The 1oz tube I received will last me about 4 washes. This mask is not something that you use for a day and feel how soft your hair is; it has to be used for a few times to see how effectively it reduces breakage and damage. I have used Briogeo products before through other subscription services and they have impressed me every time. 
Sample value - $9
The full size retails for $9.

Korres Wild Rose Sleeping Facial

It is a lightweight overnight facial treatment that melts into the skin. It has wild rose oil that moisturizes and brightens the skin. It is good for all skin types. It helps with dullness and uneven skin tone. I used it after my nighttime routine and I really liked the way my skin felt in the morning. It is a pretty decent sized sample. I have combination skin and it did not break me out. I really liked the smell. It is not at heavy and does not leave the face too greasy. And a small amount goes a long way.  
Sample value - $12.09
The full size retails for $19. 

Tarte Tartiest Lip Crayon

This is a primer cum lip liner by Tarte. It is a twist-up and has a tapered tip to contour the lips. It is creamy and glides easily. It is hydrating and is free of parabens. The shade is Latergram and is a very pretty dirty rose color. A very useful product indeed. This is a sample size. This has a matte finish and it comes in 10 other shades. 
Sample value - $1.80
The full size retails for $18. 

Origins Maskimizer

This comes in 3 parts - there is a hydrating mist for priming the skin before applying the masks, and two types of masks. There is a purifying charcoal mask and an overnight moisturizing mask. I love the packaging. The primer mist comes in a little bottle like a perfume sample and the masks come in foils. It is a great idea to package the primer in this manner. I love Origins masks and they work very well for my skin. I love these two masks as well. I am a little obsessed with face masks lately, and the Origins Maskimizer has come to me at the right time. 
Sample - $1.86
The full size primer retails for $22. 

Amuse Bouche Lipstick by Bite Beauty

I was saving the best for last. I am so excited to have received the Amuse Bouche Lipstick. I have three of them already and I just love them. These lipsticks have an amazing formula and fresh citrus-y scent. These are so pigmented and hydrating. These are (hands down) one of the best lipsticks I have ever used. Sephora has selected the shade Kimchi and it is a bright summer-y pink. The shade is a little too bright for my choice, but it is summer and I am in the mood for some Kimchi. You can read my full review of the Amuse Bouche Lipsticks here. 
Sample - $8.67
The full size retails for $26. 

Atelier Cologne 

Each month Sephora includes a perfume sample in the Play box along with the 5 samples. The perfume is a bonus item and does not count towards a product from the box. It is a fun little extra. And that is just great! I love sampling expensive perfumes before I actually invest that kind of money in it. So, this month it is Orange Sanguine by Atelier. It is orange-y, it is refreshing and it is summer-y. I love citrusy scents and this is just awesome. 
Sample - $1.82
The full size retails for $70. 

Total value of the box is $35.24 . For $10, it is a steal. Overall, I am more than happy with the May Sephora Play! box. High-end brands, check. Products that excite me, check. Products that I will use, check. Sephora did a great job of product selection as they fit my needs, and match my skin tone and taste.

I can only say that it has been worth the wait.