Unboxing Beauty

This month’s Sephora Play! theme is “The Perfection Collection“, focusing on products that make your skin flawless.

What is Sephora Play!?  Play! is a monthly subscription box that is $10.00 a month + any taxes and it looks like your subscription will be counted towards your Beauty Insider points as well

What will be in Play!  A monthly box of deluxe samples, along with an exclusive PLAY! BOOK — packed with helpful advice — and a PLAY! PASS to redeem in store for a free one-on-one learning session with a beauty expert. The six product samples in your PLAY! by SEPHORA box are from the same prestige brands we carry in store and online, and they are sized to use multiple times.  For a limited time, show your current PLAY! PASS when purchasing items in store to receive 50 bonus points each month.

Click here to sign up now to be waitlisted

07 March 2016: The Perfection Collection

Play! always includes really nice booklet, explaining all of the products plus some beauty hacks too.  It also contained a card that if you purchase something at Sephora’s store (in-store, not online), you will get an additional 50 points on your Sephora Beauty Insider account 🙂

Box Revealed!

 

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in  Trooper   This is a matte  ink black liquid eyeliner and if you read my blog on a regular basis, you know I love liquid eyeliners.  My favorite is a drug store brand called Jesse’s Girl and I am interested in seeing how Kat Von D Tattoo liner holds up.   This is a very pigmented and it is waterproof as well as vegan.  It has 325 flexible bristles that come to a fine point ~ I love liquid eyeliners that are brush tips and not felt ones.  I think I have better control with the liner that way.   I do love the precision from using this liner and I think that it is really fantastic!  However, I think that Jesse’s Girl has the same quality as Kat Von D Tattoo’s liner  ~ it has a calligraphy-style brush as well that allows you to create fine, precision lines, highly pigmented, long lasting and waterproof.  It is also $12.00 cheaper and comes in other colors on Jesse’s Girl online shop.  The only advantage that Kat Von D has over Jesse’s Girl is that it is vegan.  This is a great eyeliner and I will use it, but I won’t purchase it.    Sample Size .007 oz  RV $6.65

Ingredients: Water, Ammonium Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol, Beheneth-30, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/Octylacrylamide Copolymer, Metylparaben, Polygylceryl-3 Disiloxane Dimethicone, Propylparaben, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Black 2

Maison Martin Margiela ‘Replica’ Beach Walk   Yeah!  Sephora is breaking away from the rose scented perfumes ~ last month, Tom Ford’s Black Orchid and this month with Beach Walk by MMM by Replica.  This is a beautiful light scent and I can smell the Ylang Ylang and musk and as it dries down, I can smell the coconut, lemon and bergamot.   This is truly a fun, summery scent.   Sample Size .04 oz RV $2.94

Description: Beach Walk combines fresh and radiant notes of bergamot, coconut milk, lemon, pink pepper, and musk to evoke a familiar but forgotten moment—a walk along a sandy beach.  Close your eyes and let the fragrance transport you to the memory of an afternoon stroll along the ocean. Your feet sink into the wet sand as waves brush against your skin. The sun sinks gently through the crystal sky, its warmth balanced by a soft breeze with the subtle tangy scent of water. Beach Walk evokes hints of ocean spray, and captures the carefree bliss of a summer day.

• Notes:  Bergamot, Pink Pepper, Lemon, Ylang Ylang, Coconut Milk, Heliotrope, Musk, Cedarwood, Benzoin.
• Style:  Pure. Deep. Blissful.

 

Little Plastic Container ~ haha Well, this is so I can trot on down to my local Sephora and have match my skin tone and suggest foundations using their “Match with Color iQ” system.  They will plop a foundation sample into this container.  I’ve had this done before, but it is always fun to redo, as there are newer skin care products out there.

 

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil   At first glance, this looks to be a very interesting product!  I do not care for Smashbox Photo Finish Primer as it does tend to break me out, but this is an oil primer.  It is made with 15 different types of essential and lipid-rich plant oils, such as jojoba, arabica, argan, chamomile, lavender, rosehip, sunflower, raspberry and sweet almond oil.  It is supposed to help moisturize your face so that your foundation is easy to apply and leaves a dewy finish.

I guess this is the moist, dewy answer to the traditional primer, which gives you a matte finish.  It is very lightweight and quite frankly, I am not sure why they call this a primer oil.  It really looks to be a facial oil, which I can and do use.  Even Smashbox’s recommendation to add this oil primer to your foundation is a normal usage for facial oils today ~ I just don’t do that as I do not want dewy skin.   I am not sure why they called this a primer oil ~ to me, it looks and acts like a facial oil.  Sample Size .13 oz  RV $5.46

Description: This revolutionary primer preps your skin for makeup in two different ways: it sits on top of the complexion to smooth its texture, while it absorbs directly into the skin to hydrate and boost moisturization. It reduces the appearance of dry, fine lines and leaves you with a glowing look. Featuring a specially formulated, lightweight blend of jojoba, arabica, and argan oils, it’s also infused with soothing chamomile and lavender oils to calm the senses. Each is hand-picked for its known skin benefits.

 How to Use:  Using fingertips, massage two drops onto clean skin.  Use morning and night.  Allow primer to absorb into skin before applying makeup.  Apply a few drops to split-ends, cuticles, elbows and clavicle for a dewy, youthful sheen.  Tip: Try over makeup. Just pat above cheekbones for an extra dewy glow.

Ingredients: prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) oil, prunus armeniaca (apricot) kernel oil, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, tocopheryl acetate, squalane, tocopherol, anogeissus leiocarpus bark extract, coffea arabica (coffee) seed extract, hordeum vulgare (barley) extract, triticum vulgare (wheat) germ extract, arania spinosa (argan) kernel oil, calophylluminophyllum (tamanu) seed oil, chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower oil, oenothera biennis (evening primrose) oil, rosa canina (rosehip) fruit oil, rubus idaeus (raspberry) seed oil, cholesterol, water, polysorbate 60, linoleic acid, linalool, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate cosDNA.com analysis

 

Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 30  Okay, now this is a traditional primer with its matte finish, and smoothing fine lines and wrinkles.  What makes this primer unique is that it contains SPF 30, and sunscreen is your best defense against wrinkles.  It also contains anti-aging ingredients as well:

• Mushroom Peptides: Fight visible signs of aging to help restore youthful-looking firmness, elasticity, and skin resilience by helping aid natural regulation of collagen and elastin
  
• Barley, Sunflower, and Cucumber Extracts: Enhance skin’s ability to retain moisture

This primer contains a “soft-focus” complex, which helps smooth skin and blurs imperfections to improve your skin tone and texture.  I will say this, I saw an immediate difference when I applied this product to my unmoisturized hand.   I am not sure if I captured it in the photo, but where I applied this product, my skin was silky smooth and I could see that it filled in the rough spots on my hand.    This product has not been tested on animals and it is dermatologist developed.  I do like this, but wow, it is expensive at $65.00 for a 1 oz bottle!!   Sample Size .17 oz  RV $11.05

Description: Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield SPF 30 is a gluten-free formula. Although the product does contain a barley oil derivative, gluten is not an oil-soluble protein. That insolubility means that the barley oil used in this formula is a naturally gluten-free substance, which gives Murad a high level of confidence that any of the barley oil derivative used in this formula is also gluten-free. In addition, the manufacturer of the derivative has tested it for gluten and provided Murad with explicit assurances that it is 100 percent free of gluten.   Murasol: an advanced level of sun damage defense that preserves a glowing, youthful-looking complexion by providing skin with protection against both broad spectrum UV rays and free-radicals. This proprietary blend of powerful antioxidants defends against UV damage by penetrating skin’s top layers and creating a protective barrier of encapsulated free radical neutralizers. 

Ingredients: Isododecane, Dimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PPG-20 Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Methicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phenyl Trimethicone, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Octocrylene, Diethylhexyl 2, 6- Naphthalate, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Polyglycerides, C15-23 Alkane, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Cake, Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant) Seed Extract, Octyldodecanol, Octyldodecyl Oleate, PEG -8 Dimethicone, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Alcohol, Hordeum Vulgare (Barley) Extract*, Butylene Glycol, Lentinus Edodes (Shiitake Mushroom) Extract, Mucor Miehei Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Silica, Sodium Propoxyhydroxypropyl Thiosulfate Silica, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Solidago Virgaurea (Goldenrod) Extract, Benzyl Benzoate, Citral,Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldhyde, Limonene, Linalool, Fragrance cosDNA.com analysis

 

 

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser Sad face… I love Fresh products and I want to love this one, but due to its rose water extracts, I cannot.  I have heard fantastic things about this soy cleanser and I am giving this one away to a friend at work.   It is made with soy proteins, which help retain moisture and are known for their anti-aging properties as well as rose water, which is supposed to balance and tone your skin.  Its pH level is fairly low as well ~ 5.5 to 6, for those who are interested in the pH levels for facial cleansers.   It does not contain parabens, sulfates or phthalates, Sample Size 20 mL  RV $5.06

Description: The Soy Face Cleanser from Fresh instantly whisks away everyday impurities and makeup—even mascara—without stripping the skin of essential moisture. Rich in amino acids, soy proteins support moisture retention, giving skin the appearance of elasticity and firmness while rosewater balances and tones the skin. Calming cucumber extract and nourishing borage seed oil enrich the formula, which is fragrance- and soap-free.    This product is extra gentle and ideal for all skin types. “In the early nineties, there was a buzz about the health benefits of soy, but no one was exploring its effects on the skin. We found that it is highly rich in amino acids, which help with cell turnover, and introduced soy to the beauty market in 1999.”—Lev Glazman and Alina Roytberg, Fresh Founders. 

Ingredients: Water, Coco-Glucoside, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Xanthan Gum, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Sterols, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Extract, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Benzoic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Lecithin, Pentylene Glycol, Caramel, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol  cosDNA.com analysis

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Sephora Collection The Perfectionist: Airbrush Sponge You need a great applicator to achieve that flawless skin look.  I will not comment on what the shape of this sponge reminds me of, just that it is very naughty!!  This purple sponge does have a “unique” shape, with a tipped edge to help get into tighter places (so sorry, my mind is just going there)  on your face and a wider end to help blend and contour your foundation.  I am so old school, I still love using my fingers to apply my base makeup.  I will use this, but I find sponges to be more a waste of time on a daily basis for me, along with the constant cleaning on them.  I use sponges for when I have more time to devote to my foundation.    RV $12.00

Description: This durable sponge features dual tips for precise concealing, blending in hard to reach areas, and removing makeup mistakes. The fine tip offers extra precision for getting into small corners, while the wide tip expertly smooths foundation over forehead, cheeks, and chin. The Perfectionist is washable, reusable, and works with all formulations of makeup including creams, liquids, powders, and minerals. Now reformulated to be more durable and to prevent tearing, the latex-free material provides effortless, sheer, buildable coverage and faster application than with brushes or fingers.

How to Use:   Use the pointed end to apply highlighter above and below the brow. Work in a sweeping outward motion.  Use the pointed tip to apply highlighter in the cupid’s bow.  Use the wider tip to blend concealer around the nose. Use the wider tip to apply concealer around the eye.  Use the wider tip to apply contour shades below the cheekbone.

 

I really liked this month’s box from Sephora Play!  I haven’t used any of these items before and only one of them cannot be used by me. Smashbox’s primer oil will be used around my eyes at night-time to help soften and smooth the wrinkles around my eyes, I really am looking forward to trying out Murad product (and hoping I don’t fall in love with it because it is sooo expensive) and Kat Von D is a great brand to have in here, along with the Fresh brand.   The perfume is just lovely and this might be one that I add to my ever growing collection of fragrances!!  I think this is one of the better boxes they have produced and I am pretty happy with it.   I paid $10.00 + sales tax (so it was still under $10.50 or something like that) and I received a RV of over $43.00.  And these boxes do contribute to Sephora’s points system, so every month, an additional 10 points, plus there is always a 50 point card in each box ~ just go down to a Sephora store and redeem.  Sometimes, I just get a small item, and that + the card = over 50 points!

Did you get this month’s Sephora Play! Box?  What did you think of it and what was your favorite item?   It looks like the waitlist will still be waiting..  I heard that this subscription is still on limited release until the fall.  Has anyone heard differently?

 [ descriptions in italics from linked product page ]

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