Sephora’s hint for their them this month was about eyes ~ so I was really interested as my eyes are my best feature and I am always looking for new eye care and makeup products. 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
August 2016: The Eye Openers
This month’s Sephora Play! theme is “The Eye Openers“, focusing on products that fit the theme of “If Looks Could Thrill There’s more than meets the eye with this month’s selection of skincare and makeup. After a long summer, refresh and recharge your beauty routine with the mascara for standout lashes, an energizing moisturizer and striking looks that will put all eyes on you”
Box Revealed!
Informational Card
You still get a card for 50 extra points the next time you shop at a Sephora store (not online ~ I wish they would change that)
Once again, there were two variations this month and I am not sure how they decided who got what ~ as it was perfume and eye liner variation, which isn’t based on skin type. The moisturizer might have been a variation as well, but I am not sure. The bag is SO CUTE! I now save these bags because they all adorable.
Lancôme Énergie de Vie The Smoothing & Glow Boosting Liquid Moisturizer I tried Lancôme Énergie de Vie Daily Aqua-Gel (review here) and whereas this was a solid product in terms of hydration, the scent was so horrible and cloying ~ a weird strong perfume gone wrong. I wondered if Lancome had reconfigured the scent or maybe it was just the gel that smelled so bad. Nope, I opened up the tube (it wasn’t sealed) and took a whiff. Same horrid scent. Some people love this scent, btw, which just goes to show you that you should read multiple reviews on a product before purchasing. I won’t use this as I think it smells like a traditional 1970’s moisturizer ~ I remember my mom having products that smelled like this. Too bad, as the Aqua Gel was wonderful in terms of performance. Sample Size 5 mL RV $5.21
Description: An energizing antioxidant liquid moisturizer that refreshes, protects, and hydrates tired skin for an instant dewy glow. Wake up your skin with a burst of anti-fatigue hydration. This liquid moisturizer fuels your skin for a refined texture, renewed bounce, and gorgeous glow. Its unique formula is hydrating like a cream, concentrated like serums, and light like essences. It’s formulated with goji berry, lemon balm, and vitamin E to provide antioxidant protection against free radicals. Inspired by Korean skin care routines, this water-infused fresh moisturizer works to address the first visible signs of aging for radiant, refreshed, and healthy-looking skin.
Lancôme’s Énergie de Vie is inspired by Asian beauty rituals, lightweight textures, and balancing energy flow to the skin. The Chinese describe healthy skin as Qi Se: A balanced energy flow (Qi) and an ideal skin color (Se) that is defined by a radiant glow from within. For centuries, Eastern medicine has turned to the root—the most active area of the plant—as a source of vital life energy to balance Qi Se. The Énergie de Vie collection takes inspiration from this ancient philosophy, drawing upon these elements of the plant known to promote Qi Se energy equilibrium.”
Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Alcohol Denat., Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, CI 19140 (Yellow 5), T-Butyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Lactic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Caffeine, PPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-30, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Oil, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Limonene, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Dioscorea Villosa (Wild Yam) Root Extract, , Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Citral, Hexyldecanol, Glyceryl Isostearate, Fragrance cosDNA.com analysis
Caudalie Resveratrol Lift Eye Lifting Balm I am pretty happy about getting this eye product from Caudalie. This is supposed to life and smooth out your delicate skin around your eyes, using resveratrol, which is derived from grapes, and hyaluronic acid and peptides. Let’s hope I don’t fall in love with this as it is a very expensive eye product, clocking in at $124.00 per ounce Sample Size 5 mL RV $19.84
Description: An innovative, natural eye balm with a breakthrough patent to lift and smooth the areas around the eyes and lips. This cutting-edge eye balm is powered by a patent combining vine resveratrol with micro hyaluronic acids for an unparalleled age-reversing effect. Formulated with advanced peptides and an anti-puffiness plant complex, this eye balm helps lift the look of eyelids, reduce puffiness and dark circles, and smooth the appearance of wrinkles. The texture is silky and melts into skin without the use of synthetic emulsifiers—and it works especially well under makeup.
- Vine Resveratrol with Micro Hyaluronic Acids: Feature an age-reversing effect to support the skin’s production of natural hyaluronic acid.
- Peptides: Visibly lift and redefine contours.
- Plant Complex: Visibly lifts eyelids and diminishes dark circles.
Ingredients: Water, Glycerin*, Butylene Glycol*, Coco-Caprylate*, Isoamyl Laurate*, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract*, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium Polyacrylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycol Palmitate, Palmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract*, Tocopherol*, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbitan Laurate*, Xanthan Gum, Picea Abies Wood Extract*, Benzyl Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Carbomer, Hydroxyethylcellulose*, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Sodium Phytate*, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Darutoside*. *Plant Origin. cosDNA analysis
Urban Decay Perversion Mascara I love using UD’s eye shadows and lippies, but some of their products are a fail for me. Their Perversion mascara is one of those fails. I have tried this before and I found the formula to be drier than I like and to make matters worse, it would smudge like crazy under my eyes after a couple of hours. And to make matters worse, it will flake as well. This isn’t the best UD product created, imho. Sample Size .1 oz RV $7.69
Description: Perversion glides on easily to instantly create sexy lashes. It has a creamy, full-bodied texture that is not too dry and not too wet to allow just the right amount of pull as it glides through lashes. This formula is not sticky or clumpy, and it contains Hairdensyl, a complex blend of proteins and amino acids that are known to stimulate lash growth. The honey extract provides deep nourishment, sea idrolized elastine stimulates the hair follicle, and marine collagen protects. The high-tech, volumizing brush separates and defines each lash for a clean, clump-free finish, and the triple-black pigments leave them looking intensely black.
- Hairdensyl: Complex blend of proteins and amino acids that stimulates lash growth.
- Honey Extract: Provides deep nourishment.
- Sea Idrolized Elastine: Stimulates the hair follicle.
- Marine Collagen: Protects lashes.
Ingredients: Water, Synthetic Beeswax, Acacia Senegal Gum, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax (Cera Carnauba/Cire de Carnuba), Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Polybutene, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Potassium Sorbate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Soluble Collagen, Myristic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Behenic Acid, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Oleic Acid, Mel (Honey/Miel) Extract, Sodium PCA, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Glycogen, Serine. [+/- (May Contain): CI 77499 (Iron Oxides)] cosDNA analysis
Clean Reserve Blonde Rose I love Clean scents and I was excited to see that we were getting one of their new Reserve lines ~ the choices were either Reserve Warm Cotton or Reserve Blond Rose. Welp, I got the rose. Can’t have rose scents as I am allergic. I was in Sephora the other day and did take a whiff of Warm Cotton and quite frankly, I didn’t think much of it. But I did love Reserve Terra Woods ~ that is an awesome scent and Sephora made me a sample of it, as they don’t make a travel size of Terra Woods 😦 Sample Size 1.5 mL RV $1.32
Description: Blonde Rose is not an ordinary floral fragrance, it is for anyone who loves to be feminine with an edge. A sophisticated blend of rose, jasmine, and peony, it reminds of the classic, yet modern femininity that’s fresh and sexy. Men can wear it too, especially when paired with Sueded Oud. CLEAN selects the most exquisite sandalwood from Sri Lanka, where locals with an ancestral understanding of the tree’s properties use ecologically sound harvesting practices to extract the precious oil inside. Closer to home, CLEAN taps boutique distillers to provide artisanal, small batch oils, allowing them to stay in business while the brand promotes development, care, and growth overseas.
- Notes: Aldehydic Watery, Rose, Peony, Jasmine, Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Musk
- Style: Sophisticated. Classic. Feminine.
Sephora Collection Contour Eye Pencil 12hr Wear Waterproof in #15 Flirting Game. Now we are getting to the really good stuff! This is a great eyeliner in a shimmery taupe. We could either get this color or #33 Love Affair, which is a plum shimmer. I was hoping to get Love Affair, as I already own Flirting Game ~oh well! This is a great travel sized eye pencil ~ these are long wearing and you can either line your eyes with this or use it as an eye shadow, as it is creamy enough to blend out before it sets. Flirting Game is a great shade ~ I can testify to that as I purchased it long before we got it in our box! The only draw back is that you do need a sharpener, as this is not a self sharpening eye pencil. Sample Size .48 g RV $4.00
Description: A contouring eye pencil for a big, beautiful look that lasts up to 12 hours. Enhance and enliven your eyes with the bold, long-wearing color of these eye pencils. The silky formula is resistant to water, heat, and humidity, ensuring up to 12 hours of smudge-less wear.
Close up of my full size eye pencil
Ingredients: Isododecane, Mica, Synthetic Wax, Hydrogenated Polydicyclopentadiene, CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Polybutene, CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Glyceryl Tribehenate/Isostearate/Eicosandioate, CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), Nylon-12, Polyethylene, Perfluorononyl Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Synthetic Beeswax, Tocopherol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Copernicia Cerifera Cera (Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax), CI 77492 (Iron Oxides), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Phytosterols, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Sorbitan Oleate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate
Make Up For Ever Artist Shadow Eyeshadow and Powder Blush in I544 Pink Granite This is an iridescent eye shadow that really can double up as a blush highlighter as well. I have purchased a few of these powders ~ mainly in the blush section, like M816 Rosewood (matte) and S814 Light Rosewood (satin) which are both fantastic marsala shades. I was a little worried with a name like pink granite and an iridescent that this shade might be too glittery or something. No, it isn’t! This is more of a shimmer and it is beautiful. This would look great with brown shadows or just swipe this on your lip and line with a black liquid liner. It is just such a pretty color ~ I would say it is warm toned, medium taupe shade with pink shimmers ~ and I love MUFE pigmentation ~ it is nicely done. Sample Size .7 grams RV $6.68
Description: Effortlessly create endless eye looks that range from beautifully natural to highly artistic with this unique eyeshadow palette. With its breakthrough, gel-powder formula blended with ultrafine pigments, Artist Shadow leaves a smooth, even result that gives lids super-saturated, lasting color. An easily-blendable formula that features diamond, iridescent, matte, metallic, and satin finishes, it is an accessible shadow for the professional makeup artist and the everyday woman.
Even though I won’t use a couple of the products ~ I’ve come to just think of the perfume samples as an extra at this point ~ I did love what I could use! The eye balm looks to be really nice and I love the eye shadow shade. I can always use an extra travel pencil in the Flirting Game eyeliner ~ or maybe I will give it, as it is so nice. I paid $10.00 + sales tax (so it was still under $10.50 or something like that) and I received a RV of almost $45.00, which is over 4 times what I paid for it. 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.
Did you get this month’s Sephora Play! Box? What did you think of it and what was your favorite item?
[ descriptions in italics from sephora’s product page ]
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Unboxing Beauty 