Unboxing December 2016 Sephora Play!

So last month Sephora Play! Box was a oily greasy hot mess for those with oily greasy skin. I lamented when Sephora was going to do a MATTE box and whereas this month isn’t totally matte, it is 110% better than last month for me. 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

December 2016: The Partygoers

This month’s Sephora Play! theme is “The Partygoers“, focusing on products that will help keep your makeup on longer for all of those late night parties! “Meet Your Night Out Necessities: Small soirées, company festivities, all-out holiday bahes, no matter how you’re celebrating, this is the selection for party season. We’re wrapping up 2016 with an inky-black mascara, a show-shopping red lip shade and more must-haves for getting ready for fun – and looking fresh all night long.”

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) Sephora did other different box variations and it looks like the MUFE primer was the variation.

This month’s bag design is different as it is a black bag with a beautiful rose gold design

Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo I know that a lot of people hate dry shampoos and I can understand that if you have dry or curly hair. I have fine, straight oily hair and dry shampoos are a must! I use them to texturize and add volume to my hair after blow drying and also if I need a freshener on my hair. This does have a strong perfume scent (blech) but I don’t experience any white powder after cast ~ it does leave hair matte, but it also soaks up oily too, which is important if you are dancing all night long! This is not my favorite of dry shampoos due to the heavy scent. I wish they would make it unscented because it does a great job with the oil .8 oz RV $7.15

Description: A unique dry shampoo for all hair types that absorbs oils and impurities while adding body. Prolong your blowout with Detox Dry Shampoo! It absorbs oils, impurities, and odor while providing body and fullness, leaving hair feeling fresh and clean. Lightweight and easy to use, the micro powder blends in perfectly with hair color, leaving no white residue behind. It adds lift and body to roots that need a boost. Detox also deodorizes dirty hair. Made without parabens, sulfates and phthalates

Ingredients: Isobutane, Propane, Dimethylimidazolidinone Rice Starch, Alcohol Denat., Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, AMP-Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract, Citrus Junos Seed Extract, Cyperus Esculentus Root Oil, Prunus Insititia Seed Oil, Panthenol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Isopropyl Myristate, Parfum (Fragrance), Cyclopentasiloxane, Acrylate Copolymer, Aqua (Water, Eau), Magnesium Carbonate, VP/VA Copolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Butylene Glycol, Talc, Pentylene Glycol, BHT, Linalool, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Eugenol, CI 77491/77492/77499 (Iron Oxides)

Make Up For Ever Step 1 Smoothing Primer This is a tinted primer ~ MUFE does a great job with finishing powders and primers, so I am happy to get this. It really does smooth out my skin, leaving it very silky and “flat” by filling in those pores and fine lines/wrinkles, leaving almost a matte finish, actually. The tint is very subtle and I think that it really just disappears into my skin tone ~ I think this would work for all skin tones, as it does go invisible ~ but you should test first at Sephora to make sure. It is called a “Natural Finish”, but who knows? They do have a matte primer as well, but this one is pretty matte on its own so I am glad I received this version ~ the texture is light weight and smooths on my skin easily without tugging. MUFE makes a variety of primers, from color correcting to skin smoothing. By applying this primer after your skincare products and before your makeup, it will not only leave a smooth canvas for your makeup to adhere to it better, it will help your makeup stay on longer. This particular primer is actually made in Japan, home of some serious skincare products. I really like this primer a lot! 5mL RV $5.92

Description: Prep skin for your makeup routine with Step 1 Skin Equalizer Primers, and address your skin concerns with this innovative makeup primer. Perfect for balancing skin and achieving an ideal makeup result, it’s lightweight and creamy, leaving a more evenly-toned appearance, and increases foundation’s hold. This primer for all skintones leaves makeup looking fresh for hours while it hydrates, firms, and smooths the look of the skin. Step 1 Skin Equalizer Primer is available in 10 formulas to target every texture and tone concern:

Texture: Mattifying Primer reduces shine for oily skin, Smoothing Primer evens the skin’s texture, Hydrating Primer preps normal skin and restores balance, Nourishing Primer moisturizes and comforts, Redness Correcting Primer neutralizes.

Tone: Radiant Primer Blue adds radiance to light skin, Radiant Primer Pink adds radiance to light to medium skin, Radiant Primer Yellow adds radiance to light to medium skin, Radiant Primer Peach adds radiance to medium to tan skin, Radiant Primer Caramel adds radiance to dark skin.

Ingredients: Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Diphenyl Siloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Titanium Dioxide, Phenoxyethanol, Silica Silylate, Parfum (Fragrance), Aqua (Water), CI77492 (Iron Oxides), Magnesium Carbonate Hydroxide, Polumethylsilsesquioxane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Tocopherol, CI77491 (Iron Oxides), Hydrogen Dimethicone, CI77499 (Iron Oxides), Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Cichorium Intybus (Chicory) Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene cosDNA analysis

Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray Now, I have tried UD’s All Nighter and I don’t think it works for me very well ~ but I haven’t found any setting sprays to work on my skin type (oily) at all. This is supposed to be the last step after you apply your makeup ~ just spritz on, 8 to 10 inches away in an X and then T formation. As I said, it doesn’t work that well for me like that, but I DO use this for foiling my eye shadows ~ it really brings out the bright dual chrome glitters on foil shadows and it does last longer when I use this. I JUST purchased this amazing Lotus Foil Finish Eye Shadow kit collaboration from Youtuber Coffee Break with Dani and ittsé ~ so I am pretty happy to have this now on hand, as it will make those beautiful colors really shine and glow. 15 mL RV $7.50

Description: Is makeup meltdown ruining your midnight mojo? Mist on this weightless spray to give your makeup serious staying power. Developed in an exclusive partnership with SKINDINÄVIA, this groundbreaking, clinically tested formula is suitable for all skin types and features patented Temperature Control Technology. It actually lowers the temperature of your makeup to keep foundation, eyeshadow, blush, and concealer in place—even in hot and humid or cold and windy conditions. The result? Smoother-looking skin and vibrant makeup that lasts all day (or night) without melting, cracking, fading, or settling into fine lines. Unlike similar products on the market that feel sticky or tight on your skin, the sprayer delivers a microfine mist that goes on so light, you’ll hardly feel it—and once you’ve applied it, you won’t even know it’s there. Made without parabens, sulfates and phthalates

Ingredients: Water, SD-Alcohol 39-C, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Isononyl Isononanoate Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Sodium Cocamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate PVP, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Dimethicone PEG-7 Phosphate, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Glycereth-5 Lactate, Methyl Methacrylate Cross Polymer, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Fragrance cosDNA analysis

Elizabeth & James Perfume in Nirvana Bourbon I am always leery of the Olsen twins ~ haha ~ but I have to say, their perfumes are quite nice and this is one of their newer scents to their Nirvana collection. This is actually an amazing scent ~ it has a nice woody scent with a sweet scent of dark booze (seriously.. yes), amber and vanilla. This is probably my favorite new perfume scent this season and the full size is going in my wish bucket. If you love smoky, exotic scents, you should try this one. 2mL RV $3.50

Description: Elizabeth and James Nirvana Bourbon is a provocative blend of sultry vanilla bourbon, oakwood, and a hint of tuberose for a bold, oriental-woody scent with intoxicating confidence. Bringing a lightness to Nirvana, the amber toned bottle with rich gold accents blends feminine curves with contrasting architectural lines.

Bobbi Brown Smokey Mascara I have used the original Bobbi Brown mascara and I was curiously about the “smokey” description on this item. This is a deep black, kohl mascara ~ very wet and it will create a thick, bolder and longer lash. And it does do that. Seriously, this is an amazing mascara and I think my absolute favorite ~ Clinique High Impact Extreme Volume Mascara ~ just got displaced. This is more expensive than Clinique, but WOW, this is a great mascara!! This isn’t a waterproof mascara, in case you were wondering, but it doesn’t clump or flake on me. 3 mL RV $15.00

Description: This creamy, kohl-pigmented mascara builds volume lash by lash, as opposed to traditional volumizing formulas that create the appearance of volume by clumping lashes together. The result is thicker, longer, bolder lashes in an instant—the perfect complement to any eye look.

Sephora Collection Always Red Cream Lip Stain Well, it is RED. I am actually cool with this color ~ it’s been a while since I have received a red lippie and this one is matte and silky smooth, due to its vitamin E and avocado oil ingredients. It isn’t as long wearing as I would like, but it does leave a stain behind on my lips. This is a very bold red shade that I think most people can wear ~ if I can wear it, it is probably a good bet you can too. If you are not comfortable with such a bold matte red on your lips, just dab some on and then use your finger to blend in as a sheer, but pigmented tint. This matte color is drying, so make sure your lips are in good shade before applying ~ maybe even put on a balm and wait until that is absorbed before applying this shade. The formula is very lightweight and doesn’t cake around my lips. This doesn’t transfer easily once dry, but it will start to come off when you eat or drink something. Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stains come in a variety of colors in matte and satin finishes, from classic shades of pink, neutrals, peaches and berries, to fun off-beat shades of black, green and aqua.I think I will be purchasing the Rosewood shades, as I love a marsala lip! 1.3mL RV $8.40

Description: This bestselling, high-coverage lip color glides on smooth and transforms from a creamy texture into a silky, lightweight stain. Infused with avocado oil, the long-lasting formula delivers rich color that feels comfortable, is never sticky, and won’t dry out lips.

Avocado Oil: Provides comfort and nutrition for lips.
A Combination of Resins and Jellifying Agents: Coats pigments and guarantees a no-transfer film for long term wear.
Vitamin E: Provides antioxidant properties.

Ingredients: Isododecane, Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Polybutene, Petrolatum, Cyclohexasiloxane, Kaolin, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Aroma (Flavor), Glyceryl Behenate/Eicosadioate, Propylene Carbonate, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Tocopherol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Benzyl Alcohol. May or may not contain (+/-): Mica, CI 15850 (Red 7 Lake), CI 19140 (Yellow 5 Lake), CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), CI 77492 (Iron Oxides), CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), CI 15850 (Red 6), CI 42090 (Blue 1 Lake), CI 75470 (Carmine).

This month is fantastic! There is only one dud in here, the Drybar Dry Shampoo due to its scent, but I LOVE all of the other items ~ from the amazing Bobbi Brown smokey mascara, MUFE primer, Elizabeth & James Bourbon perfume (I will be purchasing soon!) and even the red matte lippie is wonderful. I can use the UD setting spray with my foils, so that is not a complete waste for me. I will be going to Sephora this week, as it is next to the movies (gotta see Rogue One) and I will be picking up some full sized items that I got in this month’s Play box. I did want a matte box after the oily grease pit box from last month and Sephora delivered on that! I paid $10.00 + sales tax (so it was still under $10.50 or something like that) and I received a RV of over $47.00 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.