Play! by Sephora October 2018 Unboxing and First Impressions

Hi dolls! Thank you for bearing with me while I played catch up on all of October’s subscription boxes! Today, we will finally be going through October’s Sephora Play! sample box and then we are back on schedule 😉 You can find my review of September’s box here. Play! is Sephora’s subscription service that provides 5 beauty samples plus 1 fragrance sample for $10/month (plus local taxes).

October’s theme was Scary- Good Beauty and the Play! Bag came with 6 products.As usual, it includes an insert with product descriptions/ directions and a Play! Pass, redeemable in Sephora stores and now online for 50 extra Beauty Insider points with any purchase.

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser

A gentle gel cleanser that removes dirt and makeup without drying skin (insert). I’ve used this cleanser every morning since I received the sample and it is still going strong. I imagine a full sized bottle would last forever! For a gel cleanser, this does not strip the skin of moisture or feel drying at all. It smells just like fresh cucumbers and rinses clean, without leaving any heavy residue. Love it.

Make Up For Ever Matte Velvet Skin in Y415

A full coverage liquid foundation that controls shine and blurs imperfections (insert). This product, I did not love. I enjoyed the Make Up For Ever Skin Tint from last month’s Play! box (blogpost here) so much that I was stoked to receive another face product from the brand. However, this may be one of the most drying foundations I’ve ever tried. I have dry skin, yes, but even paired with my most hydrating primers, this foundation clung to every dry patch and emphasized every pore. Pass, pass, pass.

Dr. Brandt Pores No More Pore Refiner Primer

A mattifying primer that absorbs oil and minimizes the look of pores (insert). This primer reminds me of the Benefit Pore Fessional in terms of color and texture. It has a silicone-y feel, but dries down to a powdery finish. It creates a smooth canvas for foundation application, but is much too drying for my skin type.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Stick Foundation in Banana

A pale-yellow, light to full coverage foundation stick with a demi-matte finish (insert). I’ve tried using this banana shade as a cream highlight, but the dry formula is too matte for my tastes. I much prefer the Wet n Wild Dual-Ended Contour Stick, my favorite product for a natural nose highlight.

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Quench Hydrating Primer

A hydrating primer that refreshes skin and protects it from environmental pollutants (insert). This primer has a gel-like consistency that feels lightweight and absorbs quickly. It does a fair job of smoothing the canvas for foundation application, but I wouldn’t say it is the most hydrating, as the name suggests.

Dolce & Gabbana Dolce Eau de Parfum

This feminine scent, blended with white flowers and the rare white amaryllis bloom, is like wearing a fresh bouquet (insert). I have this perfume in a full sized, so you know I enjoy this scent. It’s a beautifully fresh floral that’s perfect for the daytime.

Overall Rating: I have mixed feelings about Octobers’s Sephora Play! Bag so I’m giving it a rating of 5/10 stars. I was initially very excited about the product selection, but I was disappointed with the performance of the products, particularly with my skintype. The only products I will be hanging onto are the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser and D&G Perfume.

What are your thoughts on the Sephora Play! Bag? Which products were you most excited to test out?

XO,

Mary Dee

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