Monthly Archives

May 2016

Clarins Lips Skincare

Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oils

May 31, 2016

 

Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oils ($25 each for 1 ml/0.1 oz) are among the most hydrating lip treatments I’ve tried and all three shades have made a come back this year. They launched a year ago in three shades which are still available today. I reviewed Honey before in this post, today I have a review on all three options: Honey, Raspberry and Red Berry. (Also shown above Lumira Darsana c/o previously reviewed here, Kate Spade All in Good Taste, Garance Dore Love, Style, Life). The Instant Light Lip Comfort Oils are lip treatments with a very slight tint and scent. They are like cushions for the lips with a gel-like oil formula that isn’t sticky but has a high gloss shine. For me the word “oil” in the name had me worried these would be thin, runny or goopy. They are emollient and have an oil feel but they do not slide around and stay put once applied. Clarins calls these plant-based which has ingredients to soothe and protect the lips. I really liked Honey because it gives instant relief to dry lips. Lasting power is very good and stays put for several hours before you need to reapply.

 

The two other shades Raspberry and Red Berry have a pink and red tint. The color is very sheer, almost transparent on my lips. In real life I can tell there’s a slight difference between the three, although I think the effect is almost identical – so if you’re looking for a lip treatment + color, these will barely have any color payoff in which case I would recommend you opt for the Clarins Instant Light Lip Balm Perfectors (swatched here) or the Instant Light Lip Natural Lip Perfectors (new shades out now, review soon) or the Shimmer Shades for Summer (review soon).

I’ve mentioned in other posts I have high sensitivity to scented lip products, especially when it comes to added fruity or vanilla scents. Glossier Cherry is a no go for me although I do love the other options. Raspberry and Red Berry are noticeably sweeter than Honey. If you have a very sensitive nose and do not like berry scented lip products you may find them too strong. I personally found them both to be strong upon application but gave both a thorough test to see how the scent played out. Raspberry is the more wearable option scent-wise for me. The scent softens and fades shortly after application and about 5-10 minutes after I applied it I no longer noticed there was a scent. The scent of Red Berry seemed to linger a bit longer. I personally prefer the way Raspberry smells. With all three I didn’t detect any noticeable taste.

A closer look at the packaging and applicators. If you’re one who is concerned with oils and the possibility of them leaking – note these are very well packaged. The cap twists on tightly and in the time I had my original Honey I never had any leaking issues (I did with some of the YSL lip oils) – just make sure you twist on the cap all the way. That being said I would avoid putting these in the car or anywhere there will be a lot of heat. I’ve had sunscreen oils that are well packaged that I accidentally left in the car and the heat melted the oil to a consistency that it leaked through the tops.

 

 

 

Swatches:

 

As shown below, all three pretty much look the same on my bare lips. If you look closely you may be able to tell that Red Berry has more of a red tint than the others. All three have a really nice cushiony feel that hugs the lips nicely.

Thumbs up for the formula. If you’re looking for a no fuss lip treatment that you can easily carry with you and apply these are worth checking out as long as color payoff in a lip treatment isn’t important to you. You can definitely add these on top of lipstick for added shine however if you mix the applicators with your lipstick – they are bound to get messy and color transfer will happen in which case you may want to use a lip brush or fingers. Or sometimes I’ll apply a lip treatment first then take a clean finger and dab it into my lipstick then dab the lips for a bit of color/stain on top.

Since all three colors are sheer I wouldn’t call them a must to have all three. However if you like variety and love the formula there’s no harm in buying multiples of what you love to have one for your desk, one for your handbag etc.

You can find the Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oils at all Clarins counters now. They retail for $25 each. Online at Clarins, Nordstrom, Sephora, Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Harrods and Selfridges.

Have you tried these yet? Do you have a current favorite lip treatment?

 

Clarins Lip Oils provided courtesy of Clarins for review consideration.

 

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Uncategorized

On Instagram

May 30, 2016

It’s been a while since I’ve done an Instagram roundup on the blog. I’ve been incorporating a few accessory and fashion bits about new discoveries and loves. It’s peony season right now and although I suspect will be ending soon, I’ve been enjoying every bit of it while it lasts.
I’ll be in NYC and Brooklyn next month and would love any recommendations on what to see, eat or visit. I’ll only be there for a few days but I have a list in the making right now 🙂

I’ve been on a shoe kick recently – a few of my beloved J.Crew flats were seeing better days and I reluctantly threw them away and gave my shoe closet an update. Thankfully they brought back the Cece Flats which are the same fit but a lot more comfortable (I picked up the black suede and tan leather options). These Chloe Scalloped Flats are by far the most comfortable I’ve tried and well worth the splurge. There’s a $100 Sam Edelman dupe here and $42 version/similar style here. I haven’t tried either for sizing/fit but if you’re looking for a similar look you may want to check those out.

For sandals, the Madewell Boardwalk Lace-Ups are perfect for summer. I wouldn’t recommend them for active wear or super long walks, but they are comfortable for weekend beach wear. I sized a half size down (they ran a bit big). If you need something a bit more sturdy the Boardwalk Crisscross is more substantial option.

A few of you recommended the La Mer Hydrating Facial Sheet Mask a few weeks back. I was gifted a couple sheet sets and you were all right – it’s amazing!! I’m waiting for a good gift with purchase to pop up before splurging on a full pack. I’m also about to start testing the AmorePacific Moisture Bound Sheet Mask as well so depending on how that one works I may wait and splurge on that set instead (review soon).
Several of you have been e-mailed me for bronzer recommendations. If you’re looking for something new and matte, the two Urban Decay Beached Bronzers are really nice (I prefer sunkissed). If you can’t do warm bronzers, Tom Ford Terra is the best neutral-cool matte I’ve tried. I’ll have a summer beauty round up soon and will do a separate bronzer post in the next couple of weeks.

Two last notes – if you’re in search of a beautiful coffee table book or gift, Gray Malin Beaches is amazing! I ordered a few of the special edition ones and the photographs in the book are phenomenal. (Regular edition available on Amazon.)
If you haven’t checked out the Diptyque Voyages Collection – I recommend doing so soon. They have select perfumes, skincare items and body care in mini travel sizes. The perfumes are so cute! (Quick post on one of them here.)
To my US readers I hope you are enjoying the day off this Memorial Day!
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Sales

Memorial Day Sales and Promo Code Roundup / May 2016

May 27, 2016

I’ve rounded up a list of Memorial Day Weekend sales and promos going on. It’s almost summer season and there are tons of cute sandals out this year. I’m a flats kind of girl and there are lots of good affordable finds. The four shown above are ones I bought recently (shoes are photographed were me so you could get a better idea of color) and they are all on sale this weekend! If you have any more good ones you’ve spotted let me know in the comments.

1  /  2  /  3  /  4  /  5  /  6  /  7  /  8  /  9  /  10  /  11  /  12  /
13  /  14  /  15  /  16  /  17  /  18

Beauty, Skincare, Cosmetics
  • Ahava –
    40% off + free shipping on $35+ with code MEM40 at checkout, excludes sets and new products, ends 5/31
  • Bobbi Brown – 4 deluxe samples at checkout with orders $40+ and free shipping
  • Diptyque – receive a 35g Genevrier candle with any $75+ order using code MAY at checkout, ends 6/1
  • Glamglow – Free travel size cleanser trio with $69+ purchase, use code GGTRAVEL, ends 5/30
  • Kat Von D Beauty – free vegan leather makeup bag and choice of 3 deluxe-sized samples with orders $100+, ends 5/30
  • Kiehl’s – 5 packette samples of your choice with $50+ purchase, use code SAMPLES, ends 5/29
  • L’Occitane – gift of 3 hand creams with purchase of $65+, use code PRETTY, ends 5/30
  • Lancome – 20% off orders with code FRIENDS at checkout ends 5/28, receive a gift bag with 3 travel-size products + free standard shipping on orders $49+ with code MEMORIAL, ends 5/31
  • La Mer – complimentary mini perfecting treatment with $150+ order use code SILKY, or enjoy duo sample offer of 2 masks with orders $150+ use code LAMERMASK
  • Laura Mercier – 4 free samples + free shipping with online purchases $75+
  • Marc Jacobs Beauty – 3 free minis and mirror in the nude pochette with orders $50+, use code MAY2016, ends 5/31
  • NARS – 2 piece bonus of mini Orgasm Lip Gloss and mini Orgasm Illuminator with orders $50+ with code AFTERGLOW at checkout, valid until 5/31
  • Nuxe – 4 free minis + 1 deluxe mini (of choice) at checkout
  • Sephora – weekly specials and codes listed here
  • Smashbox – spend more get more offer ends 5/30: 
    • Spend $50 get $10 off
    • Spend $75 get $15 off
    • Spend $100 get $25 off
    • Spend $150 get $50 off
  • Supergoop – 30% off all orders with code SUNSCREEN, ends 5/28
  • Ulta Beauty – Buy more save more on select sale items

Fashion / Accessories
  • Ann Taylor – extra 50% off full-priced styles with code SUMMER50, ends 5/32
  • Banana Republic – 40% off your purchase with code BRTAKE40, ends 5/30
  • Bloomingdale’s – take an extra 20% off sale and clearance with code BROWNBAG at checkout valid through Memorial Day
  • J.Crew – 30% off your purchase with code WEEKEND, ends 5/31
  • Joie – extra 20% off sale styles with code MD2016, ends 5/30
  • Madewell – 20% off all sale styles with code META20, ends 6/1
  • Nordstrom – save up to 40% off during the Half Yearly Sale, ends 6/5
  • Rebecca Taylor – extra 25% off sale styles, use code EXTRA25, ends 5/31
  • Paige – 20% off sitewide, use code SUMMER2016
  • Splendid – 30% off everything with code MEMDAY16
  • Truffle – 20% off everything with code EVERYTHING20, ends 5/30
Have a great weekend!

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Becca Bronzer + Blush Highlighters

Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Collection

May 26, 2016

 

The Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Collection launches today online at Sephora and everything is beautiful. The collection features items focused on creating the ultimate glow for the complexion, eyes and cheeks. The original Champagne Pop Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Powder (reviewed here) has been extended into two other formulas. In addition two palettes created by Becca and Jaclyn Hill have launched as limited-edition pieces. The collection launches online today 5/26 at Sephora and will be in stores 6/16:

 

A closer look at each item starting with the Champagne Collection Face Palette which comes a large sturdy mirrored compact. The two palettes have gold reflective packaging so if you see that they look different on other blogs or on social – it’s because of the highly reflective nature of the surface. The Champagne Collection Face Palette has three blushes and two highlighters. All the colors in this palette are extremely pigmented but easy to blend – in testing this I found it best to use with a light hand. There is one shade of Luminous Blush called Rosé Spritz which is a very shimmer pink gold finish. There are two shades of Mineral Blush which are more on the satiny side and more natural-looking in Amaretto which is a medium tan and Pamplemousse which is a pink grapefruit color. You can use shades individually or mix to create different looks. I found I liked the look best when I used either of the mineral blushes first before layering any of the shimmery shades on top.

 

There are two highlighters – both of which are extremely shimmery and very glowy. I have and adore the original Champagne Pop (originally reviewed here and compared to Anastasia That Glow here). The Champagne Pop in the palette is identical in color but for some reason to my eye both highlighters in the palette seem to be a couple notches up in terms of glitz and shimmer. Both are still wearable if you apply with a light hand. Prosecco Pop is the more yellow gold option which usually isn’t a flattering color on my olive yellow-based skin. I can wear Prosecco Pop with a very light hand, but I still prefer Champagne Pop by far. A closer look:

 

 

Swatched below with a medium hand, you can blend to sheer out or apply with a denser brush for more intensity. Pigment is so rich I suspect these colors will show up on a wide range of skin tones. The overall effect is very glowy but still wearable for conservative makeup lovers:

 

 

A look at the palette without sunlight or flash:

 

Next up is the Champagne Collection Eye palette which has two shimmers and three mattes. The overall undertone is warm. It has Chardonnay which is a pale white gold frost, Champagne Toast which is a warm tan copper frost, Cordial which is the prettiest mauve matte, Cognac a very warm toasted brown matte and Bordeaux a soft plum matte. The shimmers offer rich high pigment color while the mattes have a softer medium finish. Textures are soft making them easy to blend on the eyes but I do recommend using a creamy base (I like using the Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid or Poured Creme on the lids, but I think I’m the only one I know who does not have oily lids). For me the colors did take a bit of experimenting and blending because I cannot wear reds or warm shades like this easily. I swatched it next to Ombre Rouge which I just ordered (have not tried yet) for reference. Here in direct sunlight:

 

 

 

Another shot of the Becca Champagne Collection Eye Palette – because the packaging is gold it looks different depending on what is reflecting in the compact:

 

Last but not least are the three Champagne Pop complexion items. The Shimmering Perfector Liquid offers the most natural finish. It’s very natural on the skin and on the medium-sheer side. The color almost matches my skin exactly so it adds a naturally dewy sheen. It does look luminous so if you have oily skin you may find it will look more luminous as the day progresses. The Shimmering Perfector Poured Creme has a more visible finish compared to the Liquid but still looks very natural. Out of the three Champagne Pops this finish and color is my favorite. Then you have the classic Champagne Pop Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed – for those who love highlighters there is a different formula for multiple colors in the Becca line so you can pick the finish that works best for you.

 

 

Below the Champagne Pop formulas swatched along with a few other Becca colors:

 

 

 

I’ve only been playing around with the collection for a few days but first impressions are that I really love all three Champagne Pop formulas. I did think there might be a chance that having Champagne Pop in three formats would be overdoing it but after testing them I think they are different enough to justify all three if you love highlighter. If you want to limit yourself to 1, my favorite is the Poured Creme because it has the perfect in between finish (powder being the most shimmery and liquid being the most natural).

 

For the Face Palette – I had already ordered it when it launched as a very brief preview and was able to test this one for a few more days. I tried this a number of ways and found it to be extremely pigmented and very glowy – but the colors are easy to blend for a wearable look and the blending does not require a lot of extra effort which is nice for me since I’m more conservative in the makeup I wear. The colors are naturally flattering for and the warm undertones brighten the complexion. Since the colors are pigmented I prefer to apply with a lighter hand. The Champagne Pop highlighter in the palette does seem to be more glowy and shimmery compared to the individual version (Prosecco Pop is exclusive to the palette). If you prefer a more natural glow or softer color this may be too shimmery or too pigmented for you.

 

The Eye Shadow Palette is all kinds of gorgeous but very warm. I have been experimenting with warmer shades recently though and the palette from Becca is really stunning. I start with the medium matte mauve shade, then layer the ivory and gold, then use the deeper shades to contour – the effect is very pretty and soft without being too warm. Pigment for shimmers is rich while the mattes have a sheerer more natural finish but still offer smooth easy to blend coverage.
Bottom line everything is beautiful and worth checking out. The Becca Face Palette may be too glowy for some in which case I’d recommend you opt for the Tom Ford Afternooner which has a much softer effect but similar warm color scheme.

 

You can find the Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Collection exclusively at Sephora. It launched online today 5/26 but everything is scheduled to launch in store by 6/16.

 

The Champagne Collection Face Palette and Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed were already purchased by me, however Becca also sent the entire collection for review consideration.

 

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Highlighters

Edward Bess Threads of Silk Powders in Bellisima and Ciao

May 24, 2016

I love all things Edward Bess and his new Threads of Silk Multi-Use Powders ($45 each for 0.42 oz/12g) are beautifully crafted glowy powders with a lovely satin luminous finish. There are two shades Bellisima and Ciao and they have the most amazing woven pattern that has a mix of three shades in each compact. These are made in Italy and are infused with real silk which I think is incredible! I added a few snapshots from my trip to Italy last year. We visited a few cities and it was amazing. I hope to go back someday. They have a very unique texture – they are clearly powder and soft to the touch but the product is dense. It has a slightly hard texture although it’s not stiff and very easy to use and blend. Color is easy to pick up with a brush and apply to anywhere you want color – eyes, cheeks or temples.

I think this year seems to be the year of glowy highlighters. There are many to pick from with a wide variety of textures. This year alone I have reviewed quite a few new formulas including the Laura Mercier Face Illuminator Powders, Hourglass Ambient Strobe Powders, Kevyn Aucoin Celestial Powders, Anastasia Glow Kits, Urban Decay Afterglow 8 Hour Highlighters, Natasha Denona Glow System Highlighters and NARS Hot Sand Duos. Picking the right highlighter for you depends on what kind of texture and degree of shimmer you want. Color is also important. For those who like a natural visible glow but don’t want the high frost or extreme shimmer, the Edward Bess Threads of Silk Powders are probably your best bet because true to Edward’s style they are perfect for the classic beauty lover who wants to look polished and a better version of themselves.
The shimmer on both is visible – on the arm + flash the colors look like they could be frosty but they are not. I usually photograph my swatches with a flash and any light (whether it’s sunlight or flash) captures the complexity of the colors and catches the pearl particles. I did a quick look (scroll down) to show them on the eyes and cheeks and they have a very pretty sheen.

Bellisima is the more neutral nude option. It looks beautiful on the eyes as an all over wash – the bronzy tones makes for a nice lid contour. The pink adds a bit of warmth and depth. The ivory mix to it gives it a lovely sheen. On the cheeks it can pass on my medium skintone as a nude blush although it has a highlighter feel.

Ciao has a mix of warmer tones with a soft coral sheen. On my medium complexion I can wear it as a blush but it could also pass as a highlighter to add on top of bronzer or regular blush. 

Since you may not be able to see these in person (they’re available at Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and QVC), I’ve included a lot of photos in different light. They glow depending on how the light hits these powders. I really recommend both of them.

A closer look at each powder with the individual shades swatched and then swirled. I like the effect you get when swirling the colors, plus the way the colors are woven together it’s almost impossible to not mix the shades:

 

Simple beauty look with:
Bellisima Threads of Silk Powder on the eyes as an all over wash

Bottom line both winners. These are some of the prettiest most natural looking highlighter powders I’ve tried. If you want more of a traditional kind of highlighter, my holy grail cream highlighters are his All Over Seduction Highlighter (all three shades reviewed here). Both are multi-purpose wonders that you can use anywhere you want a glow. Lasting power was very good for both on me lasting from early morning until evening without fading or darkening. I love that they come in a large sturdy mirrored compact (same size as the Flawless Illusion Foundation swatched/reviewed here).

You can find both shades online at Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and QVC. In store at Neiman Marcus Beverly Hills and Bergdorf Goodman in NYC. If you can get to a counter I recommend it. The reps are very helpful and friendly.
Have you tried these yet? What did you think?
Many thanks to Edward Bess for sending me such beautiful items for review.

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GWP

Clinique x Nordstrom Bonus Gift with Purchase – May 2016

May 23, 2016

There’s a Clinique Bonus Gift with Purchase going on right now at Nordstrom through the end of the month which has some really cute items. With any $27 Clinique purchase you can get a 7 piece gift set that includes your pick of one Beyond Perfecting Foundation and Concealer shade in Alabaster, Ivory, Neutral or Nutty (note you have to enter in a code at checkout).

There are also a few step up gift options – if you spend $55 a full-sized skincare product will be added to your cart online (or in store). When I bought mine in store last week there was the 7-Day Scrub Option available online and in stores. Right now it looks like they have the full size Moisture Surge as the step up online. (Options may also vary in store.)

Here’s what you get in the gift with $27 purchase:

Foaming Face Sonic Soap (1 fl oz/30 ml)
High Impact Mascara in Black (0.14 oz/3.5 ml)
Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief (0.5 oz/15 ml)
Clinique Color Compact with two mini eyeshadows in Sunset Glow
Morning Java + Fig Blush
Long Last Soft Matte Lipstick in Petal (0.12 oz/3.6 g)
Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer (0.17 fl oz/5 ml) – pick 1 of 4 shades

Swatches of the gift colors I picked out, Ivory is the match for me:

If you order online, be sure to enter one of four codes at checkout for the Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer shades, I swatched the four gift options at the counter in case you can’t get to one in person, I hope this helps as an online guide for you:

For Alabaster enter code LIGHT at checkout
For Ivory enter code LTMED at checkout
For Neutral enter code MED at checkout
For Nutty enter code DEEP at checkout

I re-stocked up on a few staples and took advantage of the step up to pick up some items I had been wanting to try for a while. The color pop items have been on my radar for a long time but I always forget to try them in store. I made a list before I went so I would not forget this round. What I ended up picking up:
  • Lid Pop Eyeshadow in Cream Pop is one of the prettiest golden nude shimmers, it has a unique cream to powder kind of finish that adheres well to the lids but doesn’t make them look dry
  • Cheek Pop Blush in Nude Pop has also been on my list for ages, it’s a good neutral warm nude that adds a bit of natural color without looking too dark, it has a very soft sheen
  • Pop Lip Color + Primer in Nude Pop and Beige Pop (yes, more neutrals!) are great wearable neutrals that add a natural hint of color and shine, I like that they didn’t dry out my lips and had no detectable taste or scent, there are a lot of other colors to choose from, I picked to to test out and really like the formula, Clinique also has two other formulas in the Pop Glaze Sheer and Pop Lacquers – I swatched a few briefly at the counter but decided to think about them
  • Stay-Matte Sheer Pressed Powder (Oil Free) in Stay Neutral is something I used a long time ago but never repurchased, it’s a very natural matte powder that doesn’t look cakey and is good for touch ups, I like the price point too which I find reasonable for a good quality powder
  • High Impact Mascara in Black is also one of my oldie but goodie mascaras, there are so many different options from other brands, I often forget about my tried and true (do note if you haven’t tried this there is a mini in the gift with purchase)
  • Take the Day Off Makeup Remover is one of the most gentle makeup removers that will remove eye makeup without stinging my super sensitive eyes (the one I have shown is the 4.2 fl oz size), sometimes I can rub my eyes a bit too hard because waterproof mascara can be hard to remove, this one won’t sting, I just noticed that they now carry a Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm which has really good reviews online, let me know if you’ve tried this and you think it’s worth a go
  • Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlighter in Hefty Highlight has been on my wishlist for forever and I have gone back and forth trying to decide whether or not to buy it. It’s a very pale almost white shimmer straight out of the tube, but it blends out to a very natural glowy dewy sheen. I tested it out over the weekend and it held up very well, didn’t get greasy as the day progressed and did not emphasize pores. I like that it’s a twist up which makes it very easy to use and blend. I hope that Clinique makes more colors in this because I think the formula is great.

Swatches:

Swatches of the two lip items I picked up plus the gift lipstick (I’m wearing the gift with purchase Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer in Ivory in the photos below). Bare Pop has some visible shimmer while Nude Pop is more creamy:

If you’re ordering online don’t forget you need to enter the shade code for the Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer at checkout for it to be added to your cart, code options shown below. After swatching in store I thought Neutral would be my match but it was visibly darker than my skintone when I dabbed along my jawline. Ivory looks light but on my face it’s almost an exact match. Since it’s full coverage you do need to find the best match possible. I was impressed with the coverage – it covered all my blemish scars, dark spots and under eye circles without looking cakey or flat (just make sure you blend). Ivory is the tiniest bit too pink but I tested it out on several days and as long as I blended it onto the neckline it matched pretty well.

http://rstyle.me/n/bqsf5vubf6


For Alabaster enter code LIGHT at checkout
For Ivory enter code LTMED at checkout
For Neutral enter code MED at checkout
For Nutty enter code DEEP at checkout

Do you have any Clinique favorites? I find the line has a lot of great staples! The Bonus Gift with Purchase is good with any Clinique purchase of $27+, online and in stores at Nordstrom while supplies last.

Many thanks to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post. As always all opinions my own, for more information you can refer to my Disclosures.

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Uncategorized

Play! by Sephora – May 2016 Box

May 22, 2016

I signed up for the Play! by Sephora wait list several months ago and just received my first box for May 2016. For those not familiar with these boxes, Sephora launched a monthly subscription service and for $10 per month you will receive a box that has:
  • 5 deluxe samples plus a fragrance bonus
  • a pamphlet they call Play! Book which has information on the box contents + tips and tricks 
  • a card called Play! Pass which allows you to redeem a free one-on-one tutorial + bonus points with any product purchase during the same store visit
  • collectible makeup bag
Right now you can only subscribe online at Sephora.com/play – they have you sign up for a waitlist and once a spot opens they will send you an e-mail to claim a spot and join.
 
I have a first impressions look at the May 2016 Box contents as it just arrived in the mail a few days ago – eight sample-sized products come wrapped in a super cute drawstring pouch. It’s photographed above on my desktop to show the scale and size relative to other items.

A look at the contents below, as of right now I haven’t had a chance to try the items with the exception of the colors and perfume. I’m in the process of testing some other skincare items but once that is finished I’ll be diving into the samples from this box. Inside the May 2016 Box:
  • Korres Wild Rose Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial (0.34 fl oz/10 ml)
  • Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Kimchi (0.05 oz/1.55 g, swatched on lips here)
  • Origins Maskimizer Skin-Optimizing Mask Primer (0.05 fl oz/1.5 ml)
  • Origins Clear Improvement Mask Packet (0.1 fl oz/3 ml)
  • Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask (0.1 fl oz/3 ml)
  • Briogio Don’t Despair Repair Deep Conditioning Mask (1 oz/29 ml)
  • Tarteist Lip Crayon in Latergram (0.04 g)
  • Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine (no size listed, but it’s a tiny vial)

My beauty friend Café Makeup has a post on the same box and many of my thoughts are similar to hers. I think it’s a fun low-investment kind of beauty buy and at $10 per month I think the cost is relatively low and considering the cost of shipping (which they do not charge you extra for). Based on the May Box I think Sephora sent out a good selection of decent sized samples for that price. Even though the sizes of the samples are small enough that you should be able to get for free at the counter I have found samples to be scarce when shopping in store at larger retailers. Of course there are exceptions and building a good relationship with a sales associate does help. However as Amy mentioned in her post I agree it seems like a few years ago you could shop at a store and counters were much more generous with samples. These days they seem to be scarce.

I’m happy with my first Play! by Sephora Box. I think it’s fun to get a surprise box of samples and it offers some things I would have never thought to try so the exploration part is fun. At this time I plan on keeping my subscription to see how it goes.

If you haven’t subscribed for these you can add your name to the wait list online at sephora.com/play – right now the only way to purchase a subscription is online. I’m not sure how long the wait is. I think I entered in my e-mail early in the year and received an e-mail that I was off the wait list in April. There’s a full page of FAQs here in case you have more questions.

I hope you enjoyed this first look at the Play! by Sephora Box 🙂 Have you signed up for it? If you were able to join earlier and have already received a few months of boxes what do you think? Would love to hear your thoughts!
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