Category: Subscription Boxes

Sephora Play! 2017 Year in Review

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Sephora Play!

Cost: $10.00 monthly + tax

Cycle: Every Month

What is it: Every month our favorite money sucking store Sephora sends out a curated box of higher end samples to try out.  Every month you receive 5 samples and a perfume sample.  The boxes are customized with a few different variations being sent out each month.

There is a small survey that Sephora has you take that helps Sephora curate a box to your needs. There is also a card included in the box for a complimentary mini makeover (which are complimentary any way so I don’t really get that) and 50 extra points if you purchase something in store.

I had fun with the Ipsy review I did so I decided to do Sephora Play as well. My other subscriptions I haven’t had for a whole calendar year so I can’t really do them. So let’s see how Sephora did for the year and find out how they did compared to Ipsy.

Month Value Product
January $31.36 6
February $39.42 6
March $32.47 6
April $36.91 6
May $54.46 6
June $31.64 6
July $39.48 6
August $45.37 6
September $36.79 7
October $40.36 6
November $59.55 6
December $46.84 6

Total: $494.65

Products: 73

Every Month but one I got 6 products so I did get more products then Ipsy overall but 11 of those were perfumes so that’s with a grain of salt some people don’t like the perfume samples I’m ok with them in this box.

I paid $1.64 per item I received so actually a little less per item then Ipsy and getting higher end products, but these are all sample sizes and usually you get some full sizes with Ipsy so they are still pretty equal in my mind.

Average Bag Value: $41.22

Coming about $6 under the average value of Ipsy.

Top 5 Favorite Items

  1.  March – Glam Glow Glowstarter  in Nude Glow – $6.86
  2. April – Sephora Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover – $1.88
  3. October – Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Foundation – $6.81
  4. January – Tarte Frxxxtion Stick – $4.84
  5. August – Korres Golden Krocus Ageless Elixir Serum – $13.07

So my Top Five comes to a grand total of $33.46. Wow that was a really low value I have some serious mixed feelings…

My thing here is dollar wise I seem to get alot more for my money with Ipsy so if that is your main concern just getting the biggest return on your money Ipsy is the way to go hands down.

Me personally though I get more use out of my Sephora Play products. I use them up more often I declutter or give away much less of what I get in my Sephora box and generally like and use more of what I get. Even if I seem to be getting less for my money I am still getting a great value.

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

Sephora Play! February 2018 Subscription Box Review

nightmareb4

Sephora Play!

Cost: $10.00 monthly + tax

Cycle: Every Month

What is it: Every month our favorite money sucking store Sephora sends out a curated box of higher end samples to try out.  Every month you receive 5 samples and a perfume sample.  The boxes are customized with a few different variations being sent out each month.

There is a small survey that Sephora has you take that helps Sephora curate a box to your needs. There is also a card included in the box for a complimentary mini makeover (which are complimentary any way so I don’t really get that) and 50 extra points if you purchase something in store.

Makeup and skincare this month that is what I expect from Sephora.

The bag this month I find really creepy. It reminds me of like a retro doll you’d see in an antique shop and I just kind it creepy.

First Aid Beauty Ginger & Turmeric Vitamin C Jelly Mask

Full Size: 4 oz

Full Size Cost: $32

Sample Size: 0.75 oz

Value: $6

This was a really interesting mask like it so completely sunk into my skin that I really didn’t need to wash it off. It definitely smells like ginger and turmeric which isn’t my preference for scents that is for sure. It didn’t really do that much it was slightly brightening but really nothing to write home about.

Peter Thomas Roth Firmx Peeling Gel

Full Size: 100 ml

Full Size Cost: $28.49

Sample Size: 15 ml

Value: $4.27

Another nice skincare item I always want to try more Peter Thomas Roth products but they are so pricey. This is one of those ones that is supposed to ball off your dead skin cells. I think it worked better then others of this type I have tried. my skin did look and feel a little smoother but not as much as I would expect I wanted it to do more.

Sephora Gel Gloss in 04 Perfect Nude

Full Size: 0.11 oz

Full Size Cost: $12

Sample Size: 0.1 oz

Value: $10.91

Why is there no picture of this I have no idea. Sorry. I also am not swatching this it is totally sealed and I don’t use gloss so why spoil it for the person I’ll pass this on to. But this product really pisses me off because I got it in fucking November same shade too. And 2 Novembers ago I got it in pink so like what the fuck really send something else.

Tory Burch Love Relentlessly Perfume

Full Size: 100 ml

Full Size Cost: $118

Sample Size: 1.5 ml

Value: $1.77

I love this perfume maybe I’ll have to buy it one day. It is super girly not feminine i know that is an odd description but its how I feel.

Lancôme Drama Liqui-Pencil in Côte D’Azur

Full Size: 1.2 g

Full Size Cost: $23

Sample Size: 0.5 g

Value: $9.58

I love that we got a liner that isn’t black this brighter blue is so fun. I have wanted to try these eyeliners they seem really cool. This went on very smooth and didn’t smudge which I like. I was expecting more impact then the color provide but I am not dissatisfied. Swatched Below.

Make Up For Ever Artist Rouge Lipstick in M500

Full Size: 3.5 g

Full Size Cost: $22

Sample Size: 1.4 g

Value: $8.80

This is a nice deep wine red color. It is a matte but not a super matte almost like a satin matte. I realy like it this is right up my color alley so I’ll finally get some use of out a Make Up For Ever product that I got sent. Swatched Below.

I like that there was a good mix of skincare and makeup. I really liked the new skincare that I get to try so I’m satisfied with this month. I am really annoyed about the repeat lip product that seems really lazy and cost cutting on Sephora’s part and I do not find that acceptable.

Total Value: $41.33

Skincare: 2

Makeup: 3

Tools: 0

Hair Care: 0

Perfume: 1

Other: 0

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 0

Deluxe Sample: 2

Sample: 4

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

Boxycharm February 2018 Subscription Box Review

nightmareb4

Boxycharm

Cost: $21

Cycle: Every Month

What is it:

Boxycharm sends out 4 to 5 full size  items every month which makes it really unique among the  boxes I subscribe to.  It is a nice change to get all full size products especially for the reasonable price of $21 which is usually less then the cost of one item in the box.

If you would like to subscribe you can use my referral link HERE. I don’t get anything other then points but would really appreciate it but do as you feel comfortable you are also welcome to use the link in the header that leads to the regular homepage.

You can also review your products and get “charms” which are their versions of points that you can use as money off in their shop.

This was not the variation of box I wanted this month so I am a little less then satisfied with it.

The theme was galaxy glow but only one of the boxes fit that theme and it was not mine. I am clearly very bitter over not getting the really awesome looking highlighter palette.

Pür X-faux Lips Plumping Lip Exfoliator

Full Size: 3 g

Full Size Cost: $17

Sample Size: 3 g

Value: $17

This is no better then the elf one that is like $3 and the elf one comes in all different flavors.  This actually stung a bit when I used it but I didn’t see any plumping as an exfoliator it worked well did it’s job but no one needs this when there is a cheaper option that is just as good if not better because it doesn’t sting.

Crown Brushes 3pc Pro Brush Trio

Full Size: Yes

Value: $29.99

These are easily the best thing in the box. They are so densely packed and so so so soft. Like baby bunnies. These are supposed to be 3 powder brushes in 3 different sizes but the small one you could use as an eyeshadow brush easily. I will get the most use out of this in the box.

Ofra Cosmetics Pop-Up Palette Mini

Full Size: W: 7.75” x H: 5.5”

Full Size Cost: $21

Sample Size: approx W: 5.5″ x H: 4″

Value: $9.24

I like that this opens up like a cool book or something that is different and unique but the doors feel a little flimsy to me like you could poke through the plastic is you tried hard enough and I don’t like that. So this mini palette is not for sale which is really freaking odd. I calculated it on price per square inch because that seemed to make the most sense to me. This mini palette has just under half the the square inches of the full size one.

Ofra Cosmetics Blush Godet in Winter Rose Glow

Full Size: 4 g

Full Size Cost: $12

Sample Size: 4 g

Value: $12

This seems like a very wintery shade of blush to me and I would have expected something brighter heading into Spring. This also has some shimmer in it I think it will make a very pretty eyeshadow that I will never get around to using. Swatched Below.

Coverfx Shimmer Veil in Amethyst

Full Size: 4 ml

Full Size Cost: $28

Sample Size: 4 ml

Value: $28

I was kinda let down by this. I was expecting more. It is a little patchy and doesn’t layer up as well as I would like it too it gets a little chunky. Super pretty to look at but doesn’t preform the way I would like it to I would want the kind of opacity you get our of a Stila Glimmer and Glow or the Limecrime Diamond Crushers. This is a very pinky purple shine with purple glitter/shimmer shift to it. Swatched Below.

Vintage By Jessica Liebeskind Smokey Eye Pencil in Jet Black

Full Size: 1.2 g

Full Size Cost: $21

Sample Size: 1.2 g

Value: $21

This is a very generic middle of the road black eyeliner I am neither impressed nor unhappy it is pigmented enough it is black enough everything is just standard. I did find this to be a little smudgey though and not in a good way. The packaging it the only really nice thing about it the white ad black flower with the pretty script appeals to me alot.  This is not worth anywhere near $21 dollars that is how much Urban Decay liners cost and they are far superior to this and still not worht the money. Swatched below.

Total: $117.23

Not the best value and not all full sizes either this month. Boxycharm has kinda been slipping these past 3 months. March Spoilers look really good so I am keeping my fingers crossed. I feel as long as I get my $21 dollars worth I can stay satisfied with this box. The crown brushes thrilled me and they are worth more then the box cost so anything else I like is a bonus but they do need to start stepping it up again.

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup