For months, I was trying to subscribe to the new Sephora Play! subscription box. Like ipsy and Birchbox, it costs $10 a month for 5+ sample products. The new subscription from Sephora was announced last summer, and Boston was one of the test market or initial roll-out cities. I was beyond excited. I signed up immediately to get on the subscriber list. For some reason that I didn’t understand, I was placed on the waiting list. I waited and waited and waited and nothing happened. I received an email from Sephora telling me to sign up and I tried again and was told via email that I was on the waiting list. I called customer service at Sephora and reached a young man who was clueless and not the least bit helpful.
Finally about a month ago, I tried signing up again. This time, I made sure to use the email address associated with my Sephora VIB account. Success! I was accepted.
I received my first Sephora Play! box last week. The March, Perfection Collection, box.
So what did I think? Well, I love the design of the box.
Because I have so many of these products, the box was meh. Maybe I already have too many beauty products. Maybe I already subscribe to too many beauty boxes. At any rate, I wasn’t overly impressed with the March Sephora Play! box.
Here’s what I got:
- Smashbox Primer Oil sample: I already got this either in a past Birchbox or ipsy bag, and it doesn’t work so well for me. I need a silicone primer.
- Replica Eau de Toilette sample: An interesting concept, Replica is a reproduction of a familiar scent or moment. I received Beach Walk from 1972 that is supposed to smell like “sun kissed salty skin”. What I received smells like gardenia (not a good scent for me) and was half empty. Fail.
- fresh Soy Face Cleanser deluxe sample: A gentle clear gel facial cleanser that smells just like dill pickle juice. Although I like the cleanser, the scent is rather off-putting. It goes away once I put it on my face, but I think they need to go back to the lab and come up with a better fragrance.
- Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield SPF 30 sample: I got this sample sized Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield in a skincare collection that I won in a blog giveaway last summer, and I still have some left. It’s an interesting product that’s good to use with a moisturizer without SPF. It’s a very nice primer.
- Sephora Collection The Perfectionist Airbrush Sponge: I like this soft blending sponge! $12
- a tiny empty plastic container that’s good to have if you need to bring a small amount of foundation or cream on an overnight trip.
I discovered from the glossy booklet included in the box, The Perfection Collection, that I should have received a deluxe sample of Kat Von D (Liquid) Tattoo Liner in Trooper (black).
I called Sephora’s customer service to report the missing product, but the young woman I spoke to said there was nothing they could do about it. I pressed the point that this was my first box, and I was missing the most interesting product. She repeated that she couldn’t do anything for me. I asked if her supervisor could help. Finally, I asked her to refund the cost of the box. She agreed. Glad to get my $10 back on this box though the Sephora Airbrush Sponge priced at $12 covered the cost of the box. (I really like the sponge, but I already have 8 blending sponges.)
I did find a card/”Pass” in the back of the booklet for a free consultation in store at Sephora that’s also worth 50 extra Beauty Inside points with any in-store purchase. I will save this for sure!
I’ll keep my subscription for a few months, and see if it’s worth continuing.
Did you get the March Sephora Play! box? What did you think about it?
you’ve convinced me to not get it!! glad they refunded your money. that’s bs you didn’t get the best product! i would have wanted to eyeliner too.
It was such a bummer not to get the Kat Von D Liquid Liner! Then the half empty perfume sample and cleanser that smells like pickle juice. Ugh. I was glad she refunded my money. I’ll give it another month or two and see if it makes sense to continue. Fingers crossed that it improves!
Wow, what unprofessional service you received! At least she refunded you in the end!
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Between that girl on the phone yesterday and the clueless young man who was no help at all in figuring out why I wasn’t getting on the subscription list, I’m not very impressed by Sephora’s training of their telephone staff. But yes, I got the refund. If I hadn’t pressed the point, she would have done nothing for me.
I’ve been getting these boxes for all 7 of them so far. This was actually one of 2 of my least favorites. Hang in there and hopefully next month will be better. I can’t believe they left out your liner! I didn’t see mine until I dug through the crinkle paper after reading the booklet also.
Thank you, Stacie, for letting me know that most of the previous boxes were much better! It must be that I joined and it takes a nose dive, lol
Okay, that’s bloody ridiculous that they couldn’t do anything about the missing eye liner? Like seriously?! Thank goodness they refunded your money, Allison. I would be seriously disappointed if I received this box, I think it’s rubbish.
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It definitely was strange, Shireen. Between the missing Kat Von D liner, the half empty perfume sample, the cleanser that smells like pickle juice, it wasn’t a good situation. I felt that the girl in customer service could have been a little more helpful. I had to ask her to replace the liner and she said not possible, then I asked to speak to a supervisor and she kind of blew that off, and then I asked for the refund and she finally agreed. Just weird.
This box seems kind of boring. With the deluxe sample of Kat Von D Tattoo Liner it probably would be better.
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I agree, Leelo. I wasn’t excited about what I received including the half empty perfume sample and the cleanser that smelled like pickle juice so missing the Kat von D liner was the straw that broke the camel’s back
I was excited for you at first that you got the box but I can see why you’d be disappointed. I’d like the sponge and the MURAD so that would cover the cost of the box at least. I’ve seen a few reviews and the boxes seem hit or miss.
Yes, I do like the sponge (but I also got a sponge collection from Beauty Junkees) and the Murad Invisiblur is good but I still have some left in the original container. I was hoping for something that would blow me away. Maybe that’s no longer possible in a $10 box especially where I already have so much makeup. I’ll give it a couple more months and then decide if it’s worth staying
Looking from the March box, I agree with you that they’re just “meh”. Luckily, they agree to refund you the money for the missing eyeliner.
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Fortunately, they refunded the whole amount, but she would have done nothing if I hadn’t specifically asked for a refund. Oh well. The sponge is good! Hopefully next month will be better. I’ll give it a couple of months.
Awww that sucks! The Kat Von D would have been the product I was most excited about. For as much as this sub gets talked about, it really only looks “alright” from your unboxing. Now I don’t feel like I’m missing out, so thanks! 🙂
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I was so excited to finally get on the list, but I wasn’t excited by what was in the box. The fact that they wouldn’t or couldn’t send me the missing eyeliner was too much. If I hadn’t specifically asked her for the refund, she was perfectly happy to have me just hang up and go away 🙁
I would have done the same Allison, that Kat Von D liner is definitely worth the cost of the box (I am about to restock it for my kit). The soy cleanser is good as well.
I was sad not to get the eyeliner, Norah, and without it and with the perfume sample being half empty, I decided I had to call and let them know. The Soy Cleanser is very nice and gentle, but it smells like dill pickle juice! I can’t get past that 😉
You’re right; this isn’t a “wow, look at that” box. They could do so much better. Glad you got a refund! I look forward to seeing what you get in the next box.
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Me too, Renu! I was glad they gave me a refund. The half empty perfume sample and the missing eyeliner made me see red.
That would be a disappointing box for me too. I have tried everything in that box!
I was glad I got my money refunded. I would have loved to try the Kat Von D Tattoo Liner. But yes, I’m almost at the point where I’ve tried it all 😉
I’m happy she finally issued your refund. It’s annoying when company reps are difficult to deal with. I’ve been a subscriber since the first shipment and this was my least favorite box. The oil primer was not good on my oily skin (I’ll probably use it on my hands!) and I’m not crazy about that cleanser either. I think the tiny container is for you to bring to Sephora for a foundation sample. Hopefully, next month will be better!
Great to hear from you, Valerie! Thanks for telling me what the empty sample container was for. I was mystified. I read some reviews of past boxes and they definitely seemed better than this. From not getting the Kat Von D Liner, getting a half empty perfume sample, and a cleanser that smells like pickle juice, I wasn’t a happy camper. I give it a couple of more months before I decide whether to stay or go. Hopefully next month will be better!
I guess it’s a good thing that Sephora is testing this out, because they need to get their act together. Missing things in a box and not “being able to do anything about it”??? no way, Sephora. Even Ipsy replaced things for me when they were just plain old terrible. I do have to admit, though, I’m curious about a pickle-scented face wash? lol
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I agree, Nidia! I was so angry because this was the second not so great conversation I’ve had with Sephora customer service. The dill pickle facial cleanser is a hoot especially since it’s from “fresh”!
I love Murad Invisiblur, it’s one of my staples!
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I got my first sample size of the Invisiblur from the Murad collection that I won on your blog. Thank you again for it!
That’s utter BS! So sorry you experienced that.
Well, through perseverance, I got her to give me a refund at least!
Oh my goodness, what a BIG disappointment to have something missing from your box. And totally rude of Sephora to not be able to supply you with the missing item. Way ta go for being insistent and getting your money back, though! That’s awesome! 😉 I would be leery of getting another box after this experience….
I’m hoping next month will be a better box. I was not a happy camper!
That sucks about the missing product but yay for getting a refund! I so badly want to try this out!
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Have you signed up, Kat? When you do, make sure you use your email address associated with your Sephora VIB membership! I hope my box will be better next month
I would have been bummed with that box too 🙁
I was glad to get a refund!
Yeah, Sephora’s customer service sucks. I had a similar issue once and they were not helpful at all.
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I’m sorry to hear that you’ve had trouble with Sephora customer service too, but glad it wasn’t just me!
The Fresh Soy Face Cleanser is actually a favorite of mine, but yes the scent is a bit strong. I love how gentle it is, it’s my favorite for travel.
Hahaha, that’s funny! But I can see why you like it. It is so gentle. But I can’t get past the pickle juice scent 😉
Wait, PICKLE JUICE? I think it smells strongly floral….maybe yours is bad?!
It definitely smells like pickle juice. I’m glad you told me yours has a floral scent. I think I’ll email the company and let them know.
I am still waiting for this to be available for me
Yeah, Boston is one of the roll-out markets. I was surprised my first month was such a miss. Hopefully next month will be better.
Wow, what lousy service for their Sephora box and not to have the that special eye liner in the box?! I think I will wait on getting a Sephora box until they get their packaging and customer service folks improved! I love the Smashbox Oil and love the other goodies that you got in your box!
Ursula
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I need to see what the next couple of Sephora Play boxes are like, Ursula, and if they don’t approve, I’ll cancel. I already get ipsy and Birchbox, and I’m afraid that the Sephora box could be a repeat of what I’m getting in the other two. We’ll see what happens. You’re wise to hold off since you already get Birchbox.
I wanted this sub box soooo bad and now I’m kind of disappointed! I’m going to hold off to see what their next couple look like. Sorry this stunk for you.
I was sooooo disappointed, but I’m glad they gave me a refund. Hopefully, next month will be better. I’ve seen some of the previous boxes and they looked great. How nice of Sephora to wait till I got approved to give out a meh box that was missing the best product, lol!
That’s pretty bad they couldn’t do anything for you except to refund you the cost of the box. They could have sent you the liner! Geez. We don’t have Sephora Play available in Canada – I’ll be interested to see if your experience will improve with the next ones!
Actually, I was glad to get a refund. Sephora is rolling out their subscription box in the U.S., and it appears to still have some kinks. Hopefully, next month will be better!
I wanted to subscribe but now I see again that Sephora made a habit in disappointing customers 🙁
Really, Laura? Have you heard of other women who had problems with Sephora? I’m hoping it will be better next month. It’s still in the “roll-out” stage. Fingers crossed.
Unfortunately they managed to get a bad reputation …. and they are not doing anything to work on it
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It annoys me that Sephora can get away with that. I think the customer service in the stores is generally fine or even solicitous, but on the phone not so much
I’d be so disappointed about the Kat Von D missing, but to get that sponge for just ten bucks is nice. I wish they didn’t put fragrance in every box. That’s a huge miss for me.
I agree – no more fragrance – especially half empty sample vials! And I do love the blending sponge. It’s very soft.