This month, I love the satiny blush drawstring bag with Smitten and Sephora Play written in gold that’s a key element of the February 2017 Sephora Play bag.
The theme, “The Soft Side” reflects the soft shades of the lip products and the fragrance in this month’s bag. The word “Smitten” written on the bag and the bag itself reminds me of vintage lingerie are certainly appropriate for Valentine’s month. I’ve been on the fence about Sephora Play lately, but this pretty bag has won me over, for this month at least. I can use this bag for travel for keeping stockings or nice underwear in.
So did what I got in the bag equal the bag itself? Let’s take a look.
- Sephora Lashcraft Length and Volume Mascara, travel size, $12: A buildable mascara with a bristle wand that promises maximum length and volume. I wore it today, and after one use, I like it a lot. I’ve never used a Sephora branded mascara, but so far, I like this one. It was easy to apply, no clumping, my lashes didn’t stick together, and it gave them good color, length, definition and separation with little effort. I don’t apply my mascara with a specific number of coats so I can’t say how many it took for me. I don’t like big volume lashes so I didn’t continue to apply more because I liked what I got for an everyday running errands look. I’m not wearing any eyeliner or shadow, just the mascara, and I didn’t spend a lot of time on my lower lashes today. I had no flaking. It was easy to remove. In fact, you can remove it with water alone though I used Micellar Water and it came off easily. The mascara is priced like brand name mascaras like Urban Decay, Tarte, Benefits travel size, so I’m glad it lived up to Sephora’s promises.
- Clinique Pep Start Hydroblur Moisturizer, deluxe sample: I haven’t had a chance to really try this Hydroblur Moisturizer from Clinique out yet. It’s a translucent gel-cream, and it feels nice and definitely hydrating. I’m curious to see if it’s give my mature skin any kind of blur.
- Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream To Brighten and Depuff, deluxe sample: An appealing pale peach cream with brightening particles. I haven’t had a chance to try this one out yet either, but it looks nice too.
- Too Faced Lip Injection, Glossy, shade Milkshake, travel size: Since I’ve been using my Luscious Lips Lip Pump, I’m obsessed with making my lips bigger so I rushed to try Too Faced Lip Injection. Milkshake is a subtly sparkly golden shade. I immediately applied it with the doe-foot wand, and it made my lips hurt. It felt like it had a ton of something like Red Hot candies in it. So far, I don’t see any change to my lip size. I’ll keep you posted.
- Tarte Quench Lip Rescue, shade Nude, travel size: I love the pretty pink and gold paper covered cardboard recyclable case, but unfortunately Quench Lip Rescue has peppermint oil in it. In fact, I can smell it when I take the top off of the case. Boo hoo. Since I swatched it to show you the shade, I think I will try it again just in case my lips have changed, but I don’t think so.
- Prada Candy Eau de Parfum, sample: I seldom like perfume samples that I get in subscription bags, but I do like Candy from Prada. Its key notes are musk, Benzoin and caramel, and they come together to create a lightweight, warm, slightly sweet gourmand scent. Yummy.
Even though my lips had some issues with the lippies this month, I still enjoyed having the chance to try them as well as the other deluxe samples. Looking forward to using the skincare products. I think I’ll be enjoying the mascara, and I’m already halfway through the lovely Prada Candy fragrance.
The Tarte and Too Faced lippies alone would make me very happy! While I would love the peppermint oil in the Tarte lip gloss, I know that is a definite deal-breaker for you, Allison.
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The Tarte Quench is so thick and creamy, Helen, I’m sure you’d love it. In fact, I’ve got it on right now to see if my lips have changed over the past few years and maybe I can tolerate it?? Hope so. The Too Faced is a very pretty topper. I can’t see any evidence of my lips getting bigger (other than the fact that it hurts) when I wear it, unless it’s a cumulative effect?
Hmm, that’s a pretty good bag, Allison! I do wish that the lip products came in a deeper shades but I think you’ll make both work.
Shireen L. Platt recently posted…Influenster Bite Beauty #TheLipPencil Voxbox
The Too Faced is a shimmery gold so it’s a topper, and it really is pretty except for the fact that it hurts my lips, lol, though not as badly as when I wear it alone. I own the Tarte Quench in a peach shade, and it’s a nice lip balm like this one. It’s so thick and creamy so it seems weird that I can’t wear it very often because of the peppermint. I guess it will be the same with this new one. Sad. Two lip products from good brands neither of which I can really wear because they burn my lips. So for me, it doesn’t matter what color they are 🙁 My feeling is that it’s a really good bag for women with normal lips because the brands are good and other 3 products are quite useful.
Oh that bag looks so preety! Sephora Lashcraft Length and Volume Mascara looks promising and Prada Candy Eau de Parfum sounds like something I should try!
I forgot I even got this bag this month. I’ve been way to busy to remember. LOL! We got the same things this time. I thought it was pretty good too.
It can be hard to keep up! Glad you liked yours too!
Ooh, I’d be happy with the tarte lippie!
Miranda | SlashedBeauty.com recently posted…Dove Shower Foam: Fun & Functional
Tarte Quench is a nice lip balm!
My box should be here any day – but this is my fav sub box in this price range right now!
I hope you get a good one, too!
Hi Allison, I just ordered the Play! Thank You for the great review! It sure sold me! lol I had been on the waitlist and finally got on, Yeah!
Wow, that’s awesome, Norah! I didn’t realize there was still a waiting list. Glad you got on. I liked the bag a lot this month. To my surprise, I can even wear the Tarte Quench – the peppermint oil in the formula isn’t bothering me today, yay! I wish that Play would include a full size every now and then but I guess because they’re all “prestige” brands they can’t for the price. I think it’s a great way to try out higher end products to see if they’re worth buying! Hope you enjoy your subscription! xoxo
This bag is so pretty! I am all about soft! Both lippies call my name!
I think so too. I am using every single thing in the bag this month. Success!
You’ve reminded me to use the Tarte balm more often (I have one sitting unloved somewhere…) This looks like a pretty decent selection though, I love mini lip samples.
Maybe my lips have changed coz I’m having no trouble with the Tarte Quench in spite of the peppermint. Definitely find yours 🙂 I’m using everything in the bag this month. Success!
I don’t like the sound of the Too Faced gloss-sounds like the old Du Wop Lip Plumpers that stung my lips so badly. Prada candy is too sweet for my taste. This would be a meh bag for me.
Yes, the Too Faced gloss is like the Du Wop Lip Plumpers, and truth be told, it doesn’t change the size of my lips, at least not that I can see. But I like the golden shimmery look it gives as a topper and I don’t really feel the burn on top of another lipstick so I may use it from time to time. I have disliked almost all of the fragrance samples I’ve received from Sephora since I love orientals, and I know they are out of favor. So I was surprised that I like Prada Candy. The dry down on me is musky and powdery in a good way, but I won’t be buying it because alas the sillage is not remarkable and it isn’t long lasting on me.
Great bag this month! I’ve actually never tried Sephora brand mascaras either, but I like the sound of this one!
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This bag made me question keeping the subscription. I gave my sister the mascara since she needs waterproof for her freelancing work for brides, I will try out the Clinique. I also got a Bite Beauty stick instead of the Tarte which I’ll try but it’s such a dull looking color. I’m not stopping yet but I might when I’m ready to move.
That’s funny, Marcia. I had been thinking of quitting Sephora Play but this bag has encouraged to hang on. The Sephora Lashcraft Mascara that I got is not waterproof. In fact, it comes off with water alone, so she must have gotten a different formula than I did. I’m curious to see if the Clinique Hydroblur works since none of the other blur products work for me at my age ;). I’d be curious about the Bite Beauty. I thought I wasn’t going to be able to wear the Tarte Quench because I can smell the peppermint (plus I bought one a couple of years ago), but somehow I’ve been wearing it all day and so far, so good. For me, this was a good bag coz I’m using all of the products.
I really wish I could purchase the Sephora Play sub. It looks a bit hit and miss each month but overall it does appear to be the best of them all.
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I’m actually on the fence about it. It’s a good way to get a bunch of little samples from Sephora but it’s definitely hit or miss. I’m trying to cull my subscriptions. Got rid of Birchbox. Now it’s between Sephora Play and Ipsy, and I’m kind of leaning toward keeping Ipsy. But I did like this Sephora Play bag so they made my decision harder 😉
i’m really curious to try the lip injection !!
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The Too Faced Lip Injection is like Du Wop Lip Plumper. It kinda hurts my lips, and I didn’t see much change in the size so far.
I think that the Prada Candy Eau de Parfum would be wonderful to weear since i love the smell of Musk and with caramel i think this would be fantastic!
I think you’d like Prada Candy, Leanie. Check it out at Sephora next visit. I noticed there’s a rollerball, and I may end up going for it.
So sad to hear about the lippies, that’s what I would have been most excited about!
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Good bag! I’ve generally had good experience with Sephora mascaras, even though it’s been a while since I used one regularly. Too bad the Lip Quench won’t work out for you.
Actually, it turned out that I can wear this Tarte Lip Quench. I’m wondering if they took down the amount of peppermint oil since I used the one I bought a while back?
Loving the satin bag everything came in this month! I had to cancel after January because I never used anything, but I loved my bags generally.
Anastasia recently posted…Glossybox February 2017 Review
I need to cull my subscriptions down to one since I’m overwhelmed with samples. But I’m not sure if I’ll give up Sephora or Ipsy. I was all set to cancel Sephora, but I liked the bag and the contents this month. Nevertheless, I’m leaning toward keeping ipsy. I’ll give it another month, lol.
Prada candy sounds like such a nice scent! I really like the bag too x
Yes, the bag is so pretty! I use it as a lingerie bag.