I keep thinking that two inexpensive beauty subscription bags seems excessive, but both Ipsy and Sephora Play are making it tough for me to cancel one of them.
I received the Sephora Play “The Rising Stars” bag for May 2017 about a week ago. I had been getting tired of the white cotton drawstring bags from Sephora, so I was pleased that this month they sent a plastic, envelope-style bag instead – a good option for the beach.
Here’s what I got in my bag:
- Christophe Robin Cleaning Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt: I have been interested in trying this brand, so I will enjoy trying this sea salt scrub. It smells fresh and clean. Travel size jar.
- Grande Lips Hydrating Lip Plumper: Although there is a questionable ingredient for me in the ingredient list – menthoxypropanediol (menthol is not a friend to my lips), I think I’ll give it a try anyway. If it’s irritating as I imagine it might be, I’ll toss it. So far, it has a tingly but not unbearable sensation. I have a mechanical lip plumper that does work, but you have to use it every day to keep up the effect, and frankly, I can’t be bothered. Travel size.
- Trestique Mini Highlight Stick, shade Maldives Luminescent: I have quite a few Trestique sticks – eye shadow and lips – from this brand that I got from Ipsy. I didn’t know that Trestique is now a Sephora brand. The mini highlight is a pretty shade, and handy to throw in a makeup bag. Nice. Travel size.
- NudeStix Magnetic Matte Lip Color, shade Greystone: I was eager to try more things from NudeStix so I was happy to see this stick in my bag. But honestly, I can’t say I’m a big fan of the milk chocolate shade. Guess it’s a 1990s retro shade. I’m going to see if it works as an eyeshadow. Travel size.
- Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Clay Cleanser: This pore-perfecting clay cleanser isn’t for me with my dry skin, so I should have given it away. But I was eager to try another product from the pricey Sunday Riley brand so I have used it. I think if I save it for hot, sweaty summer days, I’ll be OK using it every now and then. Travel size.
- Maison Margiela Replica Beach Walk: I received a sample of the 1972 Calvi Beach Walk perfume about a year ago in my Sephora Play bag, and unfortunately, it doesn’t suit me. I’ll give this away.
Overall Thoughts
As usual, Sephora sends out travel size rather than full size products. I can’t really estimate the value of the 6 items, but it is certainly well above the $10 I paid for the monthly subscription.
I mostly liked the items I received although not all of them suited me well, e.g. the shade of the NudeStix lippie, the Sunday Riley cleanser for normal/oily skin, the repeat perfume that didn’t work for me the first time I got it, lip enhancer with an ingredient that irritates my lips.
I keep giving Sephora Play another chance, and I guess I will see what June has in store. But if I do get my act together to cancel one of the subscriptions, Sephora Play will be the one that goes.
What did you get in your Sephora Play bag? Were they the right products for you?
“Happy Memorial Day 🇺🇸” 🙋🏻❤️Love all the goodies you got Allison. A gal cannot have enough beauty things. It’s fun trying all the new stuff in all the surprise bags. Have a great day………👙👒🕶
You too, DiEtta! Hope you’re enjoying the holiday weekend! It’s gloomy here today in MA, but a nice day to go to the museum. The Sephora Play bag was not one of their best, but it still had several things I’m glad I got to try out.
I actually like that treStique highlighter but it’s the only product that I like from the brand. The others were meh for me.
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I have a few shadow sticks that I use from time to time because they’re small to keep in my purse makeup bag and quick, but the pigmentation isn’t so great. I agree that this highlighter is very nice: pretty shade, not too bright.
I have had Birchbox which I disliked because of all the hair products. Then, like you, Ipsy and Sephora. Cancelled both as I just wasn’t happy with the dupe products I was given. I agree that you get bigger sizes with Ipsy though
I felt the same about Birchbox, and was almost relieved when my sub ran out in December. I’ve been lucky that the perfume sample was the first dupe that I’ve gotten so far. I still love Ipsy but I’m on the fence about Sephora Play. Because I’m a blogger, I almost feel like I should get the Sephora bag because I honestly don’t shop there all that much any more (I know this year my VIB status will end) because I’ve been lured away by Ulta and other online sites where I can get better discounts. I figure this way I’ll still know what Sephora’s up to.
One day I’ll get a cosmetics sub box. I have 2 nail polish ones and I love them! Make-up is one that I’m a bit leery of, though. I’m very fussy.
If you’re a big polish fan (and I know you are), you should probably stick with those. Birchbox is great for haircare lovers, but Sephora Play and Ipsy are a good mix of makeup and skincare. If you like to choose your own makeup, those would not be for you.
I’m not that thrilled with Play which is too bad. I keep threatening to cancel it but never do. I was disappointed in the shade of the Bite Beauty; I got a belif product, Jungarian water esssence, that I want to try.
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I looooove the Hungarian Water Essence, Marcia. Hope it suits you too. Isn’t that funny that you didn’t get a good shade in the lippie either. Mine from NudeStix is a horrible shade of milk chocolate. Even in the 1990s it would’ve been awful. I don’t know why I can’t pull the plug on Play. Maybe because I don’t shop at Sephora as much any more (I don’t think I’ll spend enough to keep my VIB status this year), the bag gives me some idea of what’s new in the store?? LOL, I’ll give it another month!
The mini highlight stick is nice.
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The Trestique mini highlighter is surprisingly wonderful! I like it the most of any Trestique makeup I’ve tried yet. It’s just the right size and it just the right amount of bling. Good surprise
I actually just got a sample of a Maison Margiela Replica perfume Lazy Sunday Morning and your post just reminded me of it. I was surprised when seeing Tresique at Sephora too, mainly because I was introduced to them from ipsy.
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Oh yes, dig it out and try it! I have liked other Maison Margiela Replicas, but Beach Walk that I’ve gotten twice just doesn’t suit me.
Lip plumpers are always iffy to me. But I’m interested in that matte lip stick!
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Oh, I wish I hadn’t bothered even trying the NudeStix lippie coz the brown shade is awful on me. If I hadn’t used it, I would have gladly sent it to you!!
Very nice samples this month! Sunday Riley and Cristophe Robin alone would have made me a happy camper.
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You got a good array of travel sizes, the Sunday Riley I’d have loved to try but agree, for dry skin please 🙂
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Yes, I am dying to try more Sunday Riley especially since it’s so pricey, but I can’t use this cleanser too often
The scrub sounds good – i also enjoy using a scrub, but i want to find a lip scrub.
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I reviewed a couple of lip scrubs recently, but I don’t think they’re international brands. Do you have LUSH where you are? I like their lip scrub a lot
Really happy with mine this month! Ours were slightly different though
Glad you liked yours Sephora Play bag!
You know, I agree with everything you said. For me, not being able to opt out of fragrance is a big drawback and if I let one rx go, it will be sephora play
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Yes, I definitely could do without the fragrance sample too, but I guess fragrance is such a big part of Sephora’s marketing real estate that they have to push it.
It’s too bad these really weren’t the right fit for you. :/ I’m always curious about what people get in these boxes, I love posts like this!
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It was a decent box…you know, it was a really good box, it just didn’t thrill me…but then again, I haven’t tried the items yet.
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