Reviews and Other Stuff

play by sephora

Sephora Play! March 2018

sephora play box march 2018 review

 

Hello Makeup Junkies! Curious about what came in my Sephora Play! Box this month? It’s been a pretty interesting bunch of some stuff I surprisingly liked and some stuff that I had mixed emotions with. There were also some minis that I’ve already tried before and have reviewed here on the blog, so without further ado, let’s take a look.

 

Sephora Collection Contour Eye Pencil 12 hr Wear Waterproof in 15 Flirting Game

 

Briogeo Blossom & Bloom Ginseng + Biotin Volumizing Spray (5 oz: $20) โ€“ I don’t think I’ve ever disliked a Briogeo product before. Their stuff always smells good and is always a delight to use. This volumizing spray is no different for sure. In fact, it’s so good and it’s one of my fave in this month’s box. This totally tamed my frizzes away while giving that neatly volumized look. I’ve used this after towel drying my hair and also during the day to keep my hair well-behaved, and OMG it works and I lurve it. I normally don’t use hair sprays as they tend to be sticky, especially when the weather is warm, but this? it’s light, non-sticky, and it makes my hair look shiny and in place. Totally a keeper.

 

Sephora Collection Contour Eye Pencil 12 hr Wear Waterproof in 15 Flirting Game (0.04 oz: $10) – This is a shimmery metallic taupe eyeliner that glides fairly easily on the lids. It’s easy to apply and smooth to use, and it has a very good staying power despite the heat, sweat, and humidity. It is also affordable and has other shades and finishes to choose from. It’s a great reliable eyeliner if you’re on a budget.

 

Lancome Hypnose Drama Instant Full Body Volume Mascara wand

 

Lancome Hypnose Drama Instant Full Body Volume Mascara (0.22 oz: $27.50) – This is one of the best lengthening mascaras I’ve ever tried, but the “s” or “infinity” shape of the wand doesn’t help as much in curling the lashes, however, the formula is long lasting and it doesn’t smudge. See the whole review HERE.

 

Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm Spf 45 in 01 Light Medium

 

Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain Liquid Lipstick in 35 Bohemian Purple (0.169 oz: $14) – This has always been a very good quality matte liquid lipstick and thumbs up to Sephora for creating this very good line. The texture and finish of this are very similar to most high-end matte liquid lipsticks available at Sephora and in other stores. This lipstick sets quite immediately, it is long lasting, non-smudging, lightweight and comfortable with a slight vanilla scent. However, I’m not a fan of the shade that they sent me, it’s too violet/purple-ish for my taste. For more shades, check out the review that I did previously about this lipstick.

 

Sephora Collection Contour Eye Pencil 12 hr Wear Waterproof in 15 Flirting Game swatch

 

Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm Spf 45 in 01 Light Medium (1.5 oz: $39) – This is some sort of a tinted moisturizer with a light to medium coverage. On my skin, the 01 Light Medium shade kinda appears too beige at first, but it blends on my skin easily and it then matched my skin tone, making it very wearable. The formula is soft, blendable and it covers any blemishes, imperfections, and redness. The coverage lasts throughout the day and it doesn’t have any annoying scent. I like that it comes with a good Spf number too.

 

marajo hair care Nourishing Cleansing Creme

 

Marajo Hair Care:

ย Nourishing Cleansing Creme (8.5 oz: $29) โ€“ I was really disappointed with this shampoo. On my hair, it didnโ€™t lather at all, and it made my hair very oily the next day. I kinda liked the way it smells somehow, like almond butter. However, this shampoo just didnโ€™t work for me, so I don’t recommend it.

 

ย Deep Treatment Butter (5.3 oz: $29) โ€“ This is supposed to be the conditioner in partner with the Marajo Nourishing Cleansing Creme above, but this has a rancid smell. My hair didn’t feel silky at all once I applied the product on. It feels just a thick cream but it didn’t necessarily condition my hair. I still feel like my hair was not cleaned after rinsing like there was some weird soapy residue. Totally dislike.

 

sephora play march 2018

 

Overall, as I said before, this month’s samplers have been a very mixed one. I definitely like the Briogeo Volumizing Spray, the Sephora Collection Contour Eye Pencil, and the Dr. Jart+ Beauty Balm, but I wasn’t feeling the Marajo Hair Care samples.

 

Any Sephora Play! minis you like this month?

 

 

Sephora Play! August 2017

Hi Guys! Time for another “What’s In My Sephora Play! Box” this August. It’s all about unique products with innovating formulas that may become a big trend in the future. Sephora calls this month’s products as “The Innovators”.

 

sephora play august 2017 review

 

Well, as far as I could see in my box, there’s definitely some interesting products in there, and some that were always on my wish list or watch list that I’ve always wanted to try. You guys ready to examine each one?

 

beautyblender micro mini

Kopari Coconut Melt (2.5 oz: $18, 7 oz: $38) – A multi-purpose unrefined organic coconut oil that can be used as a moisturizer, balm, makeup remover, and more. This smells like toasted coconut or like a coconut macaroon. While this product may smell like pure coconut oil, this actually does a good job at really moisturizing the skin, especially if you live in a cold or dry climate, where moisturization is a necessity. The thing about coconuts is that they can be really oily, and they melt like butter easily. This product is not that different. It solidifies inside an AC room, but it turns liquid easily if you take it outside under the heat. It still works the same though, but I prefer it in solid form. I like to use this as a makeup remover, especially on the lips to remove the matte liquid lipsticks which can be a challenge to take off. I like this because it not only erases your makeup, it also moisturizes your skin at the same time, which minimizes irritation from constant rubbing. It’s also vegan and au-naturel.

 

Beautyblender Micro.Mini (2x: $18) – This cute little sponge works the same way as the original Beautyblender that we’ve all loved and used. I’ve always wanted to buy this for my inner eye area because I find that this really blends the concealer almost accurately, and also to blend the highlights around the inner eye. This is great if you have small features as this is easy to work around. It’s even great for applying contours and illuminators.

 

kat von d lock it concealer creme

1. Too Faced Mascara Melt Off Cleansing Oil (0.23 oz: $17) – This was on my wish list and I’m so glad Sephora included this in my box this month. This is such an innovative product as it prevents mess when removing regular or waterproof mascara. It’s pretty much easy to use, just swipe the lashes with its precision wand from base to tip, wait 60 seconds, wipe off with a damp cotton, or even a dry one, and voila! saves you time from soaking your lashes with makeup removers, which might irritate your eyes. This mascara melt off is really gentle and it doesn’t sting.

 

2. Kat Von D Lock-It Concealer Creme in Medium 19 (0.22 oz: $26) – This concealer is definitely a full-coverage one with a natural to matte finish. It isn’t as creamy as I wanted it to be, but it does a great job at covering undereye circles, blemishes, and it even color corrects. It blends well despite it being highly pigmented and it really makes you look naturally awake. I haven’t noticed any creasing so far, which is good, but I would have wanted it to be a bit creamy though.

kat von d lock-it concealer creme review

 

3. & 4. Kat Von D Saint & Sinner Eau de Parfums (Travel Size/0.34 oz: $22, 1.7 oz: $65, 3.4 oz: $85) – Two opposing scents yet they’re quite similar to each other. The Saint fragrance is a fresh daylight blend of jasmine and mandarin with a very nice dry down, while the Sinner scent is a fall to winter musky and earthy tune. Further reviewed HERE.

 

sephora play august 2017 living proof perfect hair day dry shampoo

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo (1.8 oz: $12, 4 oz: $22) – This dry shampoo smells really great and the scent is quite long lasting. However, when I sprayed this on my hair, it leaves a white residue that made my hair looked gray even if I tried to shake it off several times. It does a good job of absorbing oils from your hair and making it look presentably clean, but I’m not sure about the whole residue thing. Other than that, I really like the volumizing effect that this does on my hair.

 

sephora play august 2017 Kopari Coconut Melt

 

Verdict: I wouldn’t say that I’m crazy about the products for this month, but there’s definitely a few that truly stood out for me. It’s the Too Faced Mascara Melt Off, Beautyblender Micro.Mini, andย Kopari Coconut Melt that really suit my fancy.

 

Did you enjoy what’s inside your Sephora Play! Box this month?

 

Follow on Instagram: @reviewsandotherstuff

 

 

 

Sephora Play! May 2017 Box

Sephora Play! May 2017 Box review

 

Hello! This monthโ€™s Sephora Play! Box has been pretty exciting with its โ€œBeauty On The Riseโ€ products. A couple of new and interesting brands, a cult-favorite, and some really unique formulations of products were included in my box. Thereโ€™s a highlighter, a few lip products and another mysteriously featured scent. Thereโ€™s even a hair care and skin care in there. Hmmm, this is definitely one of the most exciting box I have ever received. Oh, and also, the products didnโ€™t come in a cute pouch this time, instead, it came in a cute transparent envelope marked with the words โ€œPlayโ€ on it. A different take on the usual Sephora Play! pouch bags. Hmmm, Interesting…

Sephora play may 2017

 

ย  ย  ย  ย 1. Grande Lips Lip Plumper in Clear โ€“ Gone were the days when you can just purchase a Grande Latte, now you can definitely purchase a Grande Lips, Hahah! This clear lip gloss can be worn alone or under a lip product with the promise of plumping your lips with regular usage. It has hyaluronic acid to soften the lips as well. While I havenโ€™t noticed the plumping effect, I did feel the stinging feeling on my lips once this product was applied, which is quite similar to Too Faced Lip Injection. Iโ€™m not really a fan of the tingly sensation on my lips, I feel like Iโ€™m having that bee-stung allergic lip reaction, but I do get the intention and effect of making the lips feel and look full.

Grande Lips Lip Plumper

ย  ย  ย  ย 2. Trรจstique Highlight + Perfect Multipurpose Stick in Maldives Luminescent โ€“ I love this gel highlighter a lot, and I now love Trรจstique. This multitasking product can be used to add a subtle or layered glow on the face, or it can be used as a shimmery eyeshadow. I like its soft smooth texture the Maldives Shade is just perfect for daily use.

ย  ย  ย  ย 3. Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt โ€“ Donโ€™t be mistaken by thinking that this product is a body scrub like I did, because I almost used it as one. Thatโ€™s what happens if you donโ€™t read the instruction. You will always fail the test. LOL. This is a product for the hair and itโ€™s more like a shampoo, or should I say, a hair scrub. Designed for oily hair or dandruff-prone scalp, this hair care product smells divine. Slightly lemon-ish and slightly perfumey, this feels really good on the hair and the scalp. Best of all, it didnโ€™t leave my hair dry and I like that this foams very well, making my hair feeling so clean. A little bit goes a long way and follow it with your favorite conditioner. I love this product much already.

ย  ย  ย  ย 4. Maison Margiela โ€˜Replicaโ€™ Beach Walk Eau de Toilette Spray โ€“ With bergamot, ylang ylang, pink pepper and cedarwood, this is a light musky scent. Iโ€™m normally not a fan of musky fragrances but this one is especially pleasing to the senses. Itโ€™s light enough for day time wear and even though it smells like a thousand jasmines, this scent is bearable enough for me and itโ€™s not too heady.

ย  ย  ย  ย 5. Nudestix Magnetic Matte Lip Color in Greystone โ€“ Another new formula and new brand for me. Itโ€™s supposed to be a lip stain, a lip color, and a lip liner in one. The pigment is so rich in this interesting lip color. Itโ€™s also very long lasting that it almost didnโ€™t budge when I first tried to take it off. Hmmm, itโ€™s another surprise love for me, though I didnโ€™t really like the Greystone shade, but Iโ€™ll be off looking for some wearable shades of this very very promising lip product.

Nudestix Magnetic Matte Lip Color in Greystone

ย  ย  ย 

ย  ย  ย  ย 6. Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Clay Cleanser โ€“ Apparently a fave in the fashion industry, this greenish clay cleanser is meant to minimize pores and balance the skin. It smells slightly spicy and earthy at the same time, but not clayish at all. It also has a hint of neroli and is actually quite refreshing. It cleanses my face well, but it doesnโ€™t lather much. I usually leave it on my face for one minute as instructed and complement it with another face cleanser whenever I feel like I needed more cleansing.

 

 

Sephora may 2017 play box review

 

Bottom line, I enjoyed this monthโ€™s Sephora Play! box contents. Never knew Iโ€™d like Replica scents, while now I know that Iโ€™ll be on the lookout for other Christophe Robin and Sunday Riley Products. I have my eyes set on more shades of the Nudestix Lip Colors for sure and perhaps a full size of the Trรจstique Hightlighter + Multupurpose Stick.

 

Whatโ€™s your fave from this monthโ€™s Sephora Play! goodies?

 

For more, follow on instagram: @reviewsandotherstuff