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Sephora play may box review

Sephora Play! May 2018

May 30, 2018 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Hello Everybody! It’s time again for a review of what’s inside my Sephora Play! this month of May. As expected, there are some repeat products and a few new ones that I haven’t tried before. But it’s no surprise because this month is all about product roundups that became so popular and have achieved cult status as a celebration of Sephora Play’s 2nd year Anniversary.

Let’s take a closer look at the products I got this month…

Buxom Lash Mascara (0.37 oz: $20) – I didn’t expect much from this mascara at first, but when I applied it on my lashes, I then realize that I actually love it. It curls and separates the lashes well and it doesn’t smudge. It has a volumizing and lengthening effect and it keeps the lashes looking glam and dramatic for a long time. I also have not noticed any eye irritations. So this is a big hit for me.

Atelier Cologne Clémentine California Absolue Pure Perfume (0.37 oz-6.7 oz: $26-$195) – Probably the most popular scent from Atelier Cologne and one of the best-scented colognes ever, I wouldn’t be surprised if this fresh Clementine Orange fragrance has achieved cult status. It’s one of the most perfect summer signature scents to have, and that’s why you may keep finding this in your Sephora Play box as it does for me.

Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Face Primer (0.25 oz-1.5 oz: $12-$49) – This is one of the best face primers ever and you will never be disappointed when using this. It keeps the makeup stay longer and it blurs the pores. I also keep receiving this on my Sephora Play and have purchased several small sizes of this for traveling. It’s worth stocking up on and it’s perfect for my oily-prone skin.

Alterna Haircare Caviar CC Cream for Hair 10-in-1 Complete Correction (2.5 oz-5.1 oz: $26-$42) – Got so excited when I saw this in this month’s box. I’m a huge Alterna Haircare fan, and this is such a nice little deal. I love the scent of this which is very similar to the Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Shampoo and Conditioner (reviewed HERE). This cream is the extension of that haircare mentioned, and it’s a versatile leave-in conditioner treatment that helps the hair in a lot of ways; such as making it shiny, preventing it from constant breaking, protecting it from extreme heat or styling, and making it more manageable, to mention a few. A little bit goes a long with this, and so far, what I noticed is that it really relaxes the strands of my hair and it tames frizzes and flyaways even for the next day. It’s also very reliable for this summer heat.

Bareminerals Mineral Veil Setting Powder (0.3 oz: $23) – This powder is very fine-milled, so soft and it controls oil and shine. It sets the foundation well and I noticed that it kept my oily-prone skin from being oily too soon. It actually comes in different finishes, but what I got is the sheer version which is so light and it doesn’t leave a white cast on my face. I was a bit weary before testing this since I tend to react on some Bareminerals powder foundations, but so far, this one seems ok.

Sephora Collection Mud Mask Purifying & Mattifying (1.0 oz-2.03 oz: $10-$20) – One of my most favorite mud masks of all time, and it works very well. For me, this is the next best thing to Glamglow Supermud Mask (HERE) because this also controls oil or excess sebum and it clarifies the skin. It cleanses deep into the pores yet it comes at a much more affordable price. I also think that this has a slightly better scent because even though this is also quite earthy like the Supermud, I find that this has a bit of a fresher note. Though this doesn’t set as well as Glamglow because it has some clumps (which doesn’t really bother me), I find that this mask is still a very good deal.

Bottom line, this month’s Sephora Play has been quite useful for me, even though some products were already repeated but at least they’re one of my favorites. Did you like the stuff you got this month?

Sephora Play! April 2018

April 30, 2018 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

What’s Up! Before the month of May hits, let’s talk about this month’s Sephora Play! Finally, after some product misses with my previous Play! boxes, it looks like here’s one box with some very interesting stuff in it. This month’s theme is called “Insta Beauty” the kind of products that will give you that selfie-ready face. So ready to check out what I got for this April?

Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Perfector Skin Tint Foundation SPF 25 in shade #08 (1.01 oz: $36) – I’ve tried this in-store before and I really love the consistency. It has a lightweight, kind of sheer but buildable texture, and it feels breathable on the skin, at least when I swatched it. I don’t really know why I didn’t purchase one on the spot, I must have have been distracted at that time, but I was so excited when I saw this mini inside my Sephora Play box this month. However, Sephora sent me the wrong color, which looks too dark for my skin tone, and obviously, I couldn’t wear it, but I really love how it feels on the skin. It feels like a skin tint or a tinted bb cream and it seems perfect for this coming Summer since it has an Spf 25.

Peter Thomas Roth Skin to Die For, No- Filter Mattifying Primer & Complexion Perfector (1 oz: $28) – This feels cushiony and light, like the Benefit Porefessional Primer, but a bit more hydrating, in my opinion. I love that this feels creamy and this really blurs the pores and mattifies. It makes the makeup look non-shiny and not dry at the same time. Before, I could care less about mattifying primers, but this one does the job well, and it works even on a hot sunny day. Love it!

Philosophy Purity Made Simple Ultra-Light Moisturizer (4.7 oz: $25) – A simple lightweight moisturizer that feels very hydrating. It has vitamins and antioxidants and it smooths the skin very well. It has a nice fresh clean scent and I love that it spreads evenly across the face without feeling like I put too much. This also feels quite calming upon application and as with most Philosophy products, this is definitely worth a try.

Elizabeth And James Nirvana White Eau de Parfum (mino/0.34 oz: $28, 1 oz: $68, 1.7 oz: $85, 3.4 oz: $110) – This a very light feminine scent that smells like light cotton or a white fresh linen. It’s kinda hard to notice its notes because it’s very subtle. Something about this fragrance seems very crisp and clean. A nice new scent for the summer.

Urban Decay Hi-Fi Shine Ultra Cushion Lip Gloss in shade SPL (0.23 oz: $20) – A holographic candy pink with iridescent sparkle. It’s super pretty and sparkly, which kinda reminds me of the Dior Addict Lip Glow in Holo Purple (swatches here). Also, it smells like yummy menthol and it feels very hydrating. It’s doesn’t feel that oily and not that sticky either, so it pretty much feels like a balm. It can be worn alone or as a lip topper. I noticed some plumping effect and it lasts about 4 hours on me, give or take, including eating and drinking.

Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Rescue Mask (mini/1 oz: $25, 3.3 oz: $62) – This mask smells like strong rose extract plus seaweed. It’s very moisturizing and softening on the skin but it can be pretty hard to wash off since it’s very creamy and very concentrated. But don’t worry because it’s all worth it. Your skin will literally feel pampered and very smooth. You can even see and feel what looked like seaweed particles and they make for an exfoliating effect.

To sum it up, I think this month’s Sephora play is a hit for me. I almost love all the products they sent me and they’re something that I could readily use. I only wish that in the future Sephora will make an effort to send the right match/shade for my skin tone whenever they’d decide to include a foundation mini inside my box. So, there you go guys, that’s what I got for this month’s Sephora Play.

What stuff did you get this month? Did you like them?

Sephora Play! August 2017

August 16, 2017 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

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”.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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, and Kopari Coconut Melt that really suit my fancy.

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

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