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sephora play review

Sephora Play! May 2017 Box

May 29, 2017 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Hello! This month’s Sephora Play! Box has been pretty exciting with its “Beauty On The Rise” products. A couple of new and interesting brands, a cult-favorite, and some really unique formulations of products were included in my box. There’s a highlighter, a few lip products and another mysteriously featured scent. There’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 didn’t come in a cute pouch this time, instead, it came in a cute transparent envelope marked with the words “Play” on it. A different take on the usual Sephora Play! pouch bags. Hmmm, Interesting…

1. Grande Lips Lip Plumper in Clear – 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 haven’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. I’m not really a fan of the tingly sensation on my lips, I feel like I’m having that bee-stung allergic lip reaction, but I do get the intention and effect of making the lips feel and look full.

2. Trèstique Highlight + Perfect Multipurpose Stick in Maldives Luminescent – I love this gel highlighter a lot, and I now love Trèstique. 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.

3. Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt – Don’t be mistaken by thinking that this product is a body scrub like I did, because I almost used it as one. That’s what happens if you don’t read the instruction. You will always fail the test. LOL. This is a product for the hair and it’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 didn’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.

4. Maison Margiela ‘Replica’ Beach Walk Eau de Toilette Spray – With bergamot, ylang ylang, pink pepper and cedarwood, this is a light musky scent. I’m normally not a fan of musky fragrances but this one is especially pleasing to the senses. It’s light enough for day time wear and even though it smells like a thousand jasmines, this scent is bearable enough for me and it’s not too heady.

5. Nudestix Magnetic Matte Lip Color in Greystone – Another new formula and new brand for me. It’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. It’s also very long lasting that it almost didn’t budge when I first tried to take it off. Hmmm, it’s another surprise love for me, though I didn’t really like the Greystone shade, but I’ll be off looking for some wearable shades of this very very promising lip product.

6. Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Clay Cleanser – 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 doesn’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.

Bottom line, I enjoyed this month’s Sephora Play! box contents. Never knew I’d like Replica scents, while now I know that I’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 Trèstique Hightlighter + Multupurpose Stick.

What’s your fave from this month’s Sephora Play! goodies?

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Sephora Play! March 2017 Box

March 22, 2017 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Hi There! Here now are the contents of my Sephora Play March 2017 issue, and I gotta say, I really like this month’s products, even though it took a while for my box to arrive as usual. This month’s theme is really cute, it’s called “Glow Your Own Way.” Hmmm, sounds like a song, and obviously, this month’s featured products are all about highlighters, illuminators and strobes. The stuff that makes the skin look glowy, dewy, healthy, radiant and luminous. Oh my, I love it already. I’m crazy about highlighters and anything that highlights the face, and I think we all do, so this is gonna be another good season for strobing.

Here are the products:

Benefit Watt’s Up! Cream-to-Powder Highlighter: Been wanting to buy this one, but thank God for Sephora Play! now I could enjoy a mini size for a while because there’s a lot of product in this small container. The shade is a gold-champagne tone that’s universally flattering for all skin tone, and I love how easy it is to use due to its stick-style. Just swipe on the bony prominences of the face, like the cheekbones, nose, brow bones etc., then blend with your finger or a beauty blender. Perfect. The glow is soft, natural, long lasting and really illuminating.

Josie Maran Surreal Skin Argan Finishing Balm: Have tried several samples of this particular product before. While it never really gave me real benefits and wasn’t really crazy about this product, this finishing balm is meant to be used either before or after makeup application. Before, meaning as a primer, and after as a luminizing finisher. I never really used this a finisher, since it seems to disrupt my makeup’s setting, so I’ve always used this as a primer/moisturizer only.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, Original: My all-time favorite eyeshadow primer and the one I still use even until now. I’ve tried other eyeshadow primers before, but I always come back to this one because this holds your eyeshadow very well and it never creases. It now comes in different formulations and colors, but the original formula is a cult-favorite.

Glamglow Glowstarter Mega Illuminating Moisturizer: A Glotion by definition, hmmm. Glow Lotion indeed, this is a cotton-candy/bubble gum scented luminizing moisturizer that gives a subtle glow on the face. It’s creamy and hydrating plus with some added skin care benefits. However, this may not be ideal for anybody with an oily skin, since this product will further enhance an oil-prone skin within a few hours of use. Also, you may have to go easy on your strobing while using this.

Atelier Cologne Clémentine California Cologne: With incredible notes of clementine, mandarin and juniper berries, this sweet and fruity scent is both haunting, fascinating and mysterious. It sparks curiosity, innocence and freshness. This scent will make you wanna sing Lana Del Rey’s Summertime Sadness or reminisce on La La Land’s Someone In The Crowd. It may even haunt you for that once in a lifetime chance encounter. As what Atelier Cologne describes “It was the warmest summer on record…he had been searching for her for months. This perfect stranger with her fragile and elegant silhouette… About to give up, the moment came when it all changed, the woman he had been dreaming of. Her natural beauty and distinct voice…he now had to convince her to change the course of her life…” Oh my, can’t say much, I’m already in love with this cologne. Expect me to hoard this scent for life, I’m already sold.

Verb Ghost Oil: A Moringa seed oil blended with bamboo extracts and some other added hair care benefits, this oil helps to condition, smooth or tame frizzy hair, and gives shine. Apply a few drops after showering and it’s great for preparing the hair prior to any styling. If you tend to have oily hair, you may skip on this as this can weigh your hair down at the end of the day.

Bottom line, I’m happy with this month’s products and my favorites are; Atelier Cologne Clémentine California Cologne, Benefit Watt’s Up! Cream-to-Powder Highlighter, and Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, Original. I hope April’s Box will be as good, if not better.

Until then guys,

Follow me on Instagram: @reviewsandotherstuff

P.S. Third song of the week: Maria, by Blondie.

Sephora Play January 2017 Box Review

January 23, 2017 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Hey it’s January 2017 and it’s Sephora Play time! This first month of the year’s box is hands down probably the best Sephora Play box I’ve ever received, and I’ve heard that others are also singing the same tune.

What I like about this month’s items are the fact that they’re completely new to me and that the products came in decent sizes. They also seem to be unique and exciting to try. With this month’s theme: Sweat Is Just Another Way To Glow, this January 2017 Sephora Play contents are meant to freshen you up pre or post workout. Yet the products can also be very versatile for anybody who’s always on the go.

Tarte Frxxxtion Stick: A very interesting and unique cleanser stick with a dark purple/charcoal-like color. It has a gel-like grainy consistency that you can swipe directly onto wet/damp skin, then massage, lather and rinse the face for that well-cleaned skin. You can even use it as a facial mask. Don’t worry, the clayish color will completely wash away after thorough cleansing. Ain’t that a keeper?
It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream Spf 50+ (Medium): A medium to full coverage makeup foundation with broad spectrum Spf plus some skin-loving ingredients. It can be used as a moisturizer, a serum or even as a tinted sunscreen. Personally, I find this to be quite similar to Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer, especially the scent. This cc cream indeed has very good coverage, very moisturizing, and doesn’t settle into fine lines. It also makes the skin look glowy and the medium shade is the exact match for my skin tone. Will definitely be buying this in a full size.
Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream: This whipped-consistency moisturizer is made of 6 African oils. It is very hydrating but it smells a bit like the noodle in ramen noodle, sans seasoning.
Tory Burch Love Relentlessly Perfume: A floral scent that you can’t get enough of. It is flirty, fun, feminine, fresh and tender. It has slight traces of patchouli and some other stuff, but why do I feel like I’ve sniffed this type of scent before? Perhaps Viktor and Rolf’s Flowerbomb?
Ouai Treatment Masque: A completely unique hair mask that you need to apply and leave on your hair for 5-10 minutes before showering. It restores moisture and is meant to prevent future hair damage. The problem is, judging from the size of the container I got and the amount of contents inside it, I couldn’t really tell the difference. There is about 1/4 of product inside the container and its consistency feels somewhat watery. On top of that, my hair is very long, but this mask worked decently on me. My hair was neither too oily nor too dry.
Clinique Almost Lipstick (Black Honey): Almost a lipstick but not quite like it yet. It’s more of a lip sheer or a tinted lip balm, reminiscent of YSL Rouge Volupte Oil in Stick 48 Smoking Plum, Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Bonheur and Dior Rouge Baume. I really like the texture of this “almost lipstick” because it feels smooth on the lips and is also very lightweight. P.S. I love the Black Honey shade.

I really wish that next month’s box will be just as good as these. Fingers crossed. How ’bout you? Have you gotten your Sephora Play box already? What’s in it? Spill…

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