Reviews and Other Stuff

sephora subscription box contents review march 2017

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! July 2017 Box

 

Sephora Play! July 2017

 

Heya! It’s about time for another Sephora Play! contents showcase. This month is all about the “Good Beauty Vibes” and I have a feeling that I’m going to like the goodies inside.

 

Sephora Play! July 2017 box contents

 

 

I definitely spot a few skincare products, a haircare, a lippie, and a very interesting mascara. Of course, there’s also the featured scent of the month. Hmmm, something about this box that’s telling me it’s all about having a beautiful Summer vibe.

 

 

Shall we start?

 

 

Sephora Play! July 2017 contents milk makeup cooling water

 

1. bareMINERALS Gen Nude Liquid Lipcolor in Swag – If you haven’t read my complete bareMinerals Gen Nude Matte Liquid Lipcolor review, click HERE. As you can see, I really love this lipstick even though it takes a few minutes to set. I find that the formulation is lightweight and non-drying on the lips. On top of that, the shades in this line are pretty and very wearable. Even this Swag color is a nice nude mauve that still looks good on my lips and it didn’t make me look too washed-out.

 

bareMINERALS Gen Nude Liquid Lipcolor in Swag swatch

2. Atelier Cologne, Orange Sanguine – Reviewed HERE. I love this scent a lot and I don’t get bored with it even if I have already tried it before. It smells freshly sweet like a mix of blood orange and bitter orange. So great for the Summer, like a warm version of Atelier Cologne’s Clementine California Cologne.

 

3. It Cosmetics, Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara – One of the most weightless, long-wearing and lengthening mascaras I’ve ever tried. From the moment I saw the shape of the brush and its bristles, I knew this is going to be good for smaller eyes and it’s great for precise application on the corner lashes and the bottom as well.

 

It Cosmetics, Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara review

 

4. Milk Makeup, Cooling Water – If there is one product that I’m most excited about in this month’s box, it’s this one. This is so unique and I have been curious about this one for quite some time. I’m not exactly sure how to use this though, but I’m all about any refreshing or cooling products. According to Sephora, you can use this before applying makeup or keep it in the fridge for an extra cooling effect. So far, I’ve only applied it on my face, neck and around the eye area. It’s so cool and so refreshing. It’s a great product for the Summer and I love it.

 

5. Briogeo Rosarco Milk Reparative Leave-In Conditioning Spray – This thing smells SO GOOD. Never knew that a blend of rosehip, argan oil, and coconut oil could smell this good. I just couldn’t get enough of this scent. It’s like a fresh rose mixed with slightly sweet milk and something else. I sprayed it on my damp hair after showering, then did a blowout and my hair felt so soft and frizz-free even on a hot and humid weather. It didn’t even weigh my hair down and my strands felt smooth and non-oily. I have a feeling I’ll be purchasing this product in its regular size.

 

6. Boscia Charcoal Pore Pudding Intensive Wash-Off Treatment – This black and white charcoal swirl mask looks kind of cute even though it wasn’t very swirly anymore when it arrived. It smells like charcoal but not extremely so and it feels more like a thick cream upon application, it then dries down softly. It’s not like the rough cement-like dryness of some charcoal masks that you can’t move your face after a few minutes. This one is soft but it still dries and once it does, it doesn’t transfer. It also takes out the excess oils and impurities.

Boscia Charcoal Pore Pudding Intensive Wash-Off Treatment review

I enjoyed this month’s box better than last month’s (reviewed HERE).

 

My most favorites are, of course, the Cooling Water and the Briogeo Milk Reparative Leave-In Spray. I also enjoyed the Superhero Mascara, the Gen Nude Liquid Lipcolor and the Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine scent.

 

Have you had this month’s box already? What’s your fave?

 

Bye for now,

 

Follow on Instagram: @reviewsandotherstuff

 

 

 

Sephora Play! March 2017 Box

sephora play march 2017 box review

 

Hi There! Here now are the contents of my Sephora Play March 2017 issue, and I gotta say, I really like this monthโ€™s products, even though it took a while for my box to arrive as usual. This monthโ€™s theme is really cute, itโ€™s called โ€œGlow Your Own Way.โ€ Hmmm, sounds like a song, and obviously, this monthโ€™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. Iโ€™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:

 

sephora play march 2017 box contents

 

  1. Benefit Wattโ€™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 thereโ€™s a lot of product in this small container. The shade is a gold-champagne tone thatโ€™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.
  1. 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 wasnโ€™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 makeupโ€™s setting, so Iโ€™ve always used this as a primer/moisturizer only.
  1. Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, Original: My all-time favorite eyeshadow primer and the one I still use even until now. Iโ€™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.
  1. 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. Itโ€™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.
  1. Atelier Cologne Clรฉmentine 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 Reyโ€™s Summertime Sadness or reminisce on La La Landโ€™s Someone In The Crowd. It may even haunt you for that once in a lifetime chance encounter. As what Atelier Cologne describes โ€œIt was the warmest summer on recordโ€ฆhe had been searching for her for months. This perfect stranger with her fragile and elegant silhouetteโ€ฆ About to give up, the moment came when it all changed, the woman he had been dreaming of. Her natural beauty and distinct voiceโ€ฆhe now had to convince her to change the course of her lifeโ€ฆโ€ Oh my, canโ€™t say much, Iโ€™m already in love with this cologne. Expect me to hoard this scent for life, Iโ€™m already sold.
  1. 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 itโ€™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, Iโ€™m happy with this monthโ€™s products and my favorites are; Atelier Cologne Clรฉmentine California Cologne, Benefit Wattโ€™s Up! Cream-to-Powder Highlighter, and Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, Original. I hope Aprilโ€™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.