Sephora has started releasing special editions of their Play! boxes to VIB Rouge (and possibly VIB?) customers. This is the third such box, The Beauty Remedy Edition, and so far, I haven’t been able to detect any sort of pattern around timing. I’m not sure how often they will continue to offer these boxes but you can count on me to keep on buying them!
If you missed it, you can check out my review of the first special edition Play! box here, and the second one here.
Price: $20/box but not a recurring subscription
Box Type: This is a special edition version of the regular Play! by Sephora boxes, that includes deluxe samples from luxury brands. At this time, these boxes are only offered to VIB Rouge members.
Why you’ll love it: Ummmm, did you see it’s all LUXURY products that come from Sephora? This is the most high-end of the high-end.
How to Subscribe: Click here to subscribe to the regular monthly box! And click here to view all of our Play! by Sephora box reviews.
Annnnd here’s everything we got in the box! Before I get everything, I am going to start out with a mini-rant. (Or just a rant, whatevs.) There were two versions of this bag, and you were able to see the list of brands for each version. They were pretty much exactly the same, except one would contain a Tatcha product, and the other would contain an AMOREPACIFIC product. I reeeeeally wanted the Tatcha product, so I chose that version. Not to mention, I put it in my basket IMMEDIATELY after it hit the site – I didn’t dawdle. So, I was pissed off when I opened my box to discover they sent me the other one. And this isn’t just like being pissed about samples I got in a regular box – I am actively paying for this, and I was paying for the Tatcha product. So I was incredibly annoyed. I ended up calling Sephora, and they couldn’t send me the correct box because of course, both are sold out now. But they did issue me a refund without making me return the bag I chose, so that made me feel a little better. But still, this annoys me. Additionally, I added a sample bag to my order that they didn’t bother including either. They gave me 200 Beauty Insider points for this mishap, but seriously. Get your shit together, Sephora. I spend so much money there, the least they can do is send me what I order. Rant over.
This is more of the same, but shows a little more of the bag. This bag is a little more useful (if not as pretty) as the first two bags we got. This is wayyyyyyy too small for my beauty needs (LOL), but I see this being a really awesome case for organizing cords and other tech-y gadgets (headphones, maybe?) for traveling.
Instead of the usual Play! by Sephora poster, this time, we got individual cards, similar to last time.
And here’s everything a little closer. My new camera is so worth it, y’all.
AMOREPACIFIC Vintage Single Extract Essence ($145/full-size): The full-size version of this is $145, which makes this deluxe sample worth approximately $36, which is amazing. I never really understood essences until I started listening to Jill. I don’t have any like this, so I’m excited to keep using this. I hope it makes me look like a teenager and buys me dinner for that price point, so we’ll see.
La Mer The Moisturizing Soft Cream ($170/full-size): The full-size version of this is $170, which brings this sample to about $37 which is bomb. (If you are keeping track, I already have about a $73 value in a $20 box.) We also got this in the first special edition Play! box, which is kind of annoying that they are already repeating products — but it’s La Mer, so I’ll give it a pass. I didn’t immediately love the La Mer Moisturizing Soft Cream, because at the time, I thought it was breaking me out, and I think it was. But I’ve tried it since, and it feels nice. I think the key is to not use too much. Plus, it will be a good way to keep your expensive product for as long as possible.
Giorgio Armani Beauty Ecstasy Shine in 400 Red ($38/full-size): Real lipsticks is back in a big way, and I for one could not be happier. Those crazy dry, matte formulas are SO UNCOMFORTABLE, so I am so happy that I can basically throw all my liquid lipsticks in the trash now. This is an extremely creamy red lipstick that I’m filing away for the holidays because I think it will be perfect. Though the only thing that matte lipsticks do have going for them is that they don’t travel all over your face (for the most part) so that’s something to keep in mind when wearing a bright lipstick. Will you be eating/drinking? Maybe don’t wear the bright, creamy lipstick. Just hanging out socializing and drinking from a straw? You’re probably safe to wear the bright, creamy lipstick.
Givenchy Le Rouge Perfecto Beautifying Lip Balm ($36/full-size): This is a lip balm that is supposed to “adapt to your pH,” which is one of those gimmicky concepts I think is bullshit. It just looks pink, y’all. It’s a nice lip balm, but it didn’t blow me away, and it’s certainly not worth $36. There is one lip balm I think is worth the money, and it’s the By Terry Baume De Rose. And look, this little guy is only $24 – it’s not the full-size version, which is $60, but I got that size in a box and it lasted me months, so I might just pick this up for myself.
Atelier Santal Carmin Pure Perfume ($200/full-size): I have never been a fan of any Atelier perfume but holy hell, $200?! That is the only price/size also. I’m terrible at describing scents, so below is how Sephora describes it. I’m not a fan, but scent is personal, so eh.
Santal Carmin captures the essence of creamy, sweet sandalwood in a fragrance made of precious and rare essential oils. The rich, woody comfort of sandalwood invokes the delicate gourmand fragrance of dulce de leche, while Indian saffron imparts a spicy, exotic twist, and brightening notes of bergamot and limette create an immediate understated charm. The fragrance is concentrated at 18 percent to guarantee it is long lasting, but never overpowering.
Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat Blur Primer ($52/full-size): I have tried the YSL Touche Éclat Blur Primer several different times and I honestly just do not like it. I think it’s great that they included this product, since it is a high-value, luxury item that I’m sure many would like to try. I just personally feel like it makes me kind of greasy. I much, much prefer the Guerlain L’Or Pure Radiance Face Primer, even though it’s a bit more at $74… which. Whoa. Expensive. But SO GOOD, IT’S NOT FAIR.
Final Grade: B
I think this was a great Play! by Sephora special edition box, for the two big-ticket items alone. While I didn’t get the Tatcha product I wanted, I’m excited to keep using the AMOREPACIFIC essence, and it’s nice to have a little re-fill on La Mer cream. The Giorgio Armani lipstick is nice, too. I’m pretty meh on the YSL primer and Atelier perfume but both of those things are personal preference. I guess the Givenchy lip balm is personal preference, too. I just think you can do better in that regard.
As a reminder, this version of the Play! box isn’t part of a subscription and it’s currently only offered to VIB Rouge members. However, click here if you are interested in learning more about the monthly box!
Purchased; All opinions are my own
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laurenelectro
A self-proclaimed beauty junkie/hoarder with a serious Sephora problem. This blog is a total rationalization of that problem. Everything is TOTALLY fine. Her free time is a mixed combination of making fun of reality TV with her husband, hanging out with cats and finally trying to figure out how to do her hair.