Aloha Friends! It's been a little over a month since I last blogged; finals took over my life and I took a couple weeks to just chill out. I hope you guys don't mind that the May PLAY! box overview is late, but since I got the June box already too, I thought I'd just write about the two together - this also means that I already got to test out everything in the May box for almost a month so I can include my thoughts and reviews as well!
Starting with the May PLAY! box, I was so excited when I opened it and saw the pouch. It's a clear vinyl with various PLAY! logos printed in red all over - special for their first birthday! Just the pouch alone got my so excited, and to be very honest, I was disappointed with the products at first sight.
May's theme was "The Rising Stars": products that are up-and-coming at Sephora. I generally love getting boxes with this theme because I get to try new products that I probably wouldn't pick up on my own. This gives me the opportunity to test them out and find potential HG products, and May's box definitely came with things I wouldn't try without having tested sample sizes first. And like a mentioned already, I got to test out all these products already so I'll be including my thoughts as well! So without further ado, let's get into the products!
"Matte About You"
NUDESTIX Magnetic Matte Lip Color in Greystone
Let me start by saying that brown lip colors are not something I'd reach for, so I was a little put-off when I saw this in my box. On the flip side, I love NUDESTIX so was excited to try one of their formulas that I hadn't tried before. This lippie is a three-in-one lip stain, lip color, and lip liner that claims to be longwearing as well as "intensely pigmented". So I haven't tried this as a lip color because 1) it's not my color, and 2) it's definitely not the season for brown lip colors - I associate darker lips, especially this color, with Fall. I did however, try to use it as a contour pencil, but uhm, don't do that. It doesn't work as a contour pencil lol. I can tell you for sure that it's definitely long wearing because I couldn't blend it or wash it off my face with just water. I do think that this color would be so beautiful on someone with a darker skintone, and maybe I'll reach for it in the Fall, but as for now, it just didn't do anything special for me.
"All In A Clay's Work"
Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Clay Cleanser
When I saw Sunday Riley in this box, my heart skipped a beat. I've been wanting to try their products since I saw Zoella and Louise Pentland raving about them over a year ago, so of course I was so so soooo excited when I saw it in the box. This cleanser claims "to minimize the appearance of pore and brighten for clear, balanced skin". My hopes for this cleanser were HIGH, but I was also hoping I wouldn't like it, since Sunday Riley's prices are not up my alley. Unfortunately, the latter proved to be true. First, I felt like this cleanser did nothing for my skin. I used it in place of my second foam cleanser in my double cleansing routine and even though it did it's job of washing away the residue from my oil cleanser, it didn't do much else for me. Second, I absolutely HATED the scent. I can't describe to you what it smells like, but in my opinion, it smells terrible, so bad that I couldn't use it after testing it twice. Overall, I was super disappointed with this product. I'll definitely be going to Sephora to smell their other products before deciding if I want to try anything else from their brand.
"Plump For Joy!"
Grande Lips Lip Plumper in Clear
Lip plumpers are one of my greatest fears because of my experience with Too Faced's Lip Injection, so I was kind of nervous when I saw this in the box. This clear gloss has a "hyaluronic acid-infused formula to visibly plump lips while also softening over time". I waited a while to try this because I was afraid it would burn like Lip Injection, but when I finally worked up the courage, I was pleasantly surprised. This lip plumping gloss does not burn at all, but rather, just tingles a bit as if you applied a lippie that had a bit of peppermint in it. I applied it before I started my makeup so it could work it's magic before I apply lip color and was surprised to find that after having it on for about 30 minutes, it slightly and naturally, but still visibly plumped my lips. I'm generally not one to use lip plumpers, but I actually have used it every time I've applied makeup since trying it the first time. It gives a really natural plump and doesn't burn at all which is a huuuuuge deal for me. I'm not sure if it'd purchase a full size since the price seems a little steep, but I love the sample that I got in this box!
"Every Glow Often"
Trèstique Highlight + Perfect Multipurpose Stick in Maldives Luminescent
"This silky-smooth highlighter stick pairs a barely-there, lightweight texture with a luminous champagne pink shimmer". I honestly don't have much to say about this product expect for that I'm not a fan. I was excited to try it because Benefit's Watts Up is one of my favorite highlighting products of all time, but this product has absolutely no shimmer. Maybe it's too similar to my skin color, but when I applied it, I couldn't even tell if it was on my face or not. I'm not even the type to wear a really blinding highlight, I generally try to keep it natural, but this highlighting stick really disappointed me. There was also only about an inch of product and although I understand that this is just a deluxe sample, the overall packaging was about 4 inches long, I think I couldn't gotten a little more product??? That all being said, if you're paler than I am, which I'm not sure is even possible, or you like a highlight that is so natural it's almost no even there, check out this highlighting stick that is definitely too expensive for what you're getting.
"Welcome to the Scrub"
Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt
"Cleanse, purify, and rebalance a sensitive or oily scalp with this soothing sea salt scrub that leaves hair soft and refreshed". I was the most skeptical about this product because scalp scrubs are not something I've dabbled with or even heard of before, but I was excited to try it because I got a sample of a different Christophe Robin shampoo/conditioner and gave it to my mom who RAVED about it. Like the Sunday Riley cleanser however, I was afraid of falling in love with it because of the high price point AND BOY AM I UPSET BECAUSE I FREAKING LOVE IT. The salt in this scrub seems really rough but actually feels so good when you're working it into your hair. It lathers really nicely and leaves your hair feeling super clean, which is perfect if you're someone who uses a lot of product to style or if you're like me and have really oily hair. After only one use, my hair felt so much lighter and cleaner and my mom even said I got my Asian hair texture back lol. I use it one to two times a week and follow with conditioner because it doesn't hydrate or anything and I also have dry ends. I honestly love this scrub so much that I'm already saving up to buy the full sized even though it is suuuuper expensive, but since I only use it twice a week and use about a raspberry sized amount each time, I think it'll be a worthy investment.
This Month's Perfume Pick: "Sea To It"
Maison Margiela 'Replica' Beach Walk
"Transport yourself to sandy seaside memories with this radiant scent of bergamot, coconut milk, and lemon".
Fragrance Family: Fresh
Top Notes: Bergamot, Pink Pepper, Lemon
Middle Notes: Ylang Ylang, Coconut Milk, Heliotrope
Base Notes: Musk, Cedarwood, Benzoin
If you're not new to my blog, you already know that I don't usually smell the perfumes because I'm very picky about my scents so of course I haven't smelled this yet so I can't tell you anything about it. I'll smell all the perfumes that came in the boxes eventually lol.
MOVING ONTO THE JUNE BOX...
June's PLAY! box's theme is "Your Summer Starters" which includes products that are perfect to include in your summer beauty routines. This box has a couple cult favorites as well as products I have and haven't tried before. One thing I wanted to mention, and I'm not sure if it's like an important detail or anything, but when I opened the June box there was an extremely overwhelming weed/skunk smell??? Was it just my box? The smell eventually went away and I can't figure out if it was one of the products or if my local post office is also a dispensary now or has been overrun by skunks... Moving on, this month's box looks really good to me because it has three brands I already know and love and two others that I've heard of but have never tried before. That all being said, let's get into the products!
"It's All Pore You"
Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Face Primer
I KNOW, I'M SHOOK TOO. I was so excited when I saw this in the box because all of my favorite beauty bloggers and tons of others have raved about this primer for so long and I just never got around to trying it, but I'm so glad I get to now. This primer claims to be a silky, lightweight primer that "minimizes pores and smooths skin for a flawless, soft-focus finish" as well as claiming to make makeup stay put "no matter how much you sweat this summer". The latter claim is important to me because I'm still searching for a primer that can complete that simple task.
"Jump In The Cool"
Coola Makeup Setting Spray SPF 30
Other than lippies and eyeshadow palettes, my favorite makeup product is setting spray and it's a known fact that Urban Decay's All Nighter is my HG. This setting spray however, is very different from those I've used in the past - it has SPF. WHAT?? I've never heard of setting spray with SPF and being a pale and easily burnt person, I'm looking forward to trying this. This setting spray claims to reduce the appearance of pores and provide SPF 30 sun protection. It's formulated with "aloe vera and cucumber extract to soothe skin and calm irritation caused by sun exposure".
*Okay so update, I read reviews of every product on the Sephora website and there were many others who complained about the smell that they thought was coming from this setting spray. So mystery solved?*
"Sea and Be Seen"
Verb Sea Spray
I don't go to the beach, I hate sand, but I've always loved the look of beachy waves. I've been working long and hard to perfect the Victoria's Secret hair but have never found the right sea spray, which is what excites me to try this one. I loved the Verb leave-in-conditioner that came in a PLAY! box a long time ago so I definitely have high expectations for this one. "This sea salt-infused hair mist contains hydrating seaweed and kelp extract to add texture and volume for loose waves". It also claims to condition hair "with quinoa protein while protecting with antioxidant-rich green tea extract". Also the size I received in the PLAY! box is also for sale at Sephora for $7!
"A Whole Lotta Lip"
Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Lovesick
I saw this little tube in the box and started having palpitations, then I looked at what color it was and died. I've talked about how much I love KVD's liquid lippie in Lolita many times and the color I wanted to try next was Lovesick. This liquid lippies are THE BEST. They do not budge no matter what you do, how much you eat, whatever. They hang on and never let go of your lips like I would if I ever met Jung Jaehyun or Kang Minhyuk. Also, I got too excited and already tried this lippie on and iTS BEAUTIFUL.
"Up In The Hair"
Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk
I think I've mentioned before how dry shampoos and I are not really friends, and also I'm so sick of getting dry shampoos in PLAY! boxes like I GET IT SEPHORA, I KNOW I HAVE OILY HAIR. But that's why I wash my hair everyday... Moving on, this dry shampoo has oat milk. Idk what oat milk is and the pamphlet doesn't say anything about why it's important, but basically it's just another dry shampoo that kind of smells like my grandma. I probably won't use it tbh, but the size I received in my PLAY! box is also for sale at Sephora for $10
This Month's Perfume Pick: "A Gem of Fragrance"
BVLGARI Omnia Crystalline
"A fresh fragrance made with lotus flower, nashi, and balsa wood that evokes the radiance of a crystal."
Fragrance Family: Fresh
Top NotesL Bamboo
Middle Notes: Lotus Flower
Base Notes: Balsa Wood
Per usual, I haven't smelled this perfume but it sounds interesting and maybe like something I would wear? Balsa wood is a strange scent choice in my opinion, it just brings back elementary school memories of building like little boats and stuff like that with balsa wood. Also, what is nashi??
And that is everything in the June PLAY! by Sephora box! I hope you guys enjoyed reading, and I'm sorry again, that my May PLAY! box post came sooo late. I'm also super sorry that there was no May Monthly Obsessions. I honestly didn't have a lot to write about for May MO's so like this post, I'm going to combine May and June so that I have lots to write. I also FINALLY got my GOT7 albums in the mail and I'll be writing my unboxing post on it soon as well as a review of NCT 127's new album! (I'm mentioning all of that here so you guys can hold it against me if I don't post them lol).
As always, thanks so much for reading! See you in my next post!!!
With Love,
Caitlyn <3
Get Your Own PLAY! by Sephora box Here!
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