Play! by SEPHORA (October 2016)

For $10 a month, uncover the most sought-after products around with a monthly subscription box of prestige, trial-size samples curated by Sephora experts. Each month you'll get five deluxe beauty samples, plus a beauty bonus, all in a collectible bag! Inside every beauty box you'll receive a Play! PASS you can bring in store and redeem for 50 bonus Beauty Insider points, plus a free one-on-one tutorial that is all about you. With PLAY! by Sephora, you'll also be eligible to attend Play! DATES, which are subscriber-only events that give you and a friend the opportunity to come in store and play with products that complement the ones you got in your subscription box. Lastly, up your beauty game with exclusive video how-tos, tutorials and tons of tips on how to use the products you get in new and fun ways.

What It Is:
At Sephora, they love that feeling when you find a new beauty product, give it a try, and wonder how you ever lived without it. That’s why they created PLAY! by SEPHORA, a beauty box filled with five stellar samples, delivered right to your door.

Here’s how it works:
Each month they curate a selection of new and best-selling products they’re most excited about, from makeup to hair care to skincare to fragrance. Then, using the answers in your PLAY! Profile, they determine which version is best for you. Next stop, your place, where you can experiment, play, and find your personal favorites.

Every month Sephora also includes a flyer that offers important details and informative tips and tidbits about the products included.

October 2016's theme is The Cool Cut. Here's what's in this month's box:

SMASH-BOX Always On Matte Liquid Lipstick in Driver's Seat (0.03oz, ~$5.54) - Matte liquid lipstick keeps going for eight hours with a water-resistant, non-feathering formula. This budge-proof lipstick is formulated with a complex of jojoba, apricot and sunflower oils for decadent color and a non-drying finish.

THE COOL FACTOR: Smashbox is one of LA's most legendary photography studios. All of their products are tested under bright lights and during long photo shoots to be sure that each one provides a camera ready look that lasts.

BLINC Mascara Amplified in Black Noir (0.1oz, ~$8.67) - Innovative "tube technology" mascara coats lashes with easy to remove, tiny water-resistant tubes that won't run, smudge, or flake. Amplified Mascara's unique, non-irritating formula makes it ideal for sensitive eyes, athletes, and contact lens wearers, and for layering over fake lashes or lash extensions.

HOW TO USE: Apply as you would any mascara, swiping on multiple coats as needed. When you're ready to remove it, gently press on your lashes with a cotton ball or wash cloth soaked in warm water. The tubes formed by the mascara will slide off of your lashes - no makeup remover needed.

SKIN INC. Pure Revival Peel (0.17oz, $4.25) - Advanced, non-abrasive peel gently sloughs away dead skin cells to reveal a bright, renewed complexion. Once of the active ingredients is AC-11, which is derived from cat's claw, a tropical vine that grows in the Amazon, When applied to the skin, AC-11 is known to help gently exfoliate and care for environmental and sun damage.

HOW TO USE: Apply a thin layer to clean, dry skin. Let soak in for just a few seconds, massage in using circular motions to exfoliate, and rinse with warm water. Make it a part of your regular routine. It's gentle enough to use 2-3 times per week.

THE COOL FACTOR: This fuss-free Japanese brand is beloved by beauty fanatics across Europe and Asia for its targeted, highly concentrated skincare formulas that are completely pure and fragrance-free. The line is a go-to for solving specific skin concerns - and also features customizable products for creating a skincare routine that is unique to you.

BELIF The True Cream Aqua Bomb (0.33oz, ~$8.64) - Bypass dryness with this lightweight gel-cream, made to tighten the look of skin and sink in for a smooth, supple feel.

THE COOL FACTOR: This belif cream hails from South Korea, but what makes it - and many of the company's products - truly unique is that they are made with Scottish botanicals and based on the research of Duncan Napier, a Victorian botanist from Edinburgh.

YVES SAINT LAURENT Mon Paris EDP (~0.05oz, $3.50) - Inspired by a love for the sophistication and allure of Paris, this scent layers fruity and floral notes over a musky base. Top notes are Bergamot, pear, raspberry and strawberry. Middle notes are white datura, jasmine and citrus blossom. Base notes are musk, patchouli and ambroxan.

THE COOL FACTOR: The iconic French couture house of Yves Saint Laurent has drawn inspiration from the romance and fashion of Paris for decades, making the Mon Paris and instant classic.

CHRISTOPHE ROBIN Regenerating Mask with Rare Prickly Pear Seed Oil (1.7oz, ~$14.49) - Sumptuous and full of antioxidants, this conditioning hair mask strengthens strands while enhancing color and shine. After shampooing, apply a small amount to hair and work from scalp to ends. Let soak in for just a couple minutes, then lather and rinse completely.

THE COOL FACTOR: Christophe Robin is one of Paris' most in-demand hairstylists and a favorite of French cinema stars. His coveted, eponymous line is known for potent, plant extract-rich formulas that keep hair looking its best.

ABOUT THE INGREDIENTS: It's a challenge to extract oil from tiny prickly pear seeds, but the beauty benefits are worth it. The oil contains over 80% fatty acids. An unparalleled amount that is deeply nurturing for hair and skin.

                                                                                                                                                 

I won't be using the lipstick. Smashbox is a lovely brand but this color is not for me. I have tons of mascaras. However, nothing with this technology. I'm thrilled to try it. I've only ever used one other peel - Real Chemistry - and I loved it, so I'm hanging on to it. I will pass on the aqua bomb but that's only because I lean towards k-beauty for my facial needs. belif is a wonderful line of products and this one has such a fresh scent. I have been wanting to try Mon Paris by YSL for quite some time and it did not disappoint. Every note hit and I think it just broke into my top five favorites. I have also been following the hair mask on Sephora because it's a beauty offer for purchases over $25. I just hadn't decided what I wanted to buy... SO MANY CHOICES! And then POW! Here it is! And it smells unbelievable!

This box has a total value of $45.09. Besides the incredible high value, this box defines quality. Quality now belongs to Play! by Sephora. They should trademark the word 'quality.' Not only that, there is a lot of diversity in the product selection. I am SO looking forward to my November box!