Play! by SEPHORA (September 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.

September 2016's theme is The UnBasic Basics. Here's what's in this month's box:

SEPHORA COLLECTION Rouge Shine Lipstick in Love Spell (0.035oz, ~$3.37) - Deep glossy shine meets a go-to shade of pink in this creamy, moisturizing lipstick. Rouge Shine is formulated to nurture lips with shea butter, which is rich in vitamins and minerals, and castor seed oil, which is known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties.

HOW-TO TIP: Before swiping on your lipstick, use a brush to apply a light dusting of translucent powder to your lips. This will help lock the color in place and give it extra staying power.

ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS Clear Brow Gel (0.085oz, ~$6.68) - Lightweight, flexible hold gel sets, defines, and keeps brows in place for a polished look that stays all day.

HOW TO APPLY: Fill in any sparse spots with a brow pencil or a powder and small angled brush, and then apply gel to brows using short, upward strokes in the direction of your hair growth.

KAT VON D Tattoo Liner in Trooper (0.007oz, ~$0.74) - Waterproof brush-tip liquid liner glides on to reveal precise, bold strokes of highly pigmented color. The folks at Sephora love liquid liner for its statement-making color, stunning precision, and staying power. And because it's perfect for creating must-try looks.

DID YOU KNOW... Founder Kat Von D isn't only a tattoo artist. She also has an incredible talent for drawing and painting. When creating Tattoo Liner, she was inspired by the controlled lines of Japanese calligraphy. So instead of a felt tip, she designed a brush with 325 long, tapered bristles, which make smooth, crisp lines in a cinch.

ATELIER COLOGNE Cologne Absolue Pure Perfume Spray, Sud Magnolia (~0.05oz, $4.25) - A refreshing floral blend that balances delicate notes of magnolia with layers of wood and citrus.

MEET THE BLEND: Top notes of bitter orange, pomelo, and black current. Middle notes of magnolia, Bulgarian rose, and saffron. Base notes of cedarwood, sandalwood, and musk.

FUN FACT!: The creamy, sweet scent of magnolia blossoms is more than a classic. It's one of the most ancient in the world. Magnolia trees have been growing on Earth since the Tertiary period, which was over 100 million years ago!

DID YOU KNOW... Cologne is a unique type of citrus-based fragrance that was invented in Cologne, Germany during the 1700's by an Italian perfumer. The fresh scent reminded him of spring mornings in Italy, and was an instant hit among all the royal houses of Europe.

LIVING PROOF Perfect Hair Day Night Cap Overnight Perfector (1oz, $7.00) - Get a full week of softness and shine with this long-lasting, weightless perfecting solution that keeps your hair looking its best. Before bed, work into damp or dry. Distribute from root to tip, focusing on ends. Leave on overnight, and then shampoo your hair or skip showering in the morning. The results will be the same either way.

FAQ'S FOR FABULOUS HAIR:

- Night Cap's benefits will last through one week or five washes, even if you use a clarifying shampoo.

- Night Cap is fast-absorbing, so it's completely pillow-safe. No towels needed.

- Night Cap is actually great to use the evening after coloring your hair. It's also safe to use with keratin or other straightening treatments.

OLEHENRIKSEN Sheer Transformation Facial Creme (0.25oz, $9.50) - Light, silky, and oil-free, this moisturizer melts into skin to help soften, brighten, and even skin tone. This moisturizer can double as a makeup primer. Founder Ole Henriksen recommends applying it after toners and serums, and smoothing it onto your neck and face with long, upward strokes.

ABOUT THE INGREDIENTS: OleHenriksen skincare is known for high-performing formulas that include natural botanicals - these are just some of the ones that are used in Sheer Transformation. Licorice root brightens while visibly correcting discoloration. Chamomile calms and soothes. Vitamin C encourages the production of collagen.

                                                                                                                                                 

I won't be using the lipstick. I can't do pinks. The teeth are too coffee and tea strained. Pinks make them look extra yellow. I'll also be passing on the brow gel because I'm never gonna be a bushy, thick eyebrow girl. I know that's the trend, but I'll stick to my salon waxings. I'm super excited to try the Kat Von D eyeliner. I've been pleasantly surprised with her makeup line, so I imagine this will be high quality as well. I love Atelier fragrances. Of course, you can never go wrong giving me a perfume/cologne sample. I can definitely pick out the citrus, cedarwood, and sandalwood scents But most of all, the saffron sticks around. Not so much a feminine smell, but I would love it on my husband. I am a big fan of Living Proof products. This is a new one to me and I'm looking forward to trying it. And anyone who reads any of my blog posts knows I'm a k-beauty freak so I'll be giving the facial creme away.

This box has a total value of $31.54. Lots of variety and quality products, so even though it may not be the $60+ box I'm used to from subscriptions like Glossybox, this $10 September 2016 Sephora box left me very pleased. I am SO looking forward to my October box!