Hi everyone! I know took an extra week for my summer blogging break but I’m back! I’ve been keeping pretty busy with my new business, getting ready for a wedding I’m attending this weekend, my regular work, researching, and working out. Sending a huge thanks and welcome to all my new followers. 🙂
I’m bringing you a review for the August Play! By Sephora, which is a monthly $10 curated subscription box featuring samples of different brands available at Sephora. The theme for this month is The Eye Openers, with products meant to refresh and recharge your beauty routine.
Clean Reserve Blonde Rose
A classic yet edgy bouquet of rose, jasmine and peony with a sandalwood base that is supposed to evoke feminine sophistication and allure. I typically love rose scents but this smells awful. Definitely not my type of perfume at all. Doesn’t help that it has a combination of peony and jasmine, which is way too overwhelming for my taste.
Make Up For Ever Artist Shadow in I-544
An eyeshadow described as a, “highly saturated, iridescent pink granite eyeshadow made with a unique gel-powder formula and ultrafine pigments for smooth color.” I like this shadow and the fact that you can create a smokey effect that’s subtle and pretty. It shows up kind of purple on me but it can be sheered out or built up to more intensity.
Sephora Collection Contour Eye Pencil 12hr Wear Waterproof in Flirting Game
An easy-to-apply pencil that has a 12-hour waterproof formula in a shimmery taupe shade. So confession, I have been wearing this as eyeliner only. I confused this with eyeliner but it’s actually supposed to be used on the contour of your eye. Whoops. No worries though, it works just as well as an eyeliner and the taupe shade is a perfect enhancing shade that gives definition without a stark harshness. It lasts all day yet by the end of the day, it has smeared a bit. I doubt it would hold up for 12hrs without a primer on my oily lids. The Make Up For Ever shadow and this are great shades for transitioning into the fall season.
Swatches below: Sephora Contour Eye Pencil (top) and MUFE Artist Shadow (bottom).
Urban Decay Perversion Mascara
A lengthening and volumizing mascara that has a triple-black pigment formula to coat lashes. I like this mascara as it makes my lashes look thicker and the pigment is intense. However, just like the Perversion eyeliner, the formula does make my eyes water and sort of burn by the end of the day. Because of this, I won’t be purchasing the full size.
Caudalie Resveratrol Eye Lifting Balm
This eye cream is said to lift and smooth the eye area with a breakthrough patented formula while reducing the look of dark circles and puffiness. This eye cream does have a brightening effect on me- like a very muted opal iridescence. It works well under makeup and doesn’t irritate my eyes. Will definitely keep this on my wishlist.
Lancome Energie de Vie Smoothing & Glowing Liquid Care Moisturizer
A concentrated energizing liquid lotion that visually relieves dullness, diminishes signs of fatigue, and promotes a healthy-looking glow. I haven’t tried this one yet because my skin has been acting up and I’ve been keeping my skin care routine simple until I’m back to normal.
Since I liked about 4 of the six products included here, I’d say this was a good box overall. Curious to see what next month holds.
Any particular favorites that you see here? Let me know in the comments below!
Stephanie
I have that MUFE eye shadow I544 – the name is Pink Granite. Those shadows are a little bit tricky I found. There was so much hype about how pigmented they are but I find you need to pat them on to get the intensity. What I love about them is how long lasting they are! I did a review of them a long time ago:
https://stashmatters.com/2015/02/23/make-up-for-ever-artist-shadows/
I think the Sephora pencil is really just an eyeliner – not just for contour. It comes in a ton of colours including yellow and pink! I also have Flirting Game, plus a few others. I find the wear time of them to be really good on the lower lash line!
For some reason, I think the name Pink Granite doesn’t mesh well. I find it more granite with really no pink that I can discern. They are sheer at first application, but can be built up. As for the Sephora eye pencil, you’re right. I think for a contour item, it should be a tad more chunkier. The color is gorgeous though and I wouldn’t mind checking out more. 🙂
I tried the UD Perversion Mascara and I loved how black it was but I found the formula so wet it made my lashes stick straight. Plus it smudged like crazy too. ☹️
Looks like a pretty good bunch this month though!
Oh that sucks. 🙁 The pigment is crazy intense that’s for sure. It was a pretty good box overall. 🙂