As many of you know, I'm a Sephora Play subscriber. I really enjoy getting it each month and don't see myself canceling anytime soon. This month, instead of just unboxing the goodies, I also wanted to talk about the Play! Dates that subscribers can attend.

Play! Dates are held once a month and are only available in certain cities. The only one in my entire state happens to be five minutes down the road, so that's awesome! But are these things worth going to?

The Good

You get to learn so much about everything in your box...and also all the other boxes. So, not only do I know loads about what was in my box, I also know loads about everything I didn't get. Because it's held in store, you can also test out the products that you didn't get on your hand, and bring home samples. For example, this month there was a facial cleanser from Sunday Riley that I wanted, and a shampoo from Christophe Robin. I got to take home samples of both to try out. 

It's also a great time for networking and meeting other beauty lovers. I've connected with several people through these events, including some that I still see on a pretty regular basis. You also get to talk beauty with people who are actually into it, which can be a challenge if you don't have people like that in your life. 

That Bad

The only bad thing that I have to say is that if you're a serious beauty lover already...the information that you're getting is repetitive and basic. You know, explaining the difference between top and base notes in perfumes, or how to use hair masks. Some of the information is pretty low level, and designed to cater to everyone , so it might be below your current knowledge base. On the other hand, that's awesome if you're a beginner.

The Verdict

I would say that if you live close to a participating Sephora, it's worth stopping by. If you don't live a realistically driveable distance...don't bother. It's nice, but I wouldn't go on a particularly large journey to get there.

Oh! I mentioned trying the Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt and the Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Cleanser. I don't have photos, but I did try both. The Christophe Robin Scrub is AWESOME. My hair has never felt cleaner. It is pricey, but a teaspoon sized amount was plenty for all of my hair. It is really heavy on the salt, and you'll notice. As for the Sunday Riley cleanser...not a fan. I used it last night and am breaking out quite a lot along my jawline where I used it. Nope!

Okay! Let's talk about what I got in the box!

This month's theme was Beauty on the Rise. It focused on cult favorites and hard-to-find products. I found this interesting, and it did have lots of things I was really excited about trying out. As per usual, there are five items, plus a perfume sample. Each box also comes with a Play! Pass, which you can redeem for a one-on-one tutorial in-store, plus 50 bonus Sephora points.

NUDESTIX Magnetic Matte Lip Color in Greystone - $21.12 (but more likely $8 in a set)

A three-in-one matte lip stain, lip color, and lip liner that has a long-wearing, intensely pigmented formula in a bold, deep shade. 

I will say that this does everything that it claims to do. It is an intense sweep of matte color and it stays on so well. The color? Ick. It's a dark grey-brown. I'm not sure why they sent this, and it is truly something that I do not want in my collection. I do like to wear brown 90s-esque lipstick, but this was just so not flattering. The formula on these is awesome, but maybe not the grey color. I'll be trying it out as a contour stick, which it hopefully works a little better for. 

Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil - $4.71

Two-in-one makeup remover and cleanser uses plant-based oils to gently wash away impurities without stripping skin of its natural moisture. 

I really love oil cleansing, and I find that Tatcha has made lots of skincare that has really agreed well with my skin. This is really good. It's based on traditional Japanese beauty techniques, and definitely takes off all of the makeup on my face. I have noticed that this works best as part of a double-cleansing routine. Otherwise, it does leave my fairly dry face an oil slick. 

Belif Hungarian Water Essence – $5.48

Ultra-light, super-hydrating treatment quickly delivers deep, lasting moisture for soft, supple skin. 

I have never used an essence before. To be honest, I'm not really sure if I (or anyone else) needs to be using to be using a serum and a moisturizer and an essence. That said, I really really like this. It's so lightweight. It truly feels like putting pure water on my face. It does add a wonderful layer of moisture. Since I started using this, I haven't had any issues with dryness at all. IT's like I have totally new skin. 

Trestique Highlight + Perfect Multipurpose Stick in Maldives Luminescent – $6.48

This silky-smooth gel highlighter stick pairs a barely-there, lightweight texture with a luminous champagne pink shimmer. 

Apparently Trestique gets a lot of hate. It's been reviewed kind of poorly on Sephora's website and on Reddit. I'm not sure about that though...because I love it. I've used their eyeshadow sticks for forever and I was so excited to get to try this out.  As far as color, I don't think this is as pink as it says it should be. It's definitely more of a true gold, warm-toned highlighter. I love it and it works really well on top of foundation, or on bare skin on a no-makeup day. 

Rahua Omega 9 Hair Mask – $6.16

Salon-quality conditioning treatment made with omemga-rich oil soaks into damaged or dull hair to add shine and vibrancy. 

I really wanted to love this, but that was just not going to happen. This smells horrible. Like Vick's VapoRub tried to get into the hair care industry. It works okay. My hair felt more moisturized, and thankful didn't hold the scent. The lackluster performance combined with the smell meant that I was not going to be using this for sure.

Tocca Stella Eau de Parfum - $2.12

A flirtatious, uplifting blend of sensual blood orange and spicy lily creates a warm, fresh perfume that's perfect for sprintime. 

As I have said before, the perfume samples are so hit and miss because we all have different tastes in what scents we like. This one smells very fancy. I like it. Unfortunately the scents I wear are really dependent on my boyfriend. He's very sensitive to scents and this one didn't pass the test. It's not bad though if you want something sophisticated and floral. It smells like the kind of thing that my grandmother would have given me as a present. 

All in all, this was a good box, in that I’m using everything except for the hair mask. This box has a value of over $40. You can’t complain about a $10 beauty box giving you that much value.

What was your favorite item from your subscription boxes this month?