August 2016 Play! by Sephora Review

This month's theme was 'The Eye Openers': "After a long summer, refresh and recharge your beauty routine with the mascara for standout lashes, an energizing moisturizer, and striking looks that will put all eyes on you."

Make Up For Ever Artist Shadow in I-544, $6.00 [$21.00 for 0.07 oz; sample size: 0.02 oz]
This shade is called Pink Granite, and it was sort of a combination of purple/gray/brown. It isn't intensely pigmented, and it definitely creased without a primer. I think wetting my eyeliner brush prior to application gave me the best finish.  It had minimal fall-out, and it was easy to blend.

Clean Reserve Warm Cotton, $1.32 [$90.00 for 3.4 oz; sample size: 0.05 oz]
This perfume is described as "reminiscent of the soft scent of fresh linens", and that is a very apt description.  It's a very strong fragrance when first applied, but I found that it faded fairly quickly.

Algenist Eye Renewal Balm, $31.25 [$68.00 for 0.5 oz; sample size: 0.23 oz]
This fragrance-free eye treatment feels lightly nourishing and it absorbs easily into the skin. I found that too heavy of an application made my eyes sensitive, but a little definitely goes a long way. I didn't have any texture issues with applying other products over this balm.

Urban Decay Perversion Mascara, $5.50 [$22.00 for 0.4 oz; sample size: 0.1 oz]
The shiny metallic packaging of this mascara is visually appealing. Just one coat added nice definition and volume.

Lancome Energie de Vie Smoothing & Glowing Liquid Care Moisturizer, $5.21 [$55.00 for 1.69 oz; sample size: 0.16 oz]
This richly perfumed moisturizer applies like a milky serum. It is very lightweight, which is nice for the summer, but it doesn't contain SPF so you will still have to add additional layers.  

Sephora Collection Contour Eye Pencil 12hr Wear Waterproof in Love Affair, $4.25 [$10.00 for 0.04 oz; sample size: 0.017 oz]
I received the shade 'Love Affair', which is a Plum shade. This eyeliner is fairly creamy, but I would have liked to have seen more pigmentation.

Total Value: $53.53
That eye balm really pumped up the value of this box!

Details: Play! by Sephora is a beauty subscription box that features a curation of five deluxe samples plus a bonus fragrance in a collectible bag. The monthly cost is $10.00 + tax. Each box also includes a Play! Pass that you can use to receive 50 extra Beauty Insider points with any in-store purchase.