My October 2018 Play! by Sephora box came a little earlier than usual this month. It took me a few days to get my shit together to film my unboxing video and write this post…but here it is!
October’s theme is Scary-Good Beauty, which is my favorite theme Sephora has sent! If you follow me at all, you know I love horror and creepy stuff, so this theme is my kind of jam. I love the cute, spooky illustrations on this month’s brochure:
The back of the brochure has illustrations of last-minute look ideas for Halloween. I love the Billy drawing from the Saw movies:
Even the bonus point card this month is Halloween-themed. Adorable!
My October box contained two makeup samples, two skin care samples, a mist, and a fragrance duo sample. They were housed in the same plastic bag as last month, so I’m guessing Sephora has given up on designing a new sample baggie each month. I don’t mind not getting a themed baggie because I tend to toss them out…though I probably would have kept a scary-themed one.
Check out my October samples:
The Mist (Not the Stephen King Book)
The first sample this month is Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray (full-size, $32). I mentioned in my video that I’ve tried an UD setting spray before; it came in a white bottle so I think it was an older version. The brand has so many setting sprays now—it looks like there are six different formulas! My new sample is their basic formula. I currently use the Pacifica Crystal Dew Setting Spray and I like it, but it’s fun to try others. This spray claims to keep makeup in place for up to 16 hours. I have literally never worn makeup for that long!
The packaging mentions “Skindinavia,” which confused me in my video. Apparently Skindinavia is a setting spray company that Urban Decay has partnered with on their own sprays. The packaging said to spray your face in an “X” and then a “T” formation, so I tried that the other night after applying date night makeup. The effect was really no different from spritzing randomly, which is what I usually do. I didn’t have my makeup on all day or go out and sweat while wearing it, but it did still look fresh by the time I got home. So I think this spray is pretty good. It’s a little pricey, though, so I don’t know if I’d buy it full sized.
The Skin Care
Next up is the Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum (full-size, $79). I’m all about trying to achieve that radiant look, so this is an exciting sample for me. Past Caudalie samples haven’t blown me away, but I’m certainly willing to give this one a shot. I’m going to wait until I’m finished with my skin care experiment, though. I’m currently using two Osmosis Skincare products to try to fade dark spots, and I don’t want to add a third product that’s supposed to do the same thing. I want to see if the Osmosis products work before I try something else! But I’ll get to this sample eventually.
When I first pulled First Aid Beauty Hello FAB Coconut Water Cream (full-size, $34) out I thought it was a sample I’d received before. But I was wrong—what I had received was First Aid Beauty Hello Fab Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturizer, which comes in an identical tube. I really liked that product so I was happy to receive another sample from the brand.
This cream smells amazing (if you like coconut)! It’s light yet hydrating and I’ll use it as my morning moisturizer once I finish the Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly sample from last month’s box. If I end up liking this cream enough I may consider buying it to use as my regular AM moisturizer.
The Makeup
My next sample is Benefit Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Eyebrow Gel in 03 Medium (full-size, $24). I did receive a sample of this product in my June 2016 Birchbox but the formula has been updated, which is probably why the name now has a “+” after it. Benefit recalled the original version because it could cause eye irritation…if you managed to get it in your eye instead of on your brows. Apparently the new version is now safer for eyeballs. The original Gimme Brow surprised me—I liked it more than I had expected. Prior to receiving that sample I had only used clear mascara on my brows and didn’t think I needed a tinted brow gel. But I liked the effect enough to buy Gimme Brow full sized a couple years ago. I’ll keep this sample in my travel bag…gotta love those minis for travel!
My final sample this month is Anastasia Beverly Hills Stick Foundation in Banana (full-size, $25). I’m a little baffled by this sample for a number of reasons, the first being…why so much packaging for such a small amount of product? The tube is basically the same size as a lipstick. The brochure says this is a multitasking foundation that’s ideal for highlighting, contouring, and touching up. I don’t really get how this yellow shade can be used as foundation, highlighting, AND contouring. Also, one thing I’ve discovered is that the colors on Sephora’s website are inaccurate. This Banana shade in particular looks nothing like the shade pictured on Sephora.
I was suspicious of the shade because of its name, and it indeed is not a good color for me. Here are two swatches on my arm in bright sunlight:
The shade is too dark and too yellow for me. I’ll try the foundation on at home to see how I like the feel and performance, but this is not a color I’d want to leave the house wearing (unless I decide to be a jaundiced patient for Halloween). I’m not much of a foundation fan anyway—I prefer tinted moisturizer—so if I’m not a fan of this sample, no big deal.
The Fragrance
Right. Fragrance. This month’s fragrance sample is a twofer: Kat Von D Saint and Sinner (mini set, $25). I’m no longer buying Kat Von D since she came out as an anti-vaxxer while she was pregnant. I know she has a ton of very loyal fans, and her Tattoo Liner is top notch, but I don’t want to give my money to a public figure who supports such an irresponsible position. Yes, I’m judging her decision. Yes, these fragrance samples went right in the trash (I hate perfume samples anyway). I can’t tell anyone else how to spend their own money, but I know where I won’t be spending mine.
Overall Impressions
Despite getting a little cranky at the end there (haha), I’m pretty happy with my October box. I’m looking forward to using everything except for the ABH Stick Foundation and that’s mostly because the color is not for me. I think the Coconut Water Cream might end up being my favorite sample this month.
Did you discover any new favorites in your October Play! by Sephora box?
What is Play! by Sephora?
Play! by Sephora is a $10 per month beauty subscription that includes five deluxe samples. The product samples are curated based on your Sephora beauty profile (hair color, eye color, skin tone, skin type, skin and hair concerns, etc.). And of course, you can purchase full-sized versions of any samples from Sephora and earn VIB points if you’re a part of the Beauty Insider program—which I highly recommend signing up for. This subscription also offers a “Play! Date” each month, which allows you and a friend to attend an in-store event to learn how to use the products in that month’s box (RSVP is required). Click here for more information on the subscription.
