SEPHORA PLAY REVIEW | Beauty Box Subscription

I recently got a subscription to Sephora Play (Sephora's monthly beauty box). For $10 a month you get a box with a mini bag, 5 samples (plus a fragrance sample) sent to you. All samples are from brands that Sephora carries and are deluxe/full sizes. It's a similar concept to other beauty box subscriptions (like IPSY, Boxycharm, BirchBox, etc). The only other beauty box subscription that I have is IPSY, and I've had IPSY for over 3 years. 

At first Sephora Play was only available in certain areas. Now I think it's available throughout most of the US. To sign up you have to join a waitlist and they will email you when a spot opens up. When I was reading information online I saw that it said Sephora takes people off the waitlist depending on when spots open up in your area. So not necessarily in the order that you're put onto the list but when they have openings in your region. I was on the waitlist for about 2 weeks before getting an email that a spot was open and the email said you had to hurry because I think they only give you a certain amount of time to "claim" your spot. 

So far I've gotten two boxes and I like the products in the Sephora box more then the ones I get in my IPSY. I feel like the Sephora box is better because you get samples from any of the brands they carry in their store (which is a lot). IPSY only works with certain brands and I feel like I kept getting products from the same brands over and over (like NYX, Formula X, Starlooks, Elizabeth Mott, Mellow, TreStiQue). At first trying out a brand I've never heard of is fine but when I keep getting the same brand over and over again after I've given a review that I don't like it gets annoying. That's something IPSY needs to fix. 

One thing that I do like about IPSY is that you can leave reviews and earn points to redeem for extra products. Sephora Play doesn't have this feature and I'm hoping they add it in the future. However, something similar that Sephora Play offers is that they give you a card inside each box that can be redeemed with any purchase inside a Sephora store for 50 extra bonus points. I bought a $3 nose strip and was able to redeem my card. I like that they do this because then it helps you get samples faster. For example if you redeem two cards you'll have 100 points and they have a lot of 100 point samples to choose from either in store or with an online purchase. And unlike IPSY, the Sephora points in your account won't expire. 

All the boxes for Sephora Play are pretty similar (sometimes they'll do two different boxes depending on your skin type) but they aren't as customized as the IPSY ones. However I don't mind because I feel like IPSY only ever gives me 2-3 products I really like.  

I like that Sephora Play gives a lot of high-end deluxe samples, so far all are from brands that I recognize. IPSY tends to give like one high-end sample from a brand I recognize and the rest are either drug store samples or brands I've never heard of. 


Here's a list of items I've gotten in my past two Sephora Play Boxes:

Click here to watch my July Sephora Play Unboxing

July 2016

• Ouai Wave Spray (deluxe sample)
• Smash Box Pore Minimizing Primer (deluze sample)
• Nest Fragrance Sample (mini fragrance sample)
• Beauty Blender Blotterazzi (1 full size) cleansing soap (sample packet)
• Too Faced Soleil Matte Bronzer (deluxe sample)
• First Aid Beauty Red Clay Cleanser (deluxe sample)

Click here to watch my August Sephora Play Unboxing 

August 2016

• Makeup Forever Artist Shadow (deluxe sample)
• Algenist Eye Renewal Balm (deluxe sample)
• Lancome Glow Boosting Liquid Moisturizer (deluxe sample)
• Sephora Collection Waterproof Liner (deluxe sample)
• Urban Decay Perversion Mascara (deluxe sample)
• Clean Reserve Warm Cotton perfume sample

I subscribe to Sephora Play with my own money. 

How I SAVE MONEY While Shopping! (Online & In Stores)!

If you watch my YouTube you'll notice that I do a ton of haul videos. Usually makeup hauls, clothing hauls, and home hauls. Something that I get asked a lot is how I save money when shopping, so I thought I'd share all the different things I do to make sure I'm getting the best deal!

Online Shopping:
Always go to sites like Ebates or TopCashback and check to see if the store you want to buy something at has a cashback percentage offered. 

Basically how it works is these sites get paid and then they give you a percentage of it back when you click through to the store you want from their website. If you have a Discover card it's similar to using Discover Deals (where you get 5% back by clicking through to certain stores from the Discover Deals web page). 

Ebates and TopCashback have tons of different stores listed that offer cashback. The ones I visit the most are Sephora, Nordstrom, Ulta, Overstock, and Amazon. There's also a lot of department stores that offer cashback like Macy's, Kohls, JCPenny, Neiman Marcus, etc... 

A lot of makeup stores have cash back percentages too, like Tarte, Too Faced, Smashbox and Bareminerals to name a few.

The clothing stores that I earn cashback at the most are Missguided, Boohoo, Nastygal, Nordstrom Rack, Pacsun, and Express. If one site doesn't have the store I want listed I'll check the other site to see if it's there. I'll also check to see which site is offering the most cashback at that time, because the cashback percentage offered can change daily! 

There's also promos when you sign up for these sites (such as getting extra cashback after your first purchase) and coupon codes listed. 

Ebates sends you a check in the mail every 3 months on cash back you earn while TopCashback lets you choose when you want to be paid. You can get a free payout through ACH, PayPal, or an Amazon gift card. 

Sign up for Ebates here
Sign up for TopCashback here 

Another thing that I do when I'm shopping online is to google for coupon codes. Sometimes sites don't list all their promos, so if you google sometimes you can find discount codes for free shipping, free gifts, or an extra percentage off. 

In Store Shopping
Besides using coupons there's a couple things I do to save money when shopping in store. One thing I use is the Ibotta app. It's mainly for grocery items but there are a few deals for clothing and specialty stores. If an item you buy meets the criteria listed (and has a rebate available), you scan the barcode on the product (if there's one) and snap a picture of your receipt. Then the rebate will be put in your account and once you reach $20 you can cash out. You can have the money deposited to a PayPal or Venmo account, or you can chose a giftcard to places like Sephora or Amazon. 

If you sign up using my referral code you get an extra $10 after you verify your first rebate! Referral code: lavveto
Sign up for Ibotta here

There are also other store apps you can put onto your phone that have additional coupons or discounts offered. Target's Cartwheel app has a lot of deals listed and all you have to do is add the deals you want to use to your barcode then scan the barcode at checkout. Other stores with apps that I use a lot are Pacsun, Starbucks, and Coffeebean. While not every app has extra discounts a lot of them do tell you about upcoming deals or let you check on your reward point status. 

Saving Money In Store & Online!
If there are certain stores that you really like to shop at make sure that you are signed up to receive their mailers, promotional emails and follow them on social media. I know it's annoying to get a lot of junk mail so I make sure I only subscribe to stores that I shop at the most. Express, Macy's, Kohls, and Bed, Bath & Beyond always mail out tons of coupons. 

Also by subscribing/following all the store's social media platforms you're more likely to hear about sales and promotions they're having. Sometimes I'll see a store post a promo code on Instagram or Snapchat, but not on any other platform. So it's good to follow all the stores you love so you don't miss out on a secret sale or discount.

Sign up for reward programs. I'm not taking about the in-store credit card programs that Macy's and Victoria's Secret are always trying to get you to sign up for. I'm talking about the programs that are FREE to join (aren't credit cards) and give you points for your purchases (usually a point for every dollar spent or something similar). Some reward programs that I use the most are Sephora's Beauty Insider program, Starbucks' Star Rewards, Ulta's Ultamate Rewards, Overstock My Club O Rewards, and PacSun's myGSMO Rewards. These points can then be redeemed for products or give you money off a future purchase. 

Finally, always check sale sections, in-store and online. I almost never buy anything full price. My makeup is normally bought using coupons or when a site is having a sale, and my clothing is almost all from sale racks or is bought when a store has a promo going on. 

If you like certain stores but they don't have a lot of sales check out Hautelook, Gilt, or GiltCity. These sites offer daily deals on brands and goods that are often better discounts then stores would have. Hautelook has clothing for women, men, and children, household items, furniture, and accessories. It's also associated with Nordstrom Rack so if something doesn't workout and is returnable you can return it to any Nordstrom Rack store.

Gilt has similar items and GiltCity has deals depending on where you're located. There's also usually a discount when you first sign up that gives you some money off of your first purchase (if you use my referral link for GiltCity you get $20 off your first purchase)!

Sign up for GiltCity here ($20 0ff 1st purchase)
Sign up for Gilt here
Sign up for Hautelook here

If you love to shop (like me) I hope this helped you save some extra money and find more deals! 


NOT SPONSORED. Referral links were used. 

BARE MINERALS 13-PIECE BEAUTY SURPRISE COLLECTION REVIEW

Watch my YouTube review here!

Every once in a while Bare Minerals has a Beauty Surprise Box available where you get sent a box filled with surprise products. This was my first time ordering the surprise box and the email for it said that you would get $235 worth of products for $40. There would be 13 pieces total. 

I'd read reviews on their previous surprise boxes and a lot of people said the products in these boxes are often being discontinued and this is how Bare Minerals helps to get rid of excess product they are trying to faze out. I agree with this since a lot of the products were no longer on their website when I went to look them up.

I got a pretty good mix of products in the box. It included one makeup bag, 3 brushes, foundation primer, blush, all over face color, 3 lip products, eyeliner, and 2 loose eye shadows. 

The makeup bag is on the smaller side but is good quality. It's completely silver with a black inside, which I like because then if it gets dirty it's not as noticeable. 

The 3 brushes I got were the Flawless Radiance Brush, Tapered Blush Brush, and Double-Ended Liner Shadow Brush. All the bristles are super soft and I haven't had any issues with bristles falling out. I've never owned a Bare Minerals brush before (so I don't know if this is on all of them) but each brush is also labeled with the type of brush it is which I find helpful! 

One of the products that I was most excited for is the Prime Time Foundation Primer (full size). I get super oily so I love trying out new primers and this was one that I had been eyeing in the store.

Left to Right: Rule Breaker Gloss, Pop of Passion Balm, Brooklyn Lipstick

The 3 lip products I received were a Buxom lipstick in Brooklyn (deluxe sample), a Marvelous Moxie lipgloss in Rule Breaker (deluxe sample), and a Pop of Passion Lip Oil Balm (deluxe sample). I've always loved Bare Minerals Marvelous moxie glosses because I like the minty scent. I've only tried their Buxom lipsticks in the store but have always wanted to buy one! They apply easily and feel super moisturizing. The lip oil color looks intensely bright at first but applies pretty sheer and feels moisturizing as well. The only thing I didn't really like was that it didn't smell that great. Kind of had a cheaper makeup scent.

The eyeliner included is the Big and Bright Eyeliner in the color Chocolate (full size). Usually I only wear black eyeliner but my second most worn liner shade is brown tones, so I didn't mind getting a brown one since I already own a ton of blacks. This one applied easily and also has a built in smudger at the end. Click here for a similar one. 

The full size blush balm included was a cream/balm, which I don't really like to use because I prefer more powders since I get pretty oily. Also I feel like creams/balms are harder for me to spread out on my skin. The color is Petal Passion and is hot pink, so you need to make sure you use a small amount and build up to your desired shade or it would be too clown-like. However, if you're someone who doesn't live in a really humid climate and likes the dewy skin look this is a blush for you. 

Left to Right: All Over Face Color, Eyeliner, Gloss, Balm, Lipstick

The All Over Face Color came in the color Enchanted Beauty (full size). It's a complexion booster, but at first glance I thought it was a powder blush. It was more of a deep bronze/pink tone (see image above) and I feel like if I used it all over my face I would end up looking sunburned, but I will use it as a blush. They do offer other colors on their site, I saw more brown toned ones which I would prefer. 

Lastly I got 2 eyecolors (full size). These were my favorite thing in the whole box! They are really shimmery and great for packing onto the eyelid. The colors I received were Nude Beach and True Gold. I no longer saw these on their website but linked similar tones. 

FINAL THOUGHTS

This is a great box, especially if you're looking to try out different products and aren't looking for anything specific. There was a broad range of products included, and even though some are now discontinued it was a nice way to try out more of Bare Minerals products that I haven't used before. I wouldn't put the full value at $235, just because a lot of products are discontinued (they would have been on sale) and the value is based off of the price they were when they were full price, but I still think it is worth well over $40 so you do get your money's worth. Over all I would repurchase a surprise box again! 

Click here & sign up for Bare Minerals emails to be notified of future surprise boxes!

FTC: Some affiliate links used. Everything purchased by me!

COLLECTIVE SUMMER HAUL | Try-On Style

Check Out My Summer Clothing Haul! 

So I recently filmed a collective try-on haul featuring stuff from NA-KD, Windsor, Victoria's Secret, Quay, Brandy Melville, and Aritzia. 

Jacket from NA-KD

One store I ordered stuff from is NA-KD. I recently discovered their online shop and have been in love with their style AND they have FREE SHIPPING! I love stores that offer free shipping because if I'm already buying from you I really contemplate over whether the extra shipping charge is worth it. The quality of what I got was great and the pricing isn't super expensive either. They do carry higher end items (like For Love and Lemons) but they also have really affordable styles as well.  
(Get 10% off and free worldwide shipping with discount code "WELCOME10" at NA-KD.com)!

VS Padded Bralette

I've also been loving the new VS padded bralettes. I feel like you can wear them a lot more then ones without padding (my personal opinion), especially under sheer loose tanks and they look way better then a normal bra. 

Windsor Bodysuit

Ever since we moved to Southern Florida there's no more Windsors near us, which sucks, so I have to resort to ordering from them online. I really like their bodysuits but feel that the sizing of their dresses can be iffy (some are super small while some are normal sizing). However their customer service seems pretty good with helping you out if you're unhappy with what you got. 

Quay Sunglasses: Top "On the Prowl," Bottom "Cherry Bomb"

Also something new that I got was Quay sunglasses! Normally I buy the cheap F21 ones because I feel like I always break or lose my glasses, but I decided to splurge and get ones that were better quality (so I better not misplace these). I love their "On The Prowl" ones. I also got their "Cherry Bomb" ones but I've been wearing the "On The Prowl" ones daily and love how oversize they are!

Something else I wanted to mention are the denim Brandy Melville shorts from PacSun. I mentioned this in a previous haul video but the sizing for Brandy shorts is SOOOO much better at Pacsun versus the actual Brandy stores. It's weird because at Brandy stores all the denim shorts are "one size" so most of the time the fit will be completely off, however, the PacSun's have actual sizes (24, 25, 26, 27 etc). I asked a Brandy manager why the store didn't have sizes and she said she didn't even know the denim at PacSun did. I've found that the PacSun Brandy denim fits really true to size and I've been liking the cut of their shorts a lot more then the PacSun brands this season! 

To see the full video of everything I picked up plus links to the items go watch my YouTube video here!

Some affiliate links used. Everything purchased by me unless otherwise stated :)

JEFFREE STAR COSMETICS | Velour Liquid Lipstick + Skin Frost Review

Watch My YouTube Review Here

I ordered four liquid lipsticks and one skin frost highlighter when Jeffree did a big restock in June. I've never tried any of his products before and was really excited to get a lot of things on my makeup wish list when he restocked! I waited for a restock that had a lot of colors that I wanted so that I would reach the free shipping amount. The Velour Liquid Lipstick colors that I got were Unicorn Blood, Gemini, Celebrity Skin, and Mannequin. The Skin Frost that I got is Ice Cold. 

Ordering Process/Shipping
I didn't have any difficulties using Jeffree's site to order. I follow his personal Instagram and his company's Instagram so I knew exactly when the restock would be happening and logged onto the website when the products got released. 

They did not sell out super fast and when I checked a couple hours later the restocked products were still available to purchase. I believe some were even up for a few days, however the skin frost did sell out pretty quickly. Probably because this was only the second time it was released on his site. 

I have never seen every product on his site get restocked all at once, so most of the time a lot of items are sold out and you need to be aware of restock dates by checking social media. I waited for a larger restock (that restocked a lot of colors I wanted) so that I would reach the $100 amount to get free shipping. 

Shipping took 8 days. I saw Jeffree tweet out that shipping was taking longer because it was such a big restock and they had gotten a lot of orders. When it did arrive I was impressed with the packaging. The Skin Frost was bubble wrapped and everything was individually wrapped in it's own tissue paper, so it was like opening a bunch of little presents! Nothing arrived broken. 

Top to Bottom: Unicorn Blood, Gemini, Celebrity Skin, Mannequin 

Packaging/Formula
I love the hot pink packaging on all of Jeffree's products! 

The Skin Frost goes on smoothly and is very pigmented. I got the shade Ice Cold (which is a white highlight) and the first time I applied it I was impressed with how pigmented it was. I only needed to apply a little bit. The compact that the Skin Frost comes in is HUGE! It's a lot larger than my Becca highlighter (see pic for comparison) and has a mirror on the inside of the lid. 

I like the size of the Velour Liquid Lipsticks because they look very similar to non liquid lipsticks containers. Some have a Root Beer scent, which I wasn't a big fan of, but the scent didn't linger. 

These applied evenly, dried completely matte and lasted all day on my lips. I normally have really dry lips and applied lip conditioner before I put on the liquid lipsticks. I didn't have any problems with it feeling uncomfortable. 

Out of the four shades I got my favorite is Celebrity Skin for everyday wear. Unicorn Blood will be perfect for the fall/winter months and Gemini is also a great everyday color. However, I felt that Mannequin was a little light for my skin tone. 

Cost
The Skin Frosts cost $29 each. During their initial release you could purchase all four at a discounted rate but that option is no longer listed on the website. Currently there are four colors (Ice Cold, Peach Goddess, King Tut, and Mint Condition) and on social media Jeffree has shown other colors that will be coming in the future (a violet shade, black, and a dark gold one). 

The Velour Liquid Lipsticks cost $18 each. There are 26 colors listed online and Jeffree has shown swatches of new colors that are going to be released in the next couple months. I know he will also be coming out with metallic ones. 

Worth It?
I feel that both products are definitely worth the price. The highlighter is huge and the formula is very pigmented. The liquid lipsticks apply evenly and last for hours. Both prices are comparable to similar high end brands and their quality makes them worth the price. What I like about Jeffree's products is that there's a wide range of colors available so if you want something unique his line is definitely one you should check out.  

Everything purchased by me.