Happy Wednesday! Today I’m here to share what I got in my PLAY! by Sephora subscription for December. I talk all about what PLAY! by Sephora is in my November Unboxing, so if you want to learn more please see THIS blog post. I was really looking forward to this box after an awesome first month, and I was a bit disappointed when it arrived. Nonetheless, it does have an amazing retail value! Let me show you what was inside my December PLAY! by Sephora box!
The December theme was Oh What Fun! in celebration of the holiday season, but to be honest I don’t really see a cohesive theme with the products. Just like last month, I got a mix of makeup, skincare, and fragrance products. As I show you each product, the dollar amount listed is the retail value of each sample size, which I calculate in proportion to the full size product.
Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb – $4.00
I am once again disappointed to get a perfume sample in this month’s box. Perfume samples are free at Sephora, both online and in-store. Nonetheless, I understand that Flowerbomb is an iconic perfume, and many people love it. This sample would be great for travel, or if you wanted to test out this luxury scent. Unfortunately, I cannot use it at all because floral scents really bother my allergies. I know I’m a unique case here, but this product is a bust for me.
Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil – $5.00
The next product is a face oil, similar to the argan oil I received in last month’s PLAY! I really love the brand Fresh, and am always excited to try out different products from the company. I do tend to have bad luck with face oils, as they don’t work well with my combination skin. I’m still going to try this out, though, just because I’ve had good luck with Fresh in the past.
Smashbox Full Exposure Palette – $6.92
The next sample is one that is really awesome, and that is a mini eyeshadow palette from the brand Smashbox. I love that this sample comes with two eyeshadows, and that you get a mirror with it. The shadows can even be worn together! Unfortunately for me, I just purchased the Smashbox Full Exposure Travel Palette, and both of these shades are included. That is definitely a risk you take if you are a regular Sephora shopper!
Make Up Forever Aqua Eyes in Black – $11.88
The other makeup product in the December box is a black eyeliner from Make Up Forever. This is another awesome sample in general, but for me it is disappointing. I received an eyeliner last month, and I don’t wear eyeliner often at all. I’m glad this is a black shade, because it is the easiest to wear and use. I’m not sure if I’m going to keep this for myself, or pass it on yet.
Dr. Brandt PoreDermabrasion Pore Perfecting Exfoliator – $7.25
I received two more skincare samples, and the first I am really excited about! I absolutely love Dr. Brandt PoreDermabrasion, and use it on a regular basis. However, because it is so expensive, I wouldn’t be able to repurchase it when my bottle is empty. Now I have a backup, or a travel sized bottle. I’m so glad I got this sample!
NUDE Skincare Advanced Renewal Serum – $27.30
The last sample is definitely the most perplexing one in the box! I got seven foil packets of the NUDE serum. At first I was annoyed to get foil packets, but then I realized that I could try out the serum for an entire week to see how I liked it. When I calculated the retail value, I was absolutely floored. These foil packets do not have any sort of size marking on it, but I did some research and most foil packets are 0.05 fluid ounces. I used that for my calculations, and cannot believe how much these samples cost! While it is annoying that these are free samples that could be given out at any Sephora (I’ve even had one before!), the value is definitely impressive.
Overall, my December PLAY! by Sephora box has an approximate retail value of $62.35. That is amazing considering I only spent $10 on it! However, I’m very disappointed that the box is quite similar to last month’s. In both boxes I got a perfume sample, eyeliner, and oil – all things I don’t typically use. The only item that I am particularly excited to use in the December box is the PoreDermabrasion. Thus, despite the high retail value of the box as a whole, it is a flop for me. I’m going to be trying out January’s box to see how it compares, but if it is repetitive I will most likely cancel. For more information on PLAY! by Sephora, see the official website HERE.
Do you subscribe to PLAY! by Sephora? Leave a comment with your thoughts on the December box!
Shop for the items inside my December PLAY! by Sephora box using the widget below and I will earn a small commission. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.
Violet Voltage is a light purple nail polish packed with a subtle magenta shimmer. The formula is perfection, and is opaque in two coats. I am loving this color of polish! While it’s not totally unique, the shimmer does add a nice punch to it. I also really like how Violet Voltage looks with my fair skin tone. I followed up the manicure with the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Top Coat, by the way. It’s my new favorite!
I am so bad when it comes to taking care of my skin! One of my recurring makeup bad habits is not taking off my makeup before bed. I know, it’s terrible! This year I want to make sure I go through an entire skincare routine both morning and evening. That way I can put my best face forward!
It’s a cliche New Year’s Resolution, but I definitely want to focus on my overall health more than ever. For me, this includes taking the daily vitamins recommend by my doctor, exercising on a regular basis, and eating better foods. As you may know, I am a vegetarian, and this year I want to truly embrace my vegetarianism by focusing more on produce and less on grains and dairy. I don’t aim to go vegan right now, but I know that putting good foods into my body will make me feel a lot better. To go along with this, I want to continue trying new recipes on a regular basis!
Last but not least, I always set a reading goal on the website Goodreads. This past year I was able to read 50 books, and I’m setting my goal at 40 for 2016 so I don’t put pressure on myself. I also want to make an effort to read longer books, so I should have a nice cushion with a goal of 40. Here are the books I received for Christmas this past year. I’m so excited to get to them all!
I got this bright coral blush in a Birchbox, and was surprised at how much l loved it! The blush is very pigmented, and has quite a bit of shimmer. Somehow it looked great on my fair skin! I wore it a ton this past summer. It is a high end product, but worth the splurge if you’re looking for an amazing blush.
I was really excited to find a new highlighter line at the drugstore by L’Oreal. I had to get the rose gold one, just because I love anything rose gold. This highlight is no exception! It is quite shimmery, but it works. I wore it a lot in the summer and fall, and will definitely reach for it again once winter is over. Don’t forget to use coupons on this one!
I’ve become really obsessed with Buxom in the past couple of months, and my favorite lip product thus far is Dolly. It is the perfect shade of mauve-pink, and it is so easy to wear. Plus, it feels great on my lips. I’ve been reaching for this consistently since I got it, and even wore it for Christmas Eve!
Thanks for your support!
3. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saénz 
by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff 
I absolutely drooled over the Zoya Satins collection when it was released. My favorite of the bunch is definitely Brittany. It is just the perfect polish, with a flawless formula and a stunning pale pink shade. I need to wear this again very soon!
Okay, it’s time for another blue polish. Beatnik is just gorgeous, and I don’t know what else to say about it. The rich pigmentation is just so beautiful!
You can laugh at me, because I know Sia is super similar to Beatnik. But it’s just a bit brighter in tone, and the formula is just perfect. I wore Sia a lot when I first received it, and I’m feeling the need to put it on my nails as I type up this blog post!
This is the last blue-toned polish, I promise! The good news is Breaking Blues is more of a periwinkle shade, and I just love it. That’s why it’s number two on my list! The color is quite unique, and it works in any season.
My number one polish of 2015 is Chilly Pepper from KBShimmer. I cannot believe I’m saying this, as I’ve tended to bash red nail polishes in the past because of my pink-toned skin. Somehow KBShimmer has created the perfect red polish that looks good on me. Not only was it a go-to for the holiday season, but it’s the red I will grab from now on. You must get it!
I began my silver and gold manicure with a base of Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in