Merry Christmas everyone!

Though it’s a crazy busy week for all of us, this didn’t stop me from writing this review. Now let me share with you my thoughts on my November Play! by Sephora box.

Let’s begin.

MARC JACOBS BEAUTY Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara

My first impression with the wand was annoying, I thought that it will be super clumpy and messy but as soon as I got used to it, I really liked it. It gives volume and length on my lashes and it didn’t flake or smudge on me which is good. I also like that this mascara is very easy to remove. The only downside is that, due to the size and shape of the wand it’s hard to reach the tiny lashes that needs attention. But other than that, to me this mascara is great! I’m so glad I received this in my box. This is in the color Noir – black which retails for $26.00 standard size.

SEPHORA COLLECTION Ultra Shine Lip Gel

I’m not a fan of lip gel or lip glosses, but in order for me to provide a good review I had to try it. Now, this lip gel is surprisingly comfortable on the lips. I used this instead of a lip balm and it did leave my lips feeling soft and hydrated. It has a pleasant sweet smell, it’s pretty sheer when applied on the lips and this is also a nice lip topper if you want some shine too. The applicator is OK nothing special, the most important part is, it keeps the application easy. I got the shade Perfect Nude and this comes in a variety of shades. This retails for $7.00 each.

ORIGINS Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores

I’ve been eyeing on this charcoal mask from ORIGINS for a while now so I was very pleased when I saw this in my bag. This mask feels very soothing while sitting on my skin. It’s gentle that I didn’t notice any burning or irritation during and after using it. This is not messy either unlike other charcoal masks that I’ve tried. It has a gel like like consistency during application but turns matte to almost clear when it dries (depending on the amount you use).  It has a very slight no almost no smell at all which is even better. This made my skin feeling soft and smooth, though I didn’t notice a huge change on my pores that I had to use a different exfoliant after this mask. The sample product that I got is pretty full that you can use it not just once but several times. I don’t see anything special with this mask so I’m actually glad I didn’t pay much for this item. You pay $27.00 for 3.4 oz/ 100 mL.

PERRICONE MD H2 Elemental Energy Hydrating Cloud Cream ($80.00)

I’ve read great reviews about this brand and sure enough it’s in my bag for me to try. First thought was, it might be too harsh or too strong for my sensitive skin (I don’t know why I thought of it) but this cream is actually very gentle. It’s a beautiful moisturizer that leaves my skin hydrated, soft and super lightweight too. It feels like a serum during application that you can feel it being absorbed while you’re massaging it on your skin. It moisturized my skin without being greasy. I use this before I apply my foundation and it helps my foundation glides easily.

One thing that I don’t like in this product is the scent. I don’t know how to explain but it’s just too I don’t know.. creamy?? It’s not strong or overwhelming but if you have such sensitive sense of smell (like me) then you can definitely smell if for sure.

Other than the scent, all in all this product is a hit!

IGK Mistress Hydrating Hair Balm

I haven’t heard of this brand until now, so I’m glad that I’m subscribed to Play! by Sephora box because this opened my eyes to so many new products that I’ve never tried before. Anyway, because I have long hair and I’m always looking for products that works wonders, I got so excited and used this on my hair without hesitation. First things first, this hair balm smells so good.

Ingredients:
– Coconut Oil: Nourishes hair.
– Shea Butter: Adds rich moisture to the hair to address the cause of dryness.
– Argan Oil: Nourishes hair.

This made me want to apply the entire tube on to my hair which I kinda’ did! Big mistake, BIG! Because I applied a little too much, it weighed my hair down and it became so greasy and oily. The second time around, I used just the right amount and oh boy! my hair smelled amazing, it gave me the nicest shine, healthy looking and frizz-free hair without it feeling greasy and heavy. I am now saving the left over product for a special occasion (if I could).. This is available at Sephora for $29.00.

Bonus Fragrance

BURBERRY My Burberry Blush ($90.00)

This is what I love about Play! by Sephora monthly subscription, you get to try fragrances without breaking the bank. This month’s bonus fragrance is from Burberry and I was really hoping that this is another scent that I can add to my Fragrance Wish list.

Fragrance Family:
Floral

Scent Type:
Fruity Florals

Key Notes:
Pomegranate, Rose, Jasmine

I didn’t like this scent at first try. I find this scent too strong and too florally for my taste. However, this is very long lasting and it lingers beautifully the longer it sits on your skin. I’m glad that this isn’t overwhelming so it didn’t bother me and I was able to try it more than once. The more I tried it, the scent surprisingly grew on me. From floral to fruity it now turned into a bit citrusy which I like and with that, I’ve been enjoying it since. I’m sure you too will love this scent.

I also inserted a photo of the full-sized bottle of this perfume so you can see how cute the packaging is. Definitely feminine and elegant at the same time.

What else can I say, Play! by Sephora you know how to make me happy! 🙂