Play by Sephora The Iconic Edition Worth $20? Probably Not!
Play by Sephora The Iconic Edition is a new $20 VIB Rouge Exclusive limited edition beauty box filled with luxury and high-end deluxe samples that launched last week. Mind you this is not a subscription box like the normal $10 Play by Sephora Beauty Boxes are. This was a one off that sold out rather fast but I mused in an earlier post that I felt like Sephora might be testing the water with this box and might potentially offer it as a monthly beauty box subscription or perhaps do other boxes like it seasonally.
One of the main complaints about the box was it was available for VIB Rouge Members only. This alienated a good deal of makeup lovers especially those on a budget who wanted to take advantage of a luxury box that contained higher-end deluxe samples at a more affordable price. If you don’t shop counter makeup often this was a nice way to try certain brands like Guerlain, Tom Ford, etc….
Unfortunately, Sephora limited the purchase of the Iconic Edition Play Box to VIB Rouge Members. Hopefully they’ve learned from the mistake because there was quite an outcry on their website within the review section of people complaining about this and the next time around it will be offered to everyone. Honestly, VIB Rouge status really doesn’t do me any great favors aside from the free flash shipping but even that’s not too big a deal since it only cost $10 a year for Flash anyway. Being offered a $20 Play Box because I’m a VIB Rouge Member isn’t doing me any great favors.
So, Play by Sephora The Iconic Edition worth $20? Probably not.
Here’s why.
I’m torn about this box on a few different levels. In some ways, I thought it was a nice selection of products and in other ways I felt like it wasn’t worthy $20. It deserves to be mentioned I was never a really happy Play Box Member and I reviewed quite a few of my Play Boxes before throwing the towel in and calling it a day because a lot of what they sent my way wasn’t really “new” or exciting. I think the same holds true for the Iconic Edition Box. There’s nothing in this box I haven’t already tried. Newness aside though, I also couldn’t help but think every single item in here was very easy to get for free at Nordstrom as a sample from any number of the counter girls and guys I deal with. Honestly, if you go to a higher-end counter, express interest in a product, and kindly ask for a sample you’ll likely get it. There are exceptions to that rule as sometimes you’ll run across some rude as hell MUA but many are quite nice and willing to give you a sample if you ask nicely.
Sephora went a little overboard with packaging on this as they do with all Play Boxes. This arrived in a larger brown box, inside was the standard smaller black box and inside that was a plastic gold zippered makeup bag that contained the samples. There’s also special edition Iconic Edition booklet that reads like a copy of YM Magazine with a quiz to determine your beauty personality. I seriously felt like I was 12 again reading this.
The newest product you’ll find in this box would be Dior Poison Girl (0.17 oz) which for me isn’t even new since I got my hands on a bottle of it last year at Duty Free. Other items include La Mer Cream (.24 oz) which is an obvious nod and pitch that Sephora now carries La Mer products. There’s a pink YSL Rouge Volupte Shine Lipstick (Shade 49) that wasn’t terribly flattering on my lips. Other items included a small Tom Ford Black Orchid rollerball, Burberry Cat Lashes Mascara, and Guerlain L’Or Radiance Concentrate Makeup Base.
If you visit high-end counters enough you probably already have a lot of these samples hanging out in your draw. I have tons of the smaller La Mer Creams in a bag in my beauty closet. There’s nothing groundbreaking in the box but it is a nice selection of higher-end samples. I just question whether or not you really need to spend $20 to get your hands on these.
Should the Play by Sephora The Iconic Edition return it might be appealing pick for higher-end makeup and beauty lovers or it may be something you shrug your shoulders at like I did. I already have a lot of what was available in this box so, it doesn’t feel new or fresh to me.
Did you buy it?
What did you think about it?
Would you like to see Sephora offer a monthly $20 Play Box?
It’s out of stock now but hopefully it restocks at Sephora.com if you are interested.