Coffee Break: Play! By Sephora
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I've been meaning to do a bigger review after trying a variety of beauty subscription services over the past year or so, but at this point I don't remember much except that Ipsy kept sending me brown eye shadow and black liquid liner (neither of which I wear), and Birchbox had a few good months but then started sending me repeats as well.
I'm on month 4 or so of Play! by Sephora, and from the start it's been a totally different experience — most likely because I've been buying almost all of my makeup and skincare either through Sephora, Nordstrom or Amazon for the past decade or so, so they have a lot more customer info to go on as far as predicting which products or box I might like (at least, that's how I suspect it works; I wasn't so great at providing customer feedback to Ipsy or Birchbox).
It's $10 a month, and you get a lot of big samples — but more importantly you get the excitement of opening a little surprise just for you every month. Play! by Sephora
Sales of note for 5/30/25:
- Nordstrom – The Half-Yearly Sale has begun! See our full roundup here. Lots of markdowns on AGL (50%!), Weitzman, Tumi, Frank & Eileen, Zella, Natori, Cole Haan, Boss, Theory, Reiss (coats), Vince, Eileen Fisher, Spanx, and Frame (denim and silk blouses)
- Nordstrom Rack – Refurbished Dyson hairdryers down to $199-$240 (instead of $400+) + Father's Day gifts up to 60% off
- Ann Taylor – 25% off tops & sweaters + extra 30% off sale
- Banana Republic Factory – Sale extended: 50-70% off everything + extra 25% off
- Boden – 1100+ sale items!
- Eloquii – $25+ select styles + extra 50% off all sale
- J.Crew – Up to extra 50% off select sale styles, and women's shorts, tees and more from $24.50
- J.Crew Factory – Up to 60% off everything + 60% off clearance
- M.M.LaFleur – Lots of twill suiting in the sale section! Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off
- Rothy's – Up to 30% off everything
- Spanx – Free shipping on everything
- Talbots – Select summer styles marked 25-40% off
And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!
Some of our latest threadjacks include:
- what should I pick for our company-branded conference swag?
- what non-sneaker shoes can you walk a mile in?
- I'm 31 and feel like my life is too stagnant…
- which emojis fill you with rage?
- how can I make house guests more comfortable?
- my friend is at her wit's end with her SAHP
- when is it time to quit therapy?
- why is it so hard to stay on top of school communications for my teen?
- what hobbies or skills do you wish you'd picked up during the pandemic?
- how can I better enjoy domestic business travel?
- older parents: what actually mattered and what didn't with your kids?
- am I being petty by wanting to delete all of my how-to-do-this-job guides before I quit?
I dislike leggings, but am interested in wearing jogger athletic pants for weekend wear and walks, etc. Are ankle length joggers more flattering on a pear shape body than the crop or capri? I’m still getting used to the tapered legs idea after having worn straight or loose legged pants for working out for 30 years.
I think it depends on the length and cut – but I’m hourglass/hippy and love the joggers I own – pockets! I do not like how crops/capris fit me. I prefer a higher waist and the length to be a little longer than “ankle” – basically the new 7/8ths length equivalent. I don’t feel the need to wear a tunic length/bum covering shirt with them as I do with leggings. They’re great for travel, walking/light hikes, running weekend errands. I have 3 pairs – one each from Athleta, Eddie Bauer and Fabletics. Order some and try them out!
Links?
Hi, guys. Have any of you gotten a crown on a front tooth? Everything has gone well so far, and I currently have a temporary one until my permanent crown is ready in two weeks.
My question is if those of you with front crowns had any changes to their normal eating after getting the permanent crown? For example, eating an apple the old fashioned way? Do you have to, shudder,slice up the apple? Any other things you experienced or noted?
Aaaaah. This is definitely worth it, but I am suddenly very concerned about being able to eat normally.
I don’t have a front tooth crown, but I have a back tooth crown and a bonded front tooth and a capped front tooth. I wouldn’t eat a caramel apple or anything super sticky, but I don’t have any issues biting things that are crunchy.
I chipped my front tooth & have a cap on it, so kind of similar. I definitely recommend changing how you eat & trying to avoid biting into things. My cap keeps coming off because I’ve not been as careful I should have been. My dentist wants me to sleep with a night guard, but I find it really uncomfortable. Other than that, nothing to really be concerned about.
I have crowns on my front teeth – just had them replaced after making the previous ones last almost 20 years. I don’t bite into anything harder than a sandwich. Apples I will cut up and carrots I use my side teeth (canine to molar) to bite. When you are having it done, ask for more drugs if you need them. Consider having someone drive you home. I only had local anasthetic but was pretty loopy.
Late reply, but I am surprised to see the other responses. I have had crowns on both front teeth for at least 15 years and didn’t change my biting/chewing in any way.
I dislike all the samples from Sephora. I get wanting to try new products. But it just seems like so much unnecessary packaging and basically extra trash. Just another example of the environmental suicide that we all engage in every day.
+1 I subscribed to play box for 3 months and ended up hoarding and eventually tossing so many samples I’d never use, and maybe 1 good sample (Christopher Robin Salt Scrub). For $30 I’d rather just buy a product I want.
Also, you can go into Sephora and ask for a sample of nearly everything. I will decline the free samples in online orders and in store in favor of requesting a sample I really want.
+1
Also, that’s every subscription box ever. Enjoy your consumerism, but don’t think you’re doing the world any good. (Cause Box or whatever tf it’s called makes me rage.)
Small work environment improvement, brought a nice tea mug, strainer, and yummy herbal loose leaf tea for sipping on while I work. I love sipping on hot beverages (coffee) but can only have 1 coffee or else I get jitters. IDK why this is new for me!
Congratulations on discovering tea?
I went jean shopping last weekend and saw so many super skinny, super stretchy ripped jeans or jeans with lose hems. I almost never see women here actually wearing them (PNW). They cost so much, they’re clearly not for teenagers. Do you wear them? I feel like I would be treated differently if I wore purposely destructed clothing but it’s probably in my head or have you noticed this?
Are there no rich teenagers in the PNW?
this is a trend and maybe not for you.
i see many people wearing them here in Seattle today so i guess this observation must be limited to the areas that you frequent.
Yes, I wear all of the above. I am 33.