Sephoria Virtual 2023 box is out for delivery

[karalynnleann]

SPOILERS in comments

Y’all my box is out for delivery!!! Estimated to arrive in the next four hours. Even if I end up with lil samples I’ll be happy to have it and not stalk tracking.

I will update this post or post comment replies with photos when I get it. Very excited!

For those who think it might be a queue and want to figure out if your order was before/after mine:

Confirmation of purchase: on Aug 7, 2023, 7:28:32 AM

I live in Northwestern USA for an idea of shipping time for a package from Salt Lake City

edit to add: I received two different tracking numbers, one on September 29 and one on October 4. The more recent one is reflecting the expected delivery, the prior shows no activity 

[Mikeaccino]

I purchased mine on July 18th at 05:06 AM and I haven’t even received mine yet. I don’t think there is a queue. 

I’m Livid that we had to pay for shipping, even though they were shipped so late. My tracking label are created on October 5th and have yet to update. I’m starting to think they ran out of swag bags to mention and refund others out of pettiness. 

[tsavorite]

Thanks for this Thread, @karalynnleann !  

@Sunnysmom , you might be interested in this!

[Sunnysmom]

Thank you @tsavorite ! Sounds fun doesn’t it! I see some good stuff that I know I will use and also will be good to have a small size for bags/ travel!  Shouldn’t be too long I bet! 💞

[tsavorite]

@Sunnysmom ,

Mine is supposed to be out for delivery today!  I hope that yours arrives soon. 😊

[CorgiMommy]

@karalynnleann thanks for being so thorough posting everything 

[Enzo246]

Wow seems disappointing this year. Way less full size products, + only like 3 actual makeup products?? I was hoping for some fun stuff 

[lovelife22]

Agree! Only 1 eyeshadow. 

[Estherlyn]

Thank you for posting and providing the transparency we’ve all been hoping for! 

[karalynnleann]

My personal opinion: I'd rate this a 6/10

The box was very low effort compared to last year, which is more evironmentally friendly but didn't feel like "an experienence." Won't dock points for my Fedex driver kicking fieldgoals with my box and denting it. A kind of dirty plain white box with a printed logo on the inside, plain black tissue paper, and no organizational attempt with the items.

There is no information about why these products were included, no brochures or flyers that gave the feeling that this was a curated experience in any way. Rather, it felt like "just a box of random samples." In this regard, when I consider the online experience and this box, calling this the "virtual" equivalent of the IRL experience feels misleading when product samples, brand booths, detailed information are so central to the experience. Even if it was a "scan this QR code to watch a video about these products" that linked to a playlist with a Sephoria specific video followed by some brand videos, that would have felt more intentionally curated. 

The "limited-edition SEPHORiA swag item" is underwhelming compared to last years, which had multiple fun items. Again I could see the eco-friendly take on this, but it isn't very memorable as a Sephoria box, which might be a good thing - maybe I'll forget how mid this year was and buy it again. I highly preferred choices of themed boxes last year - skincare, haircare, fragrance, and makeup are so personal, and the "a few of everything" strategy reinforces the non-curated feeling. 

Several of these items feel like the "go-to" sample fillers that Sephora puts in everything, and has put in everything for years - sample you chose sold out? No problem, here's another fragrance that smells like burning aftershave and enough serum to cover a bumblebee.

A few of the items I was pleasantly surprised by considering they are fairly new.

I do wish Sephora had a sample recycling program or a place to donate unused samples - I'm sure there's complicaions since they don't usually have protective seals, but some of these I know I'll never use, and it is wasteful to toss. I don't have a repitoire of friends needing sample sized stocking stuffers. Even if I did, Sephora kindly used a permanent marker on the barcodes and even containers directly so it's not really "gift-ready" aesthetically.

"SEPHORiA product assortment worth $300+" was correct - I calculated comparable value as $388.24 (math in another comment). My shipping experience was confusing but fine - arrived October 8th. Not really thrilled to have paid for shipping given the lack of transparency and lack of guaranteed arrival. Had two tracking numbers sent (only ordered 1 box), only 1 got updates. Other sources referenced 4-6 weeks shipping, and "no later than November" which was not my experience.

Has your box arrived? 

Would you have ordered if you knew the contents?

What are your thoughts on the products, the value of the box, and the entire virtual experience?

[Chareen]

Well…I wasn’t going to go too in depth with my opinion because I didn’t want to come off harsh to some people but honestly the box didn’t look thought out at all…I will say the k18 hair mask I had planned to buy in that exact size so it saves me $29. I wouldn’t mind trying the pattern leave in conditioner either. So those two items were nice for me. The Laneige kit is cute…that’s all I have to say about that. Everything else is kind of whatever to me. Also, I do like that the sephoria bag doesn’t say “virtual” on it because our sephoria items last year said “Virtual Sephoria” and i dont know..that kind of bothered me. I can’t stand replica by the fireplace and I wish they would stop giving that out to people…it stinks…genuinely smells like old tobacco…disgusting. I don’t want that fragrance anywhere near me. But yeah..the majority of this box will not be used by me. 

[Chareen]

@karalynnleann yeah it just doesn’t seem like a box we should have needed to wait weeks for. Even if the “value” adds up to be over $300 the contents could have been A LOT better. I don’t think this is worth what was paid for me. Would I buy this next year if it’s offered? Probably because I’m a person who clearly throws their money around. 🙄 

[karalynnleann]

I like to imagine well-articulated and fair feedback matters to someone at Sephora - seemed like they put in so much effort for the first post-Covid IRL event that the virtual event with more customers was an afterthought.

And yeah fireplace is exactly the fragrance I was not-so-subtly referencing - I have a full bottler’s worth of samples by now. Pretty much every time the sample I picked is OOS, Sephora gives me another. Kills me 🥲

[SportyGirly125]

@karalynnleann @Mine hasn’t arrived. Didn’t really like the virtual event on a working day. 

[SportyGirly125]

@karalynnleann @Thank you for posting. 

[Chareen]

It’s cute…I like the bag. Thank you for posting.

[karalynnleann]

(I linked the product with closest size where the actual size was not available)

Haircare products:

3 fl oz Pattern leave-in conditioner

30 ml Amika flash instant shine mask

.85 fl oz MoroccanOil Treatment

15 ml K18 leave-in molecular repair hair mask

2 fl oz Briogeo Scalp Revival

2 fl oz Function of Beauty Pro Wavy Hair Recovery Mask

.36 fl oz Fable & Mane Smooth & Shine Hair Oil

 

[karalynnleann]

(I linked the product with closest size where the actual size was not available)

Skincare products:

7 ml Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturizing Cream

10 ml Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum

10 ml Fenty Skin Fat Water Toner Serum

30 ml Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray

10 ml Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Cream

15 ml Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream

10 ml Tatcha The Water Cream

100 ml innisfree Pore Clearing Clay Mask 2x with Super 100 ml Volcanic Clusters Face Mask

15 ml Charlottes Magic Cream Instant Turnaround Moisturizer

3 treatments Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel

15 ml Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Cream

Laneige Besties Set 5 pc

1. 30g Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Cleansing Foam
2. 10 ml Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Serum
3. 20 ml Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Cream Moisturizer
4. 10 ml Water Sleeping Mask
5. 3g Lip Sleeping Mask (berry)

 

[karalynnleann]

(I linked the product with closest size where the actual size was not available)

Cosmetic/Makeup products:

30 ml Make Up For Ever Mist & Fix

15 ml Rare Beauty Always an Optimist Illuminating Primer

15 ml Saie Glowy Super Gel

4g Benefit Fanfest fanning & volumizing mascara

.11 oz Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Shine oil-in-stick lip colour

5 ml Yummy Skin Glow Serum Primer

.4g Natasha Denona Glam Eyeshadow in Outer Eye Lid 321M

 

[karalynnleann]

(I linked the product with closest size where the actual size was not available)

Fragrance/Body products:

2.5 oz Sol De Janeiro Beija Flor Elasti-Cream 

7 ml Replica By The Fireplace

1.2 ml Kilian I don’t need a price by my side to be a princess

1.5 ml Kayali Vanilla | 28

1.5 ml LoveShackFancy Forever in Love

 

[karalynnleann]

All non-bag contents and comparable value breakdown: 

Total comparable value of items: $388.24 (excludes the Sephoria bag)

For each item, referenced Sephora’s current listing for “standard size” as of 10/08.

In order to get an idea of comparable value, did not reference the mini size if one existed, even if it was the same size as what was received.

If multiple sizes existed for "Standard Size," used the larger Standard Size.

If the item was on sale, referenced the standard price.

“Price per ___” was truncated for documentation, but the price used to calculate value of sample was not (not limited to 3rd decimal place).

For the final sample value, rounded to the nearest cent where needed.

2.5 oz Sol De Janeiro Beija Flor Elasti-Cream

Standard Size: 8.1 oz

Price : 48.00

Price per oz: 5.93

Value of sample: 14.81

7 ml Replica By The Fireplace

Standard Size: 100 ml

Price : 160

Price per ml: 1.6

Value of sample: 11.2

1.2 ml Kilian I don’t need a price by my sde to be a princess

Standard Size: 50 ml

Price : 130.00

Price per ml: 2.6

Value of sample: 3.12

1.5 ml Kayali Vanilla | 28

Standard Size: 100 ml

Price : $125.00

Price per ml: 1.25

Value of sample: 1.88

1.5 ml LoveShackFancy Forever in Love

Standard Size: 75 ml

Price : 125.00

Price per ml: 1.666

Value of sample: 2.50

3 fl oz Pattern leave-in conditioner

Standard Size: 9.8 oz

Price : 28.00

Price per oz: 2.857

Value of sample: 8.57

30 ml Amika flash instant shine mask

Standard Size: 200 ml

Price : 28.00

Price per ml: .14

Value of sample: 4.20

25ml fl oz MoroccanOil Treatment

Standard Size: 50ml

Price : 35.00

Price per oz: .70

Value of sample: 17.50

15 ml K18 leave-in molecular repair hair mask

Standard Size: 50 ml

Price : 75.00

Price per ml: 1.5

Value of sample: 22.50

2 fl oz Briogeo Scalp Revival

Standard Size: 8 oz

Price : 42.00

Price per oz: 5.25

Value of sample: 10.50

2 fl oz Function of Beauty Pro Wavy Hair Recovery Mask

Standard Size: 7 oz

Price : 28

Price per oz: 4

Value of sample: 8.00

5 ml Fable & Mane Smooth & Shine Hair Oil

Standard Size: 55 ml

Price : 38

Price per ml: .691

Value of sample: 3.45

30 ml Make Up For Ever Mist & Fix

Standard Size: 100 ml

Price : 33.00

Price per ml: .33

Value of sample: 9.90

15 ml Rare Beauty Always an Optimist Illuminating Primer

Standard Size: 28 ml

Price : 28.00

Price per ml: 1.00

Value of sample: 15.00

15 ml Saie Glowy Super Gel

Standard Size: 30 ml

Price : 28.00

Price per ml: .933

Value of sample: 14

4g Benefit Fanfest fanning & volumizing mascara

Standard Size: 8.5g

Price : 28.00

Price per g: 3.29

Value of sample: 13.18

.11 oz Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Shine oil-in-stick lip colour

Standard Size: .11 oz

Price : 43.00

Value of sample: 43.00

5 ml Yummy Skin Glow Serum Primer

Standard Size: 32.5 ml

Price : 34.00

Price per ml: 1.05

Value of sample: 5.23

.4g Natasha Denona Glam Eyeshadow in Outer Eye Lid 321M

Standard Size: 15 colors of 19.25 g eyeshadows -> 288.75g

Price : 69

Price per g: .238

Value of sample: 0.10

7 ml Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturizing Cream

Standard Size: 50 ml

Price : 48.00

Price per ml: .96

Value of sample: 6.72

10 ml Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum

Standard Size: 30ml

Price : 82.00

Price per ml: 2.733

Value of sample: 27.33

10 ml Fenty Skin Fat Water Toner Serum

Standard Size: 150 ml

Price : 34.00

Price per ml: .226

Value of sample: 2.27

30 ml Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray

Standard Size: 120 ml

Price : 28.00

Price per ml: .233

Value of sample: 7.00

10 ml Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Cream

Standard Size: 50 ml

Price : 39.00

Price per ml: .78

Value of sample: 7.80

15 ml Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream

Standard Size: 50 ml

Price : 68.00

Price per ml: 1.36

Value of sample: 20.40

10 ml Tatcha The Water Cream

Standard Size: 50 ml

Price : 72.00

Price per ml: 1.44

Value of sample: 14.40

100 ml innisfree Pore Clearing Clay Mask 2x with Super Volcanic

Clusters Face Mask

Standard Size: 100 ml

Price : 16.00

Value of sample: 16.00

15 ml Charlottes Magic Cream Instant Turnaround Moisturizer

Standard Size: 50 ml

Price : 100.00

Price per ml: 2.00

Value of sample: 30.00

3 treatments Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel

Standard Size: 30 treatments + 5 bonus (35)

Price : 92.00

Price per treatment: 2.628

Value of sample: 7.89

1.5 ml Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Cream

Standard Size: 50 ml

Price : 54.00

Price per ml: 1.08

Value of sample: 1.62

Laneige Besties Set 5 pc

30g Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Cleansing Foam

Standard Size: 150g

Price : 25.00

Price per g: .166

Value of sample: 5.00

10 ml Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Serum

Standard Size: 50 ml

Price : 45.00

Price per ml: .90

Value of sample: 9.0

20 ml Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Cream Moisturizer

Standard Size: 50 ml

Price : 40.00

Price per ml: .80

Value of sample: 16.00

10 ml Water Sleeping Mask

Standard Size: 70 ml

Price : 32.00

Price per ml: .457

Value of sample: 4.57

3g Lip Sleeping Mask (berry)

Standard Size: 20g

Price : 24.00

Price per g: 1.20

Value of sample: 3.60