I've had many cosmetic subscriptions in the past. The first box was always exciting, but as the months pass, the products seem to become less interesting 'drug store' brands. There's nothing wrong with drug store cosmetics, BUT that's not what I signed up for. I always end up cancelling the subscription after a few months.

Until now.. PLAY! by Sephora has taken 'cosmetic subscriptions' to a higher level of standard. Play! is my favorite beauty box subscription. I've been receiving these little collectible bags of goodies for eight months and have no plans to cancel. There are no drug store brands in this program. Every product is from the Sephora lineup. Each month you receive five deluxe makeup, skincare and haircare samples, AND a bonus fragrance sample.

Play! by Sephora The Iconic Edition was a limited edition beauty box. This one was for purchase only and not a part of the monthly Play! subscription. The gold-tone zipper pouch contained premier cosmetic brand samples Dior, Guerlain, Yves Saint Laurent, La Mer and Burberry. Not sure if you're familiar with La Mer, but that stuff is EXPENSIVE! This deluxe sample alone made The Iconic Edition worth the purchase.

Each month you'll receive five deluxe samples of best-selling products at Sephora. I usually keep two or three and share the rest with friends. A girl can only hoard so much. I can open a Sephora pop-up shop with all the products I have tucked away (they're hidden so no-one sees my addiction and takes my credit card away)!

The excitement of opening the box, getting your little collectible bag and stellar deluxe samples makes my day. It's like a 'Cosmetic Christmas' every month. AND these deluxe samples are amazing.

I'm always happy to see my favorite brands - Bumble and Bumble, Benefit, Sol Janeiro, MILK, (I'd like to see some Too Faced products..), but new brands and cosmetics are welcome. This program allows you to try new cosmetics you would necessarily buy. Most of us are creatures of habit, and hey, if it ain't broken don't fix it! BUT, sometimes change is good and you'd be surprised at what your missing by sticking to the same old brands you've been using for way too long.

Each beauty box contains a little, draw-string bag with beauty-inspired sayings and prints. I love these little collectible bags. They're great for gifts. I also use them when I pack, they're perfect for organizing little things in my suitcase.

Each box contains a Play! Book with tips, product descriptions and how-tos. Your subscription gives you exclusive access to how-to videos and tutorials on Sephora.com. You can also view the current (and past) Play! boxes online.

You will receive a PLAY! Pass - 50 bonus Beauty Insider points. You can redeem these points when you purchase products in-store. Since Sephora introduced Rewards Bazaar, Beauty Insider points are invaluable. The revised rewards program drops amazing one-of-a-kind experiences, services from Sephora, as well as other top brands, and deluxe-size samples and sets every Tuesday and Thursday. I'm banking my points for something great.

Each month there is a subscriber-only event. Play! Date allows you and a friend to come in-store to play with products and meet Sephora beauty experts.

Play! by Sephora has so much to offer.. AND best of all, it's $10 a month! Yup, that's it. You would have to spend $50 to gain 50 Beauty Insider points - you're getting 50 bonus points each month, five deluxe beauty samples, a perfume sample, AND exclusive access to events. DROP THE MIC!

November 24, 2017 - OK, I'm browsing Sephora.com one week after I posted about Play! by Sephora - AND you can purchase these little bags of beauty products for $10 on Sephora.com. These boxes are exclusive, limited edition and online only.

Furry footwear has been trending for a while now. From slides to slippers (ones you wear out), to fur-embellished sneakers.. Last year I wore Tibi booties that had a patch of fur along the vamp. Everyone stopped me on the streets to ask where I got my boots. A little fur-embellishment (or faux-fur) changes your look, adds texture, and can elevate an otherwise muted style. I wouldn't wear a loud outfit and attention grabbing furry shoes, but rather similar shades up top and don something fun and furry on your feet. 

Gucci fur-embellished Princetown slippers dominate the 'furry-feet' style. Seems like every celebrity and model have a pair of these slippers. This season the Princetown slipper is all-over marino wool in light pink, yellow or fuchsia and pale brown. These slippers are AMAZING! I want them, but am hesitant to wear all-around furry shoes outside - I can just imagine how filthy they would get after one wear. Oh and what if you got unexpectedly caught in the rain! Nevertheless, the Gucci light pink Princetown slipper (available at Farfetch) is on my must-have list. 

Valentino Garavani open mink fur-trimmed sneakers (available at Mytheresa.com) are much more subtle, but still make a furry statement. These slip-on sneakers have a pull-tab at the heel and don the signature pyramid-shaped studs amongst the fur. The fur-trim runs from one side of the shoe to the other, completely covering the vamp. I like the red fur, but they're available in many other colors as well. 

These Prada embellished shearling slippers (available at Mytheresa.com) are over-the-top and super fun! The brown and white sheep fur has a pale-blue vamp with a crystal-embellished metal strap. Anything else and these would be too much (they kinda already are), BUT I love a statement shoe. These all-around furry sandals are anything but practical. 

MIU MIU buckled ballerinas have been reinvented each season for a while now. This nude leather and rabbit fur MIU MIU ballerina style (available at Farfetch) is one of my favorites. The muted shades suit my aesthetic perfectly. The ballerina style is oh so feminine, but the fur insole brings something new to this dated style, and the leather-buckled straps add a little edge. 

After describing furry shoes and promoting the furry-feet style, I'm wondering - do your feet excessively sweat in fur shoes? AND imagine sweat coupled with fur - EWW! If and when I have an answer to this question, I'll get back to you..

I love designer clothes and accessories, and even though I can't afford to fill my closet with the items I post on b.a.gorgie, I take inspiration from these styles. Great fashion starts at the top and trickles down until it reaches the masses. Following, mimicking and donning premier designer-inspired styles puts you at the forefront of fashion trends. Let these shoes inspire you, and find a similar style that fits within our budget.

Zulu & Zephyr Chill knit sweater and shorts, Fendi mink and leather slides, Chloé aviator glasses, LV handbag, Fendi fruits charm

Every time I take out my Felicia the Flamingo lip balm, people smile. It's ridiculous, pink and immature, but I LOVE it! The balm reminds me of the 'little girl' balms I had way back when. The lip balm is clear with sparkles and smells like strawberries. Felicia comes in a reusable mini beach bag - I'm not sure what you would put in there, but it's cute packaging. 

The brand behind this fun flamingo lip balm also released a Glamspin lip balm. You know those spinning things everyone's playing with (so annoying). There's a center circle (that you hold on to) and three outer circles that spin around. I don't get the amusement, but I don't get a lot of things. The Glamspin has three small pots of flavored lip balm - peach, strawberry and grape.

When I was a little girl (way back in the eighties), I wore leggings with stirrups - of course, they're back in style in 2017! Like everything in fashion, trends just spin around and around throughout the years. Once and a while we get something new, but I'm not complaining about the return of stirrups. You can wear this style under over-the-knee boots, with booties, high heels..

Dsquared2 Ski Gaiter Bleached Jeans (available at Farfetch) are distressed, bleached and have adjustable straps (stirrups). These jeans are from the 'Ski' collection - not sure I'd wear denim on the slopes (denim soaks up water like crazy and gets super cold), but if you're an 'I'll be at the lodge' kinda girl, these are your stirrup jeans.

These Gucci Checked Stirrup Trousers (available at Farfetch) are flared - a different take on the 'typical' stirrup pant. These flared pants have a retro vibe. Wrap the stirrup outside your shoe, rather than tuck it inside - it's the new stirrup look.

I mentioned these Saint Laurent Stirrup Denim Leg Warmers (available at mytheresa.com) a few weeks ago. They are amazing. I'm almost always happy to be short and petite, but it's styles like these that make me wish I had some height and longer stems. These go all the way up to your high (high) thigh. LOVE!

Another 'ski' inspired style are these MSGM Stretch Denim Stirrup Jeans (available at Farfetch). These stretchy skinnies don lateral red bands that say "MSGM'. Perfect for a ski trip.

Rag & Bone Oivia High-waisted Stirrup Jeans (available at mytheresa.com) are basic and cool. The light indigo shade and high-waist are as old as the stirrup style. The jeans are loose fitting, and add length to your legs. 

These Golden Goose Deluxe Brand Dele Metallic Stirrup Trousers (available at mytheresa.com) are super fun. The metallic purple material makes me think disco. These pants can take you from day to night and look nice paired with pumps. AGAIN, take a modern approach to the stirrup style and wrap the straps outside your shoe.

Chloé Jackson sunglasses, Acne Studios Yanin oversized sweatshirt, Fendi Rockoko boots, Chloé Nile handbag

I LOVE the Peaches and Cream Collection by Too Faced. I'm pale, with black hair, so peach is my color, and who wouldn't want peach scented makeup. These products are infused with peach and sweet fig cream. Too Faced should produce a body cream with this scent..

I usually have a lot to say about product scents - if cosmetic companies insist on a scented makeup product, go with fruity, chocolate or nutty scents. STOP with the old-lady perfume smells. Seems like newer brands are more conscious of scents and cater to the newer generations. Older, established brands tend to use 'older', outdated scents.

I'm slowly moving away from my go-to brands, and realizing that I've been missing out on great cosmetics. Change is good. Too Faced is one of my new favorite makeup brands. The products are great, the selection is versatile and the packaging is fun (Instagram worthy). I'm swiftly becoming a super-fan of this brand.

Too Faced Translucent Finishing Powder is a peach-colored powder that smoothes imperfections and gives you a nice warm look. This finishing powder is great for blurring and correcting harsh blush and bronzer lines. OR you can lightly brush the powder all-over. The powder contains optical-correcting spheres - for a luminescent finish, but gives you a warm, matte look.

Too Faced Sweet Pie Radiant Matte Bronzer looks and smells like a delicious pie. The bronzer is made of three colors - Candied Peach (pink, Caramelized Peach (light brown), and Golden Peach (medium brown), blend together seamlessly. This is not a contouring bronzer, but rater an all over, radiance-boosting bronzer. I use it on my face, neck and décolleté.

Peach My Cheeks Melting Powder Blush is a cream to powder product. These make me nervous! BUT I thought I'd give it a try.. The product is nice and goes on smooth - I recommend applying it with a kabuki brush or your fingers. For a light, flushed look, pat onto the apples of your cheeks. For a more sculpted look, roll your kabuki brush half-way and apply in a pressing motion. Peach My Cheeks is available in six colors - I purchased Peach Dream. It's a little lighter than I expected, but looks pretty on my pale skin. Oh and smells amazing!

I'm not the kinda girl that lugs around everything but the kitchen sink. SO, totes are not my thing. BUT I need a large tote for travel. As hard as I try, I'm never gonna fit all my stuff in a carry-on suitcase for a weekend getaway. A shopper is big enough to carry liquids, small handbags and maybe a pair of shoes on my shoulder. It's gotta be large enough to hold all my stuff, but still fit within the 'one personal item' category. Is it just me or are airline size restrictions getting smaller and smaller?

You may be asking what's the difference between a tote and a shopper. Honesty, I have no idea. I would like to say a shopper is larger (in most cases it is), BUT handbag styles are blurred these days - there are small totes, and huge clutches.. There's also shopper totes.

I feel like the brand Off-White is having a moment. Admittedly, I'm a little obsessed. This Off-White leather tote (available at mytheresa.com) isn't being enough for my travel needs, but I could find a reason to carry it!

This Prada shearling shopper (available at mytheresa.com) is everything I love - furry, pink, and dons fluffy pompoms. AND it's big enough to hold my weekend getaway bags and shoes. This furry shopper is kinda loud, but who cares. Over-the-top handbags add a little something to an otherwise muted wardrobe. This shearling shopper is also available in yellow and brown hues, with orange pompoms.

This Dolce & Gabbana Beatrice fur shopper (available at mytheresa.com) is not my personal style (not a fan of black), but it's huge and perfect for those "I got a lot of s**t to lug around' days. The other side says L♥VE in white and red.

Yes, I'm crushing on Prada handbags these days.. I mentioned this Prada fur shopper (available at mytheresa.com) a few weeks ago. It's available in rose with red pompoms and white with blue and green pompoms. This shopper is huge and isn't structured, so you can stuff a lot of everything here.

These shopper styles may be al little out of your budget (mine too), but they're inspiring and a girl can dream..

Every now and then I'll sift through the Sephora Collection products lineup in search of new, unique cosmetics and tools. I always find good stuff. AND the Sephora brand prices are inexpensive compared to other brands featured at the store and on-line. These are my most recent finds..

Sephora Lineup Makeup Tape is the perfect solution to 'my' eye-makeup application needs. I'm terrible at applying eye-liner and usually opt to go bare, but this tape makes it so much easier to get a straight line and avoid smudging. This medical-grade tape is hypoallergenic and easy to remove. You an also use this tape for nail art.

Sephora Brush it Off Cleansing Brush Wipesgently remove residue and dirt from your makeup brushes. These wipes come in individually packets - great for travel. The non-alcohol based formula is kinda oil-like, but doesn't leave residue on your brushes. These wipes are not for cleaning your brushes, but for a quick wipe to remove the surface dirt.

TheSephora Brush Meets Comb Hair Brush Cleaneris a great little tool. The rake-like comb has flexible, steel bristles that remove hair and residue. I'm a little obsessed with keeping my hair brushes clean - Drives me nuts to see brushes full of hair - GROSS! Attention people who don't clean your brush regularly - there's dirt buildup, residue from products and bacteria festering in there. AND each time you brush your strands you're transferring that nastiness back onto your hair. CLEAN YOUR HAIR BRUSHES OFTEN.

Sephora Do It All Cotton Swabs are perfect for a multitude of makeup needs. There are 490 swabs of three unique precision tips per pack. The oval tip is great for basic needs, while the pointed tip is ideal for precise application.

These swabs are great for makeup removal/cleanup around the eyes. I wet them, and gently remove mascara that has smudged onto my upper lash line and waterline. SO much easer than using a regular cotton swab. Large cotton swabs are of course too big for this area, and the little cotton hairs always attach to my lashes. NO MORE! These swabs can also be used for smudging eyeliner, smoothing lipstick and lipliner edges, and removing nail polish from your cuticles. A must-have!

Denim is being done different these last few seasons. I purchased straight-cut jeans with an attached frayed-denim skirt last season and love them. It's exciting to see a new take on denim. This season, denim jackets, skits and jeans are doning new looks, layers and embellishments.

These Kolor tulle skirt jeans are everything - feminine, fashionable, interesting and unique. The jeans have a slight yellowish fade, combined with the deep hues of the tulle - these jeans are great for Fall. Paired with high heels (you need to elongate your legs with this style), tulle skirt jeans will get you noticed.

Maybe the tulle skirt jeans are to much for some folks - Yajun cut-out straight jeans are a little more subtle, but still interesting and new. These straight leg jeans have a cut-out on both the front and back of the knee. The suspender attachment holds the top portion to the bottom leg portion. Only problem with this style is height - if your knees don't land in the right place, the effect is lost.

Embroidered denim isn't new, but 'Vetements' embroidered on th rear of the right leg is a statement. These Vetements x Levi's embroidered jeans are slashed at one knee giving them a pre-worn look. The dark-gray wash is a nice change and the white print stands out. These slightly-loose, boyfriend-style jeans don't have a height restriction, so shorties can wear these too.

Another great style - Yajun double denim jeans. It looks like there is a dark-denim apron-like attachment hanging on one side. My first thought would be - is that intentional? This look is a bit more adventurous and definitely suited for someone with height.

Denim is great, versatile and definitely here to stay (forever probably). Do it differently this season and opt for a unique denim style. Layers, embroidery, embellishments, distressed denim.. Do what works for you, but do something out of the norm.