My October Sample Society Box

For those who don't know, Sample Society is a monthly beauty subscription box provided by BeautyBar.com in partnership with Allure magazine. For $15 a month you receive 5 deluxe-sized samples from luxury beauty brands, expert beauty advice from the editors of Allure, and a $15 gift code to redeem on any brands you sampled. While the boxes aren't themed, I do enjoy the advice given by the editors. Here's what I received in this month's box:

jane iredale Tantasia Self Tanner (sample/ 2 fl oz $36) | Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment (.25 fl oz sample/ 2 oz $85) | Aromachology Clean & Fresh Eau de Parfum (3.3 fl oz $100) | Oscar Blandi Pronto Wet Instant Volumizing Shampoo (1.7 fl oz/ 8.45 oz $24) | Erno Laszlo Phormula 3-9 Repair Balm (.1 fl oz/ 1.7 oz $245) | Extra: Herban Essentials Lavender Towelette (1 towelette/ 20 towelettes $16.00)

Was not expecting green from this product! Microbeads and the 3 powerful P’s - Papaya, Pineapple, and Pumpkin Enzymes - are designed to effectively clean pores. Salicylic Acid is formulated to balance hydration, without over-drying. Rosewood and Cinnamon Extracts are combined in an effort to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles. And Aloe Vera, Honey, and Vitamin E smooth and soften skin. This product is definitely intensive but does an amazing job revealing healthier looking skin (just follow instructions!).

The last self tanner product I tried in one of the beauty boxes turned me oompa loompa orange. Learning from my mistake, I tested only a small area (rather than both of my legs!) so I wouldn't be stuck with orange skin but thankfully Tantasia was very light and I could build the color gradually. It's also safe for your face so it doesn't make you breakout like most self tanners do.

The perfume smells exactly as it describes "clean and fresh" or baby powder in my opinion. I'm not particular a fan of that smell. I like fruity, light floral scents.

I love Oscar Blandi's dry shampoo so was excited to try this shampoo. It contains Hydrolyzed wheat protein, grape see oil, olive oil and silk amino acids. I especially like that it's sulfate and paraben free. It made my hair super soft but not sure about the "volumizing" aspect. I think that's what dry shampoo does wonderfully.

Although this was such a tiny sample, I was able to get more than one use out of it. I guess the more expensive the product the smaller the sample. This repair cream is great for those with dry (winter prone) skin. It is very rich and hydrating. I really enjoyed using it.

I really like this towelette as it's naturally antibacterial but smells good! Will definitely be putting this in my purse to use on the subway.

I always enjoy the tips provided by the Allure editors. A particularly important topic is how to prep your skin for winter. I learned a lot of new information from their tips. Here's what they said:

• Switch to a soap-free, creamy cleanser. Anything that produces a lather can be too harsh. Women with acne-prone skin should seek out a formula containing beta-hydroxy acid. Use a gentle scrub or glycolic acid peel twice a week to remove dead skin cells and prevent skincare ingredients from penetrating the skin.
• Switch from a lotion to a cream. Seek out extra hydrating ingredients such as glycerin, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid. Everyone's skin becomes more sensitive in the winter so look for additional "soothing" and "calming" claims with anti-irritants like feverfew and allantoin.
• If you notice redness or flaking, reduce how often you use acne and anti-aging produces to once a week. Dilute them into your moisturizer until your skin calms down.
• Load up on foods rich in essential fatty acids, such as walnuts, salmon and avocados. Research shows that fatty acids travel to skin cells and act as a barrier against environmental irritants; they can even improve skin's hydration levels.

What did you get in your Sample Society box this month?