The Honest Company Essentials Bundle - August 2015

I received my second shipment from The Honest Company today!  In my last review, I mentioned scheduling my next box for early September but I couldn't wait!  Here's what I included in my bundle this time:

Products reviewed in my July Bundle:
Organic Body Oil  4.0 oz ($9.95)

Deodorant - Lavender Vanilla  4.0 oz ($8.95)

3-in-1 Facial Cleansing Towelettes  30-count ($6.95)

Air + Fabric Freshener - Lavender Vanilla  9.3 oz ($6.95) 

New Items:

Stain Remover  26 oz ($5.95)

Multi-Surface Cleaner  26 oz ($5.95)

Baby Wipes  72-count ($4.95)

Bug Spray  4 oz ($12.95)

Cost of Bundle:  $35.95 Essentials Bundle + $15.64 discounted add ons + tax = $55.20
Impressions:  As with my first bundle, The Honest Company  processed and delivered my order all within 3 days which is impressive to me!  Shipping for this order was free because my total was over $50.  I included the spray deodorant, facial wipes, room & air freshener, and body oil from my first box in this order too.  However, this time I tried the Lavender Vanilla version of the deodorant spray.  Last time I tried the Bergamot Sage and didn't really like the sage scent.  Honestly, I'm having a hard time finding a distinct difference between the two scents.  Both include sage in the ingredients and that seems to be the prominent smell from both scents.  I was hoping the Lavender Vanilla scent would be more sweet like the Lavender & Vanilla air freshener so I could use it as a light body spray.  I doubt I will add the spray deodorants to future bundles because they all contain sage which is too pungent a smell for my preference.  I also want antiperspirant properties and this product only works as an "okay" deodorizer on me.  It's not a good option for me when I'm going to be really active.  It's fine for lazy, lounging around days.   I'm still quite happy with the facial wipes, body oil, and air freshener and will continue to order them.

The new products in this shipment included the multi-surface cleaner, stain remover, baby wipes, and bug spray.  I like that both of the spray cleaners have light, subtle scents and can be used on a variety of surfaces and materials.  I honestly wasn't expecting the multi-surface cleaner to do well with cutting through grease and grime especially since it doesn't contain bleach or stronger chemicals.  So I was planning to only use it as just an everyday quick clean spray for my kitchen counters.  But I had a bowl of food that contained tomato sauce explode and dry inside my microwave and I was amazed at how easily this cleaner worked to clean up the mess!  And the scent was hardly noticeable which made me feel better the next time I put food inside.  I tried the stain remover on a pet stain on my carpet and a red juice stain on my sofa and it worked well on both.  I also liked that it didn't harden the fibers of the carpet or sofa fabric when it dried.  I don't have a baby but I like using wipes to freshen up when out and unable to rinse my face, hands, or for picnics, cleaning up spills in the car, etc.  I think they make a pretty good wet-wipe or hand sanitizer substitute because I try to avoid using products that contain alcohols as much as possible, especially on my face and hands, because I already have dry skin.  I like these wipes because they're thick, strong, large and moist-enough to do a good job cleaning up, don't contain fragrances or alcohols, and don't leave a sticky residue.  I'll be keeping this package in my car because that seems to be the place I need something like this the most!  I've been in desperate need of bug spray for evening walks with my dog so I'm really glad the bug spray has arrived.  The bug spray is the most strongly scented product I've tried from the Honest Company but that's only because it contains citronella and cedar.  I've never smelled anything with a light citronella or cedar smell... it's all or nothing with these two scents!  I only spray on a little because I find citronella and cedar scents a little too intense, but even a little worked well to ward off  mosquitoes.  Overall, I'm quite happy with the new products I tried and would order them again.  I definitely plan to get refills of the multi-surface cleaner and stain remover when I run out! 

Acure Glamorganic Goddess Beauty Kit

I recently ordered a special one time purchase beauty box from Acure in support of Danielle Messina, The Glamorganic Goddess, who is fighting breast cancer.   I'm excited to get to try more of the natural and certified organic products from Acure and really happy 100% of the proceeds from this box go to such a worthy cause. 

From Acure website:

Please help us raise funds for our friend Danielle Messina, The Glamorganic Goddess, whose mission is to find clean beauty products, inspire others, and promote education about the importance of prevention through a truly healthy lifestyle. At just 37 years old her doctor's have discovered a secondary recurrence of Breast Cancer. We are donating 100% of the proceeds of this kit to help Danielle with her Glamorganic Goddess Go Fund Me Campaign

Acure has been selling this special beauty kit for several weeks but I'm not sure how long they will have it available for sale.   I'm assuming they will continue selling it until Danielle reaches her Go Fund Me goal.  As of the posting of this review, it was still for sale.

Here is a look at the Acure items featured in the Glamorganic Goddess Beauty Kit:

Acure Rose and Red Tea Facial Toner  2 oz ($9.99, sale price)

Acure Moroccan Argan Oil  1 oz  ($12.99)

Acure Unscented Argan Oil Cleansing Towelettes  30 count  ($6.99)

Acure Dark Chocolate & Mint Lip Balm  ($3.99)

 

Samples

Cost of Box:  $19.99 (free shipping)
Total Box Value:  $33.96
Impressions:   I liked the Acure Brightening Facial Scrub I received in my July Goodebox so this box was an affordable way to try a variety of other items from their product line all while supporting a worthy cause.  The Acure products are free of a lot of junk so I feel good about using them.

I don't receive toner in beauty boxes very often and I'm almost out of my current toner so I'm looking forward to seeing how the rose and tea spray toner works out on my skin.  Two ounces seems like a small volume to sell a product like a toner but I suppose the mist application allows for more coverage with less product.  The Moroccan Argan oil is a multi-purpose product that can be used pretty much head to toe which is nice!  I've only used Argan oil hair products before so I'm looking forward to trying a argan oil product that is appropriate for face and body too because oil based products usually do a better job of moisturizing my dry skin than cream moisturizers.  This bottle is only 1 oz but a little goes a very long way!  I tried it on my hands and accidentally pumped out too much so it took a while to rub it all in.  It did a great job but I just have to be careful to only pump out a small amount.  I applied a tiny amount to my face and it did absorb readily without leaving a greasy feel.  I've recently become a big fan of cleansing towelettes.  They are so handy and provide a nice refreshing pick me up throughout the day, especially during these hot summer months.  These Argan oil towelettes are unscented in that there are no perfumes but the argan oil itself does have a scent.  These towelettes are not quite as moist as other towelettes I've used and didn't glide over my face as smoothly but they did leave my skin feeling moisturized and soft after cleaning.  The lip balm also contains argan oil and is chocolate and mint flavored - what's not to love about that?!  This box also included samples of a cleanser, moisturizer, and night cream.  I'm definitely interested in seeing how well the gel facial cleanser will work.

Overall, I think the value of this box is good.  I will be using everything included.  If you don't like argan oil then this would not be a good box to try since so many of the products contain it.  So far, the argan oil isn't causing any breakouts, doesn't leave a greasy or oily feeling on my skin, and leaves my skin feeling softer after use.  Hopefully this continues to be the case!  A few of the Acure products are available at my local Target store but not all the items in this box are so, again, this box was an affordable and convenient way to try out several of their products. 

 

The Honest Company Essentials Bundle - July 2015

I have been trying to adopt more natural products in to my skin and body care regimen for the past few months and need to start integrating natural home care items as well.  The Honest Company supplies natural personal, home, and baby care items.  You can shop their items like any other online store, but the monthly bundle subscriptions allow you to save a few dollars on the items that you would need to buy regularly anyway.  Although it says "monthly" you can actually select when or how often you want your bundle to ship.  And you will not be charged for the next bundle until it ships.  You select what combination of items you want in your bundle and you have the ability to easily change or customize your bundle through your online account before each bundle ships.  They offer several different bundle options at different price points.  I'm getting the Essentials Bundle in which you can include 5 items for $35.95 a month (plus tax and  shipping).  You can also add on additional items (up to 3 add ons) to your bundle and if your order totals at least $50, shipping is free.  Plus, your add on items will be discounted by 25%!  There are several items that I want to add on and try with my future bundles to take advantage of the free shipping and discounted pricing.  Below are the 5 items I included in my first Essential bundle:

Organic Body Oil  4.0 oz ($9.95)

Deodorant - Bergamot Sage  4.0 oz ($8.95)

3-in-1 Facial Cleansing Towelettes  30-count ($6.95)

Foaming Hand Soap - Mandarin  8.5 oz ($5.95)

Air + Fabric Freshener - Lavender Vanilla  9.3 oz ($6.95) 

Cost of Bundle:  $35.95 + tax and shipping - $10 coupon = $34.15
Impressions:  My first bundle from The Honest Company shipped via FedEx ground from Pennsylvania and was delivered to me in South Carolina within 3 days of placing my order so they are quick in processing and shipping orders which is nice!

When I saw that they had a body oil, I instantly added it to my bundle!  I love body oils and definitely wanted to try this one.  This one does a great job of moisturizing my dry hands and skin without being too heavy and greasy.  I thought it absorbed relatively quick for an oil and it doesn't contain perfumes.  And since it's formulated to be gentle enough to use on a baby, I'm not worried about using a little on my face too.  This is one product that will probably always be included in my bundles.  I was a little unsure about the scent of the deodorants when I was ordering online because every natural deodorant I've tried so far has smelled a little too "earthy" for my preference.  I like the Bergamot or citrus side of the Bergamot and Sage version I tried in this bundle but I'm not crazy about the herby sage smell.  I think I would prefer a sweeter scent so I plan to try the Lavender and Vanilla scent next time.  It seems to work more like a deodorizer than an antiperspirant so I'm not sure yet if this will work out as a possible replacement for my regular Dove deodorant.  I didn't notice any benefit in reducing perspiration but the scent did last much longer than I thought it would.  However, I have only used it once and only sprayed one layer on.  Maybe it would be more effective as an antiperspirant if I sprayed another layer on after the first layer dried.  If I continue using this deodorant, I think I would have to be prepared to reapply it throughout the day or spray on multiple layers in the morning.  Or just use it on days when I'm not going to be really active or outside in the heat a lot.  I'm still on the fence about it right now.  If not for a deodorant, I think the Lavender Vanilla (if sweetly scented) could possibly be used as a lightly scented body spray.  I'll decide if this product is worth keeping in my bundle shipments once I give the Lavender Vanilla scent a try.  I do not wear makeup so I can't comment on how well the facial towelettes work in removing makeup but they work well for freshening up my face if I start to feel sweaty and oily which is  nice for the summer months.  There is a slightly sticky feeling on my skin at first but it dries fine.  And they did leave my skin feeling lightly moisturized.  I may add these to my next bundle too.  I also plan to add a pack of baby wipes.  I don't have a baby but I do prefer using wet wipes over hand sanitizer.  I didn't notice a wet-wipe type product on The Honest Company website when I put together this first bundle but I think baby wipes would be a good alternative.  The foaming hand soap works well but I wish the Mandarin scent was more prominent.  My favorite product by far was the Lavender and Vanilla Air and Fabric Freshener.  I usually find lavender scented products to be a little overwhelming but the lavender in this one is balanced by the sweet vanilla scent.  I wanted to spray it on everything! I really liked this fragrance combination which is why I'm hoping the Lavender and Vanilla spray deodorant will be nice as a body spray if not as a deodorant.  The scent isn't as intense as say a Glade or Febreeze type product but the scent does certainly linger, especially on fabric.  I actually like that this product is more on the subtle side because I find that most air and fabric fresheners are a bit too strongly scented for my preference. This Lavender and Vanilla freshener will definitely be a staple in my future bundle shipments!

I am really impressed with the list of ingredients in all of these products and it is a comfort knowing that I'm using something on my body or in my home that isn't filled with tons of harsh chemicals and toxins.  That is where a lot of the perceived value of the bundles from The Honest Company comes from.  I could definitely find cheaper versions of all the items in this bundle in my local drugstore but the tradeoff would be a lot of harsh or harmful ingredients.  But even in terms of natural product competitors, The Honest Company is still modestly priced in my opinion.  I have received some natural products in natural beauty boxes that were a lot more expensive than these and not any better in quality.  So with the $10 off coupon code I got through the My Subscription Addiction website, this bundle order was a really good deal for five full size natural products!  I also like the flexibility The Honest Company allows in setting your shipment schedule and the ease of being able to change your bundle items for each shipment if you want to.  I selected the option to have my bundle shipped every 6 weeks but I can easily push my shipment date back or up if I choose.  My next bundle is scheduled to ship on September 4th and I have until that shipment starts processing to make any changes.  Overall, I'm quite please with my first bundle from The Honest Company and I'm looking forward to trying more of their products.

Kloverbox - April 2015

Kloverbox is here!  I can't even begin to tell you how much I'm loving this subscription box and this is only my second box from them!  This is by far my favorite beauty/skincare sub box because...

• I can generally use everything in the box, 
• they include some full size samples, 
• even the small samples last a long time, 
• the products are made with simple, natural ingredients, 
• and the box value is always much more than what you paid! 

Here's what was included in the April box:

Kosmatology Herbal Fresh Foaming Hand Soap - Spearmint Rosemary  ($8.99)

Old Orchard No. 10 Baobab & Rosehip Lotion Bar  2 oz ($28)

Bridge Nine Candle Co. Citrus Candle  4 oz ($9)

Real Beauty for a Cause Coffee Scrub  2 oz ($7.50)

Rani’s Yummy Shooters - Peanut Butter Dream Buttered Oats  1.2 oz ($1.99)

Cost of Box:  $25 (includes shipping)
Total Box Value:  $55.50
Impressions:  I really like foaming soaps so I'm excited about this one from Kosmatology.  I tried it and it wasn't drying but I'm not entirely in love with the spearmint rosemary scent.  There are other scents available; I would have preferred the orange or grapefruit scents.  I plan to use this one anyway because it is a nice hand soap.  I have never used a lotion bar before but I love this citrus scented one from Old Orchard.  It is so pretty, almost too pretty to use!  The ingredients are great and it was good at moisturizing my very dry hands.  It does not take much to moisturize your hands so this bar should last a long time.  It does start to melt quickly from the warmth of your body so you have to be carefully to not hold it too long or you will end up with a greasy mess on your hands!  I like the citrus scent of the tin candle as well.  It isn't an intense citrus scent but the small tin is nice to have near you on your nightstand or other areas where you might not want to have a big candle burning.  The coffee scrub is another new concept to me.  I drink lots of coffee so of course I love the scent!  And I really like that it has avocado oil to help moisturize while it scrubs.  I have not eaten the granola yet, but I'm sure I will love it because I love peanut butter!  Overall, I am very pleased with this month's box.  I plan to use everything featured this month so this was a great box and a great value!  I even liked the containers and tins the companies used and plan to repurpose them once I'm done using the products.

Kloverbox also included the replacement item for the Urban Oreganics Rosewater Toner than had a container issue in last month's box.

Urban Oreganics Brush Cleaner  ($16)

I was hoping they would replace the toner with a new bottle of toner because I was really excited to try a rosewater toner.  The jar isn't listed with a size but it looks to be a 2 oz container.  I'm not excited about the solid brush cleaner because I do not wear makeup and don't have brushes to clean.  However, someone on a subscription box review site mentioned that they contacted Urban Oreganics about possible other uses and were told that the ingredients in the cleanser are mild enough to use as a facial cleanser too.  That is good to know and made me a little more interested in the cleanser - but I would still prefer the toner!  I will probably use it by rubbing the head of my facial brush over the cleanser and clean my face as usual.  The small jar would be nice for when I travel and don't what to pack larger cleansers.  Perhaps I will order the rosewater toner from the Urban Oreganics Etsy shop when the toner I currently use runs out.

Goodebox - April 2015

I am so excited to have another beauty box subscription that caters to my preference of natural products!  Goodebox features trial-sized, and occasionally full size, samples of natural and organic beauty and personal care items. You can sign up to receive a box monthly or bi-monthly; I signed up for monthly delivery.  They have one of the most extensive beauty/skin care/hair/etc profile questionnaires I've ever come across with a beauty box before so I'm hoping that means they do a more thoughtful job of matching samples to subscriber's preferences than most other beauty boxes do. Here is what I got in my April box:

Info Cards:

Preserve Razor ($8.50)

Portland Bee Balm - Oregon Mint 0.15 oz ($2.99)

Gressa Renewing Polish 0.25 oz ($5.70 value)

Derma E Evenly Radiant Brightening Day Creme 0.5 oz ($7.49 value)

CV Skinlabs Rescue and Relief Spray 1 oz ($5.67 value)

Cost of Box:  $19 (includes shipping)
Total Box Value:  $30.35
Impressions:  The first thought that went through my mind when I opened this box was, "Yes! No makeup!"  I tried to make my lack of interest in makeup as clear as I could when filling out my questionnaire so I'm glad they didn't include any.  I hope that continues with future boxes.  I like that they include little info cards with information about the product, ingredients, how to use, etc.

I think the razor is pretty neat because it is made of recycled plastic and is sustainable.  A razor is a very practical item that every girl needs and this one will be used.  I cannot stand the feel of dry lips so I  am all about lip balms and will definitely be using the mint Bee Balm.  And I thought the packaging with the wood label is pretty cool.  The renewing polish arrived half melted and leaking but it solidified when I put it in the fridge for a little while.  I normally stay away from using gritty exfoliators on my face and the lavender and rosewood scents are a little strong but I'll give this polish a try anyway because it has honey in it.  I've had good results using honey masks on my face in the past.  I'll probably just apply it more like a mask rather than using it as a scrub.  I've been wanting to try the Derma E brightening creme for a long time so I'm glad I got this sample.  The item I'm most excited about trying is the rescue and relief spray.  I often spend time outdoors in the sun so the aloe juice and cucumber extract in this spray sounds perfect for spritzing on my skin afterwards.  The downside is that it does not smell good in my opinion.  I think the company should really consider adding some kind of fragrance to make it a little more appealing.  This box also included a card with a discount code for a clean energy power company which I thought was a little weird but I get that it goes along with their Earth Day theme.

Overall, I thought this month's box was pretty good.  The value is about $11 more than what I paid and I plan to use all the samples.  Goodebox looks like it may be a good fit for me so I'm looking forward to next month's box.