Kloverbox - March 2015

Received my first Kloverbox and I'm excited because it's a monthly subscription box service that features natural and eco-friendly beauty and skincare products!  I'm currently subscribed on a month by month basis which costs $25 per month (includes free shipping).  I got this box for $22.50 with a discount.

IMPORTANT NOTICE (3/20/15):  Kloverbox has contacted all of it's March 2015 subscribers to inform them to discontinue use of the Urban Oreganics Rosewater Toner.  There was a manufacturing issue with some of the plastic bottles Urban Oreganics purchased for their toner which caused the toner to have a cloudy appearance and floating particles.  Apparently not all bottles were a problem but they recommended everyone discontinue use.  Kloverbox and Urban Oreganics both apologized for the issue and will be replacing the toner with another product to be shipped out in April 2015.  I appreciate them both openly communicating this issue in a timely fashion and resolving the problem in a professional manner.

Here are this month's goodies:

BAGGU Small 3D Zip Bag in Mint Stripe - Value: $8

Marley's Monsters Reusable 3"Facial Rounds (4 total) - Value: $2.40

Pelle Beauty Luxe Beauty Balm (4 oz) - Value: $9

Jillian Wright Skincare Double Surface Exfoliator (3.7 oz) - Value: $8

White & Elm Pomegranate Renewing Eye Serum (0.37 oz) - Value: $18

Urban Oreganics Rosewater Toner (4 oz) - Value: $14 (Discontinue Use)

Cost of Box:  $22.50
Total Box Value:  $59.40
Impressions:  Overall, I love it!  It's simple, natural, organic skincare... so I'm sold!  I'm most excited about the toner and eye serum (which are full size).   I like having small moisturizers to carry around in my purse so the balm will be nice for that.  I find most exfoliators to be too rough on my face but the bamboo stem powder in the Jillian Wright exfoliator doesn't feel like it would be too harsh so I'll give it a try.  I also like that it has a liquid exfoliator component (lactic acid) which is a concept I recently fell in love with when I discovered Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant in a Birchbox sample box.  Not sure how likely I am to use the Baggu bag because I don't have much use for this size/type bag and it's mint striped, but I completely understand why they chose the color (March... St. Patrick's Day... green clovers).  I think the reusable face rounds are a neat, eco-friendly idea but realistically, I'm not so sure they will become a regular part of my cleansing routine... if I can manage to mysteriously lose socks doing laundry, then I'm pretty sure I'll manage to lose these.  And that's even if I can remember to keep fresh ones washed and ready to use every couple of days.

I think the curation of this box was well thought out... not a bunch of random unrelated items that you can get in some boxes.  I also like that they support and promote small, independent Etsy sellers.  The info card also includes coupon codes that can be used at the different featured brand website stores.  I'm pleased with the products included, and the toner and eye serum should last a long time for me.  This box contains products with ingredients I can use on my sensitive skin and that are actually good for my skin. 

I'm already looking forward to the April box!

Updates:   I tried the Jillian Wright exfoliator and it was definitely effective but a bit to rough for my skin to use alone.  I will still use it but probably only once a week or whenever my skin starts to look a little dull.  To make exfoliators less abrasive, I usually mix a tiny bit with a natural oil like Sweet Almond oil or a creamy facial cleanser.  Using it this way just means the sample with last even longer!  I don't really like the smell of the balm.  And because it's solid and in a small pot, it's not the most convenient way to apply moisturizer all over your hands (especially if you're used to just simply squeezing something out of tube).  I'll probably just use it as a cuticle moisturizer or back up lip balm.  The toner and serum work great.  Not sure if the eye serum is suppose to reduce puffiness but my under-eye area seemed less puffy than usual in the morning after I first used it even though I got less sleep than usual the night before.  I sure hope that it wasn't just a fluke or a coincidence!  Either way, it's still a great eye moisturizer.  The oils absorb into the skin quickly without leaving a greasy shine or sticky residue.  And a little goes a long way, so this vial will last me a very long time.  The nice roller ball application and the different natural seed oils makes the serum the MVP of this box for me.