February Conscious Box

I'm back after a short delay from the cold everyone seems to be getting. I'm not 100% yet but I feel better enough to get back to blogging!

While I was sick I got my February Conscious Box. I waited to open it until just recently because when your sick you just don't care about anything!

I like that there were a lot of different items this time. See the list and my thoughts below:

Mia by Eco-Me Fresh Mint Hand Soap - This is a full sized hand soap pump in the scent of peppermint. I think this was a great item to include in the box. It's one I'll use and possibly repurchase later if I like it.

Nurturme Dried Organic Babyfood - Not really sure how I will use this one since I have no baby. It is dried so you are supposed to add liquid of some sort and it becomes a mush. I think I could probably add this to other foods as it recommends for toddlers.

Maxim Cotton Sanitary Pad and Tampons - While I appreciate natural products especially when it comes to this type of thing, I thought this was kind of an odd choice for the box.

Awesome Foods Vegetable Tempuraw - This is intriguing. When I first saw it my mind flew back to eating vegan tempura with chutney at Govindha's on Tate Street (mmm, that stuff was so good!) I doubt this will be as good but it might be. It's basically dehydrated veggies with spices. My only complaint is there seems to be more packaging with these things than food.

Country Choice Organic Multigrain Cranberry Apple Oatmeal - I can't get too excited about oatmeal (aside from Oat Revolution which is awesome) but I will certainly enjoy this on a busy morning before work. They also include a recipe for using the oatmeal in a crisp.

Peter Rabbit Organics Banana and Apple Snack - I love the packaging! Peter Rabbit is so cute! I've been getting a lot of these little juice/pureed fruit pouches lately. They are a great way to get some fruit in your diet. The packaging on these feels a little wasteful but aside from that I like the idea.

Equal Exchange Organic 55% Dark Chocolate - In the box were these two little chocolates. I've had one so far. Saving the other for when my tastebuds are not cold compromised. From what I could tell it was pretty good. Very rich.

Kallari 85% Chocolate Bar - I love getting whole chocolate bars and this is the biggest yet! It says it contains Rainforest Alliance Certified organic cacao. Again saving this for when I can actually taste things.

Swipes Lovin Wipes - Not going to elaborate too much on this one but it's a personal towelette for "intimate moments".

Florax DS Ready-to-Drink Probiotic - These are little drink shots of probiotics (think 5 hour energy style.) I'm actually pretty intrigued by this one. I've taken probiotics before but only in pill form. It's raspberry flavored so doesn't sound too bad.

St. Claire's Organics Ginger Pastilles - Little ginger candies in a cute tin. I've almost finished my tin of absinthe flavored mints that I got in Seattle so this will be perfect to replace it in my purse.

All in all, probably not my favorite box but there are definitely some items I'm excited about.

Review of Andalou Naturals Kukui Cocoa Body Butter

I have a confession to make. About 10 years ago I was a body butter addict. A regular at the Body Shop, I was always bringing home the little round tubs full of yummy moisturization. Since my early 20s, I haven't really used body butter. No real reason, just got out of habit. I heard some good reviews about Andalou Naturals Kukui Cocoa Body Butter and decided to give it a shot if for no reason but to bring my Vitacost order high enough for free shipping.

The retail price is $14 but you can find it on Vitacost for about $10. It's a much better deal than the Body Shop because you get more product for about half the price. I really like the packaging too. It claims to use fruit stem cell science for healthier skin. The smell is really lovely, kind of like coffee and almonds. The texture is wonderful. I remember some of the body butters I used to use were really thick and pasty. This body butter is creamy and easy to apply. It absorbs well and leaves your skin feeling very moisturized and soft and I really like the smell. The only complaint I have is that it's difficult to get the product out without getting it under your nails. That's such a measly complaint it's barely worth mentioning. The body butter is also available in Lavender Shea and Passion Fruit. Personally I think I'll stick with the Kukui Cocoa scent. I definitely plan on repurchasing this when I run out. Andalou Naturals is a Leaping Bunny approved company and their products are 100% vegetarian. This product does contain beeswax.

Great Deals and Review of 100% Pure Lemon Body Scrub

In my recent post about birthday freebies, I mentioned how it doesn't hurt to sign up for rewards programs for your favorites stores, restaurants, and products. I had almost forgotten that I was signed up for JC Penney's reward program and got a nice surprise in the mail last week. It was a coupon good for $10 off a $10 purchase. In my mind that's a free item! JC Penney is not a convenient store for us but we happened to be going to the mall anyhow and I was able to use my coupon and got a free hair accessory (was looking for a ring but couldn't find one that matched what I was looking for.) Didn't even have to pay sales tax!

Staying on the topic of deals, 100% Pure is having a free shipping weekend and through February 11th you can get free shipping on any size order. This is a great opportunity if you want to try a single item. They have several other deals on their homepage including a special on a set of chocolate pigmented makeup. Last Black Friday I was able to get a deal on their Lemon Body Scrub for only $10 (normally $25.) I've been using it the last month or so and really like it! Here's my review:

I had heard a lot of good things about the 100% Pure body scrubs so decided to get one myself. They had a special on the lemon body scrub which sounded refreshing so that's the one I chose. It's very different from other scrubs I've used before. It's a very fine sugar scrub mixed with many different natural oils and fruit extracts. The sugar and oil tend to separate so you need to mix it up a little before applying. I was hesitant to use it in the shower at first because their was so much oil. I was worried that I would slip. I'm still very cautious whenever I use it but I've found it's fine as long as I'm careful.

It smells delicious. Very citrusy and fresh. The scrub is very gentle and the oils are moisturizing so you don't really need lotion afterward. The ingredients are all natural which is fantastic! Take a look:

Ingredients: Evaporated Cane Juice, Pomegranate Seed Oil, Acai Oil, Grapeseed Oil, Apricot Oil, Lemon Essential Oil, Extracts of Lemon, Calendula, Prickly Pear, Pomegranate, Acai Berry, Goji Berry, Noni, Maqui Berry, Elderberry, Blackberry, Organic Raspberry (1), Grapefruit Seed and Japanese Honeysuckle

Just remember it can be slippery so be careful! And keep the container level because spilling it would be disastrous. At $25 per container it may be more of an occasional treat than an every day use product, but a little goes a long way and you do get a big jar for the price.

100% Pure Birthday Gifts!

My husband's parents surprised me with a birthday gift of three 100% Pure products I have had my eye on recently.

100% Pure Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream - I've already mentioned in another review how much I love this stuff! This is a larger tube than I had before and I'm super psyched that I won't be running out any time soon (still have a good half a tube left from before.) It comes in a really cute cardboard case and the tube has a pump on the end.

100% Pure Cabernet Grape Nourishing Body Cream - I have the body cream in Strawberry but was able to try the Cabernet Grape scent from a sample a few months ago. Really excited to have this scent to try after I finish up the strawberry lotion. I've used a little as hand cream and it is very moisturizing and rich smelling. I love it!

100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Blush in Chiffon - Have not tried this yet but I can't wait! I need a little variety in blush and this is a pretty pink color. Also comes in a very pretty engraved, shiny, pink container with a mirror on the inside lid. It's so cute!

Birthday Freebies

I just celebrated my birthday and am always on the lookout for birthday freebies to take advantage of. I thought it might be helpful for others to post some of the great deals I'm aware of:

Most restaurants will give you a free dessert if you sign-up for their loyalty programs (Macaroni Grill, TGI-Fridays, Chilis, Panera, just to name a few.)

You can get a coupon for a free bagel and cream cheese at Brueggers if you are a member of their E-Club. Rosemary Olive Oil Bagel, people! OMG!

If you're lucky enough to have a zPizza near you, you can get a free small pizza. I envy you!

Sonic Cruisers Club offers a free soft drink, tots, or cream slush.

Moe's will give you a free entrée and no purchase required. I take advantage of this one every year!

World Market used to offer a free $10 off purchase coupon but has now scaled back to 15% off. Fingers crossed they go back to $10 off next year.

CVS Beauty Club offers $3 in Extra Care Bucks on your birthday.

Many ice cream establishments offer free or BOGO ice cream (Brusters, Cold Stone Creamery)

Sephora offers a free sample from behind the register. I'm having trouble finding my local Sephora so wasn't able to take advantage of this this year.

At ULTA you can get a free brow bar wax and double points on your birthday.

You can also get lots of coupons at various restaurants and stores by belonging to their email/loyalty programs (Old Navy, K-Mart, McAlister's, etc.)

Rule of thumb, if there's a product/company you really like, it never hurts to get their e-mails. You might find a great deal in your inbox on your birthday month!

Final January 2013 Reviews

As promised here are my final reviews from products I've tried in January.

Jason Power Smile Antiplaque and Whitening Toothpaste - To quote my husband - "This tastes like paint, but in a good way." :) I have to agree. It doesn't taste sweet and it's a stretch to taste the mint. However, it isn't intolerable and it really feels like it cleans well. I have to say that this may be the cleanest my mouth has felt since the dentist. Is it really working as well as I think? Guess I won't know until my next dentist visit!

Alba Botanica Very Emollient Cream Shave in Mango Vanilla - I really, really wanted to like this product. I ordered as part of a Vitacost haul and it was affordable in a large tube. It smells good and was my first cruelty free shaving cream. Unfortunately I've used it twice now and just am not impressed. Part of it is I'm used to using an aerosolized shaving cream. The texture of this product is different than what I'm used to. I didn't find it worked any better and, even worse, it keeps getting gunked up in my razor making it difficult to shave. This product just feels like an epic fail to me but I'm going to keep finding a way to use it so it doesn't go to waste. Not recommended.

Suntegrity Moisturizing Face Sunscreen and Primer - I had to wait until a sunny day when I would be outside to justify using this sample I received. I can't give a great review because I wasn't in the sun a long time and didn't wear it all day. However I can tell you what the product is like initially. I really like the premise of a sunscreen/primer. The product itself is a thick almost opaque white out of the package kind of like a lotion. It does dissolve into your skin after you apply it. Had no problems applying makeup over it. It seemed to wear very well while I had it on.

Freeman Psssssst! Instant Dry Shampoo - I found a small sample bottle of this at Ulta and snatched it up. I hate to say it but there are weeks when I am too busy to wash my hair and I hate for it to be noticeable especially at work. This is a quick alternative to washing your hair. My second experience with dry shampoo, I have used this twice so far. It does not leave a white residue like the other I have tried. I thought it worked really well to reduce the shine and increase volume. Lasted all day. I am really impressed with this product and will probably re-purchase in a bigger size.

Surthrival Toothbrush - This was included in my first Conscious Box. It's a 100% biodegradeable and BPA free toothbrush made of bamboo and biodegradeable polymer. If you compost you can throw your worn out toothbrush into your compost bin eliminating waste. It's a great idea but in practice did not work that great for me. The toothbrush is very straight (no ergonomics or fancy angles here.) It felt awkward trying to brush with it and was constantly afraid I was going to get a splinter from the bamboo handle. I finally gave up and switched back to my old toothbrush. While I won't use for a toothbrush, I will definitely use this as a cleaning brush for detailed scrubbing around the house.

Eco-Emi Box - January 2013

My first Eco-Emi box arrived just in time for my birthday last week. I absolutely love it! The cost of an Eco-Emi subscription is $15 per box. You get 5-10 samples of eco-friendly and cruelty free products. There's a higher percentage of beauty products than with other boxes and often the products are vegan (but not always.) Right now they are offering a discounted random box from the last six months for only $12.99: http://ecoemi.com/random-extra-box/.

This month's box had a valentine theme: pink tissue paper, little confetti hearts, and pretty green moss that kind of got all over everything (hence the newspaper underneath.)

It contained:

Mandarin Body Butter by Lisa Ann Skin Care - You get a very little sample but that's just enough to try out a product like this. It's very thick and moisturizing and smells homemade. I'm really liking my Andalou body butter right now so don't think I'd purchase, but it was a nice little sample

Pink Gold vegan Eyeshadown by The All Natural Face - Really pretty eyeshadow. It's pink and gold and very sparkly but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it wasn't overpoweringly sparkly when applied so I could still get by with wearing it to work. If you layered it on it would probably have a more sparkly effect. So happy to be getting make-up samples and this is the perfect size. It will last me a long time.

Organic White Thai Mud Masque by 7th Heaven - This sample appears to be good for one use. Good opportunity to try something different. Unfortunately, it does contain lactoperoxidase which is not vegan (I do appreciate that this was indicated on the label very clearly.)

Volumizing Shampoo - Vanilla & Sweet Orange by Hugo Naturals - This may be the item I am most excited about in this box. I've been wanting to try this scent from Hugo Naturals for a while but did not want to commit to buying a full size product. I am also on the lookout for good hair products as the ones I have been using are not great for my hair. Will let you know what I think!

Milled Flaxseed, Cocoa and berries by Linwoods - This is a powdered supplement you can add to your foods or smoothies. It contains flaxseed, cocoa, and dried berries. It's got vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, antioxidants, and 9 grams of protein. Not sure what I will add this to but could be a nice supplement to a workout regimen whenever the weather gets warmer.

Pink Pepper and citrus chocolate by Madecasse Chocolate - Actually had an opportunity to try a simple dark chocolate by Madecasse last year but the sample was very small and I was underwhelmed. This sample is an actual small full size candy bar which I think is great. I like that it's a unique flavor (and vegan!) It wasn't the most amazing chocolate I've ever eaten but definitely the best I've ever gotten in a sample box.

Bedtime and Kava Stress Relief Tea by Yogi Tea - I used to drink Yogi tea all the time. I believe these were two of my favorite flavors. I get a lot of tea from these boxes so I really need to start drinking tea again! Just got out of habit this last year.

White Camelia Hydrating Bath Bar by Aubrey Organics - I don't really use bar soaps but this is a cute little sample and will be great for travel or for guests. It's vegan as well.

Organic Pinot Lip Tint by Wine Country Organics - I love this!! I'm not a big fan of lipstick but I do like a little color on my lips every now and then. This lip tint is perfect. It's just a hint of color and shine and moisturizes as well. Perfect for work or everyday use. Please note that the lip tint does contain beeswax which many vegans choose to avoid. Also products could contain carmine. Thankfully, mine did not. No bug shells for these lips, thanks!

Very impressed with this month's box and hope future boxes are just as good. Next month is their two year anniversary box so hoping it will be extra special.