A little belated, but better late than never! April ended up being a quieter month than last month for subscription boxes, but that doesn’t mean there was a shortage of awesome items. In fact, there were so many good items I really had trouble picking favorites so for some of the boxes I picked two! I mean, I know I’ve said before that it’s hard to choose, and really that’s because all the curators of these boxes put such thoughtfulness into what goes into them so that their subscribers really get a great value in their boxes full of goodness.
Read on for a favorite from each box I reviewed this month. Be sure to click the link to get the full box reviews so you can get all the details too! Many are linked over A Year of Boxes where you can find discount codes and more if you’re interested in subscribing.
From Nourish Beauty Box (full box review here):
Lēnus No. 60 Regenerating Face Scrub ($20)
“A complex formulation of organic oils, bamboo exfoliant, coconut powder and fine sugar granules enriched with a wonderful cocktail of nourishing plant & vegetable extracts and new-age skin exfoliant.”
I love facial scrubs and this one sounds amazing! It’s an oil based scrub so on top of removing dead skin cells and debris, it will moisturize and protect the exfoliated skin too. The oils include moringa, camelia and grapeseed which are soothing and have anti-aging properties too. It smells so nice and herbal-y and soothing. It contains a handful of essential oils that contribute to the scent like frankincense, eucalyptus, lavender, cypress and geranium. The exfoliating granules look very fine and like they’d be gentle to skin. I like to exfoliate a couple of times of week to manage cell turnover so I’ll be adding this one into my rotation very soon!
From Crunchy Mama Box (full box review here):
Root Journey Facial Cleanser
“We have crafted this enriching, soap-free, gentle yet effective cleanser, unique enough to complement your own skincare journey. Our rich blend of vegan, organic and natural ingredients help clear away impurities without stripping your skin’s natural oils, while nourishing and allowing your newly rejuvenated complexion to glow. This cleanser is gentle to use both day and night, and is perfect for all skin types. When used daily, Root Journey Facial Cleanser can deep clean and purify pores, leaving skin hydrated.”
How fun to find another product from the Root Journey line in this month’s box! There was a serum included a few months back so this cleanser is the perfect complement. I especially like that it’s a clarifying cleanser as I often have congested and blemish-prone skin that needs help so a cleanser like this is a great match. Even if you don’t have fussy skin though, it sounds gentle enough for all skin types. It has wonderful moisturizing ingredients like organic aloe leaf juice, organic olive fruit oil, organic jojoba seed oil, hyaluronic acid and tamanu oil. It’s also got organic green and white tea leaf extracts and activated charcoal (which gives it the light grey color it has) that help with the clarification process. It smells wonderful, like citrus and mint and would be such a nice way to start the day. I look forward to trying this one out!
From Vegancuts Beauty Box (full box review here):
Tasu Blueberry Papaya Mask ($22)
“Non-drying creamy face mask that exfoliates & moisturizes!”
I love face masks and think they probably one of my favorite items to find in a beauty box. This one is a ready to apply mask (so no mixing required) and it’s said to help exfoliate, resurface and smooth out skin. It smells nice, kind of fruity and floral (it has essential oils of blood orange, orange and ylang ylang). This is exactly the type of mask I’m loving right now so I’m sure this will be a hit.
One more from Vegancuts Beauty Box, since I couldn’t decide:
OSEA Ocean Lotion ($18)
“Instant absorbing universal lightweight moisturizer deeply hydrates and nourishes dry, flaky skin. Organic Seaweed delivers vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and trace elements. Shea butter, rosehip, and kukui oils visibly increase the appearance of elasticity.”
I’ve been really gathering a collection of OSEA products through this subscription box! The last 3 months have included a product from their line and I’m loving it! The last 2 months were skincare products so it’s nice to try one of their body care products this month. This body lotion is super lightweight in it’s consistency and it’s wear. It absorbs really nicely and doesn’t leave any greasy feeling. When they say unscented they mean it, there is no detectable aroma that I can smell. I have really dry hands right now and applying this makes them feel soothed. I really like this lotion and think it would be great for anyone with sensitive skin especially.
From Vegancuts Snack Box (full box review here):
Blake’s Seed Based Smores Bar
“A campfire favorite made allergy-friendly: the perfect work-from-home pick-me-up!”
Ok, I love s’mores so this has got to be good! I think my eyes got wide when I spied this in the box. Yum! My husband loves s’mores even more though so I’ll probably have to share this with him. I’m always looking for any kind of snack that’s healthier, yet satisfying and even better if it kicks a sugar craving so this is perfect. It could probably even be a little replacement for an after dinner dessert? We’ll see!
One more from Vegancuts Snack Box, since I couldn’t decide:
RIND Snacks Straw-Peary Dried Fruit Blend
“Chewy, fruity & good-for-you sweetness”
I’ve eyed these before and have always wanted to try them, guess now’s my chance! This snack is a dried fruit combo of strawberry/apple/pear which sounds so tasty. They leave the skin on the fruit (unlike normal dried fruit) with the idea that more vitamins, antioxidants and fiber are found there. It also creates less waste along with being more nutritious.
From Buddhi Box (full box review here):
Produce Bags from Lotus Trolley Bags ($3)
“These mesh bags are perfect for all your fruits, veggies, bulk foods and more. They are washable, reusable, and a great way to reduce plastic waste. Yogi Tip: Use these bags for stashing and washing sweaty yoga clothes.”
I absolutely love that this month’s contents came in these reusable produce bags! Usually the items come in a cute “BuddiBox” drawstring bag, but I have such a collection of them by now I was starting to not know what to do with them all so this change of pace is very welcome. Plus, they are just so useful. I try to remember produce bags when I go to the store which of course isn’t too often at the moment, but when I finally get back these will be coming with me since grocery produce bags are single use and the waste really adds up. There are two sizes for different types and amounts of produce and they both have drawstring closures to keep everything in.
From Splendid Spoon (full box review here):
Kabocha Congee
“If rice pudding was reborn as a healthy stew. Cinnamon – Lowers blood pressure and banishes infections; Kabocha Squash – Encourages shinier hair and sharper eyes; Pumpkin Seeds – Full of heart-healthy magnesium.”
The ingredient list for this bowl includes: Water, Squash, Coconut Milk (Coconut, Water), Organic Brown Rice, Onions, Pumpkin Seeds, Lemon Juice, Coconut Oil, Sea Salt, Cayenne Pepper, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Allspice. Ok yum! This bowl is so delicious. I had no idea what a “Congee” was (although I assumed it was some kind of rice bowl or soup based on the ingredients) so I didn’t know what to expect. I googled it and found that a Congee is “is a classic Chinese breakfast dish, though it is also a staple in many other countries including Burma, Indonesia, Japan, and even parts of Europe. Congee is essentially a rice porridge made by boiling rice in a great deal of water until it breaks down into a pudding-like consistency.” Also while researching, I found that the benefits of congee based from a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective are that because it’s warm and easily digestible, it moistens and nourishes the digestive tract to soothe and heal any inflammation. That’s so interesting to me and makes it fun to try new things. This bowl is hearty and kind of like a stew/porridge or a thick soup. The squash is pureed to give it a thick creamy broth. The pumpkin seeds add a nice crunch of texture and the rice adds another texture that’s milder but breaks up the broth. It’s mildly sweet and has a hint of heat, but really it just translates as warmth to me. I did add some ground chicken to this (because I had it and I’m trying to up my protein intake) and a bit of salt but it didn’t need either. This bowl is truly the definition of comfort food. I would recommend and would definitely order this again.
From Earthlove Box (full box review here):
Sleep Well Lotion from Scentuals ($17.21)
“Community Item Pick! Made with all-natural ingredients including organic argan, olive, and other soothing essential oils, this relaxing Sleep Well lotion will soothe your senses while hydrating and nourishing your skin as you slumber away into a restful sleep.”
This is one of the items that the Earthlove community voted on to include in the box. Since this is my first box I didn’t participate in the vote, but the community picked well! I love this lotion! I have been having trouble getting uninterrupted sleep so I’ve been upping my tactics to get better zzz’s. This lotion will be perfect for my arsenal of sleep helpers as I didn’t have anything like it in the collection yet. It smells really nice and soothing. I’m not sure of the scent, it’s an secret blend of essential oils (it doesn’t say on the bottle which are included, but if it’s the same as some of their other sleep products than it’s likely lavender, vanilla, jasmine, ylang ylang, sandalwood, clary sage and chamomile. I can definitely pick up those notes, so it’s gotta be similar. The lotion is soothing to skin and absorbs really nicely. I’m putting this on my nightstand tonight and will be slathering it on before bed.
From Kinder Beauty Box (full box review here):
Delia Organic Nail & Cuticle Oil ($15.99)
“Our hands are the number one most used part of our bodies, and we often forget about their care. This cuticle oil is a blend of natural oils and essential oils that help hydrate, heal, and promote healthy nail growth. It soothes dry, irritated skin; deeply hydrates cuticles and nail beds: and it’s clean, refreshing light aroma helps energize your mind and body.”
This is something I don’t have in my collection yet, so it’s a great product to receive. I would definitely agree that my nails and cuticles are often forgot about in my self care routine, but it seems important to take care of them. This is especially true in the colder months, but with all the hand washing lately this will be great to keep dryness at bay. It smells faintly of citrus and is said to be extra hydrating. What I love most about it is that it’s super easy to apply, just roll on and your set. I also took a minute to massage it in for extra good measure, but I’m sure it’s not necessary if you’re in a hurry. This would be perfect for keeping by the bedside to apply right before bed.
There’s my April round-up of subscription box favorites. Check back at the end of this month for more favorites! 🙂
*All boxes were gifted, but all opinions are my own.
