Fall 2021 BE KIND. by ellen Review and Coupon

The BE KIND. by ellen box is a quarterly subscription with products picked by Ellen DeGeneres from brands that give back. The Fall box had an interesting mix of goodies.

*Disclaimer: This box was sent to See, Shop, Love! in exchange for an honest review. Post contains affiliate links.

BE KIND. by ellen sends seven socially-conscious products every quarter (once every three months) worth $200+ for $54.99 per box. You can also do a one-time purchase of the box for $69.99. There is free shipping for U.S. addresses for both options.

I've always been interested in this box because it's a little different than other lifestyle subscriptions because it features brands that give back. The Fall box features companies that help Fair Trade farms, domestic violence survivors, providing meals to those in need, and more.

This quarter's box had a mix of jewelry, home items, bath and body, and fun creative things. Here's a breakdown of what was inside:

ZenWTR Vapor Distilled Alkaline Water ($2.29): BE KIND. by ellen partnered with ZenWTR for this quarter's box. Their water is the first and only in the world to be made from 100 percent recycled, certified ocean-bound plastic, which is plastic rescued from at-risk coastlines and waterways, preventing it from reaching and polluting the ocean. One percent of their sales are donated to ocean conservation and recycling advocacy.

Terra Thread Organic Cotton Zipper Pouch ($15): This pouch is made from organic cotton. Terra Thread was founded by father-daughter duo Vik and Vizran Giri and was created in response to the adverse effects of the fast fashion industry. Their mission is to create the best fair trade, certified organic cotton bags while being sustainable, ethical, traceable, and transparent. All of their products are carbon-neutral and the company supports carbon-offset projects in renewable energy and reforestation.

Miracle Brand Laundry Detergent Sheets ($30): This was the most interesting product in the box for me. These are eco-friendly laundry detergent sheets made with only four ingredients. The box is made from recycled cardboard and there is no plastic, making it a zero-waste product. I just used these tonight and threw two sheets into my larger laundry load and they worked great!

Sanctuary Project Gold Hoop Earrings ($50): These earrings are beautiful and can be worn for everyday or dressier looks. 100 percent of the sales from Sanctuary Project products go directly to providing more job opportunities and job training to women who have survived trafficking, violence, and addiction. It's a survivor-run organization offering a safe community for women to grow.

Charged Wellness Rose Quartz Bracelet ($40): I love this bracelet. The delicate design is so pretty, and rose quartz is the stone of unconditional love, compassion, peace, and comfort. It's 18k gold plated and fully adjustable. Charged Wellness is on a mission to provide wearers with the tools to recharge and revive yourself through a journey of love and self-care.

DailyConcepts Body Scrubber ($20): I love these types of scrubbers for travel. This gently exfoliates skin with a soft, natural organic cotton surface and soy-based core to create a rich lather when soap is applied. It's organic, vegan, biodegradable, and never tested on animals. Their Eco-Logic technology helps accelerate biodegradation of the fibers after this has been thrown out. It also has smart label technology, meaning when the label fades, it's time to replace the scrubber (it lasts for approximately 90 days). DailyConcepts supports LAVA MAEX, which provides mobile showers to homeless people in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay area.

Modern Monet Paint by Numbers Kit ($42): I was excited to get this paint by numbers kit until I opened it -- not that it isn't great quality, but it was way more detailed than I expected! This will take a lot of patience to complete, so I'll have to save it for a rainy day in. The kit contains a canvas, acrylic paint, brushes, and a guide. I received the "Vintage Vision" kit.

The Fall 2021 BE KIND. by ellen box had a total retail value of $199.29, which is just below the promised $200 value. It's close enough that it doesn't matter to me, but is worth pointing out for those who are considering subscribing.

• Visit BE KIND. by ellen to subscribe 
• Use code ELLEN10 for 10 percent off
  

Bottom Line: I think the BE KIND. by ellen box is an interesting lifestyle subscription. The products are varied and may not be for everyone, but I like that they promote companies that focus on giving back.

Purrfect Brew Subscription Review and Coupon

If you're a cat person like me, you have to check out Purrfect Brew! It's a great subscription service that sends coffee, tea, and treats for you and your cat each month.

*Disclaimer: This box was sent to See, Shop, Love! in exchange for an honest review.

Purrfect Brew is owned and operated by Latina founder Jessica Villanueva Moore and was inspired by a moment she had in October of 2018. While sipping her coffee, she thought that the cat community was missing an authentic connection to independent makers. She created Purrfect Brew to share more love with cat people and their pets and build a community that supports each others' dreams.

Purrfect Brew has a Tea box and a Whole Bean Coffee box. The Tea box is $37.99 for a one-time purchase or $35.98 every bimonthly for a subscription plan. The Coffee box is $39.99 for a one-time purchase or $37.98 bimonthly. You cancel at any time and shipping is free to U.S. addresses. If you subscribe to the bimonthly plan you will be charged on the 15th of each month.

The boxes contain top quality teas and coffees sourced from small business owners, as well as curated handmade toys, treats, and bonus goodies for you and your cat.

There's something really cozy about settling down with a cup of coffee or tea, so I was really excited to see what was included in the Purrfect Brew box.

I received a bag of loose leaf tea and five other items. There was no card or insert listing each item, but they all had tags on them so I could find the company that made them.

These handmade coasters are so pretty! I like the soft colors, they're perfect for fall. There was a tag on the other side of each stating they were made by Drifted Cotton Co.

The goodies for my cat were two maple leaf catnip toys and a package of catnip treats. The maple leafs are so cute and were made by Gideon Jo Creations. My cat, Tully, immediately took to them--she even started playing with them while I was trying to take photos! 

The treats are from Made By Tricia. The label says they are vegan and free from corn, soy, dairy, and eggs. Cats need meat in their diet, but meat-free treats are fine for a snack. These have whole wheat flour, oatmeal, water, coconut oil, and organic catnip in them.

Last up is the Vanilla Chai Tea from Pat's Pantry. Chai is such a great tea at any time of year, but especially during the fall. This has a medium caffeine level and is high in antioxidants, with black tea, ginger, cardamom, coriander, cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, calendula, sunflower petals, and natural flowers. It smells so good and the flavor notes are creamy vanilla, a bit of cardamom, and a ginger finish.

• Visit Purrfect Brew to subscribe
• Use coupon code pbrew15 for 15% off the box of your choice!
  

Bottom Line: I think Purrfect Brew is a super cute subscription for cats and their people! My cat loved the toys and treats and I'll enjoy the tea and coasters. I love that this is a woman-of-color-owned business that supports other small businesses, too!

October FaceTory 7 Lux Review and Coupon

If you're as addicted to Korean skincare as I am, Facetory 7 Lux is the perfect subscription for you. This month's shipment had masks focusing on hydration and soothing.

*Disclaimer: This box was purchased by See, Shop, Love! Post contains affiliate links.

FaceTory has two subscription options; this is a review of the 7 Lux package. It comes with seven sheet masks plus one extra skincare item for $19.99 per month. Considering individual sheet masks can cost anywhere from $1 to $10+ each, depending on the brand, I think this is a great deal and an easy way for me to keep my stash full.

I use a sheet mask every night. If you've never used them, they're a great way to keep skin looking its best and they come in a bunch of different ingredient mixtures to target specific skincare needs. This month's package focused more on hydrating and balancing the skin.

• Yadah Daily Green Mask Cica ($3): Cica is one of my favorite ingredients for all skin types. It's also known as centenella asiatica and it's great for calming irritated skin and soothing redness, as well as fighting acne.
• It's Skin The Fresh Mask Sheet Bamboo ($3): It's Skin is a great brand so I was happy to see this mask in the package. It's made with bamboo and has an essence that helps lock in moisture and regenerate skin.
• Purenskin Avocado Mask ($2): Avocado is wonderful for soothing dry, irritated skin. It helps nourish flaky skin and is loaded with fatty acids, vitamins, and nutrients that keep skin hydrated.

• Babyface Skin Reboot Peel Mask ($8): This mask is a little different than standard masks, as it's only meant to be worn for one minute instead of the usual 10 to 20. It has three acids to help gently exfoliate skin: AHA, BHA, and PHA. All three work together to provide a hydrating and gentle chemical exfoliation.
• Blingpop Skin Gel Collagen Mask ($3): Hydrogel masks are another great treat for dry skin. This one has hydrolyzed collagen to keep skin feeling hydrated and plump and grapefruit extract, which is rich in natural moisturizing ingredients Vitamin A, E, and C.
• FaceTory Ace that Face Collagen Sheet Mask ($3.50): This is one of FaceTory's own masks with a new formulation. It contains hydrolyzed collagen and Ganoderma Lucidum mushroom extract to firm and even out skin.
• Elishacoy Hydra Mushroom Mask Sheet ($3): The essence in this mask contains Sparassis Crispa extract, a superfood with anti-aging properties, that also helps hydrate skin and prevent acne. It also has trehalose, which is an antioxidant and skin moisturizer.
  

The extra skincare item this month is the Yadah Green Tea Pure Cleansing Balm II ($8), which I was also excited to receive. I double cleanse with a cleansing balm before my regular cleanser and this one is perfect for travel. It's certified vegan and has a soft texture that melts into skin to remove makeup and excess dirt and oil from skin. The key ingredient of green tea powder is a well-known antioxidant that controls excess sebum and reduces inflammation.

The total retail value for the October FaceTory 7 Lux box is $33.50, exceeding the $19.99 cost. 

• Visit FaceTory to subscribe
• Use coupon code SEESHOPLOVE15 for 15% off your first package
  

Bottom Line: This month's FaceTory 7 Lux had a great selection of hydrating masks! These will be great for the incoming cold, dry winter weather.

Charlie Curls Heatless Curls Review

I heat style most days, even during the pandemic, because I like to at least blow dry my roots, but this unfortunately leads to a lot of heat exposure. The CharlieCurls kit lets me curl my hair without any heat tools, letting my hair take a break from heat styling.

*Disclaimer: This product was sent to See, Shop, Love! in exchange for an honest review.

The CharlieCurls heatless hairstyling kit works with the structure of your hair to create bouncy, beautiful curls. The kit contains one CharlieCurl, a carrying bag, one hair mist sprayer, and one wooden comb. The CharlieCurl is available in teal, black, purple, and brown. My kit had the teal color.

All three elements of the kit can also be purchased individually, but getting them all together in the kit is a great value and the best deal, in my opinion.

The kit contains instructions on how to use the CharlieCurl: first you mist your hair with water using the misting bottle, comb through with the wooden comb, and then twist your hair into an updo with the CharlieCurl.

The misting bottle creates an even mist that is easy to apply throughout all of your hair. It's best to use the styler on dry second or third day hair (not freshly washed) and then mist with water. The wooden comb is made from 100 percent bamboo and reduces frizz because it doesn't conduct electricity.

The CharlieCurl can be worn several ways and the box includes instructions on how to do the Traditional Roll. They also have videos on their website for other types of rolls, including the Low Bun, Unicorn Roll, Princess Roll, and Double Roll.

You can also have a free consultation with the CharlieCurl team if none of these methods work for you. Every person's hair is different and they will work with you via video conference to find the best way to use CharlieCurl with your hair.

I have thick, layered hair that is a little bit past my shoulders. The Traditional Roll didn't work that well for me due to my multiple layers, but I found that the Low Bun was most effective. The Princess Roll is also recommended for layered hair, but you need two CharlieCurls for that and I only had one.

It took me a little while to get used to using the CharlieCurl. I'll admit I'm not the best at styling my hair (outside of using a flat iron) and I got a little frustrated while trying to use it at first. Since my hair is so thick, it didn't feel very secure at first and I had to keep playing with it to get it in the right position. Once I was able to find a hold that worked for me, though, I left it in for the recommended three hours. I did use it on freshly washed hair, but I still think the results came out nicely! I'll continue to try different methods and use it again when my hair isn't as newly washed.

• Visit CharlieCurls to learn more and purchase
  

Bottom Line: The CharlieCurl Kit is a fun way to get volume and curls without using heat products. It's effective for all types of hairstyles and textures and can be worn a variety of ways. I'm excited to learn more on how to use this to best fit my hair type.

HANK Skincare: Botanical Ingredients for Men

The team at HANK Skincare creates healthy skincare products for men backed by plant-powered evolution. Their botanical ingredients and holistic approach means high quality products that work to enhance skin health.

*Disclaimer: These products were sent to See, Shop, Love! in exchange for an honest review.

HANK Skincare is cruelty-free and organic. Their mission is to expose more men to the beneficial effects of roots and flowers, instead of toxins, to better their skin.

I received the Shield Hair and Beard Balm, Primo Cleanser, and Bhang Face Treatment to review. My boyfriend helped me out with the review and I'll share both of our thoughts here. We're both Korean, and as you may or may not know, Koreans take our skincare seriously! I knew he would be interested in trying out this line.

 
The HANK Skincare packaging is simple but eye-catching. I would reach for this on the shelves and my boyfriend said he would, too.

The Primo Cleanser comes with a turnkey inside the top of the box to ensure you get all of the product out of the tube. This is a nice touch that I haven't seen in other skincare products before.

The cleanser has a mild pH ideal for maintaining the proper balance on the acid mantle, a thin layer on the skin composed of lipids (fats) and amino acids from sweat that keeps moisture in and bacteria and pollution out. The cleanser is gentle enough for every day use and won't harshly irritate skin but is still effective.

The texture is light and creamy and the cleanser doesn't foam up much when mixed with water. This isn't a bad thing, though. I liked how gentle it was and that it didn't leave my skin feeling dry after use. My boyfriend also enjoyed the feel and that it was unscented.

The Bhang Face Treatment is an oil/serum consistency that fights the effects of stress and fatigue on the skin, such as dry, pale skin and redness or inflammation. The natural plant compounds in the treatment protect against free radical exposure from the environment.

This treatment is great for use after cleansing and can be used as a moisturizer. A little goes a long way and it absorbs quickly into skin. I added a few drops to my palms and patted the treatment onto my skin. My boyfriend said that the treatment was nice but he prefers a cream moisturizer.

Here's a look at the texture of the Primo Cleanser (left) and Bhang Face Treatment (right).

The Shield Hair and Beard Treatment was created as a multipurpose treatment. It contains the antibacterial properties of Palo Santo and New Calendonia Sandalwood to keep hair in perfect balance. It's ideal for keeping hair smooth and hydrated with a light hold.

The Shield Hair and Beard Balm was my favorite product of the bunch. It has a wax-like texture but isn't heavy. A small amount (about dime-sized) warmed between the palms was enough for my boyfriend's short hair and it gave the perfect amount of hold. It made his hair look polished but still had movement. I didn't take any pictures of the final look because he's shy about having his photo posted online, but I promise that it looked great!

Here are the ingredients lists for the three products:

Shield Hair and Beard Balm

Primo Cleanser

Bhang Face Treatment

My boyfriend and I both enjoyed using the HANK Skincare products. Even though they're marketed towards men, I think people of any gender would enjoy them. I like that the products are gentle and effective and made with natural botanicals. I especially enjoy that they're unscented, making them great for anyone to use.

• Visit HANK Skincare to learn more and purchase
  

Bottom Line: The HANK Skincare products we tried were all high quality and felt great on our skin (and his hair!). I think they do a great job of creating products with natural ingredients that keep skin looking healthy.