Ekster Parliament Smart Wallet Review

If you're still looking for holiday gifts, Ekster has innovative wallets that are perfect for anyone on your list! They have a Christmas sale going on right now, too (more on that further down in the post).

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

Ekster sells wallets, bags, cases, and tech accessories with the aim of making your daily life easier. They reimagined the traditional wallet, making it easier to use and harder to lose. They were able to bring their products into fruition due to crowdfunding and are now able to deliver high quality products made from sustainable, durable materials.

The most innovative part of the Ekster wallet is the smart tracking device. The card is branded with the Ekster logo and is made by the Chipolo company and run through their app. The credit-card sized tracker fits perfectly inside of the Ekster wallets, or any other item you wish to keep track of. It works via Bluetooth and the app on your phone will either set the device ringing, or you can also use the tracker card to locate your phone if you misplace it (the phone app will make a sound even if you have your phone on silent). The tracking card is sold separately from the wallets.

I received the Parliament Wallet to review and it is beautiful. It's made from environmentally-certified premium leather with slim storage and quick card access. It also has RFID blocking technology to protect your cards. I don't like a bulky wallet and this one is perfect for my needs and style preferences.

The wallet is a bifold design with a pocket for one card or cash, and a pop-up card holder that fits five cards. I absolutely love this slim, efficient design.

As you can see, with a push of the black button the bottom interior of the wallet, the five cards will pop up out of their compartment for easy access. Now, I do have more than five cards between debit, credit, and other necessary ID, so I had to prioritize which I used the most. But overall I found this wallet has everything I need.

If you're someone who regularly carries cash and coins, this design probably wouldn't fit your needs as well, but Ekster has other designs available. There is a more traditional Modular Bifold and cardholders that are slimmer and carry up to 10 cards.

• Visit Ekster to browse their full line of products 
• Shop the Christmas sale for 25% off all orders and 35% off orders of $200+ with free shipping and free returns and guaranteed Christmas deliver7 (no coupon needed)
  

Bottom Line: I love the Ekster Parliament wallet. The design is great and the materials high quality, but you really can't beat the smart tracking device. I also appreciate that the tracker can be used both ways, since I tend to misplace my phone more often than my wallet.

Bespoke Post Black Box 2021 Review and $20 off Coupon

Every year, Bespoke Post releases a limited edition "Black Box" on Black Friday. I've never gotten one in the past but decided to grab one this year.

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

The Black Box is no longer available. It is released on Black Friday and is free with a $45+ Bespoke Post shop purchase. You'll be upgraded to the Premium Box with a $90+ purchase.

I skipped my November box shipment because I knew I wanted to buy something and that the Black Friday sale would be later in the month. I got the "Destination" box and picked up the non-premium Black Box as well.

To be completely honest, I hadn't been impressed with the Black Box shipments in the past, but I figured since I already knew I wanted a Bespoke Post box this month, an extra box of things couldn't be bad, even if I ended up not liking what was inside.

I ended up being pretty pleased with the selection, though I wouldn't have paid for this box on its own. Here's what was inside:

• KIND Bar: These two KIND Bars were bonus items. I've had them before and they're pretty good granola bars.
• Leather & Brass Key Fob by Ezra Arthur: This is a genuine leather key chain in dark brown. I like the simple design and sturdy leather.
• Oakmoss & Amber Room Spray by Bradley Mountain: This smells great, with essential oils of oakmoss, amber, and oud. I love Earthy scents and this one is perfect.
• Electrolyte Vitamin Sample Pouch by Brode: These vitamins fight dehydration (and hangovers) with electrolytes.
• Crew Socks by Unsimply Stitched: I think boxes like these always have a pair of socks, since they're an easy item to send. These are exclusive to Bespoke Post and are a comfy cotton blend.
• Grooming Starter Kit by Tiege Hanley: This is probably the best value item in my opinion (not based on price, but usage). Even though it's branded as "uncomplicated skincare for men," I'll take any kind of skincare. This kit has a Wash, AM Moisturizer, and Hand Cream
• $10 Off Coupon: There was also a small card with a unique coupon code for $100 of a future purchase of $75+.
  

Bottom Line: If you're already planning on buying individual gifts from the Bespoke Post shop and/or a club box around November, I think it's worth it to wait until the Black Friday Black Box sale. That being said, I wouldn't go out of my way to try to get this box if there isn't something you already really want from the Bespoke Post shop.

Although the Black Box is no longer available, you can still subscribe to Bespoke Post or shop one-time purchases from their shop. 

• Use this link to get $20 off your first box (only $25)!
  

MEL Science "Aircraft" Review and 50% off Coupon

If you're looking for a way to keep your child's mind engaged while having fun, the MEL Science kits are a great subscription! 

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

MEL Science sends monthly hands-on science projects for three different age groups: STEM for ages 5-9+, Physics for ages 8-14+, Chemistry for ages 10-16+, and MEL Med for ages 14+.

You can choose one course or start with a mix, with prices starting at $26.20 per month. You'll get a new kit each month with 1-5 hands-on projects. You'll also gain access to virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) lessons and live lessons with professional science teachers. They also have a 100 percent money back guarantee if you're not satisfied and you can also cancel or pause your subscription at any time.

I would have loved these kits as a kid! I was excited to share them with my nephew, who is a bit younger than their target age at three years old, but I wanted to see if he was interested in them nonetheless.

I shared the "Aircraft" STEM kit with him at Thanksgiving and I have to admit, the excitement of the day made it hard for him to focus so we didn't end up doing the project together. I put it together myself and will give him the two aircraft projects to play with later.

The kit comes with a full color booklet with a comic strip telling a story behind the kit, as well as instructions and more fun activities. This box featured a story about helping little creatures get fruit from atop of a tree, hence why the aircraft were needed. There were also two card inserts with other activities.

There is a list of components on the first page of the booklet to make sure your kit isn't missing anything.

The comic strip and other facts about flight were well-drawn and eye catching for kids. I'm sure they'd have fun learning more about the topic at a reading level appropriate for their age.

There are step-by-step color instructions for how to put together each project. There are no word descriptions, but the pictures are easy to follow.

Then, of course, were all of the components for the two aircraft projects, split into two packets. Obviously adult guidance is needed when putting these together, especially for younger kids.

The two aircraft projects were a boomerang-style launcher and a spinning top projectile. They were easy to put together (from an adult standpoint), and the booklet includes information for kids about the science behind how/why these gadgets work. They do a great job of breaking it down into terms children will understand, and the toys are, of course, really fun to play with!

Here are two videos of me launching both projects. I had a little bit of difficulty with the boomerang, mostly because I was afraid I was holding it the wrong way and it would snap back and hit me in the face, ha (it didn't)!

• Visit MEL Science to browse all their kits and subscribe 
• Get 50% off your first box with coupon code SSL50, or just click any of the links in this post and the coupon will be automatically applied. Expires 12/31/21
  

Bottom Line: The MEL Science "Aircraft" kit was a lot of fun to put together and I could see how kids and their guardians could bond over putting together the projects. They're a great way to introduce science and engineering to kids!

Revela Hair Serum Review and Coupon

If you're looking for a way to strengthen your hair, the new Revela Hair Revival Serum might be exactly what you need!

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

 

 

Revela's Hair Revival Serum is the first clinically-tested solution designed specifically for women experiencing hair loss. The ultra-lightweight formula and patent-pending ingredient helps support hair follicle health and reduce the appearance of thinning hair.

The kit comes with a massager to help stimulate scalp circulation and boost scalp health with application. The serum is suitable for color-, keratin-, and chemically-treated hair or relaxed hair with efficient scalp and follicle penetration for visible, guaranteed results. You can view their 90 day guarantee promise here.

The serum is also cruelty free and has no hormones, gluten, parabens or toxins. The proprietary, medical-grade lead ingredient is called 3-(furan-2-yl)-1-methanesulfonyl-5- (methylsulfanyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol, which was discovered through an artificial intelligence process to find the highest efficacy ingredient to support hair fullness and thickness. It also contains Vitamin E, aloe vera, and caffeine.

What makes Revela unique is that they are a biotechnology company creating hair care products. They discover new ingredients through artificial intelligence, which scans a library of three billion molecules to create a shortlist of ingredients with the highest potential to create effective results. They then vigorously test each ingredient for safety and effectiveness.

Revela guarantees visible results with the Revival Serum within a month of daily use. The daily use part is key -- the serum is meant to be applied one per day on dry or towel-dried hair and not rinsed out.

I was a little nervous to try this because I have an oily scalp and was worried that a strong serum would cause more oil issues and weigh down my hair, but I had nothing to fear! The serum truly is ultra-lightweight. I applied the suggested full dropper to my scalp, focusing on my part, hairline, and dispensing the rest on other areas of my scalp and massaged it in with the included handheld massager. The serum felt cooling and light and absorbed fully into my hair and scalp within a few minutes. It didn't leave my hair feeling greasy or weighed down at all. In fact, I didn't feel anything at all after it was absorbed.

Full disclosure here: I have thick hair and do not have any bald patches currently, but I do experience a lot of hair fallout throughout the day. I am also trying to grow my hair out, and while the serum does not promise to make hair grow faster, I figured if I can help boost my hair health, as it grows out it'll be stronger and thicker. I'm happy with the results so far and while I can't share any dramatic before and after photos, I will say that my hair feels great after using the Revival Serum.

I have been using the serum for a month and I have noticed less hair fallout when brushing and styling my hair. I'm excited to continue to use the Revival Serum and see how it affects my hair.

• Visit Revela to purchase
• Use coupon code DANIELLES10 for 10 percent off
  

Bottom Line: The Revela Revival Serum is guaranteed to provide results after four weeks' time with daily use and their trials have supported its efficacy. If you're looking to battle hair loss, I think this serum is well worth a try.

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.