April Eco-Emi Review

I've been an Eco-Emi subscriber since October, but this box will be my last for a little while.  I recently got a new car, so I wanted to cut down on my monthly spending a bit since I'll have a car payment now.  I decided that I needed to give this service a break for a little while, but I will definitely miss it because I've never gotten a box I didn't love!

Eco-Emi costs $15 a month, and for that price you get a box with 8-10 eco-friendly items.  While it's technically a lifestyle box, there are usually a decent amount of beauty products each month.  I really enjoy how the boxes are packaged, you can tell that a great deal of care is taken when they're assembled each month.  There is a lot of tissue paper, but it's recyclable.

The theme for the April box was India.  On the description card, Christine (CEO and owner) wrote that "the beautiful architecture, animals, gorgeous fabrics and patterns, bright colors, tropical flowers, and warm, cozy spices were the inspiration..."  Here is what was included:

• Baby Me Goat Milk Soap - This soap is in the brown packaging pictured above.  I haven't opened it yet, but it's an unscented and vegetarian.  I'll probably wait a while before using it because I'm up to the ears in soaps at the moment.
• Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer in Plum - I'm on the fence about Burt's Bees.  I have their original lip balm because I like the tingly feeling, but I recently made the decision not to purchase any of their products anymore because I don't like that their parent company (Clorox) tests on animals.  Even though Burt's Bees doesn't test, purchasing their items supports other subsidiaries that do.  The plum shade on this is also too dark for me, I prefer more natural-looking colors.
• Catalyst Gourmet - The sample pack included Enchanting Chai Gourmet Enhancers, Finishing Sugars, and Spiced Chocolate.  I haven't tried the sugars or enhancers, but I liked the spiced chocolate bark.  It had a great chai spice flavor, which is one of my all-time favorite tastes.
• Dr. Collins Natural Toothpaste - I've been using Lush's Toothy Tabs recently, but I'm willing to give this a try.  The flavor is Vanilla Mint & Goji Berry, and it's vegan and gluten free.
• The Seaweed Bath Company Seaweed Body Wash - The scent of this is Eucalyptus and Peppermint.  Haven't tried it yet, not sure when I will.  It has all-natural ingredients and is good for those with rough skin.
• Shea Radiance Whipped Shea Butter - When they say whipped, they mean it!  The texture of this is so luxuriously light.  The scent is Kalahari Melon, which is okay.  One thing I didn't like about this is that since it's whipped, there's more air, so it doesn't spread very well.  I'm more a fan of products where a little goes a long way.
• Mate Factor Yerba Mate - Tropical Lime flavor, nothing special to me.  It tasted good and I'm a tea fan, but I'm tired of getting so many tea samples.
• Lauren Brook Cosmetiques Bronzer - I didn't really care for this bronzer.  It's more of a matte, and I prefer ones that are a bit shimmery.  The shade is "Golden."
• Wholesome Sweeteners Organic Raw Fair Trade Honey - I don't really eat honey, so I'm not sure when I'll really try this.  It came with a pamphlet that had recipes in it, though, so maybe I'll give those a try.

Bottom Line: I thoroughly enjoy Eco-Emi.  For anyone who is interested in learning more about living a green lifestyle, this is a great service.  April's box was no disappointment, as always.

*Disclaimer: I purchased this Eco-Emi box with my own money and I was not asked to review it.  I did not receive any compensation for this review and the honest opinions here are entirely my own.

March Eco-Emi Review

I'm a little late with this post, but I had some other sponsored things I had to get to first.  Anyway, here is what was in my March Eco-Emi box!

As always, the box came beautifully packaged.  The little bag this month is especially pretty!  I love how they individually wrap some of the items, it really makes you feel like you're opening a special present made just for you.

I thought there was a great assortment of products this month.  Here's what was included:

• Vitacare Whitening Gum in Pomegranate Mint
• Badger Lip Tint & Shimmer in Red Jasper
• Bella Bar Raw Bar in Cinnamon Nut
• Old Post Road Oils Pear Tree Specialty Hand Soap
• Vitacare Toothbrush
• Auromere Ayurvedic Incense in Patchouli
• GreenBody GreenPlanet Revitalizing Shampoo and Conditioner
• The All Natural Face Vegan Eyeliner in "That Black"
• The All Natural Face Vegan Mineral Eyeshadow in "Rose Gold" and "Peach Ice"

Eco-Emi is a lifestyle box, so (as you can see) there are a variety of items that are all natural, vegan, and/or eco-friendly.  My favorite item in this month's box was the Badger Lip Tint!  I was so excited to see the shimmer in this month's box, especially since I also received one in a previous Conscious Box.  The colors were random, and I love the one I got.  The color payoff is excellent and they're great for moisturizing--and you all know about my obsession with Badger Balm by now!  I also really enjoyed the mineral eyeshadows.  They have great color payoff, too, and I think I'm going to end up purchasing some full-sized ones.  They're very reasonably priced and there was a coupon for 15% off in the box.

Unfortunately, I cancelled my Eco-Emi subscription today.  It's not for a lack of love for this company, because I've been so happy with each and every box I've ever received.  I just have too many samples right now and am running out of space, so I stopped my subscription for a while so I could use the products I already have.  I definitely plan on resubscribing in the future.

• Learn more about Eco-Emi
• Connect with them on Facebook and Twitter

Bottom Line: Eco-Emi is an amazing service for anyone who wants to receive a package in the mail each month that's full of eco-friendly products!  It costs $15 a month.  Subscriptions are currently waitlisted, but just email info@ecoemi.com to be put on the list.

*Disclaimer: I purchased my Eco-Emi subscription with my own money and was not asked by Eco-Emi to write this review. I was not compensated in any way and the honest opinions here are entirely my own.

February Eco Emi Review

I got my February Eco-Emi box in the mail the other day!  This box is a bit special because it marks the one-year anniversary of the creation of Eco-Emi.  I wish I could say that I've been a subscriber since the beginning, but I haven't.  Either way, I'm so glad to have found this service (I've been a subscriber since December) and look forward to many more boxes.  Eco-Emi is a monthly subscription that costs $15/mo., and is a box full of 6-10 eco-friendly products and samples.

One thing that really sets Eco-Emi apart from other subscription services I've tried is how beautifully packaged each month's box always is.  I learned last month that the boxes are packaged by disabled people each month, which made me love the company even more.  The "I ♥ Eco Emi" in the upper left corner is a special bumper sticker.

This first item that caught my eye was the bright pink tube.  At first I thought they might be bath salts, but then I realized that it was actually a lip gloss!  The Dagoba lip balm also stood out.  Some people have been complaining that there have been too many lip balms in all of the boxes, but I'm a lip balm hoarder.  I would probably sign up for a service that only sent me lip balms each month, haha.  But rest assured, those who do not obsess as much as me -- this is the last lip balm for a while, says Eco-Emi.

Here are all of the items, all spread out.  There weren't any more than usual, I felt, which was a little bit disappointing because I thought we might get a little extra due to the fact that it was the anniversary box.  But on second thought, the overall value of this month's box is definitely something special.  Read about each individual item (and see more photos) behind the cut.

• Learn more about Eco-Emi and sign up for a subscription at their website
• Connect with them on Facebook and Twitter

Bottom Line: Overall I'm very pleased with the February Eco-Emi box.  I have yet to be disappointed by any of their boxes.  And even better, on the informational card Christine (founder and CEO) hinted that there is going to be something new and exciting to hold us members over in between bonus box time.  Can't wait to find out what it is!

January Eco Emi Review

My January Eco Emi box came yesterday!  This box is only my second "official" box, but I am so in love with this company.  I purchased two other boxes that weren't a part of my subscription, an extra October box and the most recent bonus box.  Eco Emi is a subscription service that, for $15 a month, sends you 5-10 sample or full-sized eco-friendly products.  They are a lifestyle box, so there is a good mixture of different types of things.

This packaging is so beautiful this month!  I rearranged the confetti snowflakes, but you get the idea.  The care that Christine, the owner, puts in to each month's box is so evident and I really appreciate her attention to detail.  All of the products were packaged in the dark blue velvet bag.

It's like Christmas every month, it really is!  The first thing I noticed was the Kelapo Coconut Oil.  I thought, "oh no, not more coconut oil!"  I actually received the same exact sample in my January Conscious Box, and also got a different brand in my Eco Emi bonus box.  But that's okay, now I know a few more ways that I can use it so I'll definitely put it to good use (thanks to Susan S for the suggestion of using it as a lip balm!).

More photos and information about the items, as always, behind the "Read More" :)

My Eco-Emi Bonus Box!

I had a hectic and frustrating day at work yesterday, which made coming home to my Eco-Emi Bonus Box even more exciting.  I've blogged about my monthly boxes before, but this one is a bit different.  Every few months they sell a "bonus box" that has more than the regular amount of items and is a one-time sale.  So even people who aren't subscribers can pick one up.  It's a great way to try out the service (which brings you eco-friendly samples and products each month for $15/month) without the commitment, although since they are so infrequently offered you'd have to get lucky and catch them at the right time.

Here's my haul!  I was so happy with the box.  There are a few items that other people got that I was hoping for but weren't in my box, but that's okay.  It was really fun to have such a surprise -- normally I look at spoiler posts for the monthly boxes before mine comes, so I know what items will be in it (since everyone gets the same items for those boxes).  As you can see, this was well worth the $14 price.  I received 14 items, including the canvas bag they came in.  Some of them are items I've already received in past boxes, but I knew that was probably going to happen so I wasn't disappointed.

• Visit Eco-Emi's website and see items from past boxes and/or subscribe
• Connect with them on Facebook and Twitter

Bottom Line: Snag an Eco-Emi Bonus Box if you can!  Christine (the owner of the company) will make an announcement sometime this week that a limited number of boxes will be available.  Follow them on Facebook (link above) and keep an eye out for a post.

Check out more photos and a little bit more detail on the items behind the "Read More."

December Eco-Emi Box!

I'm so so so excited to be writing about my first official Eco-Emi box!  I had first signed up for the service in the beginning of November, and since you are always paying for the following month's box I wouldn't be getting my first one until December.  I say my first "official" box because I purchased an extra October box in the meantime, to tide me over.

The packaging this month is so beautiful!  I was really impressed when I opened up my package and saw the bow.  I love the colors, too; the brown and tan are very chic.

Here are what all of the goodies looked like when I first opened the box.  I had spoiled myself (I can never really stand to wait to be surprised!) and found out what we'd all be receiving through other peoples' blog posts and the Eco-Emi site, but it didn't take away from the joy I got from opening up the box!  The green tissue paper stood out to me, since green is my favorite color.  I thought that the brown box with green accents was much more refreshing than a predictable red and green combo.

Each box comes with an index card with a welcome from Christine, the Eco-Emi founder, along with descriptions of all of the products inside.  I noticed a few typos and grammatical errors on it, which the former English major in me found a little disappointing.  But overall, I'm most interested in testing out the products, so less-than-perfect grammar is definitely forgivable.

The loot!  Since Eco-Emi is a lifestyle box, there is a variety of different eco-friendly products each month.  I like lifestyle boxes more than strictly-beauty boxes, because I only need so many beauty samples.  I was very pleased with the items in this month's box.

• Wyk Candles Whispering Pine Candle - I love candles, and I love fall and winter scents the best.  This Whispering Pine scent is wonderful!  It's definitely got the pine notes, but it's slightly sweet, too.
• Zambeezi Tangerine Lip Balm - There has been some chatter from members who are tired of getting lip balms in every box, but I say keep 'em coming!  I'm glad that this was included since it's my first box and I'm obsessed with lip balms.  This one smells great, and like many of the other organic balms I've tried, it feels great on my lips.
• Artisana Organic Raw Cacao Bliss Coconut Butter - I haven't tried this yet, but it sounds yummy. It's a spread, so I plan on buying some graham crackers and taking it to work for a snack.  The index card describes it as a "rich, creamy, vegan chocolately-coconut spread."
• Organic Candy Cane from The Natural Candy Store - I just ate this tonight and it was really good!  It was a fun little treat for the Christmas season and I'm glad they included it in the box.
• GreenShield Organic Free and Clear Laundry Detergent - I haven't used this yet, either, but it's an interesting product.  I also received an organic laundry soap with my Conscious Box, which worked rather well.  I like these because I don't want to be putting harmful chemicals into the water when I do my laundry.
• John Masters Organics from Hip Apotheca - The two silver packets are a Jojoba and Ginseng Exfoliating Face Cleanser and a Blood Orange and Vanilla Body Wash, which are featured by Hip Apotheca.  I haven't used them yet but I'm really excited to.  The exfoliating facial cleanser sounds nice because I love trying new exfoliating products, and the blood orange and vanilla scent of the body wash sounds wonderful.
• Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques Botanical Lip Gloss - This lip gloss is a full-sized tube of the Winterberry shade.  I guess a sample of it was featured in the first ever Eco-Emi box, and since the feedback was so great they decided to include a full-sized one for us to close out the year!  The applicator is one of those brush tips where you click the bottom to release more gloss up through the brush, which isn't my favorite.  I feel like they never dispense enough gloss so I'm always clicking away.  The shade is pretty, though, and smells great.
• Genesis Today Vitamin C Zinc Chews - I really like these!  One chew provides 200% of your daily value of Vitamin C, along with other vitamins.  They taste nice and citrusy.
• Maggie's Functional Organics Patterned Footies - I love these; they're so cute!  My feet are always cold, so I wear socks around the house all the time in the winter.  The pattern I got is black with stars.  They're nice and soft; I'm wearing them right now!

Bottom Line: For $15 a month, Eco-Emi is becoming my favorite subscription service.  Keep in mind that it's a lifestyle box, so there is more included than beauty samples.  All of the products are eco-friendly, too.  Learn more about them and see what's been in past boxes here!

More photos behind the cut.

October Eco Emi Review

I got my extra October Eco Emi box in the mail today! It came really quickly and it made me wonder if I'll be receiving all of my boxes so fast (Christine, the founder and CEO, said that they would be shipped out on Wednesday). I thought for sure it would take longer, especially due to the holiday.

The contents of this box are old news to probably everyone who is familiar with Eco Emi, but I can at least offer up my personal opinions about the products and the service as a whole. I subscribed in November, and since payments are for the following month I won't be receiving my first box until December. I was really happy when extra October boxes went on sale and I snatched one up!



The box comes shipped in a standard USPS flat rate box, and it looked like this upon opening. All of the items were tucked away in a pretty little velvet bag, and underneath the bag were some inserts about some of the companies in the bag.

For those who aren't familiar with Eco Emi, it's a monthly subscription service that sends out samples from eco-friendly companies for $15 a month. Learn more by visiting their site here.



These are all of the items that were in the box. As you can see, three of them were wrapped in tissue paper, which I think is really fun because it's like opening up presents. I already knew what was going to be in my box so the surprise element was missing, but I didn't mind because I knew that I already wanted to try everything!



Each box comes with a card that talks about the theme for the month and what products are included. The October theme was, very appropriately, Halloween and autumn. The text is hard to read on some of the lighter parts of the image, so an extra print out was included since the cards were printed much lighter than they were supposed to be.



On to the reviews! First I'll go over the food items...

• Vegan Organic Mulling Spice by Simply Organic (1.2 oz) - This is a full-sized product which usually costs $2.19. I haven't made it up yet since I don't have any apple juice in the house, but I love spiced cider and this just sounds so yummy! I can't wait to try this.
• Gin Gins Boost Ginger Candies by The Ginger People (1.1 oz) - I'm not a huge ginger fan (aside from gingerbread cookies), but I wanted to try these out anyway. They're interesting; a bit hard at first but after you suck on them for a bit they turn chewy. I can deal with the flavor, but it's not one of my favorites. A 6 pack of 3 oz bags normally costs $16.99.
• Blueberry Coconut Rise Energy Bar by Rise Foods (.85 oz) - I thought this was really yummy. It's kind of odd looking, brown with pieces of nuts and seeds and everything, but I enjoyed the flavor. It's nice and chewy and had the perfect hint of blueberry. A case of 12 bars costs $22.68.
• Organic Fair-Trade Oolong Tea in Peach Blossom by Zhena's Gypsy Tea (.07 oz) - I am a huge tea drinker so I was really happy to get this in the box. Peach is also one of my favorite flavors! I haven't tried this yet; I'm going to save it to drink at work. I'll let you all know what I think of it then.

And now for the beauty products:

• Organic Vegan Lip Balm by Crazy Rumors (.15 oz) - This was another full-sized product, which retails for $3.49. I absolutely love love love Crazy Rumors! If you recall, I reviewed them in my "Bevy of Balms" post (find it here). Christine sent out random balms from their Brew collection, and I was hoping that I wouldn't get Spiced Chai since I already have that flavor. I was lucky enough to get the Orange Bergamot balm, which is lovely. It smells really good and, like all Crazy Rumors balms, goes on really smoothly.
• Neuma Hair Care (.25 fl oz each) - I used these today and I love them. The samples included were the Renew shampoo and conditioner, Blow Dry Lotion, Style Texturizer, and Smoothing Creme. The Renews smell like peppermint and left my hair big and full after blowdrying (my thick hair sometimes gets weighed down by conditioners), which I loved. I also tried the Blow Dry Lotion and Smoothing Creme, which also were very nice. The Blow Dry Lotion had an herbal smell, while the Smoothing Creme had more of a citrus touch. I would have preferred for them all to smell like the Renew shampoo, but oh well. I would definitely consider buying these full-sized products, which range from $15-$25.
• Rejuvenation Candle by Big Dipper Wax Works (1.7 oz) - I have an obsession with candles so I was really excited to try this out. I know it's technically not a beauty product, but I felt it was more appropriate to add it to this grouping. The full-sized candle is $5 for 2 oz or $9.50 for 6 oz. The scent is sweet orange and clove bud, and it's very delicate. I had it burning for a while and couldn't really pick up much of a scent.
• Herbal Soap in Almond Spice by Herbaria (size unknown) - This is my favorite product in the box! It smells soooooo amazing! Spice-y scents are my all-time favorite, and this has a very strong spice scent. I'm not even going to use it as a soap because I don't want it to ever be gone. I think I'm going to stick it in my drawer to scent my clothes. The full-sized soap is $5.95 for 4.5 oz and I will definitely be buying some.

Bottom Line: I love this box because I love autumn and spice things, and I love Eco Emi because I enjoy learning about green, organic, and eco-friendly companies. I can't wait until I get my December box, I'm confident that it'll be full of fun holiday products!