Alter Planning Co. CMPLXN Skincare Journal Review

Skincare is one of my favorite indulgences, and I know many people turn to journaling as a source of self-care, too. The new CMPLXN Skincare Journal from Alter Planning Co. allows me to enjoy both in one place!

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

Alter Planning Co. is a new Black-woman founded planner company. Each product is designed by the founder, Scottie, a 20-something from Louisiana who aims to provide people with holistic lifestyle management and support.

Alter Planning Co. has annual and daily planners, as well as journals that inspire people to interact with their own routines in new ways.

Their newest product is the CMPLXN skincare journal, which provides weekly skin journaling and space for daily notes. It's a great way to track how your skin improves (or doesn't) week to week, and it also includes brief guides to help troubleshoot skincare issues.

The CMPLXN journal came beautifully packaged with a note from Alter Planning Co.'s founder, Scottie.

The journal is a sturdy canvas hardcover with enough space for approximately six months of journaling. It includes information on understanding your skin, nutrition, skin care components (cleansers, toners, serums, etc.), skin types and concerns, and more. You'll be able to write down the products you use and your day and night routines, with space to note any analysis.

I'm impressed by how comprehensive the CMPLXN journal is! Above are some of the pages for logging the products you use and how they work with your skin.

I've never done much journaling, but this skincare journal is the perfect one for me to start. I have a backlog of products I've purchased but have yet to use, and this will allow me to track whether or not they work for me.

• Visit Alter Planning Co. to browse their full line and purchase

Bottom Line: Whether you're new to skincare or an old pro, I think you'll really enjoy the CMPLXN skincare journal from Alter Planning Co.! It contains so much information and can help you narrow down the perfect routine for your skin.

BE KIND By Ellen Fall 2022 Box Review

The BE KIND By Ellen box is a great lifestyle subscription for people looking to support socially-conscious companies while treating themselves to high quality products. Their Fall 2022 box had a great assortment of items!

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

BE KIND By Ellen is a quarterly subscription with two payment options; you can pay $54.99 per quarter (every three months) or $49.49 per quarter for an annual subscription, billed once for a total of $197.96 annually. Shipping is free for both options for U.S. residents.

The box contains full-sized items hand-picked by Ellen DeGeneres from companies that are cruelty-free, sustainably sourced, and ethically made. The products range from skincare and beauty to home goods, and more.

The Fall 2022 box contained seven items, all of which I was excited to try!

• M.C. Squares Reusable Set: These are such a great idea! The set is made up of reusable sticky notes, mini planner, and Tackie markers. These work like a white board that you can mark up and then erase. What I like is that they have "sticky" backings that you can affix to different surfaces. I put one of the sticky notes on my work desk and have the weekly planner on my fridge. They're also great because they save a lot of paper waste, and M.C. Squares partners with Trees For the Future to help plant thousands of trees, too!

• Savvy & Sorted Spice Labels: These simple but stylish labels are from an Australian-based company and have the names of every spice you could ever need. Savvy & Sorted donates some of their profits to protect the Great Barrier Reef Foundation to help rebuild coral reefs.

• Color Street Nail Polish Strips: These came in the shades "Sahara Jewel" (top) and "Munich Mulberry" (bottom). They are 100 percent real nail polish packaged as strips that you easily affix onto the nail, file off the edges, and go! The colors are really pretty and match the fall mood. The Color Street Foundation has pledged $1 million as the National Signature Partner for March for Babies 2022.
• COSRX Vitamin C 23 Serum: COSRX is one of my favorite Korean skincare brands and this serum is one I haven't used before. Vitamin C is great for battling hyperpigmentation and is good for overall anti-aging.
• Grande Cosmetics GRANDEmascara: I was really excited to try this mascara since I've heard great things about the Grande Cosmetics brand, but unfortunately it wasn't a hit for me. The formula is too thin (takes many coats to show up to the point that I like) and it was very smudgy on my oily skin. The benefits include peptides that help condition lashes.

• Geometry Kitchen Tea Towel: I love this towel; it's made from two recycled plastic bottles and has a sturdy texture that absorbs messes quickly. Geometry works to conserve water and reduce waste both through their products and manufacturing practices.
• Urban Hydration Bright & Balanced Fruit-Based Miceller Water: Subscribers received one of these micellar waters in Peach & Papaya, Kiwi & Pomegranate, Lemon & Berries, or Apple & Banana. Urban Hydration partners with WATERisLIFE and donates one gallon of water for every product sold and have raised enough funds to build three clean drinking water wells in communities in Kenya.

The box also contained a coupon for $40 off of a $100 purchase in the Ellen Shop.

• Visit BE KIND By Ellen to Subscribe

Bottom Line: This is one of the best lifestyle boxes I've gotten yet and definitely my favorite from BE KIND By Ellen so far. Every product fit my needs and I appreciate that the companies they feature are socially-conscious and give back to the community.

New! Naked Nutrition Clear Naked Whey Review and Coupon

I've been using the Naked Nutrition Whey since I reviewed it back in July (read that review here) and I love it. Now Naked Nutrition has a new supplement, the Clear Naked Whey and it's just as great!

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

Naked Nutrition sells products with only the purest ingredients to help you meet your nutrition and fitness goals. Their supplements have no artificial sweeteners, no additives, and no artificial colors. They also have vegan protein powders.

Their newest product is the Clear Naked Whey, which is available in three flavors: Grape, Lemonade, and Fruit Punch. I received the Lemonade to try.

The Clear Naked Whey is made with 100 percent whey isolate powder and lightly flavored to create a refreshing beverage to help support muscle building and repair. Again, it has no artificial sweeteners or flavoring. Two scoops contain 80 calories, zero fat, four grams of carbohydrates, and 15 grams of protein.

I like having a fruity-flavored protein powder and a creamier flavor, like chocolate, so having this Lemonade fits perfectly with my Naked Nutrition Chocolate Whey. 

I added this to my fruit smoothie and it added a tangy, delicious flavor -- there's no strange after taste or texture like some whey powders have. Given that it's whey, it also made my smoothie slightly more creamy than usual, which I like. It's almost the same texture as when I add yogurt with the frozen fruit.

• Visit Naked Nutrition to purchase
• Use coupon code CLEARWHEY20 through 9/29 for 20 percent off

Bottom Line: I'm very happy with the Naked Nutrition Clear Naked Whey! The Lemonade flavor tastes great in a smoothie and on its own (mixed with water). I especially like that it's low-carb and high protein!

Bespoke Post: Wax Review and $20 Coupon

I hadn't purchased a Bespoke Post box in a while because, while they always have great offerings, nothing caught my eye as a "must have." That is, until the September selections came out and I saw the "Wax" box!

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

Bespoke Post is a monthly lifestyle subscription that has boxes for all types of interests. Check out my feature on My Subscription Addiction here for more information on how the subscription works and why I love it!

I don't usually purchase a box every month but I do grab whatever ones pique my interest. The Wax box was perfect for me and I couldn't wait to receive it! It features the new Fill Mill system, which includes a ReFillable Candle Vessel, two candle inserts, and a wick trimmer.

Everyone who chose this box received the "Last Drink By the Bonfire" insert and could choose one more out of either "Behind the Unmarked Door," "Sunday Dinner at the Grove," or "On the Open Desert Road." Here are the scent profiles for each, taken from the Bespoke Post website:

• Last Drink By the Bonfire: Like the last pour from the bottle before the night wanes and the fire blows out. Spiked with notes of ginger, clove, and the best of old friends.
• Behind the Unmarked Door: Like a hidden speakeasy, marked only by the mellow scents of fresh tobacco and patchouli musk from behind the door. Carefree banter echoes inside.
• Sunday Dinner at the Grove: Like a golden-hour meal in a lemon grove, with charred citrus in the air. The old California woods around us cast jagged shadows across the placemats.
• On the Open Desert Road: Captures the aura of a lone desert pine along a stretch of arid earth through breezy notes of herbs and cypress.

I love the ones I received! I like warm, spicy scents and both of them fit that scent profile. 

The ReFillable Candle Insert is beautiful and was available in dark gray or off-white/cream. I obviously chose the dark gray. 

The vessel is made from concrete and has a textured brass knob that works with strike-anywhere matches and the lid will safely extinguish the flame once you're done burning. The inserts fit perfectly into the vessel and snap with a magnetic locking system.

It's really easy to lift the inserts out of the vessel and I like that the scents are interchangeable. I want to get the other two candles to complete the set (they sell for $15 each or for $45 as a trio).

Also included in the box is a wick trimmer, which is an obvious accessory but something I needed. Even though I have dozens of candles, I've never bought a real wick trimmer and definitely needed one. They're essential for keeping your candles in the best burning shape.

• Visit Bespoke Post to subscribe
• Use this link for $20 off your first box

Bottom Line: I'm obsessed with candles, so the Bespoke Post "Wax" box was a no-brainer purchase for me. I love both of the scents I received and the vessel is beautiful even when a candle isn't burning inside.

Once Upon a Book Club Review: "The Cupcake Connection"

I love to read and book subscriptions are one of the most exciting ways to add new books to your library. The Once Upon a Book Club subscription sends a newly-released novel and wrapped gifts to match the theme each month!

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

Once Upon a Book Club has an Adult and Young Adult subscription box. Both options send a newly-released novel and three to five gifts related to the story, a signed book plate, a quote card, and a bookmark.

This a review for the "The Cupcake Connection" box from the Adult subscription. If you don't want to subscribe, you can also purchase boxes as a one-time option for $55 per box. Here are the subscription plans:

• Monthly: $49.99 per month
• Three Months: $145 every three months
• Six Months: $289 every six months
• Yearly: $570 every 12 months

All subscription plans and the one-time purchase options have free U.S. shipping. Subscriptions are auto-renewed until cancelled and you will be billed on the 25th of every month.

Once Upon a Book Club doesn't just send a box of fun items (although that definitely is part of the fun), but even better, each item is labeled with a page number from the book at which you'll be instructed to open each gift. I think this is a great idea and makes reading the book interactive and way more enjoyable.

This box came with the novel Fake It Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley and five gifts. The book is a modern romance about a reality star and football player who pretend to be a couple in order to save a bakery. The genre of the box changes, so this subscription is great for people who want to receive all different types of books.

The box also includes an insert titled "Book Club Kit" with information about the book, the author, and discussion questions for if you choose to use this book for your own book club. There's also a bookmark, signed book plate, and note from the author.

The back page of the Book Club Kit also includes a recipe for Sugar Blitz Cupcakes, which goes perfectly with the book's story.

Once you get to a section of the book with a corresponding gift, there is a note inside reminding you that it's time to open one up!

Keep reading if you want to see spoilers for each gift.

The first gift is on page 78 and is a first aid kit box. It's empty, so you can use it for literal first aid items or storing anything else you'd like. I was a little confused how this would fit in with the novel (I opened all the items before reading the book for the sake of this review), but on page 78 it says "...get the first aid kit" so there you go!

The gift for page 144 is a clear stemless wine glass with "What are books without wine?" printed on it. This was well-packaged to ensure it wouldn't break during shipping.

Page 177's gift was a red lipstick, and page 242 had yellow and purple silicone cupcake holders.

Page 142's gift was a rolled up "Reading Log" poster.

If you're not sure about a subscription yet, you can purchase a one-time box from their shop, including this one. They also have a Halloween and Bridgerton collection and Seasonal Boxes. Looking for book-related gifts? They have plenty of those, too!

• Visit Once Upon a Book Club to subscribe

Bottom Line: I think that Once Upon a Book Club is a unique and creative subscription for book lovers! You'll get a new book as well as thoughtfully-curated gifts that you get to open as you read the book, making the experience even more indulgent.