Honest Co. Essentials Bundle June 2013

Ok, so I know I said I was done with June reviews, but technically, Honest isn't like the other subscriptions where everyone gets the same bundle each month and they vary by month - it's up to you what you get. Mostly, I wanted a chance to try it all out before I did my review.

The Honest Co. is a business that produces more natural alternatives to things like cleaning supplies, bath supplies, and diapers. I've been getting their diapers for a few months now - they work great and they're super cute. More expensive than the Target brand diapers we were using before, but I've been lucky to have some promo codes and referral credits that have brought the price down to about what I was spending before. But this post isn't about diapers. It's about their Essentials Bundle! For $35.95 you get your choice of any 5 bath or cleaning products from their site (with a very few exceptions like the big candle, which can only be an add-on, not one of your 5 main products). It's a subscription, so each month, you get to revise your choices for what you need that month, or if you don't really need anything that month, you can push back your delivery date (I do this often with the diapers).

June was my first month getting the essentials bundle. There is so much I want to try, but I finally narrowed it down and this is what I got:

Opening the box

All together, I got my 5 products and 1 add on. My first 2 products are their Shampoo + Body Wash and Conditioner. We got a full size of the shampoo + body wash in a Citrus Lane box a few months ago and I loved it for Emily. The smell is just amazing. Sweet Orange Vanilla. I actually bought this one for me. :) I'm actually finding that I don't love it as much as a shampoo for me. I think because it's sulfate free, I'm just not used to the low lather and I feel like I need more. Emily has very fine hair, so it seems to clean her hair great - I don't doubt that it works. Maybe I just need to get used to the low lather? I do still love it as a body wash. I've actually since found out that Costco sells it, too, in bigger containers for a pretty reasonable price. We're still waiting for one to be finished up near us (should be opening this month I think!), but I had my mom pick me up some! That frees up an extra spot in my bundle! The conditioner is also pretty nice and leaves my hair soft and smelling like sweet orange vanilla!

Next up, following the bath trend, I got the Face + Body Lotion. I got this also for Emily. I wish they offered this in the sweet orange vanilla scent, too. It's unscented. Alas, in spite of being for "sensitive, dry & allergy-prone", Emily still managed to get a light rash on her back from this. Nothing serious and it was gone in a day each time, but still. So, now it's mine (hopefully, it'll be fine on me). Which bums me out a bit, but her skin really isn't too dry anymore now that she's mostly outgrown her eczema, so I guess she doesn't really need a lotion. Her skin is so soft anyway.

My final bath product was their Conditioning Mist. This one is great! I spray a bit on Emily's hair after baths and after her swim class on Saturdays and it makes her hair so easy to comb through. Granted, her hair is fine, so it was never impossible, so I can't attest to how it would work on thick or curly hair, but it definitely does make a difference on her hair. It also leaves her hair really, really soft and shiny after I dry it. So pretty! (I love that her hair is finally getting longer! :) ) Plus it has that awesome scent! I may add on another one of these to my next bundle for me!

Finally, I had been waiting to subscribe to the essentials bundle for my last item to come back in stock: the Suds Up ceramic soap dish and bamboo brush. You add some dish soap and some water to the dish, pump the brush up and down, and go. I also used an add-on slot for their dish soap. Sadly, it's not quite living up to my expectations. I'm used to doing dishes (well, the stuff that doesn't go in the dish washer) with a sponge, so I'm just finding this brush to be a little too stiff and clunky to really get into nooks and crannies. It seems to work ok for anything flat like cookie sheets, frying pans, and plates (unless they have divisions like Emily's, where food can get into corners), utensils are ok, and cups and anything with nooks are just a no-go. It looks pretty and matches my kitchen colors, but that's not really the point. So, I'm going to see if I can refill my Lysol No-Touch Kitchen System with the Honest dish soap (I saw a video showing how to do it - I just need to try it) and next Honest shipment, I'm going to add on some of their Scrubber Sponges. Or I suppose I could just use the ceramic soap dish with a sponge.

 

Overall, although this was kind of hit and miss with the products, I liked or loved more things than I didn't like. The things I loved, I will definitely buy again when they run out. And I'm still eager to try a lot more of their products.
Do you get any Honest products? What should I try next? Anything to avoid? If you'd like to sign up (to buy anything, not just bundles!), please use my link! I know the emailed invitation gives you $10 off your first purchase (bundle or not), so if the link doesn't give you the $10 off, leave a comment with your email address and I'll send you an invitation that way! I think the code was INVITED10, if I recall correctly. Also, they have a promo going on now for 40% off your first bundle (use code FB40%OFF), which is amazing! That's how I got my first diaper bundle! I'm not sure how long that lasts though - some sites didn't have an expiration listed, but one coupon site said it was only available today.

(And just a disclaimer: I bought this box myself and was not compensated for this review in any way. All opinions are my own. The final link is a referral link, but I also included a non-referral link at the top.)