Unboxing Beauty

The Herbal Bliss theme this month must be honey + herbals!  This is a fabulous box and I love all of the items in it.   Herbal Bliss is one of the best indie eco-friendly lifestyle sub boxes out there.  Herbal Bliss is a unique eco-friendly subscription service, as their whole theme is around providing herbal products ~ samples, full sized ~  from artisan crafted companies around the USA.   Their monthly lifestyle box will contain 5 items that could be culinary, health, beauty, aromatherapy and more.

What is Herbal Bliss Co?

Herbal Bliss enjoys reaching out to the diverse herbal suppliers throughout the USA to bring you five unique samples each month. Our sample categories are Aromatherapy, Blissful Body, Culinary, Well Being and a Spotlight product. Each of our suppliers thoughtfully grows, harvest, and packages to bring you delightful experiences into your home. Herbal Bliss is thrilled to introduce you to a multi-faceted experience each month. (source)

Herbal Bliss offers (per box) a month-to-month sub at $25.00, 3 month sub at $22.00, 6 month sub at $20.00 and a yearly sub at $18.00 per box.

Contents Revealed!

Moon Valley Organics Moon Melt Lotion Bar   Now, I normally dislike getting repeat products in my subscription boxes, but for this item, I will make an exception.  This is a fantastic lotion bar by Moon Valley Organics and it comes in this wonderful white tin, with their logo embossed on the lid.  Open up the tin to reveal the creamy yellow lotion bar, again with the logo embossed right on the bar.  This smells like vanilla to me and it is just lovely.  I have purchased their lotion bar directly from their site for myself and for gifts and this is an exceptional lotion bar.  They also carry it in other scents as well,  such as lavender, coconut-lemon and bergamot-geranium.  If you have never purchased anything from Moon Valley Organics, I totally recommend this item to try out.   Use my referral code (click here) and get 20% off your first order with Moon Valley Organics.  These are hand made in Washington state, made with non-GMO ingredients, gluten free and has been certified organic by the Washington State Department of Agriculture.  The box is made from 100% post consumer recycled materials.  Full Size 1.9 oz Value $11.99

• Calendula (pot marigold) has one of the longest histories of usage of any herb in skin care.  This is herb (not to be confused with the flower marigold) helps heal chapped and irritated skin.   It stimulates wound and burn healing and it helps reduce dermatitits.  Calendula gets much of its healing properties from its high levels of carotenoids (similar to Vitamin A)

• Comfrey is another herb used since ancient times for healing wounds and other skin issues, because it has allanotin and tannins that protect and heal the skin. It is very soothing, moisturizes and provides nourishment to the skin thru its vast source of vitamins and minerals (Vitamin A, B and C, minerals calcium, magnesium, potassium, chromium), as well as antioxidants such as rosmarinic acid and saponins. 

Description: Our Moon Melt Bar is a decadent, lemon-vanilla scented moisturizer empowered by the soothing properties of Calendula and Comfrey to restore dry skin.  These herbs are combined with our beeswax to naturally seal in moisture twice as long as water-based moisturizers and allow the curative herbs to work their wonders. Hold the moon in your hands.  As it warms, breathe in deeply.  Melt bar into dry, chapped areas of skin, including cuticles-anywhere that needs soothing and protecting. Keep a tin next to the sink and enjoy this luxurious experience whenever your hands need some extra tending.

Ingredients:  Moon Valley Organic Calendula and Organic Comfrey infused Organic Safflower oil, Organic Beeswax, Organic Vanilla flavoring, Organic Lemon essential oil and Natural Vitamin E from Sunflowers.

Walker Honey Farms Yaupon Holly Honey and Texas Yaupon Tea (bonus)  A few months ago, I received a sugar scrub made with Texan Yaupon ~ Yaupon is a holly plant that is full of antioxidants and is it the only natural source of caffeine in North America ~ it has been used by Native Americans for centuries as an energizing tea.  Now, Herbal Bliss has given me a honey made with yaupon flowers, so I am really excited to try this out.  According to Walker Honey Farms, located in Rogers, Texas, this honey has a strong bold flavor with a slightly earthy note and it is more robust and darker than their wildflower and clover honeys.  This comes is an old fashioned square honey jar called Muth ~ named after Charles Muth, one of the largest honey sellers in the 1800’s ~  with a raised design of a bee hive and bees and it is sealed with a cork.   If you check out their “buzz” section online, they have a lot of recipes with honey ~ I am going to take a look as I do love cooking with honey.   4 oz jar RV $3.50

 

I never received the Yaupon tea before ~ I wasn’t in on the first few months of this subscription so I missed out, but I am thrilled that Herbal Bliss included a tea bag made with roasted wild-growth yaupon, free from chemicals and is non-GMO.  1.4 gram RV 50 cents

How to Prepare Yaupon Tea (from Texas Yaupon Tea)

• Individual cup: Pour boiling water over a teaspoon of crushed roasted leaves and steeping for about 5 minutes. Yaupon tea was traditionally prepared as a decoction (boiling the leaves in water). Unlike many other teas, this does not cause the yaupon tea to become bitter. 
• To prepare a larger amount of tea: Place the leaves in your favorite infuser or a coffee filter tied at the top. Or greener yet, just boil the loose leaves in the water (simmer for one minute and steep for about 5 minutes) and then pour through a strainer. When preparing larger amounts, one ounce of packaged loose leaf tea (about 1/2 cup) will brew 3-4 gallons of tea when prepared as a decoction.  
• Changing it up some: Yaupon tea is absolutely delicious on its own, but because of its mild flavor, it lends itself well to blending with other herbs and spices.  Add couple of cloves as it really compliment the tea with a perfect blend of two distinct flavors. Yaupon tea is also delicious with a touch of lemon, fresh mint, or lavender leaves/flowers…..and especially refreshing as iced tea during the hot summer months. If you like a touch of sweetness, yaupon tea is also great with honey.
  

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The Naked Bee Pomegranate & Honey Natural Hand & Body Lotion  With cooler months ahead, I actually do not mind getting another lotion, as this one is in a tube and it is portable ~ the lotion bar is so not portable!  I will keep this in my car as I have already noticed that my hands are getting drier now that the temperatures are cooling off.   This lotion is made with 70% organic ingredients and does not contain parabens, mineral oils, artificial colors and dyes or ETDA’s and it is contains a slew of good ingredients:

• Organic Aloe & Sunflower Oil helps restore, heal and promote healthy skin
• Pomegranate Oil helps to revitalize dull or mature skin, assist with wrinkles and soothe minor skin irritations
• Honey is antibacterial, moisturizing and nutritive for all skin types
• Hyaluronic Acid, a powerful hydrator that smooths and softens skin
• Spirulina, a concentration of nutrients for skin conditioning and detoxification  

It is pH balanced, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic and no animal testing, although with the honey, I would not consider it vegan.   This is a medium weight lotion, spreads easily, absorbs quickly without any greasy residue and my hands do feel very moisturized.  This lotion also smells delightful!  It smells like a field of wildflowers, with a sweet berry undertone.  Made in the USA in Tennessee. 2.25 oz tube RV $5.00

About The Naked Bee: The Naked Bee was founded on a simple principle – the idea that a business should give more than it takes. We strive to create products that make a positive impact on both people and the planet. We at The Naked Bee are passionate about this philosophy – that’s why we choose to use only the safest and most responsible ingredients. We never use questionable preservatives like parabens, and we make everything in the USA to ensure this quality. All Naked Bee products are cruelty-free

Ingredients: Purified water, certified organic aloe barbadensis leaf juice, octyl palmitate, certified organic sunflower seed oil, stearic acid, glycerin, cetearyl alcohol, beeswax, glyceryl stearate, pomegranate seed oil, spirulina, kelp extract, arnica extract, witch hazel extract, alpine lichen extract, hyaluronic acid, honey, mixed tocopherol (vitamin E), ergocaliferol (vitamin D5), phenoxyethanol, ethyl hexyl glycerine, fragrance  cosDNA analysis

 

Flying Birds Botanicals Cacao – Lavender Mint  This is the only product that doesn’t have honey in it, but it is most welcomed!  I normally do drink cocoa, but there are times that I like to have a mug of hot cocoa and I also like to add some in my coffee.  This one is really lovely ~ it not only has raw cacao, but lavender and peppermint ~ I can smell the light scent of mint when I opened up this tin.   Speaking of tins, this was is wonderfully designed in purples, browns and golds and I love the flying bird logo!   I did make a cup of cocoa this morning ~ it is light below, because I used milk to make it

This has a smooth cocoa taste with just the right amount of sweetness.  The mint and lavender aren’t really apparent as I drink it, but a few seconds after I swallow the cocoa, I can taste the two herbal ingredients ~ it is very subtle, so if you are afraid of a strong mint or lavender taste, don’t worry ~ this blend is very light and delicate.  3.5 oz tin RV $10.75

About Flying Bird Botanicals: Welcome to Flying Bird Botanicals, where our passion and craft combine to create a cup worth celebrating. Our beautiful, delicious, nourishing teas and drinking chocolates are handcrafted in Bellingham, WA using herbs lovingly grown on organic farms here in the USA and on organic farms around the world. Following our own unique original recipes, we slowly and carefully tailor each batch to the flavor and origin of each herb, tea, and spice. We complement our single source heirloom cacao with organic flowers, herbs, citrus, and spices to create a drinking chocolate to be sipped and savored. We invite you to share a cup and drink in the beauty.

Desciption: Heirloom lavender + peppermint combine with raw heirloom cacao, pure vanilla bean and sun-dried cane crystals for a rich + aromatic cup. Add 1 heaping tablespoon cacao to your favorite mug. Pour 8oz milk or water over cacao. Stir. Enjoy!

Ingredients: Organic Cane Crystals, Organic Raw Heirloom Cacao, Organic Lavender Powder, Organic Vanilla bean, Organic Peppermint essential oil, Organic Lavender essential oil

 

Seed Geeks Honey Bear Candle  OMG, this is “un-bearably” cute!   I love candles and this one is just too adorable ~ this 100% pure beeswax candle is in the shape of a bear holding onto a bee hive, with a few bees flying around him.  The detail is great ~ how many different words are there for cute?  lol. This is from Seed Geeks, which is an “independent, family-owned heirloom seed company and urban farm dedicated to supporting sustainable agriculture and responsible seed stewardship” .  This is a hand poured candle, made in small batches, using only 100% pure beeswax, no artificial scents ~ this is scentless and has a 100% cotton wick.  Beeswax burns cleanly, is a renewable and sustainable source and burns longer than paraffin candles.  It also help purify and improve the air quality as beeswax will give off negative ions, cleansing the air.   2 oz candle measuring about 2.5″ tall and 2″ wide RV $5.95

Description: 100% Pure Beeswax from Treatment-Free Hives. Our beeswax candles are hand-poured in small batches using only 100% pure beeswax from untreated, chemical-free hives. We use no fillers, artificial colors or fragrances of any kind – just the natural sweet scent of honey. All of our candles use all natural, 100% cotton wicking, eliminating the heavy metal exposure that can result from the zinc core used in most conventional wicks. Beeswax burns cleanly without soot, smoke, or dripping. Beeswax candles come from a renewable and sustainable source and burn significantly longer and cleaner than standard paraffin (petroleum-based) candles. Clean the air! Beeswax candles emit negative ions which help to purify, cleanse, improve air quality. 

 

This month is fantastic! I love honey products, so I really enjoyed the honey theme + one lone chocolate! Moon Valley Organics is really a lovely store and I am happy to get another one of their famous lotion bars.  The Naked Bee hand lotion smells so yummy and I do go thru hand lotion quite a bit.  I am so happy to have more products made with Yaupon as I loved the body scrub from a few months ago and the cocoa is a good treat to have, plus the unique touch of adding some herbal ingredients to the cocoa.  The bear honey candle is really the topper on the box ~ so cute!!  Love it and I will have to check out the Geek Seeds website, as they do more than just candles ~ they do sell organic seeds (veggies, herbs, fruits, etc)   Julie keeps excelling in her curation.  I paid $17.00  for my box, as I am on a 6 month subscription with one of their promo codes  (you should follow me on IG, as I will post any code when I see them) and received almost a $38.00 value 😀

Do you subscribe to Herbal Bliss?  Are you interested in this subscription and what products do you want to try out?  If you don’t subscribe to Herbal Bliss, what are you waiting for??

 

[ descriptions in italics from linked websites ]