With the shift in focus to all things eco-friendly, I’m noticing that more and more companies are including eco-friendly products in their subscription boxes…well, seemingly eco-friendly. I received the fall FabFitFun (FFF) box about a week ago, and have been a subscriber pretty much since FFF began. As with other subscription boxes, the quality has begun a downward spiral.
The botiker Bond Nylon Tote ($128 USD retail) was the first item I opened. The first thing I thought of, along with the nice size, was that it smelled of a combination of plastic and tires. I’m sure that’s due to the materials it’s made of. The tote itself it very lightweight and looks easy to clean. The con is that it feels cheap; similar to the Vincent Camuto tote in the fall 2018 box. I can also see where the lining fabric is thinning at the seams and in random places throughout the fabric. The top corner of one of the open pockets already has the tiniest hole. I’ve taken a picture of one of the thinning areas. The lining, which is very thin, is not stitched to the bag. A zippered pocket is housed on one side, and two open pockets are on the other. I wouldn’t feel comfortable putting anything with any sort of weight in the open pockets. Will I use it? Yes; I will give it a shot. That being said, I expect more from a brand, especially when their products come with a high price tag. The bag was made in Cambodia.
Next up is a piece of jewelry from JENNYBIRD. The Austin Cuff ($135 USD retail) is heavy (67g), although not quite as heavy as it looks. I like the color variety, but to be honest, it feels (and looks) like costume jewelry. The website lists the materials as a “mix of iron, zinc and brass, with silver, gold and rhodium toned plating” in case you wanted to know. It’s quite a shiny piece, which could be dressed up or down. You shouldn’t wear it in the shower or in an environment where you will sweat, and I’m not sure how the finishes hold up. You can read more about the care here. All that being said, it’s one of the pieces of jewelry I’ve actually liked from FFF. The site also explains that they chose to have their items made in China.
I love jars, so I was excited to see the Mason Jar Hydration Kit ($35 USD retail) by Masontops. Now that I think of it, I might have chosen it… I forget. Anyway, the set is comprised of a regular mouth jar (20oz.), sleeve, and drink lid. I have sleeves that are both silicone and neoprene. For some reason, the Masontops sleeve is far easier to put on than any other sleeve I own. The big con I read is that it leaks. I tested it out a few times, hence the water droplets you can see on the underside of the lid. I didn’t have that problem. The gasket seems to be working properly. What I love about the lid is the ease of removing and replacing the gasket. Make sure to clean the gasket separately when you wash the lid, and that everything dries completely before re-inserting the gasket to avoid mold and mildew. On the bottom of the jar it specifically states “NOT FOR HEAT PROCESSING”. The jar and lid are dishwasher safe, and the sleeve is machine-washable (lay flat to dry). In case you are wondering, this was made in China, but I don’t know anything about their manufacturing processes.
I have used Dr. Dennis Gross (cruelty-free) products in the past, and like them, but have never purchased them. Fortunately they have always come either in a box or have been gifted to me. My fall box contained the Alpha Beta (I miss that store; how about you?) Pore Perfecting & Refining Serum ($65 USD retail). Reviews are mixed. Once I’ve tried out the serum, I’ll post a review. It smells slightly like the inside of a Whole Foods mixed with some sort of chemical. Hopefully the scent doesn’t linger. I like that the jar and dropper are glass, and the product is made in the USA.
Also in the box was The Beauty Crop’s Glow Milk Dropper Liquid Highlighter ($19.50 USD retail). The bottle contains 15mL of shimmery tan liquid. While writing this post, I patch-tested my hand. At the time I’m typing this, I have removed the product. It was on for about 30 minutes when my hand started to feel itchy. I went and washed off the product with soap and water. When I looked down, my skin was red, and other parts of my hand are blotchy. When I move my hand, similarly to how you would when you swatch a frost or shimmer eyeshadow, it looks like a shiny scar. This is why it is so important to test out a product instead of applying it all over and wearing it all day. The product is made in China, and listed as vegan & cruelty-free.
I have a very difficult time sleeping, and don’t really believe in holistic remedies. I do, however, like the smell of lavender. I’ve received sleep sprays in previous boxes, which work temporarily. This time it’s a brand I haven’t tried. hythe Tranquility Sleep Mist ($22 USD retail) can be sprayed on the body and/or bed linens prior to sleep. It is supposed to relax the body and soothe the skin. I’m going to try it out for a couple of weeks and see how it compares to others. It might not make sleep better, but I do find comfort in the scent of lavender. This spray is made in Korea.
It has been ages since I used a spray wrinkle-remover. I just don’t have a real need for it. That aside, The Laundress’ Crease Release ($16 USD retail, 250mL) came in the fall box, and I’m curious to see if it works. The scent reminds me of a cheap hotel soap. Slightly sweet, lightly floral, and I’m not sure that I’d want my clothes smelling like that for long. If you have used it in the past, let me know how it has worked out for you. This spray is made in the USA.
Earlier I mentioned the addition of “eco-friendly” items. In this box it happened to be a utensil set ($14.99 USD retail) by Hip Products. They explicitly state that their products and manufacturing methods are not completely sustainable, but they use recycled materials and other items such as bamboo fiber in their items. The cutlery, that along with their other products are meant to cut down on the amount of plastic waste/single-use plastics, came wrapped in not one, but two, plastic bags. While I think it’s great that recycled materials are being used, it after reading the information on their site, it sounds a lot like greenwashing. I would like to know more about their processes, and since the products (well, cutlery for sure) are made in China, I would hope that fair wages are paid. I’m going to reach out to the company for more information.
This is the waste from all of the items. As I mentioned, where I live, I am able to recycle just about everything. I do wish that the coupon codes were not included since we don’t use them. Yes, I know FFF is not an eco-conscious subscription, and the items in the box are (more likely than not) not great for the planet. I’m sure that most people don’t care, either. The reason why I bring it up is because of ethics and integrity. I can hear it now, “If you don’t like it, then just unsubscribe.” Believe me, if the box items continue down the road they are going, I will. It is in contradiction of the low-waste lifestyle I live, to a point. (1) I’m not perfect, and (2) There is little luxury I cough up money for, unless it’s some good food. While I shouldn’t have to explain myself/justify my decisions, it feels like there is no real choice anymore. I live an imperfect low-waste lifestyle, and still subscribe to one (and only one) subscription box. When I get the boxes, I do my part to reuse or recycle what I can, and if there is a product I know I won’t use, it gets donated to a friend or no-buy group.
At one time I was subscribed to a few boxes, like Play! by Sephora and Birchbox. Now it’s just FFF, and I don’t even know that I’ll keep subscribing to it. First, even though I can gift items I won’t use, and reuse/recycle the packing materials, it doesn’t hold to my own low-waste lifestyle. Truth be told, I like getting four mystery-type boxes a year. That being said, it’s not a necessity. I’m sure by now you’re wondering why I bother when there were several items in here to gripe about. What people like is subjective.
Have you subscribed? I know that I really downplayed this box, and it really wasn’t worth the price, but others have been. There were items I liked and some I didn’t. There are groups that are for swapping and selling the items you don’t want/like, which is nice, as long as you don’t get scammed. If you are interested in trying out FFF, you can get $10 OFF of your first box by clicking here. No code is necessary. If you are subscribed, and received your box, let me know what you thought!
Peace & Love, always!
Darphynia's Diary 