Go Native! Hawaiian Beauty Box Review + Coupon – November 2017

Go Native! is an organic health and beauty box, curated with Mamalani products and other Hawaiian artisan items. From Go Native!:

Each month receive Mamalani products along with other curated products. A new theme each month will highlight a native practice or plant that is essential to health along with a recipe on how to go native in other areas of life.

My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

The Subscription Box: Go Native!

The Price: $38 a month + free US shipping

The Products: Mamalani products, along with health and beauty from Hawaiian makers

Ships to: Worldwide

Check out all of our Go Native! reviews and the Beauty Subscription Box Directory and Artisan Subscription Box Directory for other handmade and local boxes!

Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!

This month, Go Native! is featuring items from three plants that are known for their roots systems: Awa, Vetiver, and Hala.

They're also highlighting a young aspiring weaver named Pulama Long (whose hoop earring could have been a variation you received).

You'll find details on each item and who made them on the reverse side.

Pulama Long Lauhala Kukaa Sticker

The info card tells me that this what the final stage of the prep of lauhala weaving when the leaves are rolled tightly together. I found an article from Maui Magazine that explains:

“Lauhala weaving has been in every Hawaiian family since the beginning of time — for thousands of years,” says soft-spoken master weaver and kumu (teacher) Pohaku Kaho‘ohanohano. In the old days, every family had weavers who turned dried hala leaves into table and floor mats, baskets, pillows, mattresses, fans, clothing, thatching, and sails. “You couldn’t move into a home without a floor mat."

This makes me wish that I had received Pulama's hoop earrings (even though I like the koa ones I received). Drat!

Hawaii Bookmark Hala Koa Earrings - Retail Value $30

How rad are these laser-cut koa earrings? Even though they're a bit on the large size, the koa wood is ultra-lightweight so not to strain your lobes. Each triangle is about an inch and a half tall by the same at its base. Since they're made of the wood from the second most common tree in Hawaii, each has a slightly different grain and color that makes them unique. They come on gold plated hooks that each have a little rubber nub so they won't slide out of your pierced ear. I really like the geometric design of these, and even though I won't wear them daily, they'll be saved for the right occasion!

Mamalani Kava + Vetiver Hiamoe Sleepytime Body Powder, 1 oz. - Retail Value $14? (based on other powders here)

I am super into the idea of rubbing this subtle woody-scented powder all over me before going to sleep each night. I've been sleeping very poorly lately and can use all the help I can get. It reminds me of the inside of a cedar chest which conjures up pleasant memories and is instantly calming. The directions say not only sprinkle this on hands, chest, and feet, but also your pillow and sheets. Hiamoe, take me awaaaaaay!

Vetiver Farms Hawaii + Go Native Vetiver Hydrosol Space and Self Spray, 1 oz. - Retail Value $10?

This spray is to be used on yourself, and the space around you. It has a light woody scent, like the powder which includes sandalwood essential oils and vetiver. Vetiver grass is super hardy and naturally removes hard metals and antibiotics from soil, as well as phosphates and nitrate levels in wastewater. When used like this, it can have anti-inflammatory effects on the skin. Positive effects aside, this smells super good and I will be adding it to my collection of essential oil sprays that make me feel great and smell lovely after a shower.

Maui Medicinal Hawaiian Kava Brew and Chew, 1 oz. - Retail Value $5.49

Ok, everyone. This is officially the strangest thing I've tested out for the sake of reviewing a subscription box. Like the thrill-seeker I am, I popped a pinch of this into my mouth before really looking up exactly what kava is. Nowhere on the package does it mention what it's supposed to actually DO (although it is on the info card), but it DOES say "May cause numbness". MAY? Nah, package. It DOES. I chewed it like gum, as directed, even though it was basically like chewing on potpourri or twigs and made my tongue so numb that it was just like getting out of the dentist's office after some drilling went down. I honestly checked the package nervously a few times to make sure it should actually be IN my mouth. It is a very unpleasant taste, but after reading the info card I learned that it's supposed to provide relief from stress and pain (both which are induced by the holiday season). Further Googling uncovered that kava is supposed to really chill you out and help soothe anxiety or sleeping problems like insomnia. Ok- I definitely need this in my life, even though it tastes like the forest floor. I may try this in a tea instead to see if that is a more suitable way to use the power of kava.

Verdict: Go Native! sent me hella chill vibes this month by way of three products that will hopefully help me sleep and calm my mind, plus a sweet pair of koa wood earrings. The sticker was neither here nor there for me but is pretty cool none-the-less. I took a few guesses since not everything was available to purchase online, and came up with an estimated value of $60 for this $38 subscription. Not too shabby, actually.

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No. Their cutoff date is the 15th to receive the following month, so if you order today, your first box won't arrive until January.

Value Breakdown: At $38 for this box, you're paying roughly $9.50 per item (I didn't include the sitcker).

Have you tried chewing kava before? What do you think of Go Native!'s root theme this month?