Be Kind by Ellen Subscription Box Review

Ellen Degeneres has launched a new limited edition box full of her favorite things. And each box gives back, too. This first box has sold out. But you can get on the waiting list here for the next one.

FYI MSA Insiders helped give feedback on the product curation during the initial market research of this box. You can learn more about the MSA Insider program here.

Inside the box is a message from Ellen about the Ellen Degeneres Wildlife Fund.

This box was sent to us for review purposes. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).

The Subscription Box: Be Kind by Ellen (Sold out)

The Cost: $54.99 (This is a one-time purchase box, but they may be launching a subscription in the near future)

The Products: "You’ll get a box full of fun, unique, amazing products that I love and want to share with you. I also wanted to focus on brands and products that do social good. And, to top it off, LottoLove has made a donation to The Ellen DeGeneres Wildlife Fund because it believes in this cause."

Ships to: US only

This box comes with a large fold-out card and a note from Ellen:

And photos and details of each item:

Now, on to the items!

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment Sunscreen SPF 15 - 2.2 g Value $12.28

(This is a little over half the size of the full-size version)

I love this lip balm! It has a subtle sweet citrus scent, it's super moisturizing, and it provide a nice sheen, too. (And since I always lose my lipbalms before I finish them anyway, half size is basically the same thing as full size to me.)

Helen Ficalora - Sterling Silver “LOVE” Disk Charm Necklace - Retail Value $120

First, how lovely is this packaging? Jewelry in subscription boxes often comes in bags, so getting this kind of presentation is a treat! And if you don't plan on keeping this, it would make an amazing gift, too.

This necklace features a Sterling Silver charm with "Love" stamped on the metal:

And thanks to MSA reader Adele, I learned that this is the necklace Liz Lemon wore on 30 Rock! Who's got two thumbs, speaks limited French, and is even more excited about this necklace now? This moi!

The chain measures 18 inches and is sterling silver as well. Here it is on:

I normally go for gold jewelry, but this piece is delicate (which I love) and the high-quality sterling silver doesn't hurt either! 🙂 I'm digging it!

Vitruvi - Black Stone Diffuser - Retail Value $119

If you aren't familiar with this brand, it's high-end diffuser that is sold at Sephora, Anthropologie, Goop, Nordstrom, Madewell, etc. (It's one of those products I've seen in magazines and have had on my wishlist!)

This stone diffuser is made with a hand-milled, ceramic cover and contains an easy-to-clean water basin made of BPA-free, high-grade plastic.

To use it, you mix a few drops of the essential oil of your choice with water and fill the basin. Then put the plastic cap back on, and the stone black cover over it.

It has two settings:

• 3-hour non-stop (green light)
• 7-hour 30 second interval

And it even has a nightlight option:

Here it is in action:

I absolutely love the simple, matte black design. It looks great in our home, and I think it will work well with most styles.

And Vitruvi also included an essential oil to go with the diffuser:

Vitruvi Lavender Essential Oil - Retail Value $18

This oil is 100% pure essential oil and certified organic.

Lavender is one of my favorite scents, so this was a perfect addition for me.

I love the scent on its own, but if you have any suggestions for which essential oils blend well with lavender, please let me know!

Ellen Show Exclusive Stripe Socks - Retail Value $15

These socks are 68% Cotton, 28% Nylon, 2% Elastane, 2% Polyester, and made in the USA! The fun colors feel very appropriate for an Ellen box, and I'm always happy to see socks in a subscription box!

This Bar Saves Lives – Madagascar Vanilla Almond & Honey - Retail Value $4.99

These are gluten-free, non-GMO, and only 180 calories a bar! (I try to always keep a 200-calorie-or-under snack in my bag, so these are perfect.

And if you aren't familiar with this company, their mission is amazing:

We make ridiculously delicious snack bars, but we're not really a snack bar company.

And these bars are delicious, too. They're nice and crunchy (without being so crunchy you worry about your teeth), and not too sweet, either.

Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day – Lavender Dish Soap - Retail Value $3.99

Again, I love lavender scents, and Mrs. Meyers cleaning products, so I was happy for this inclusion, too. (Also, even if you aren't a lavender fan I recommend giving this one a sniff - the scent is more of a floral blend.)

And this dish soap came with a Compassion Flower Postcard with Seed Packet - a giving back program that feels right at home in this box. In addition to sharing over 250,000 seeds, Mrs. Meyers is also donating to schools:

During the month of September, for every Compassion Flower Hand Soap sold, we’re giving a Growing Compassion Gardening Kit to a classroom —up to 1,000 across the country —giving hardworking teachers a hand. Each kit contains a lesson plan for teachers and the tools to complete a garden-based activity, so students can plant their very own Compassion Flower and watch it grow.

LottoLove - Social Good Scratch Off Card

This brand is new to me. If like me, you aren't familiar, LottoLove is a unique concent - the recipient plays and someone in need receives something charitable. FYI - each card is already a winner, you don't have to turn them in for the donation to happen. The point of the scratch-off is to see which good cause is the winner:

And with this card I'm giving back to the Mountain Gorillas!

You've helped save a mountain gorilla's life by building their permanent home in Rwanda. There are about 1,000 mountain gorillas alive today whose lives are threatened by loss of habitat, disease, and getting trapped in snares set for other animals in the forest.

Verdict: This box has a retail value of over $300. I think that's great for a $54.99 box, especially one that includes a pricey home item, and a sterling silver jewelry piece. (Of course, if those two items aren't for you, this box may be a miss.) I think the curation focused on quality, and I hope to see that continue with future boxes. And I love the giving back piece of this box - it's awesome and it feels so authentically Ellen.

What do you think of the first Be Kind Box?

(P.S. If you didn't get a chance to grab this box before it sold out, check back on MSA tomorrow for your chance to win one!)