Earthlove is a quarterly subscription box for conservationists and fans of Mother Earth! Each package is full of eco-conscious gifts that help you enjoy nature and heal the planet.
Subscribers can choose between Vegan or Beegan for the same cost. The latter option includes honey and other bee products.
This review is of the Beegan option for $59.95/quarter + $4.95 shipping.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About Earthlove
The Subscription Box: Earthlove
The Cost: $59.95 quarterly + $4.95 shipping. Receive free shipping with an annual subscription.
ACTIVE DEAL: $5 off your first box
CODE: MSA5
Add this code to your cart and they will automatically add the bundle to your first box!
The Products: 6-8 handpicked, eco-friendly products from different categories such as skincare, snacks, apparel, home decor, and gardening.
Ships to: The U.S. for free with an annual subscription, Canada for $20, and internationally for $35. Quarterly subscriptions ship for $4.95 each quarter.
Good to Know: Earthlove offers carbon neutral shipping! They have partnered with Cloverly to offset the carbon impact of shipping, for an extra $1 at checkout.
Earthlove Winter 2020 Review
Hi, everyone! Christen here. As is the case with so many of the awesome subscriptions we review here at MSA, I have been quietly admiring the beautiful curation and intention of Earthlove for so long. With the new year having recently arrived, some of us are shaking things up a bit, and Megan was so kind as to pass this sustainable subscription box my way. Ready to explore this quarter's delivery together?
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Earthlove included this information booklet that offers info about the month's theme and the items that were sent. Really, it's almost like a magazine—not only does it go into detail about the virtues of each product and the good each company is doing, it also outlines a seasonal eco challenge, a featured cause (this month is in support of the regeneration of degraded Ethiopian lands with One Tree Planted), interviews with several of the makers featured in the box, and a recipe for vegan chocolate cookies. On the back, they tell how you can try to win a free box through social sharing & offer more info about choosing their carbon neutral shipping option.
Earthlove is also a member of 1% for the Planet, which is a commitment to giving 1% of gross sales to their nonprofit partners.
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The Truth About Animals by Lucy Cooke – Retail Value $28 (found on sale here for $19.15)
When I first pulled this book out of the box, taking in its title, subtitle, and cover image, I felt certain I was about to delve into a serious piece of nonfiction about animal conservation and how our day-to-day actions ultimately impact regions and species that we don't think about daily. But just opening the front cover I learned that, nope, this is a much wilder ride, and not at all straight-laced. Instead, Lucy Cooke, the comedically-inclined zoologist author (who some might recognize through BBC nature programs) takes us on a journey through her travels around the world, busting the nice, virtuous tales we tell ourselves about habits and behaviors of animals living in the wild. I've only read the first few pages so far, but I can already tell this book isn't for the faint of heart!
From Amazon:
Humans have gone to the Moon and discovered the Higgs boson, but when it comes to understanding animals, we've still got a long way to go. Whether we're seeing a viral video of romping baby pandas or a picture of penguins "holding hands," it's hard for us not to project our own values -- innocence, fidelity, temperance, hard work -- onto animals. So you've probably never considered if moose get drunk, penguins cheat on their mates, or worker ants lay about. They do -- and that's just for starters. In The Truth About Animals, Lucy Cooke takes us on a worldwide journey to meet everyone from a Colombian hippo castrator to a Chinese panda porn peddler, all to lay bare the secret -- and often hilarious -- habits of the animal kingdom. Charming and at times downright weird, this modern bestiary is perfect for anyone who has ever suspected that virtue might be unnatural.
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Conscious Step Organic Cotton Crew Socks – Listed Value $14.95
I have a deep appreciation for high-quality socks, and when something so comfy and warm also comes from a company that gives back, I'm a happy lady. These cotton socks are organic, fair trade, and sustainably-sourced. In addition to their tiny white polka dots, this pair sports a small embroidered heart at each ankle, which represents their support of the cancer prevention nonprofit Keep a Breast.
Note: Other Earthlove subscribers may have received a pair that supports the nonprofit Oxfam, which provides relief to areas struck by disaster.
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Earthlove Exclusive Lunar Calendar – Listed Value $15
I learned from the info booklet that Earthlove sent a 2020 lunar calendar in their Winter 2019 box and it's back by popular demand. I've always found lunar calendars to be so beautiful, but overwhelming to fully digest—but this one is designed in a way that feels visually approachable to me. Along the top, it outlines each phase and suggests when it is a good time to set intentions, focus, reflect, and more. Underneath each month is a word like "wolf," "snow," or "worm," which refers to the name of that month's full moon. So, January's full moon (on January 28, 2021) is a Wolf Moon. A quick Google search brings up lots of info about each type of moon and its meaning. I always wondered how people could keep track of what the moon is up to so familiarly, and now I know!
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KOA+ROY CBD Massage Cube, 3 oz – Retail Value $55
There's no bad time for a little TLC of the skin and bones, but right now, being in my second trimester of pregnancy, I'm especially keen on some help working out aches and pains. This product is made of organic, all-natural oils and butters that add up to create a smooth, buttery block, which slightly softens with the warmth of your skin. It smells heavenly—I'm getting strong notes of eucalyptus and an almost citrusy, earthy tone—and it feels really soothing.
I want to be clear that using this product during pregnancy is something I'm doing based on my own educated decision. While some essential oils are considered safe for topical use during pregnancy (it is never recommended for pregnant women to ingest them), you should consult your healthcare provider before using them for the first time. Additionally, research of CBD + pregnancy is inconclusive due to lack of data, and it is not recommended to try it for the first time, either topically or ingested, while pregnant.
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Davids Natural Toothpaste, Peppermint, 5.25 0z – Retail Value $9.95
It's such a good feeling receiving a full-size, quality product in a subscription, especially when it's one that can be "used up" (as opposed to cluttering your space). I'm especially excited that this tube of toothpaste came with one of those snazzy keys for getting every last drop out of the tube. It's one of those things I have considered buying a million times over the years...they're like $2 so I don't know what ever stopped me, but now I'm glad I waited! As for the toothpaste itself, it has an incredible count of merits in its favor: organic, vegan, free of artificial flavors, sweeteners, colors, or preservatives, made in the USA, from a family-owned company, and more. But, my family prefers toothpaste with fluoride, so I will be passing this tube along to a neighbor. Don't tell them I'm keeping the key!
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Earth Harbor HELIOS Anti-Pollution Youth Ampoule, 1 fl oz – Retail Value $48
Being the beauty newbie that I am, I rolled this product around in my hands for a few minutes wondering what the heck a "youth ampoule" actually is. In simpler terms, it's a hydrating serum. Like the toothpaste above, this product boasts an incredible list of values that align with mine—it's cruelty-free, fair trade, sustainable, made in small batches, woman-owned, and more. As for its ingredients list, it's filled with all sorts of wonderful oils and extracts, many of which are certified organic. Its superstar ingredients are red algae for moisture retention (more glamorously referred to as "youth preservation") and plant stem cells, which are a great skin reparative. Where the "anti-pollution" part comes in is in its defense against dust and other particles that can clog pores and/or break down collagen. This serum can either be used alone or mixed in with your moisturizer. The latter is something I started doing in recent months, and I like that it offers my skin extra hydration while still feeling light and easy to spread. The neroli flower oil is the strongest scent I'm detecting from this product, which is lovely.
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Human Design Hammered Silver Cuff – Listed Value $22
I've always loved the rustic look of hammered jewelry, and my eye was immediately attracted to it in this bracelet. I'm more of a gold-wearer, and the wave shape doesn't speak to me as much as some of the other more sunburst-y designs that this brand creates, but it's still a pretty piece that I would feel good about gifting. I love that this company uses reclaimed materials as much as possible, all their pieces are nickel- and lead-free, and their packaging is sustainable.
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Elements Truffles Ashwagandha-Infused Dark Hot Chocolate Mix, 4 oz – Listed Value $12 (buy an 8 oz bag here for $15)
Okay, my mouth is watering. We are very much a dark chocolate family over here and have been enjoying hot chocolate to its fullest on this chilly winter at home. I am less familiar with Ashwagandha and its safety during pregnancy, but I did find this article written by a nutritionist to help me make my decision. If nothing else, I can wait to have it as a treat after the baby arrives!
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Owl in a Towel Bergamot Hand Sanitizer, 2 fl oz – Listed Value $5 (buy a 4-pack here for $19.99)
This gel hand sanitizer smells so good! When you first squeeze out a drop, it just smells like alcohol, but within a few seconds of rubbing it in, the bergamot aroma starts to take flight. It's nice to be left with a natural scent on my hands, and there's a little aloe in this toxin-free product, so it doesn't dry your skin out like some other sanitizers do.
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Truly Eco Friendly Bamboo Toothbrush – Listed Value $5
Like so many other items in the world of sustainable products, I've been tempted by these bamboo toothbrushes so many times. But, the most eco-friendly practice is to use the things you already have, right? I use an electric toothbrush regularly but also have a stock of manual toothbrushes from the dentist (I am starting to be better about declining!) for times when those are needed. But anyway, yay, here I have one to try the next time I'm backpacking, or to offer to a guest! The situation with most bamboo toothbrushes is that their bamboo handle biodegrades, but their bristles are made of nylon. But Truly's vegan brush has bristles made from plant-based starch and charcoal that do break down, and the toothbrush also comes in compostable packaging!
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Restore Foodware Regenerative Straws, 50 count – Retail Value $9.99
These compostable straws have opened up a whole new world for me. My two-year-old daughter often asks for straws at home, and while we do have several metal ones with nice silicone tips to protect teeth, my husband and I sometimes can't stand the sound of her clinking the straw against the side of her cup constantly. These ones feel like a classic plastic straw (they're maybe a little more brittle, though, which is of note if you or your kid tends to bite their straw), but they're made from an organic ocean degradable material called AirCarbon. How crazy is this: thanks to their material, these straws are carbon negative and capture greenhouse gasses out of the air! What! They'll last for up to 6 uses before needing to be tossed in the compost.
The Verdict: My first Earthlove box was a really wonderful experience. The curation spanned wellness, beauty, and lifestyle, meaning that the items could spread out throughout my home and lifestyle easily, and were able to be put to use right away (for the most part) rather than creating clutter. Each item felt chosen with care, and Earthlove did a nice job of communicating the specific ways in which each maker or brand's values are aligned with this eco-conscious subscription. Seeing how many brands create conscious products so well, and often with surprisingly affordable pricing, it makes one wonder why more companies don't function this way. My favorite items this quarter were the massage cube, good-smelling hand sanitizer, and biodegradable straws—and I can't wait to try the hot chocolate mix down the line. Things that I liked more than I was expecting to include the lunar calendar and face serum. The items I'll be passing to others (the toothpaste and bracelet, for example) still felt exciting to receive and consider, and if nothing else they equip me with a few gifts I'll feel good about giving. That's just the way of subscription boxes—not everything is a spot-on match every time—and overall I am very happy with this curation. Value-wise, the items in this box add up to $224.89. That's a fantastic value for a box costing $59.95.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Maybe! Your first box will either be this Winter box or the Winter Editors Choice box, which is like Earthlove's welcome box. From Earthlove:
The Winter box ships from Dec 15th-Feb 12th (or until we sell out!). Boxes ship within 10 days of placing an order for your first box.
ACTIVE DEAL: $5 off your first box
CODE: MSA5
Value Breakdown: This box costs $59.95, including free shipping, which means each of the 11 items costs an average of $5.45.
Check out our other Earthlove reviews and the best eco-friendly subscription boxes!
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