Yuzen Review – Fall 2015

Disclosure: There are no affiliate/referral links in this post. This box was paid for by me.

It feels strange to be typing the word “fall” on August 12th. My younger son asked me yesterday if winter is arriving in 6 days. It is unseasonably cool here. Yuzen is a quarterly spa box designed to nourish the body and soul. I always enjoyed my Yuzen boxes. Yuzen takes its name serious. The beautiful slip of paper and the selections in the boxes embodies Yuzen, which is Japanese patterns on homemade Japanese paper.

Subscription: Yuzen

Price: $33.00 a quarter. This box is available until October 31st or until it sells out.

What to Expect: “Each box includes high-quality natural and organic personal care products, healthy snacks, and lifestyle items carefully chosen from about 6 companies.”

 

Yuzen has an information card that describes each item, why the chosen it, and a discount code if available.

The packaging is part of the experience. A Yuzen-type paper is included in each package. I use mine as bookmarkers.

 

The items are in a pretty purple bag. I can’t imagine the time it takes to package everything just right.

 

I forgot to take the main picture before taking the other pictures. My older son took the gum because I thought I was finished taking pictures!

 

Zelda is inspected the box. She enjoys subscription boxes.

 

Africa Organics Marula Shampoo for normal hair: I feel the need to update our August Subscription Box Trend. I never heard of Marula until I received my Birchbox CEW Prestige Order. The information card states haircare products. I’ve read that someone received a conditioner. Share with us what you receive!

 

I was looking at the front of the bottle and started wondering what is normal hair? Does anyone have normal hair? I don’t. I had a boyfriend who dumped me because of my hair. He wanted that straight, glossy look. Has anyone else been dumped because of their hair?

 

This Made in South Africa shampoo has a great energizing mint scent. I used it this morning and loved the scent. I can’t use fun shampoos such as Philosophy Vanilla Birthday Cake so this was a treat for me. I have thick wavy/curly hair and found that it tangled during shampooing. The conditioner did its job in preventing the tangles from taking over. I noticed that my hair had more volume after washing it which I do not need. I will pass it on to my sister to try.

What a tangle wave we weave, when we first try it to see.

 

My flowers are taking a beating from the unseasonably cool temperatures.

 

I’m excited to see  another Cowgirl item in Yuzen.The Cowgirl Extreme Antioxidant Serum is free of all the bad stuff and has all the good stuff. It has no parabens, mineral oil, petroleum, propylene glycol, cruelty, harsh preservatives, gluten, and artificial dyes/fragrances. I want to stomp my feet because it has aloe in it. It also has lime and lavender. I did not open it to smell the serum because I may give it away. Or I might use it on my neck if the aloe bothers my rosacea. The website recommends shaking it before use and to use it “after a day of rough riding.” I need to beat Subscriptionista to the punch line 🙂

Time to harness my inner cowgirl and do some rough riding!

 

The Made-in -the-USA Eco Lips lipscrub has peppermint and spearmint in it. It smells good enough to eat which the company knows. The directions say to rub off the scrub or lick it off the remaining sugar.The effect is to have kissable lips.

 

I look at this picture, and all I see is an invigorating shower scrub. I can’t resist a scrub. Lip scrubs can be used as shower scrubs if it is soft enough. This scrub is soft, not hard, and will be used as a shower scrub. Remember to scrub your lips once a week if you do use it as a lip scrub. Otherwise, you may irritate your lips. The scrub is gluten-free. Enjoy celiacs! I almost feel bad for not passing it on to my sister who is gluten-free.

Maybe my scrub addiction is getting out of control.

 

I wrote about Glee Gum in my August Faith Box review. Yuzen includes a snack every quarter. My older son snatched this up as soon as I was done taking the photo. The gum comes in 9 flavors. Glee Gum also offers make-your-own candy kits. I may try one out with my younger son. We can make gummies! The gum is made without artificial flavors, sweeteners, or colors. It also helps supports the rainforest by giving value to the sapodilla tree. The tree is tap for the chicle instead of being harvested for lumber.

I still think gum is gross, but I am for saving the rainforests!

 

The Made-in-the-USA Nubian Heritage Indian Hemp & Haitian Vetiver Body Wash with Neem Oil has a pleasant scent. The company founders started off as college graduates without jobs brainstorming how to make products with shea butter and African Black Soap. . 20+ years later their company has grown to offer all different products while staying true to healing traditions. I poked around the website and saw a few items that will make great holiday gifts. I also saw that they are offering free shipping until 8/31 for orders $25.00 and over. Do you shop ahead for the holiday season? Or do you wait until the last few days?

The goat syndicate is in an uproar. There is no goat milk in this product.

 

Red Flower Nature Arctic Berry Cloud Milk Cream is made with cloudberries.  Cloudberries are found in the Arctic and Subarctic regions, not in the sky. The fruit is harvested in July and can be eaten in the winter or used to make liqueur.

The milk is excellent for rosacea, hormonal imbalances, dry skin, and mature skin. I am going to give it a try although the first ingredient is aloe. Once in awhile the combination of ingredients work out perfectly where the aloe does not bother me. I will use a throwaway spatula to not contaminate it with my germs. My sister will gladly take it off my hands if I am unable to use it. There is information in the link on how to use the milk cream and a ritual to prepare oneself for it.

Even the cream looks like a cloud!

 

Red Flower Nature Lymphatic Phytopower Sea Cleanser and Mask replenishes and repairs the skin. This can be used as a cleanser, 5 minute mask,  or as an overnight mask. It is recommended to use a serum and the milk after using the mask. It does have aloe and citric juices in it which can irritate my skin. I am going to try it as a cleanser first to see if it agitates my rosacea because the cleanser and mask reduce redness and inflammation.

 

It designed for normal and mature skin. It has a light, almost non-existent scent. It helps the lymphatic flow and cellular regeneration.

I felt a slight sensation when applying it to my wrist. This may be due to the lemon oil that bothers my arms when in soaps. My sister will be the lucky recipient of the mask if it does not work for me. Both Red Flower items are gluten free along with no parabens, petroleum, sulfates or synthetic fragrances/colors.

Look younger and enjoy life!

 

Verdict: Zelda is showing us how we should look and feel when using these products. Yuzen’s goal is to provide us with a zen-like spa experience.  I feel that they accomplished that and introduced me to new products. I look forward to trying out the products. Two thumbs up from the teenager for choosing Glee Gum as the fall snack.

 

Did you order the Yuzen Fall 2015 box. What Africa Organics Marula haircare product did you receive? What do you think of the products? Share below and anything else on your mind.