Conscious Box - Gluten-Free Box May 2013

This May Gluten-Free Conscious box review is quite delayed. Once again, I was slightly disappointed in the Conscious box contents. I thought that this May Gluten-Free box was not as good as the April Gluten-Free box. I procrastinated while writing this review because I prefer to not write negative reviews on products and subscription boxes. However, I reasoned that it would be helpful for readers to see the contents of the May Gluten-Free Conscious box to determine if this subscription box is a good fit for their lifestyle. These opinions are solely my own and keep in mind that the same products/subscription box may have been loved by others. 

Conscious box

Contents: The May Conscious box theme month was 'Blossom with Spring'. My Gluten-Free Conscious box included 15 different items (3 beauty, 2 children, 1 dog, 5 food, 3 health and 1 home product). 

Beauty:
1. ACTZ Nude Face Polish, deluxe sample, 0.5 oz

Full size cost: $40 for 6 oz
Estimated sample value: $3.33

2. Suki Body Butter Cream Salve, 0.13 fl oz

Full size cost: $27.95 for 2 fl oz
Estimated sample value: $1.82

3. Veria ID Shampoo and Conditioner, 0.18 oz each

Full size cost: $11 for 8.5 oz
Estimated sample value: $0.47

Children:

1. Lilapops All-Natural Cough Drop Lollipops for Kids, 2 lollipops

Full size cost: $8.99 for 15 lollipops
Estimated sample value: $1.20

2. Orgain Healthy Kids Organic Nutritional Shake in Vanilla, full size, 8.25 fl oz

Full size cost: $22.99 for a 12 pack
Estimated sample value: $1.92

Dog:
1. The Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Whole Foods in Embark, 1 oz 

Retail value: $1 for 1 oz

Food:
1. A. Vogel Herbamare Organic Seasoning, 0.09 oz

Full size cost: $8.99 for 8.8 oz
Estimated sample value: $0.09

2. Bija Lemon Ginger Echinacea Tea, 1 teabag

Full size cost: $7.49 for 20 teabags
Estimated sample value: $0.37

3. Good Greens Chocolate Coconut Bites, 0.75 oz

Full size cost: $29.88 for 12 1.76 oz bars
Estimated sample value: $1.06

4. Little Soya Soy Sauce, deluxe sample, 2 fish shaped containers

Full size cost: $8.99 for 12 fish shaped containers
Estimated sample value: $1.50

5. Pollen Ranch Organic Fennel Pollen, 1 gram

Full size cost: $17 for 1 oz
Estimated sample value: $0.60

Health:

1. Earthpaste Natural Toothpaste in Cinnamon and Wintergreen, 3 grams each

Full size cost: $29.99 for 4 4 oz tubes
Estimated sample value: $0.40

2. MRM Relax-All Dietary Supplement, 2 capsules

Full size cost: $26.85 for 60 capsules
Estimated sample value: $0.90

3. Ultima Replenisher Dietary Supplement, 0.15 oz packet

Full size cost: $19.20 for 30 individual packets
Estimated sample value: $0.64

Home:

1. ECOVER Automatic Dishwasher Tablets, 2 tablets

Full size cost: $5.95 for 25 tablets
Estimated sample value: $0.48

Summary:

Gluten-Free Conscious Box May 2013
Total box value $15.78

Verdict: 
Size: I was happy to receive 1 full size product (although it is marketed for children) and 2 deluxe size samples. However, I was disappointed that the majority of the products, 10 out of the 15 total products, were one-time use samples. I was also disappointed to see that I did not receive duplicates for 7 of these 10 one-time use samples. Duplicates allow me to try an item a couple times and properly form an opinion about it.  

Products: During late April, Conscious box sent out household surveys - one of the survey questions asked if we had children in our household. We answered the survey and indicated that do not currently have children, so you can imagine my disappointment when we received 2 children's products. Also, I did not expect to receive nutritional supplements in a natural and eco-friendly subscription box. On a positive note, I like the inclusion of beauty, food and household products in Conscious box. I am most excited about trying the ACTZ face polish and Earthpaste toothpaste. Dumpling is excited for The Honest Kitchen sample because he has eaten and loved their Force and Verve foods. 

Value: Poor - a monthly subscription costs $19.95 and I received over $15 worth of eco-friendly and natural products. This was the second month of my 3-month giveaway prize. 

Misc: 
I really enjoyed our March Classic Conscious Box, so I am going to switch this subscription from the Gluten-Free box option to the Classic box option. I am hoping that future Classic box contents will be a better fit with our lifestyle. On a related note, I wish that Conscious box would change 2 major issues in order to be more like other subscription boxes. The first recommendation I have is that Conscious box should include a list of box contents. The second recommendation is that Conscious box should feature and sell all of these products on their website. It is inconvenient that I can't find 8 of these 15 products on the Conscious box website - which means that there is no product information and I can not purchase these 8 products on the Conscious box website.

Do you subscribe to Conscious box? What did you think of May's box? 

If you are interested in Conscious box, use the code "FIRSTBOXFREE" and you only have to pay $7.95 for shipping.

Disclosure: I am not a sponsor (paid or unpaid) for Conscious box. This Conscious Box was part of a 3-month giveaway prize - it was not provided for review. Post contains a referral link. Click here for more information on disclosures and referrals.