These days, it’s hard to go on Instagram, for me anyways, without seeing an ad for a subscription box. I mean, they exist for everythingggg. Admittedly, I had never tried one non-food related until now, when I went for it and signed up for the Causebox (now Alltrue).
The Causebox is best known for offering full-size products (6-8/box) that are ethically made, sustainably sourced, and cruelty free. This box works like many others where products in the next seasonal box will be “revealed” one at a time and you can sign up at any point until they sell out. I had seen a few ads and was interested in the first revealed product- the PMD Clean. Each time I get a facial, I always ask for recommendations on how I can improve my skin. This time, my esthetician recommended that I exfoliate more frequently, so this product sparked my eye.
I kept watching, anticipating the reveal of other products as I didn’t want to receive a box of what would end up being useless clutter in my home. After seeing a few more of the products, I was interested enough that I decided to go for it and purchase a quarterly membership using my 20% welcome code, which brought my total to $47.15 after tax for the Fall 2020 box.
The quarterly membership is $54.95 per season. This option is nice because it allows you to try something once or twice to see if it’s worth it before you lock yourself into a whole year. That being said, the annual membership of course saves you money (versus buying four quarterly boxes) at $199.80/year or $49.95 per season. The annual membership also lets you customize your boxes, which means you get to choose between options of what products, and sometimes the colors of the products, that you get in your box.
Both the quarterly and annual membership allow access to the members-only market, an add-on market that allows you access to over 700 products at discounted rates. This market opens for a limited time before your box ships and is super cool because you can get things, for example, like my Native deodorant that typically retails for $12 for $5.50. Add-on items typically ship with your box, but this has been temporarily suspended due to shipping delays.
I was pleasantly surprised at what I got in my first box. Below I will share my items and a review of each as I wanted to give it some time so that I could try most of them.
*Note: Since making this post, Causebox changed its name to Alltrue.
Product 1- Pepper + Vetiver Nesting Bowls
These. bowls. are. beautiful. This is definitely the product that I was the most impressed with as they are such brilliant quality that I’m surprised they didn’t cost as much as the quarterly subscription all by themselves. Trust me, I’ve made a wedding registry, I know how much kitchen products cost.
My kitchen is a dark navy so I keep the biggest size out as a mini fruit bowl and leave the other two in my cabinets to use as everyday bowls.
Product 2- Brightening Face Serum
If you haven’t hopped on the serum bandwagon yet, you should. The right serum can make a worlddd of difference for getting you that enviable dewy and glowing look. I personally really like this serum and have integrated it into my nightly routine. It does have a pretty strong smell, but it’s a natural one that I’ve gotten quite used to.
Product 3 – S’well Stainless Steel Water Bottle
This bottle retails for $35 on the S’well website, which only further supports that this box gives you a good financial bang for your buck. However, I pretty exclusively track my water intake with a smart water bottle, so I posted this baby on Poshmark and made $16 (net of Poshmark’s fees), which means I essentially only paid $31.15 for all of the rest of the products!
Product 4 – Core Bamboo Serve Set
While I haven’t actually used this serve set yet, it looks like it would function well for making something like salads. You could chop the veggies on the cutting board, put your salad in a bowl, and toss and serve with the spoon and tongs.
Product 5 – The Green Co. Makeup Remover Pads
In order to have an effective skincare routine, you must ensure that all of your makeup gets off at the end of the day. I may not do everything perfectly, but one thing for sure is that I never go to bed with my makeup on.
I find makeup wipes are too harsh on my skin and are just another thing to have to buy on repeat. I used to double cleanse (wash my face twice, the first time to get the makeup off and the second time to clean it), but these days my absolute favorite is to use microfiber cloths and water, like the Makeup Eraser, to remover my makeup before cleansing. They leave my face feeling invigorated, soft, and clean without the burning sensation of traditional Neutrogena makeup wipes. Did I mention they are sustainable and cost friendly?
Well, these little pads do the exact same thing. They’re travel friendly, safe for your skin, and effective at getting makeup off. Throw them in the little mini bag after use, toss them in the wash, let them air dry, and you’re good to go. I now use these just as often as my makeup erasers.
Product 6 – PMD Clean Smart Facial Cleansing Device
This is the PMD Clean, a face cleansing brush. As you’ve probably gathered by now, I am dedicated to my skincare routine, so I was excited to try this one out. I already own a Clarisonic Mia, which has brush heads that you are supposed to replace every three months. I was drawn to the PMD because it is silicone, which makes it much more sanitary and easy to clean. Although Clarisonic offers silicone brush heads too, you don’t have to replace anything on the PMD Clean, which adds to convenience and saves money. However, the Clarisonic has a charger while the PMD requires two AA batteries.
Another neat feature of the PMD Clean is the clear case at the bottom allows the product to stand up on your counter, which helps with cleanliness and saves counter space.
Ultimately, I could see this being a good option for an everyday face cleaner. However, I did find that it is difficult to get into the small crevices of your nose with the brush head, which is also something that I saw frequently come up in the reviews. Ultimately, both my Clarisonic and PMD Clean end up put away as I prefer to wash my face with my hands.
So is the Causebox (now Alltrue) subscription worth it?
In my opinion, yes. If you would actually use the types of products that I mentioned and have the extra money to spend, then I think it’s a great option. Should you blow your budget for this box? Absolutely not! However, if you’re at a comfortable financial spot and are looking to make the switch to more sustainable, earth-friendly options, then I think this little front door surprise is just the one for you.
I’ve since received a second Causebox and truly love and use the majority of the products. However, if you’re skeptical, like I was, start out with just a quarterly membership, This way you can try it out and then cancel or switch to an annual subscription (to save money) based on your experience.
If you are interested and want to try the Causebox for yourself, you can use my link to sign up and you will receive $10 off your first box.
Have you tried out the Causebox? If so, what did you think? Are you planning to after reading this post? Do you have any other favorite subscription services? Let me know in the comments below!
