Honest Shampoo + Body Wash and Honest Conditioner Review: An Honest Assessment

September 28, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 10 Comments

Affiliate links included and Shampoo & Body Wash provided for consideration. I supplied the conditioner. All thoughts and opinions are strictly my own.

I have been having a lot of fun over the past year working my way through the Honest Company product catalog and trying pretty much everything they make so that I can share my thoughts about the products with you. Some of the products have become major favorites in my home (Honest Bathroom Cleaner and Honest Dishwasher Pods come to mind). Others have been not as impressive. If you want to check out all the products I have reviewed to date, take a look at my Honest Company reviews page.

Today, I want to talk about Honest Shampoo + Body Wash and Honest Conditioner, both of which I have been regularly using for about a month.

If you want the Cliff’s Notes version of the review here it is: Meh.

Alright, now let’s get into more detail!

Honest Shampoo & Body Wash gets credit for being multi-purpose, and for having a nice smell (the scent is sweet orange vanilla. It is light and not at all overpowering). It also gets points for having an impressively natural ingredient list.

Like most sulfate-free shampoos, it is difficult to get much of a lather going. I’ve learned from experience that lather does not equate to cleaning abilities. It takes some getting used to, but the suds really aren’t what gets your hair nice and clean, so don’t be fooled by the lack of suds.

Unfortunately, for me, I notice that any time I use the Honest Shampoo on my hair, I need to wash my hair again after 2 days, and it is my preference to wash my hair every 3 days. So I personally take that to mean that my hair is not getting as clean with this product, which is a bummer. For me, it has turned into a shampoo for my girls and a body wash. I gave it a month on my hair, and then I gave up.

As for the Honest Conditioner, I find that it doesn’t provide as much moisture as my VERY VERY dry hair needs. If you hair is not straw-like, as mine tends to be, then I think you should give the product a try. It smells great, it has great ingredients, and it is probably perfectly fine for most hair types. Just not mine.

So while I don’t think either one of these products is bad, I just wasn’t wowed by them. They aren’t the right fit for me. But if you are seeking out more environmentally friendly hair care products, then I think they are worth a try, especially since you can turn the shampoo into body wash if you aren’t pleased with how it performs on your hair. These products are $9.95 each, which means that if you want to buy them, you should include them in your essentials bundle, as the per item price in a bundle is just $7.20. 🙂

Have you tried these products? I’d love to hear what you thought about them!

Honest Company Canvas Tote Review: An Honest Assessment

August 2, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 7 Comments

Affiliate links included. I promote what I love and I love The Honest Company (though this product was a definite miss!).

Time for another Honest Company review, and hang on to your horses, friends, because this one is a doozy! I’m showing you the Honest Canvas Tote and telling you exactly why I DON’T recommend that you buy it!

The Price

The retail price for the Canvas Tote is $16.95. You can purchase it as an add-on to a bundle to get 25% off, so that would bring the price down to $12.71. But even at that price, I think the tote is a major disappointment. Truly, this is one of my least favorite items from The Honest Company so far. The price, which I fully expect to be higher than a similar-quality product at Walmart due to the fact that the Honest Company pays people a living wage, still seemed WAY too high for the quality of the bag.

The Quality

The quality was really what I took issue with the most. I purchased this bag at the $12.71 price point, and I was perfectly content to pay that amount. But I expected something thicker and sturdier for that price. A bag that could really hold its own at the grocery store and the pool. A bag that wouldn’t look rough after just one wash. But you know where this is going, right?

Here’s the fading that occurred on the printed logo after just 1 wash in an HE washer on gentle:

I’ve washed it one time since taking this photo, and the quality of the logo continues to degrade, unfortunately. I think the “N” at the bottom is not long for this world, and then I’ll be advertising “HO EST.com.” So that’s something to look forward to…

The handles have also struggled to hold reasonable amounts of weight (groceries…no not gallons of milk or anything ridiculous) and a few seams on them have ripped. So that tells me that I have to only put lightweight things in the bag. I need my reusable totes to be work horses!

The material also just reminds me of what you might expect from a $5 canvas tote, and not a $17 tote or even a $13 tote. So my friends, my honest assessment is that you should skip this item altogether, and save space in your cart for something that will delight you. Honest Company has many terrific products, this just isn’t one of them.

Honest Company: What IS Good?

I have a growing list of Honest Company reviews and I give it to you straight, telling you what I liked and what I didn’t, and the strategy to use to get the best possible price. If you’ve never made a purchase with The Honest Company, start by getting lots of freebies from them! I give you the full run down on how to do that here. Happy shopping!

Honest Company Laundry Detergent Review: An Honest Assessment

July 27, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

Referral links included. I only promote what I personally use!

Today I’m showing off one of my favorite picks from the Honest Company Line: the Honest Laundry Detergent. It works GREAT and I love that it’s eco-friendly. I also love that a heavy item like this can show up on my doorstep and be taken off my shopping list when I run errands.

How to Get the Best Price

The retail price for the Honest Laundry Detergent is $12.95, and it will cover 70 loads in an HE machine, which is what I have. That means the retail cost is 18.5 cents/load. That’s on the pricey end, in my opinion. But you don’t have to pay $12.95! Instead, get the essentials bundle and pay just $7.20.You get 5 items in your bundle for $35.95, which makes each item in the bundle cost just $7.20. This is absolutely one to put in your bundle. The per load cost of the product just went down to 10 cents/load!

This is a subscription service, BUT it is the most flexible subscription service I have ever encountered…you don’t HAVE to get something every month…just call in and have your date changed to whatever you like. I have my bundles scheduled to come every 6 weeks, but I have called in and gotten them bumped back or moved forward, depending on my needs. They are easy breezy! And cancelling is just as easy, too.

You can also add another bottle on to your bundle for the month at a rate of 25% off (bundle subscribers get up to 3 more items of their choice for 25% off, which is a nice perk) and that brings it down to $9.71. I personally recommend adding 2 two your bundle of 5 at a time to get the best price and to get stocked up, unless you are new to Honest Company and want to try out a greater variety. I tend to stick the items that are already less than $7.20 retail into my add-on spots.

New to The Honest Company? Start Here!

The Honest Company offers some great freebies to folks who are thinking of joining, including free diapers, so definitely check out my post on Honest Company free samples. After that, you’ll want to see my running list of Honest Company product reviews so that you can learn which products to buy and which ones to pass on, as well as how to bundle them for maximum savings.

Honest Company Diapers Bundle Review: An Honest Assessment

July 14, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 7 Comments

Referral links included. I only promote what I use and love!

Throughout 2014, we have used the Honest Company Diapers & Wipes Bundle on a few different times for various reasons. While we primarily cloth diaper, we had occasions where we were headed out of town (and we choose not to cloth diaper on the road) and we also just had occasions where life was hectic, and taking that extra bit of laundry off our plates provided some much-needed relief.

What You Get in an Honest Company Diapers & Wipes Bundle

You will receive 6 packages of diapers, with the number of diapers per pack depending on your size:

newborn: 40 (240 diaper total)
size 1: 44 (264 diapers total)
size 2: 40 (240 diapers total)
size 3: 34 (204 diapers total)
size 4: 29 (174 diapers total)
size 5: 25 (150 diapers total)
size 6: 22 (132 diapers total)

Additionally, you receive 4 packages of Honest Company wipes, with 72 wipes per package. Since you are a bundle subscriber, you also get to add up to 3 Honest company items to your order at a 25% discount. I highly recommend taking advantage of this feature as part of your bundle, as it is a particularly nice way to get some of their less expensive items that you might not want to include in your essentials bundle for an even better price.

Pro Tip: Training Pants Available!

One thing I didn’t realize when I first started using the subscription service is that you can actually get training pants as part of your bundle. You can get anywhere from 1-6 packages, depending on your needs. I absolutely LOVE that feature! Perhaps you are working on potty training during the day but haven’t tackled it at night and need maybe 2 packages for night time for the month. No problem!

So…How Much?

A month’s supply of diapers (and/or training pants) and wipes is going to set you back $79.95. But you know as well as I do that using disposable diapers is an expensive endeavor, so the price tag shouldn’t be too shocking. Here are other key things to keep in mind about what you are getting with that hard-earned money:

1. You are getting eco-friendly products made with sustainable materials and no chlorine processing.

2. They are also free of harsh additives, latex, and questionable chemicals, making them a safer option for your baby.

3. The month’s supply of diapers is shipped straight to your door, eliminating those late night emergency drugstore runs. Shipping is free, too!

4. The prints. Oh my word, y’all. The prints!!!!! There are no disposable diapers on the market that can even come remotely close to being as cute as the prints offered by Honest Company. And several of their designs switch out seasonally, so there’s always something new and fun to try! If you want cute disposable diapers, this is the way to go. And yes, there are prints for boys, too!

5. These diapers work. We have used them during the day as well as at night and have NEVER had a leak or a blow out. Now that’s saying something!

So I will say this: if you want the least expensive diapers you can possibly get, these will not be your best bet. Couponing and watching for sales will net you cheaper diapers. But if you have concerns about the chemicals found in most of those products, or if you are concerned about the environmental impact, but you need an alternative to cloth diapering for whatever variety of reasons, then you should very carefully consider subscribing for an Honest Company Diapers & Wipes bundle. I think you’ll be very pleased with your hassle-free, totally awesome and adorable diaper experience.

New to The Honest Company? Start Here!

Honest Company Bottom Wash Review: An Honest Assessment

June 29, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 7 Comments

Affiliate links included. My opinions are my own.

Over the past few weeks I have been trying out, here and there, a new product in the the Honest Company line: Honest Soothing Bottom Wash.

This product is meant to be a supplementary cleaning/refreshing aid during diaper changes. You can use it for any and every diaper change if you wish, but the impression that I get is that it is particularly recommended for the gross diaper changes. No need to elaborate on that point.

And so, I’ve done most of my testing on those exact type of diaper changes. And my thoughts on the product?

Meh.

It smells nice, and I suppose in the midst of a gross diaper change that has some sort of worth. But I didn’t think that it made gross diaper changes significantly easier/faster to clean up after. Honestly, if I’m going to add a step to a diaper change, it needs to really be worth it, and I failed to see how this was the case.

Now I will say that Layah seemed to think it was fun. It made her squeal and squirm, which is cute…unless you are in the middle of a gross diaper change, and then squirming is TERRIBLE.

Why Try It?

If you don’t feel like your wipes are getting the job done sufficiently, then this might be worth a try. But my honest opinion is that this is a product to skip. It retails for $9.95, so if you are going to try it, get it as part of your essentials bundle because the per item price for a bundle is $7.20.

New to Honest Company?

Despite my lackluster review of this particular product, there are MANY products that I have tried and loved (and yes, a handful of others that failed to impress me). Check out my growing list of Honest Company reviews, and also be sure to learn how to get Honest Company free trials so you can maximize how many things you can try for free before committing to a purchase!

Honest Company Dish Brush Review: An Honest Assessment

June 14, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 3 Comments

Hello, friends! It’s been a while since I’ve shared my thoughts on an Honest Company product so I thought I should tackle one today that I use pretty much every day: The Honest Dish Brush. This is a fairly confusing product in that they offer it in two packages. One option is to simply buy the bamboo brush itself for $4.95 (which is what I did). The second option is to purchase it with a ceramic dish in a package called “suds up” for $12.95.

So when I was making this purchase, it was pretty simple for me: do I want to pay $8 for a small ceramic dish? No thanks! And I’m very pleased with my $4.95 dish brush. But I will say that I now better understand that the ceramic dish is meant to not only hold your brush, but to be used when creating more suds for washing dishes. Evidently you just put a tiny amount of soap on the brush, put it in the dish, and then pump the brush up and down to make lots and lots of bubbles with ease.

Sounds cool, but I’m still not interested, personally. But I did want you to know about your options!

Ok, so back to the brush. I love it because it is sturdy (we’ve had ours for 6 months and use it all the time…it is doing just fine). It is also made of bamboo, which is a highly renewable resource, and the bristles are 100% recycled plastic. The price is definitely great for something that has lasted so long, and that is so responsibly made. When ours finally kicks the bucket, I will happily buy another one.

How to Buy the Scrubber Brush

Ok, so the right strategy for buying this brush first depends on if you want the $12.95 version or the $4.95 version. If you want the $12.95 version, your best bet is to include it in your essentials bundle, as the per item price is just $7.20 for bundle items. If your bundle for the month is already full but you still really want to try it, you can add it on as one of your extra 3 items that you can snag for 25% off, and that drops the price down to $9.71.

If you just want the $4.95 brush, DO NOT add it to your essentials bundle. Why pay $7.20 for something that retails for $4.95? Instead, add it as a plus 3 item at the end, and you get an even better deal, paying just $3.71. Or you might find yourself just picking up a few things at the retail price on the shop, and this is totally a fair price to pay retail, so I’d say go for it.

Cheap is Good, Free is Better

If you have never made an Honest Company purchase, there is a right way to start, and it is by getting a whole lot of free stuff! Here’s info on how to start your free trials with Honest Company. And if you have never ordered a bundle before and have no idea what to select, I’ve got a growing list of Honest Company product reviews to help you make the best selections, and to get the very best bang for your buck. The bundles from The Honest Company can be really good deals IF you know how to work them!

Honest Company Sunscreen Review: An Honest Assessment

May 25, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 3 Comments

Referral links included. I only promote what I use and love!

Tomorrow’s Memorial Day, which means even though it isn’t technically summer yet, it might as well be (at least here in the South where we’ve already experience a few 90 degree days!).

If you haven’t already restocked your sunscreen for the season, now is the time. And if you are looking for eco-friendly and baby-safe options, I want to highly recommend Honest Sunscreen.

I’ve tried this product out on both of my girls (ages 4 and 2) and found it to provide excellent coverage. If you crave that coconut smell with your sunscreen, you’ll be disappointed by this product as, frankly, it doesn’t really smell like anything. But for those of you who like fragrance-free products, this is a good one for you!

I like that this is water resistant (for roughly 40 minutes..don’t forget to reapply!). And I like that my whole family can use it, and we don’t have to bring 1 container of sunscreen for the kids and a separate container for the adults. Everyone gets to use this eco-friendly, people-friendly product!

How to Get the Best Price

The retail price for this 3 ounce container is $13.95. That’s pricey, y’all. The way to get a decent price is to get an Honest Essentials Bundle. You can get any 5 products on their list for $35.95, which brings your per-item price down to $7.20. If you don’t already have a subscription bundle, I’d encourage you to get one for the summer, at least, and to put sunscreen and the bug spray on your bundles each month until the “live outdoors” season is over! Don’t forget that you can push back your next shipment date as often as you like (I’ve put them on hold for 2 months before with no penalties and no hassle!).

What Else Should I Get?

Need some other suggestions for your bundle? I am compiling a list of reviews of all the products I have tried from Honest.com, and you can see my Honest Company reviews here. I tell you what the best deals are for the bundles, and which products you should pass on altogether! And, of course, I tell you how to maximize your freebies from Honest Company, too. I’m looking out for you! 🙂

Honest Company Bug Spray Review: An Honest Assessment

May 15, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

Affiliate links included. I only promote what I use and love!

Today I’m excited to be showing off one of my absolute favorite Honest Company products for the summer season: Honest Bug Spray.

This product contains citronella, cedar, rosemary and peppermint essential oils (and you know how I feel about essential oils!). It smells REALLY good…unless you are a bug, in which case it smells repulsive.

I put this product to the ultimate test a few weeks ago when my family did some hiking in a heavily wooded area in eastern Tennessee. We had no bites of any sort on us after our walk, which made me really happy, and proved to me that this stuff is the real deal. I’m going to order a second one for my next bundle for sure!

How to Buy Honest Bug Spray for the Best Price

Ok, so this product retails for $12.95 on the website. This makes it an EXCELLENT choice for part of your essentials bundle (refresher: the bundle is an auto-ship program that allows you to choose any 5 things in a category for $35.95…as long as you pick things that retail for more than $7.20 each, this is a great deal!). You can also make it one of your +3 items that you can tack on to a bundle, which are offered for 25% off, and that would make the price $9.71. That’s not as good as $7.20, but if you wanted more than 1 bug spray at a time, that’s still better than the retail price!

But First, Get Stuff for Free!

If you have never ordered from The Honest Company before, you need to get your freebies before you do anything else! 🙂 Here’s the rundown on how to get Honest Company freebies as a new sign up. After that, check out my growing list of Honest Company reviews to help you figure out how to order the best products for the best price (as not everything I have tried as been awesome, and there are several products listed as bundle options that actually retail for less than $7.20…don’t fall for that trick!).

Honest Company Rinse Aid Review: An Honest Assessment

May 1, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

For the last two weeks I have been using The Honest Company’s Rinse Aid in my dishwasher. This is a reasonably priced product ($5.95) in the Honest Company line of offerings, and it is said that one bottle will provide product for roughly 75 loads of dishes. I found that filling my rinse aid dispenser in my dishwasher took about 1/3 of the entire product, but I have run about 20 loads of dishes since that time and will probably need to refill it after about 5 more loads. So I think the estimate provided is a pretty good one! This makes the per load cost around 8 cents.

Why Choose Honest Rinse Aid Over Jet-Dry?

Well, for me it is a simple choice: The Environmental Working Group has given Jet-Dry an F rating for its use of toxic chemicals. Honest Rinse Aid gets a C. Is a C awesome? No, but it is a significant improvement. Does Honest Rinse Aid work as well as Jet-Dry? No, it doesn’t. But it does help remove spots and streaks and that hazy gray film you might find on your dishes. And the difference between how well it performs versus how well Jet-Dry performs isn’t enough to make me want to go back to Jet-Dry, especially in light of how horrible Jet-Dry is for the environment.

How to Purchase Honest Rinse Aid (and How NOT To Purchase It)

Honest Rinse Aid is only $5.95. If you order the Honest essentials bundles every month, don’t include this as one of your 5 main items, as the per item cost for those equals $7.20. You’ll be over-paying for the item if you do this! Instead, add it as a +3 item that you are allowed to purchase for a 25% discount. That will bring the price down to $4.45 and make your per load expense just 6 cents! :-). If you need some ideas on what you should be putting in your essentials bundles (and some tips on what to avoid), be sure to check out my full list of Honest Company reviews.

New to Honest Company? Get Your Freebies!

Don’t forget that if you have never tried The Honest Company products before, you can get lots of freebies just for giving them a try! I’ve got the full scoop on the Honest Company free trial for you.

Have you tried Honest Rinse Aid, yet? What did you think about it?