California Found is a monthly collection of expertly curated, beautifully crafted small batch and handmade goods from California’s most talented artisans. They kindly set us this box for review.
Each month you’ll receive a beautifully packaged box valued at over $90 that’s filled to the brim with natural spa & beauty products, locally sourced gourmet treats, beautifully crafted home goods, infinitely wearable jewelry and more. Every item introduces you to a new maker, each from different parts of the state with unique stories to tell.
They’ve recently become members of the 1% of the Planet and have committed to donating at least 1% of their gross revenues to the organization to help in their mission to build, support and activate an alliance of individuals and businesses committed to creating a healthy planet.
As a fun bonus, each month one subscriber’s box contains a golden ticket (it is the Golden State after all!) that entitles the recipient to one FREE box!
Subscription Details
California Found is $49 per month with the option of three-month subscription costing $144.00. Shipping is $7.95 in the US, $16.95 CAD and $23.95 everywhere else. Current month’s subscriptions close on the 30th of each month. New boxes are shipped between the 20th & 30th of each month and will arrive to subscribers within 5 business days after shipping.
September Box Details ($104.98 total value)
I absolutely love supporting small businesses and artisans so I’m really exciting to be reviewing California Found! Not only that but I love California more than any place on earth – it’s just my favorite so having this box show up on my doorstep each month transports me there for a moment in time and brings me so much happiness. The artisans in this month’s box have a very earth-friendly vibe, which I’m also very into, so I couldn’t be more stoked to be starting my reviews on the box with these wonderful makers!
Here’s a look at what’s in this month’s California Found box:
Box Insert
The inserts included in California Found are so thoughtful and informative. There’s an individual card for each product giving the item it’s own spotlight. They include a little background about the makers and the company as well as include a product photo and additional related pictures. They also all contain discount codes for future purchase from each company so you can buy more of the same product if you fall in love, or even try something new if the company inspired intrigue. I’ve included a few bullet points from each card below.
No Tox Life Dish Block Zero Waste Dish Washing Bar ($12.98)
“Founded by a mother-daughter team based in Glassell Park, Los Angeles. Their company is entirely vegan and palm-oil free soaps are one of their popular products. They hand-make over 100 goods for bath, body and home.”
I am SO excited to find this item in this month’s box. I have been eyeing it for months and had it on my list of things to try. Dish soap is always packaged in plastic so it’s great that this is a completely plastic free option. It’s almost engrained in my mind that dish soap is liquid so I love that this product breaks the mold- and I mean why wouldn’t something like this be just as effective?! You just need some form of scrubber tool (like those awesome scrubbers a few items down below) to suds it up and wipe dishes clean. I will be using this one a lot!
Lani Makana Dainty Gemstone Necklace ($28)
“Creations are inspired by the maker’s time spent in Hawaii Handcrafted jewelry, accessories and gifts are inspired by the sea. Items are made with findings such as natural gemstones, freshwater pearls, sea glass and sea pottery.”
This is a really pretty and simple necklace that would literally go with almost any outfit. Out of 4 different gemstone options I got the necklace with the Labradorite stone on it. It was randomly selected for each box. I like this stone because it’s a neutral grey color for every day wear. I usually wear gold jewelry, but I think the sterling silver definitely looks best with this gemstone. I’ve really been into wearing simpler jewelry lately so this will be a good addition to my rotation.
7 True Nail Polish in Summer Forever and Fall Back ($30)
“Founded by three moms devoted to making a change Nail Polishes are made in the US, are vegan and are free of 10 toxic ingredients found in most nail care products. Based on 7 True promises: honesty, generosity, simplicity, safety and self-esteem, while being contemporary and fun.”
Such pretty nail polish colors and I love the names- so fitting for the transition of seasons! What I especially love about these polishes is that they are free of 10 of the most common toxins found in conventional nail polishes. I actually don’t paint my nails that often, but whenever I do I look for ones that are of this standard. And even though I haven’t painted my nails in awhile, the beautiful colors of these polishes are making me want to right now! I’m thinking the neutral “Summer Forever” for my hands and the bold “Fall Back” for my toes.
LKLY Design Scrubby Set ($22)
“Quality handcrafted woven goods for the home like one-of-a-kind baskets and decor accents. Made with natural fibers including jute, cotton, linen and hemp.”
This Scrubby Set is a pair of two different sizes of dish or body scrubbers woven out of hemp. They are thick and feel very sturdy for any tough pan scrubbing job but also seem soft enough for body exfoliation without being overly abrasive. I love that these were included in the box with the Dish Block because they make the perfect pair. Often times scrubber tools are made of sponges or plastic and hold moisture and get moldy so they are thrown out creating excess waste. By using natural materials these should dry faster and hold up longer than their conventional counterparts. I will be using these a lot! As a side note, you’ve got to check out the baskets from this company too- they are SO cute!
Subarz – Two Baked Goods Three-Packs ($6/each)
“Subarz are a cross between mandelbread/biscotti and a cookie. They are twice baked in small batches giving them their distinct taste and texture. They come in a variety of flavors including gluten-free, nut-free and dairy-free options.”
YUM! These sound and look so good. They are such a unique creation too being like a biscotti but also like a cookie. I’m on a temporary gluten free diet so I haven’t tried these yet, but the flavors that were sent sound mouthwatering. One is Salted Apricot Caramel and the other is Traditional Chocolate Chip. They are a dense cookie that feels harder like a biscotti and I’m sure taste great on their own, but would pair wonderfully with tea or coffee too. I can’t wait to try these very soon.
California Found Review September 2019 – Final Thoughts
This was my first time receiving and reviewing the California Found box and I’m really SO impressed! Everything about it was a perfect fit for me – from the fact that all the items are from my favorite state invoking the best memories, to how each item highlights a small business artisan handcrafting goods from their hearts, to how nearly every item has an eco-friendly connection which is one of my passions. I couldn’t love this box more! I had only heard of one of the brands included so it was fun to discover several new ones. I assume that all future boxes will contain these types of surprises so I can’t wait to see what comes next!
The Botanic Gal – http://www.botanicgal.com