Brandless Reviews: How to Save on Products for a Healthy Home

Is Brandless Legit?  Read my Brandless reviews to see how I save on products for a healthy home.

This post contains affiliate links, and I earn a small commission from sales.

Brandless has been popping up in my Facebook newsfeed more and more often.  I'd browsed the site and liked how the products were less expensive than in the store.  More importantly, their products align with my vision for a healthy home.

Their products vary, but most are non GMO and organic.  Their cleaners are non-toxic, and their beauty products are cruelty free.  They make "better for you" products and great prices.  But is Brandless legit?  I ordered, and here's my Brandless reviews of several products.  

They contacted me a while ago and asked me to do Brandless reviews on their new health and beauty products.  I saw a lot of things available that I use in my DIY beauty recipes or ingredients that I cook with, so jumped at the chance to review their products.

BRANDLESS REVIEWS: IS BRANDLESS LEGIT?

WHAT IS BRANDLESS?

Brandless is a brand of, well, unbranded products for the home.  They have products for the home, pets, cleaners, food, beauty, personal care, and wellness.  

Their food products are non-GMO and free of artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors.  Their beauty products are cruelty free and free from over 400 questionable ingredients like parabens, SLS, sulfates, and phthlates among others.

Their cleaning products are non toxic and an EPA Safer Choice or Green Seal Certified without sacrificing quality or performance.  Their paper products are made from sustainable bamboo or sugarcane fiber.

There are some products that I'm picky about and stick to one brand, but for most products, I try to find a balance and choose the best quality for the price.  

When I'm choosing a brand, price isn't my determining factor.  I also look at performance, and I prefer to buy natural products.  

I prefer non-GMO food, and I have to buy food with no added dyes because my son Caleb can't eat food dyes.  

Brandless has free shipping when you spend $48, so that's what I spent to avoid shipping costs.  I felt like I got a lot of stuff for my money for my Brandless reviews.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Brandless has been adding more products to their health and wellness.  I chose melatonin, a hair and nail supplement, and a turmeric and black pepper supplement.  

I'm happy with the quality of all of them.  The melatonin and the hair and nail supplement are about the same price that I pay for my other brand, but the turmeric supplement is a lot cheaper through Brandless.

BEAUTY AND PERSONAL CARE

I tried the moisturizing Green Tea & Aloe shampoo and conditioner and the foaming Eucalyptus and Lavender hand soap.

The price of the shampoo and conditioner was less than what I was paying in the store.  It's safe for color treated hair, and it smells amazing.  My hair feels great since I started using it.

I have eczema, and hand soap is a big trigger.  I'm happy to report that the Brandless soap does not trigger my eczema!

The cotton balls and cotton rounds were more than from the big box store, but they are are softer.  They are also organic, so I'm fine paying a little more.  

I'm going to use the cotton rounds in a DIY project soon, so sign up for my newsletter to get updates.  

FOOD

I tried raw apple cider vinegar, coconut flour, coconut sugar, maca powder, green tea, and a freeze dried tropical fruit blend.  

Putting these in a food category is a little misleading because I'm using the maca powder, tropical fruit blend, raw ACV, and the green tea in DIY beauty recipes.  

Each of these were the same price or cheaper than what I was buying in the stores.   

Coconut sugar is my sweetener of choice because it tastes the most like sugar without an aftertaste.  I use the coconut flour in baking, and I used them in my grain free dog pumpkin dog treat recipe.  

IS BRANDLESS WORTH IT?

I'm happy with the products that I got.  I did have to crunch some numbers while I was shopping.  Some products I could get cheaper locally, but the majority of the products that they offer that I buy regularly were the same price or cheaper at Brandless.  

The cotton balls and cotton rounds, for example, do cost more at Brandless than the big box store.  However, the ones in my Brandless reviews are made with organic cotton.  I wasn't buying organic before, so I can't compare the prices of organic to organic.

They are also softer.  It's definitely worth it for me to spend a little more for organic and higher quality.

I like having a place where I can buy better for me products quickly and easily.  When I'm at the store, I have to read each label.  At Brandless, I know that their products align with what I buy for my family.

I also love that I can get free shipping at just $48.  I work full time, homeschool, and the kids have various activities that they are involved in.  I don't want to spend my free time at the grocery store. 

You don't have to do a subscription or have a membership to shop at Brandless.  You can order items when you need them. 

They also offer subscription options, so you can get items you use frequently automatically shipped so you never run out.  For each subscription box they ship, Brandless donates two additional meals to Feeding America.

So is Brandless legit?  Yes!  From my Brandless reviews, I will definitely return for more products.  

6 Natural Essential Oil Recipes for Dogs + Giveaway

These essential oils recipes for dogs help you care for your pet naturally.  Get all of the ingredients you need to make them in the May 2019 Simply Earth Essential Oil Recipe Box.  

I try my best to keep a natural home.  With 3/5 of us having asthma and 4/5 of us having allergies, it's in the best interest of our health not to use toxic chemicals in the home.  

I make my own DIY beauty products and natural cleaners and have for years, but I just recently got into making my own natural essential oil recipes for pets.  

Using essential oils around pets takes some knowledge, so always discuss it with your vet first.

Here are six DIY recipes that you can make for your dog.  All of the ingredients are in the May 2019 Simply Earth Essential Oil Recipe Box.  You can order it now through the end of May (or until it sells out).  

My readers get an exclusive offer.  If you use code EVERYTHINGPRETTYFREE you'll get a $40 gift card for a future purchase plus a free bonus box!  Click here to order the box.

One of my lucky readers will win their own May box.  See the details and enter at the bottom of the post.  

How to Make Succulent Soap With Melt and Pour Soap

How to make succulent soaps with melt and pour soaps.  These adorable soaps are perfect for gift giving or selling, or you can keep them for yourself!

Succulents are insanely popular right now.  I have a several of them in my home because they are so cute and easy to care for.  When I saw a succulent candy mold, I had to grab it to make soaps with.

I could have just made the soap and used it as a guest soap, which would be cute.  But I took it a little further and make little pots with faux rocks and succulents.  This was a lot of fun to make because I got to be creative, and I love how it turned out.  

The flower pot, rocks, and plant are all made with melt and pour soap.  This makes a cute hand soap or body soap.  You can even set them in the bath purely for decoration.  

I used an essential oil blend to scent them, so they do put off a little bit of fragrance to scent a small bath.  

This takes a little longer than other melt and pour projects because it takes three pours to make them.  You can start them and then finish them later in the day or even the next day.

If you're looking for more ideas for melt and pour soap, check out 23 advanced melt and pour soap techniques.  

These cute lemon poppy seed muffin soaps are a rebatched soap recipe from hotel soaps!  You can use almost any type of soap to make these handmilled soaps. 

This rebatched soap recipe is a great way to make a fun bar of soap without having to use lye or make soap from scratch.

Rebatching soap, also called handmilling, is when you take a bar of premade soap and grate it, melt it, and add things to it to make a brand new bar of soap.

You can get creative in what you add to it.  I decided to make this a lemon poppy seed soap for the kitchen.  Lemon essential oil is great for removing grease and kitchen odors, and the poppy seeds gently exfoliate your hands.

I upcycled small bars of soap from hotels. My neighbor travels for weeks or months at a time.  No matter how many times he tells them not to leave more soaps for him, they usually leave him several bars a week.

When he gets home, he gives me a box for my family to use.  We do use the soap as is, but me being me, I have to turn it into something pretty, like these lemon poppy seed muffin rebatched soap recipe.

LEMON POPPY SEED MUFFIN REBATCHED SOAP RECIPE

Although I'm calling this a recipe for rebatched soap, it's actually more of a guide.  How much water you add depends on the bar of soap that you use.

More rebatched soap recipes:

• Pumpkin Spice Rebatched Soap Recipe
• Chocolate Covered Strawberry Rebatched Soap Recipe
• Charcoal and Anise Rebatched Soap Recipe
• Coffee and Bourbon Vanilla Rebached Soap Recipe

SOAP

The soaps I used are crazy, crazy dry, so I added more water than you'd use for handmade soap.  If you use handmade soap, you'll use a lot less water because the soap will be moist already. The amount of water I suggest in this rebatched soap recipe is for a softer bar of soap, so start with that amount and add more as needed.

If you are buying soap to make rebatched soap, I recommend starting with a quality bar of soap.  If you buy soap from the dollar store, then you'll still end up with dollar store soap.

You can buy shredded soap on Amazon so you can make your own.

VITAMIN E OIL

The soaps I used aren't bad soaps, but they aren't great.  I wanted some extra moisturizing, so I added some vitamin E oil.  I use Crafty Bubbles vitamin E oil because it's really thick.

You can add other carrier oils if you'd like.  Just add the same amount of oil that I used for the vitamin E.

You can learn more about the different carrier oils and their benefits here.

Or get my book Carrier Oils to learn about over 40 oils and their benefits for hair and skin.

ADDITIVES

Since these are lemon poppy seed muffin rebatched soaps, I added lemon peel, poppy seeds, and lemon essential oil.

You can add up to 1 tablespoon of an additive per batch of 1 cup of shredded soap.  I feel like 1/2 tablespoon of the poppy seeds was enough, so I wouldn't add the full tablespoon personally.

You can add one of several additives to a rebatched soap recipe.  I like to add dried herbs, oatmeal, and even seeds or nuts.  Here's a list of melt and pour additives to give you some ideas.

Just be careful adding anything that it's fully dried or can be reconstituted with water (with the exception of milk powder; I've had success with milk powder).  Avoid adding fruit powders because they can grow moldy.

I used lemon essential oil in my recipe.  You can use any essential oil or blend or a fragrance oil if you'd prefer.

MOLD

Rebatched soap isn't typically smooth, so I don't recommend using an intricate mold.  I used a regular mini muffin tin and it worked well.

I recommend using a large mold without a design.  These rectangle molds would be a great choice.  I use them often for bars of soap.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup shredded soap
• 1/2 cup distilled water
• 1 teaspoon vitamin E oil
• 1/2 tablespoon lemon peel
• 1/2 tablespoon poppy seeds
• 20 drops lemon essential oil

DIRECTIONS

STEP #1

Shred the soap.

Since this soap was dry, I used a sharp knife and cut it at an angle.  It turned into a powder and small chunks, but I am fine with that.  If you want a more uniform look, shred the soap or grind it all into a powder.

STEP #2

Place the shredded soap into a double boiler.  I used a Pyrex glass bowl inside a sauce pan.

STEP #3

Add 1/2 cup water to the shredded soap in the double boiler.  Heat over medium heat until the soap starts to melt and it looks like mashed potatoes.

Add more water as needed.

Note that shredded soap will not completely melt and turn to liquid.

STEP #4

Remove from heat and add the vitamin E oil, lemon peel, poppy seed, and lemon essential oil.  Stir well.

STEP #5

Let cool until it's ready to handle.  Then spoon into your mold.  By this time, it was cool enough to handle, so I used gloved fingers to smoosh it down into the mold.

You want to really pack it in there to avoid air pockets.

Let dry completely before unmolding.  This can take several days, depending on how much water you added.

After I unmold the soap, I usually let it dry for a few more days on a cooling rack.  If you wrap them too soon, they can get condensation and get too soft.

This lemon poppy seed muffin rebatched soap recipe is a great way to repurpose soap or get creative with soap without buying a lot of equipment or supplies.

Lemon Poppy Seed Muffin Rebatched Soap Recipe

Yield: 1 cup soap

Author: Cari Dunn

Estimated cost: $5

prep time: 10 Mperform time: 1 hourtotal time: 1 H & 10 M

These cute lemon poppy seed muffin soaps are a rebatched soap recipe from hotel soaps! You can use almost any type of soap to make these handmilled soaps.

materials:

• 1 cup shredded soap
• 1/2 cup distilled water
• 1 teaspoon vitamin E oil
• 1/2 tablespoon lemon peel
• 1/2 tablespoon poppy seeds
• 20 drops lemon essential oil

tools:

• Double boiler
• Measuring cup

steps:

1. Shred the soap.
2. Place the shredded soap into a double boiler. I used a Pyrex glass bowl inside a sauce pan.
3. Add 1/2 cup water to the shredded soap in the double boiler. Heat over medium heat until the soap starts to melt and it looks like mashed potatoes.
4. Add more water as needed.
5. Note that shredded soap will not completely melt and turn to liquid.
6. Remove from heat and add the vitamin E oil, lemon peel, poppy seed, and lemon essential oil. Stir well.
7. Let cool until it's ready to handle. Then spoon into your mold. By this time, it was cool enough to handle, so I used gloved fingers to smoosh it down into the mold.
8. Let dry completely before unmolding. This can take several days, depending on how much water you added.
9. After I unmold the soap, I usually let it dry for a few more days on a cooling rack. If you wrap them too soon, they can get condensation and get too soft.

https://www.yourbeautyblog.com/2019/04/lemon-poppy-seed-muffin-rebatched-soap.html

Copyright © Everything Pretty 2019. All rights reserved.

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DIY Highlighting Shimmer Face Oil Recipe

This DIY highlighting shimmer face oil recipe is simple to make.  It rehydrates your skin while adding a highlight to your face or body.  

I love makeup.  I love playing with colors and trying new effects.  I don't feel like my makeup is complete without eyeliner, highlighter, and at least some gloss on my lips.  

I use highlighter on my cheeks, nose, and forehead every time I wear makeup.  I usually use either Laura Geller Baked or my Hard Candy palettes.

While these are amazing highlighters, I also wanted to make my own.  I love the idea of using an oil to make a DIY highlighting shimmer face oil recipe because it also hydrates the skin while adding some shimmer.My skin is normally oily, but it's getting drier as I get older.  The winter is usually the worst time of the year for me, but the sun in the summer also dries out my skin.  Other than my T-zone, my skin can even sometimes be considered dry.

Y'all, this is brand new territory for me.  I'm used to washing, toning, and having to use a finishing powder while carrying oil blotting papers with me.  

When I saw the first patch of dry skin, I freaked out thinking I had some weird reaction to a product.  Nope.  Just my skin being a butthead in the opposite direction that it usually is.  

Since this highlighting shimmer face oil recipe is used mainly on the cheeks, it's great for my skin.  Even if you do have oily skin, I'll give you some other options for oils to use.

I'm calling this a face oil, but you can use it all over.  Just use a larger bottle so you don't have to make it as often.  

This would be great for the upper chest and even your arms to add some shimmer.  

DIY Kaolin Clay Facial Cleanser Recipe

This DIY kaolin clay facial cleanser recipe gently removes makeup, dirt, and oil while it detoxes your skin.  The oils naturally dissolve oil while moisturizing your skin.

A clay mask was one of the first DIY beauty recipes that I ever made because it's so easy.  After my first bentonite clay mask, I was hooked.  I now use a clay or charcoal mask once a week to cleanse my skin.

As far as DIY beauty recipes go, this is an extremely easy one.  But don't think that this isn't an amazing recipe just because it's simple.

Sometimes the simple things are the best things.  And this is one of those times.  

This DIY kaolin clay facial cleanser recipe has just three ingredients: clay, a carrier oil, and an essential oil.

I'll also give you some recommendations for different carrier oils and essential oils so you can make a clay mud cleanser for your skin type.

Herbal Healing Lip Balm Recipe With Calendula, Plantain, and Comfrey

This herbal lip balm recipe has herbal infused oils, natural butters, and beeswax to moisturize and protect your lips naturally.  Use calendula, plantain, and comfrey to naturally soften your lips. 

One reason I love making DIY bath and body products is because I can be creative with the ingredients.  For example, I can start with a base recipe for lip balm that has beeswax, butters, and carrier oils and then choose the best butters and carrier oils for my needs.

To further customize my lip balm, I can add essential oils and infuse the oils with herbs.  This gives the ingredients I choose the benefits of the essential oils and the herbs.

For this recipe, I wanted an herbal lip balm made with calendula, plantain, and comfrey because they help the skin heal and protect it from future damage.

In the winter, my lips are dry because of the cold hair.  But in the summer, my lips also get dry because of the sun.

Basically, my lips are dry all the time except for three days in the spring and another three days in the fall.

If you're new to making lip balm, this probably isn't the easiest one to make because it has more ingredients than other lip balms.

You'll also have to infuse the oils, which can take up to two weeks.  If you're looking for a basic lip balm recipe, I have an easy lip balm recipe included with these gift set recipes.

HERBAL HEALING LIP BALM RECIPE WITH CALENDUA

I chose each ingredient for this herbal healing lip balm recipe for its unique properties.  There are three herbs that I love for their healing powers, and I think that they work well together.

They are the same herbs that I used in my Amish Black Drawing Salve recipe.  I infused them in olive oil for that recipe, and I used castor oil in this recipe. 

You could use either oil in either recipe, so you can make extra herbal infused oil and use it in both recipes.

CALENDULA

Calendula is one of my favorite herbs.  I used it in this coconut and calendula sugar scrub and this calendula soap recipe for dry skin.

Calendula is a proven wound healer.  It's believed that it increases blood flow to the area, which helps wounds heal.  However it works, it makes for an amazing herb to add to your herbal lip balm recipe because it helps heal chapped lips.  

COMFREY

Comfrey is also considered a healing herb.  It helps decrease dryness and flakes, so it's great for moisturizing dry lips.

It's also naturally anti-inflammatory.

PLANTAIN

If calendula is my favorite herb for healing, plantain is a close second.

In the summer, my lips get crazy irritated if I'm in the sun too long.  Plantain is said to provide relief for sunburns.

It also aids in healing the skin much the same way that calendula and comfrey do.

It's naturally antibacterial and can detox the skin by pulling out toxins.

CASTOR OIL

If castor oil brings back childhood memories of being sick, then this post may be painful for you, and I'm sorry.

Castor oil is high in fatty acids, so it's very moisturizing for your lips.  These fatty acids promote the generation of new skin cells, so like the herbs, it's also healing.

It's a humectant, so it pulls moisture from the air to your lips.

It's also fairly inexpensive and easy to find.  You can find it in most drug stores or big box stores.

Learn more about carrier oils and their benefits.

SHEA BUTTER

Shea butter is a wonderful butter for your lips.  Its very hydrating and moisturizing, and the vitamin E in it is a great antioxidant.

It's high in vitamin F for skin elasticity.  This is important because your lips probably get a lot of sun, which can cause signs of aging.

COCOA BUTTER

I used cocoa butter because it helps form a protective barrier on top of the lips.  This helps moisturize your lips, and it helps your lips retain the moisture they do have.

Cocoa butter is high in fatty acids that moisturize your lips, and the antioxidants help prevent the signs of aging.

Learn more about hair and skin butters and their benefits.

BEESWAX

Beeswax serves two purpose in this recipe.  First, it thickens this herbal healing lip balm recipe.  Without beeswax, you'd never be able to put this recipe in a lip balm tube.

The second reason I added beeswax is because it forms a protective barrier on your lips.  Your skin has a natural barrier, but your lips don't.

Beeswax forms a protective layer.  This helps trap in moisture and prevents moisture loss.

INGREDIENTS

• Calendula
• Comfrey
• Plantain
• 3.3 ounces herbal infused castor oil 
• 1 ounce beeswax
• 1.1 ounce shea butter 
• 1.1 ounce cocoa butter

SUPPLIES

• Digital scale
• lip balm tubes (These are made in the USA!)
• Double boiler or 2 cup Pyrex measuring cup and canning jar ring

DIRECTIONS

STEP #1

First, you'll have to infuse the herbs and the oils.

Start by placing about 1 tablespoon of each herbs in a mason jar.  Cover with at least 4 ounces of castor oil.

Let sit in a dark place up to two weeks.  Gently shake the bottle each day to mix the herbs and oils.

Strain the herbs out using cheesecloth.  Discard the herbs.  Save the herbal infused castor oil for the next step.

I forgot to get a photo of the herbs in the oil, but this is what it should look like when the herbs are covered with the oils.

STEP #2

In a double boiler, combine the beeswax, shea butter, cocoa butter, and herbal infused castor oil.  Use a digital scale to measure the ingredients.

Heat over medium heat until melted.  Stir often.

STEP #3

Carefully remove from heat and pour into lip balm tubes or lip balm pots.  Let sit until fully hardened.

Your herbal lip balm recipe with calendula, plantain, and comfrey is ready to use as soon as it's cool and has set up.

I hope you enjoy this recipe.  If you're looking for more herbal DIY bath and body products to make, check out these posts:

• Herbal Infused ACV Rinse
• Detangler Spray With Marshmallow Root
• Lavender Chamomile Tub Tea
• Chamomile Hard Lotion Recipe

Herbal Healing Lip Balm Recipe

Yield: 12 lip balm tubes

Author: Cari Dunn

Estimated cost: $10

prep time: 2 hourperform time: 1 hourtotal time: 3 H

This herbal lip balm recipe has herbal infused oils, natural butters, and beeswax to moisturize and protect your lips naturally. Use calendula, plantain, and comfrey to naturally soften your lips.

materials:

• 1 tablespoon calendula
• 1 tablespoon comfrey
• 1 tablespoon plantain
• 4 ounces castor oil
• 1 ounce beeswax
• 1,1 ounces shea butter
• 1,1 ounces cocoa butter

tools:

• Digital scale
• Lip balm tubes
• Double boiler or 2 cup measuring cup

steps:

1. Start by placing about 1 tablespoon of each herbs in a mason jar. Cover with at least 4 ounces of castor oil.
2. Let sit in a dark place up to two weeks. Gently shake the bottle each day to mix the herbs and oils.
3. Strain the herbs out using cheesecloth. Discard the herbs. Save the herbal infused castor oil for the next step.
4. In a double boiler, combine the beeswax, shea butter, cocoa butter, and herbal infused castor oil. Use a digital scale to measure the ingredients.
5. Heat over medium heat until melted. Stir often.
6. Carefully remove from heat and pour into lip balm tubes or lip balm pots. Let sit until fully hardened.

https://www.yourbeautyblog.com/2019/04/herbal-healing-lip-balm-recipe-with.html

Copyright © Everything Pretty 2019. All rights reserved.

diy, lip balm

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