Go Love Yourself is a relatively new subscription box featuring items that promote self-care and personal growth. Each box includes a self-help book, resources to implement those practices into your everyday life, and self-care items. Subscribing to this box also opens up access to a Facebook community to help you along your journey.
When you open your box, you are immediately greeted with a handwritten note. I loved how Sharon wished me well now that finals were over (which she knew about thanks to the community!)—I really appreciate that extra touch.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About Go Love Yourself
The Subscription Box: Go Love Yourself
The Cost: $49.95 + shipping ($10.55 to Baton Rouge, LA). Save with a longer subscription.
ACTIVE DEAL: Save 10% off your first box!
CODE: MSA2018
The Products: Books, digital resources, and self-care items, all aimed at enhancing the journey to loving yourself.
Ships to: Worldwide
Go Love Yourself “Forest Bathing” June 2018 Review
The box includes a brochure detailing everything in the box, along with this months theme: Forest Bathing.
Also included is a list of the GYL featured coaches of the month. Simply go to the website listed under each card to schedule yourself a free 30-minute coaching session — no code needed! Each month features different coaches who have expertise in that month’s theme. Each month also will usually include a bookmark and information about community events. I think the GLY printing got an upgrade—I am loving these vivid photos!
Forest Bathing by Dr. Qing Li, Retail Value $20 (found here for $10.99)
I love that this month we got a hardcover book—it feels extra special to me for some reason. I wasn’t sure what I was in for when I saw this book, but I was very happy to open it up and find PICTURES! When was the last time you saw a picture book for adults? I honestly feel soothed just looking at these beautiful photos of nature, however, I enjoyed learning more about the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, (aka the art and science of how trees can promote health and happiness). There is a small secluded area of trees and grass behind my apartment that I refer to as my secret garden, and as soon as I walk under the shade of those trees where I can’t see any buildings, I instantly feel more relaxed and at peace, and now thanks to this book I have a better understanding of why. Dr. Qing Li (who is a real medical doctor in Japan, and has been a visiting fellow at Stanford) explains there are actual physical benefits from being with the trees, and I enjoyed learning about the ways being mindful of trees can help you sleep better, be more creative, and strengthen your immune system. And honestly, even if you don’t want to learn more about forest bathing, the book is worth it just for the gorgeous photos of forests around the world. From Amazon:
Notice how a tree sways in the wind. Run your hands over its bark. Take in its citrusy scent. As a society we suffer from nature deficit disorder, but studies have shown that spending mindful, intentional time around trees--what the Japanese call shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing--can promote health and happiness.
In this beautiful book--featuring more than 100 color photographs from forests around the world, including the forest therapy trails that criss-cross Japan--Dr. Qing Li, the world's foremost expert in forest medicine, shows how forest bathing can reduce your stress levels and blood pressure, strengthen your immune and cardiovascular systems, boost your energy, mood, creativity, and concentration, and even help you lose weight and live longer.
Once you've discovered the healing power of trees, you can lose yourself in the beauty of your surroundings, leave everyday stress behind, and reach a place of greater calm and wellness.
Forest Bathing Workbook - Listed Value $19.99
Go Love Yourself always includes an unofficial workbook, and I really like this spiral bound version. This workbook is full of journaling prompts to help you foster a deeper connection with your forest bathing practices. I always think these workbooks are well made, however, I am not sure why this workbook has a higher retail value than last month’s.
Cedar Shavings Sachet - Listed Value $4.75
A lot of things in this box smell great, but I think this is my favorite of the box. The cedar smell is heavenly, and a few deep breaths of this sachet has me feeling more grounded and relaxed. I still haven’t decided where I want to put this—do I want my undies smelling like cedar? My tee shirts? Maybe as an air freshener in my car?
Botany Barn Cedar and Pine Bath Salts, 1.4 oz – Retail Value $6
Cedar and pine are scents that aren’t as common in bath products, and that needs to change. I loved the relaxing soak these bath salts provided. I used these when I was fighting off a sinus infection, and the mix of Epsom salt and dead sea salt really helped me feel better while the cedar and pine scent helped soothe a sinus headache I was dealing with.
Plant Spirit Botanicals Organic Cypress Essential Oil, 5 mL – Retail Value $9
This essential oil is made through the steam distillation process of the needles and twigs of the cypress tree, and I love the woody and refreshing scent of this essential oil. I can tell this is a better quality than an essential oil I would get from T. J. Maxx (my usual essential oil place) because just one drop of this oil is really all I need for the smell to shine through. This may sound cliché, but I really do feel grounded when I smell earthy and woody scents like these. I think this would smell heavenly diffused with some cinnamon!
Aromatherapy Diffuser Necklace - Listed Value $24.95
This necklace will eventually be up for sale on the Go Love Yourself shop, however, it is not up yet. Oh, this necklace. I love the idea of having a diffuser necklace to use with the cypress essential oil, and I like the minimalist look of the lava bead on the delicate gold chain. However, I wish we had more information on the necklace—is it gold plated or filled? Another problem I had is there is one singular loop on which you can hook the lobster clasp, and it’s not a very big one. It was impossible for me to put this on by myself because of it, which means I cannot really ever wear this necklace. Overall, I question the quality of the necklace that you get for the price.
Here is a closeup of the lobster clasp to detail the problem I had closing it.
Shoyeido Moss Garden Incense, 35 sticks – Retail Value $4.10
I have never actually burned incense before, so I was excited to try it for the first time. After consulting google, I filled a coffee mug with rice and then lit two incense sticks and stuck them in the rice. I placed them in my bathroom, and after about ten minutes I could smell the incense wafting through my bedroom and into my living room. I was definitely impressed by the strong fragrance this put out—this is a way more affordable alternative to candles (though I will never give up my candle addiction). This incense smells very earthy thanks to the sandalwood and patchouli, and I am excited that this small bundle gives you almost 30 hours of burn time.
The Verdict: I loved how everything in this box helped in making me feel grounded, which is something that I definitely benefit from. I calculated a value of $88.79, which is the lowest I have seen from this box. I am not bothered by the lower value, however, because I feel like the curation of this box was really top notch—the essential oil, incense, and cypress bath salts are things I would never have gotten on my own, but now I am very happy to have them. Don’t forget, too, that there is definitely added value in the Facebook community and monthly coaches that isn’t included in the value, so that is something to consider. I think this is a box where the more work you are willing to put in, the more you will get out of it and your personal value will increase too.
The Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? If you sign up today you will get the July box, however, this box is available as a one-time purchase here.
Coupon - Save 10% off your first box with code MSA2018
Value Breakdown: This box cost me $49.95 + $10.55 shipping, which means that each of the 7 items in the box has an average cost of $8.64.
Check out all of our Go Love Yourself reviews and more self-care boxes in the Women's Subscription Box List!
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What do you think of Go Love Yourself? What methods do you practice to improve your self-care?
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