Merkaela is a quarterly box that sends natural bath, beauty, and meditation products curated to a theme as well as the season. Merkaela’s items are made in-house although they may occasionally send a product from high-quality collaborators. All of the items are cruelty-free and there is a vegan option that you can choose at sign up. The ingredients are clean and in some cases organic. You can feel good about putting these items on your skin! Our readers agree – they voted it as one of the best bath and body subscription boxes for 2021!
In our Deluxe box, you will receive 6-9 products (Essential box includes 3-5) built on the theme of the season. In addition, you will gain access to our thought-provoking content and a playlist that pairs with the products for that season. Our goal is to provide you with everything you need to be on your way to a holistic approach to a clear mind, body and spirit.
DEAL: Use code NEWMOON to save 22% on all subscription plans.
Merkaela has two different subscription levels. One is the “Essential” box ($40), which mainly has the meditation products, while the “Deluxe” box ($80) includes both the meditation products and self-care items. I am reviewing the “Deluxe” box. Keep in mind that shipping is extra. They also offer a quarterly Soap Subscription, which is $25, and a Body Butter/Oil Subscription, which is $28. Now they even have a Smudge Stick Box ($18). Prices drop for longer subscription terms.
My items were tucked into shredded paper squiggles. The products come in glass containers and when you open the box, it smells relaxing, like I stepped into a luxurious spa. It’s already having a positive effect on me!
I received an envelope with some papers inside. The theme for this box is Summer.
There was a poem about Summer.
A list of the items plus their MSRP’s was on the back of the card. A brief description was also noted.
There was also an affirmation card.
Place somewhere you can see it daily!
There was a QR code to scan to play the Meditation Playlist on Spotify, or follow the address listed on the info card.
Merkaela is one of my favorite subscription boxes!
Everything in my box! Doesn’t it look beautiful? I think the packaging of Merkaela’s products is lovely and classy. They even have mini-affirmations on them. Most of them are in glass jars/bottles, except for the tea and soap.
Black Panther Handmade Soap ($9.50) Merkaela has some stand-out products, and their natural soaps are the best out there.
It’s made with saponified plant oils plus charcoal and essential oils. The charcoal helps remove oils from the skin so it works for the face or body. This one smells like fall, with some cloves, a hint of pine needle, and a bit of rosemary (and possibly peppermint?). I have a bar of Merkaela soap next to my kitchen sink almost all the time.
Golden Liquid Body Oil Palmarosa ($48) Fall is on the way and I tend to use body oils more often as the weather cools.
Plant oils such as jojoba, rice, avocado, hemp, and moringa are in here along with essential oils and herbal extracts such as calendula, chamomile, and palmorosa. I used it right after I got out of the shower and before toweling off. I must say, it was the silkiest body oil I have ever tried! It has a warm scent that smells earthy and that lingered, no need for perfume, at least not for several hours.
Stardust Clay Mask ($18) Dry powdered face masks tend to last longer than the wet kind but keep in mind that plant oils can turn rancid so I wouldn’t count on them for longer than maybe a year or so.
Mix with water or plant hydrosol, or try using honey or yogurt, depending on your skin’s needs. Apply all over the face and let sit for 10-20 minutes or so before rinsing. I always use products like this before my morning shower because it’s a lot less messy to just stick my head under the water spray to rinse it all off.
This mask is made of rose clay plus turmeric, betonite (another clay), shatavari, and sandalwood. This mask is supposed to “clean and cool the skin” by exfoliating dead cells.
I mixed it with a bit of water and applied to my face and let it sit for a few minutes. It went from looking like terra cotta to being such a light pink as it dried that it almost looked like my natural skin color! I didn’t notice any scent and didn’t encounter any irritation. I rinsed it off under the shower stream — I’ve ruined enough white washcloths to know that this is the easiest, and least messy, way to get it all off.
Luminous Exfoliator ($15) Here is another exfoliator. It doesn’t really say if it’s for body or face, but typically salt scrubs are used on the body so that’s where it’s going.
Mediterranean sea salt, rice oil, vitamin E, and an essential oil blend that includes geranium are the ingredients.
The product separated during shipping but that’s to be expected, a good stir will take care of that. I applied it to my arms during my shower and it gently exfoliated my skin and left behind a coating of oil that was so emollient that I didn’t need to use a moisturizer afterwards. I detected frankincense while in the shower but for hours afterwards I could smell the faintest hint of patchouli, which is one of my favorite scents. This was a big hit with me.
Cooling Herbal Tea ($8.50) I love teas and this herbal blend will be sipped in the evening, it makes for a calming ritual before bed.
Here are the ingredients and they include spearmint and rosemary.
It smells a bit like mint and the flavor was mild and herbal, no sugar was necessary but I added some rose honey and it added a perfumed note to my drink. It is a lovely herbal tea.
The next item came in a pouch.
Sacred White Sage ($6) It is a bundle of white sage plus a feather and a description on the benefits of this ritual.
Basically, you light a sprig of sage and walk around your home with it as it gently smokes, using the smoke to clear the air. Keep an open mind and set good intentions — I typically say a prayer as I walk room to room. Take a bowl or plate with you to catch any ash and you can use the feather to gently wave the smoke around the room.
Whenever I see a Merkaela box when I check the mail, I know I am in for a special treat! The formulas are simple and they work well, without a lot of bells and whistles. The containers look great on my bathroom counter. The scrub, bar soap, and body oils are always amazing. The mask didn’t irritate my skin, and the tea was well blended. The sage can be used as a cleansing ritual for the home, and I make sure to open my mind before starting. Don’t forget to check out the Spotify playlist, perhaps while reading or meditating. I received this box near the end of summer and the scents work well for autumn too.
What do you think of the Merkaela Summer Box? Let me know if it helps you connect your mind, body, and soul in the comments!
Comments
Nice! I just smudged my brother’s house a few days ago. So much better! I prefer sweetgrass, but my brother used a sage/ cedar combo.
I feel like it puts my mind in a positive position, plus it always smells so good. I don’t think I’ve ever used sweetgrass before, does it smell hay-like AprilAriesPb?