Trader Joe's Shampoo Bar

I have not written a Trader Joe’s product review for a long time. But every once in a while, we buy something that just need reviewing, and this was sure one of those items! 

I saw someone online write about Trader Joe’s Shampoo Bar and they loved it. I had never used a bar shampoo but thought the idea sounded fun, so I hunted for it. Our usual Trader Joe’s didn’t have it in stock, but I found it at another location. 

Trader Joe's Shampoo Bar in action!

First off - I really like the packaging. It is a very sturdy box with great graphics. There is a lovely mermaid on one side, and a studly sailor on the other. This makes the consumer think, “Oh! It doesn’t matter if I am a male or female, THIS is the shampoo for me!”. Clever marketing there, TJ’s. I have never understood why beauty and hygiene products are marketed to only one gender (then we get into the whole “pink tax” issue, but that would be a long discussion…). Anyway, I have an affinity for mermaid mermaids, so it was easy to impress me with the graphics.

 

And the ingredients listed in large print seemed good. I mean, what is not healthy about peppermint, tea tree, coconut, olive, and jojoba oil?? It practically sounds like a salad for your scalp! And the price point was not bad either. Each bar is $3.99. 

My partner and I both have short hair, so a shampoo bar seemed like it would be a good fit. And technically, it WAS. It was downright FUN to use! You just get it wet, slather it on wet hair, and you get bubbles galore!! It smells good and tingles a bit, too. It really feels like you are getting your hair CLEAN when you use it. 

Here’s a funny video (not to worry, it is perfectly SAFE to watch) of my partner using it. 

Click here to see TJ's Shampoo Bar in Action (totally safe (but sideways...) video) 

But after the fun of using it, you need to deal with the aftermath on your hair. The shampoo bar made our hair super dry. It was as if it sucked every drop of oil from our scalp and hair. Our hair was straw-like, which is NOT the look we were going for. In short, this product is very fun to use – it makes lots of bubbles and foam. But the fun doesn’t last when your hair turns out dry, brittle, and a little bit gross. 

We ended up returning this for a refund. I am glad we gave it a shot, but it won’t be on our shopping list again. 

Price - $3.99 

Rating – 2.5 (that is for the fun factor, not for how it actually worked on our hair)

Trader Joe’s Kitchen Garden Scented Candle Collection

First off, HOW ARE YOU?  Are you safe?  Are you hunkered down in your home?  And when you venture out, are you staying at least 6 feet away from humans that you do not live with and wearing your mask??  I hope so!

We are squirreled away in our house.  I have worked from home (by choice) for a few years.  Given that fact, you would think that this quarantine life would not be that different for me.  I should be used to it, right?  Alas, it is not that easy.  I have actually been finding it really depressing.  I made a huuuuuge list of things I planned to get done while “stuck” at home, and I swear I have done maybe 1/12^th of them.  It is just hard to get motivated these days!  Between watching the news, reading the newspaper, and keeping an eye on my social media feed, I feel overwhelmed with Covid 19 about 17 hours of the day.  (But ahhh, those glorious 7 hours of amazing dreams…)  

Spotted on a walk

We get out and take a walk around our neighborhood at least once a day, but the only places we have been are GROCERY STORES.  And, of course, the one we go to most is our favorite, Trader Joe’s.  I think this was our 3^rd trip there in the last 6 weeks.  That’s great for us, since we love grocery shopping and normally go every couple of days.  But we are trying really hard to stay home and help flatten the curve.  That means insanely long receipts when we check out now!  Instead of buying 3 or 4 items we are buying a CART FULL (well, more like 2 carts full this last time, but hey, lots of it was stocking up on wine!!). 

We may have gone a little overboard...  But we won't have to buy WINE again in a long time!

When we went to TJ’s this time we brought along 25 $5 Starbucks gift cards and a thank you note.  The cards were purchased with money raised at a Kindness Yard Sale last Spring.  I gave them to a manager and asked that he hand them out to staff working.  Oh my goodness, it was fun!  Grocery store workers are “keeping the light on for us”.  They are stocking shelves.  Wiping down carts.  Making sure lines are distanced appropriately.  And checking out orders – ALL WITH A SMILE.  Well, you can’t really SEE their smiles now because they are wearing masks, but you can see the grin in their eyes.  Next time you pop into TJ’s please be sure to thank the workers.

Have mask, have Starbucks gift cards, READY TO GROCERY SHOP!

OK, let’s finally get to the review.  It’s been so long since I reviewed a Trader Joe’s product, and I think it is past time!   When we were in the store rushing to shop and exit, I peeked at the “New Products” end cap and saw something we hadn’t had before.  It wasn’t a FOOD item, and it was nothing we NEEDED really, but still I plopped one in our already overflowing cart.  And so, on deck for today’s review is Trader Joe’s Kitchen Garden Scented Candle Collection

The collection comes with 3 candles. The scents are Lemongrass, Tomato Leaf, and Fresh Mint (much like a little KITCHEN GARDEN!)  Each is a soy candle in a 3 oz. glass jar, sealed with a metal lid.  They are quite sweet looking.

Sorry, I didn't save the packaging to show you what they look like on the shelf at the store. 
But here is what they look like when you bring them HOME!

The Tomato Leaf sounded like the strangest scent to me, so it was where I began.  Smelling the candle before it was lit – WHEW, was that a strong scent!!!  The first whiff I took I was not so sure this was going to be a pleasant experience.  Then I closed my eyes and took another try.  Hmmm…  Instead of overwhelming and weird, it smelled like…  Like what??  Ahhhh – I figured it out!  It smelled like SUMMER.  It smelled like working in the garden, picking tomatoes, watering plants.  Then coming back inside and noticing that your hands smell like TOMATO LEAVES!  They nailed it!  And the scent when burning the candle is not as strong as it is when you are sniffing it unlit. 

Next up I tried the Lemongrass candle.  It is a bit of an overpowering scent, much like Trader Joe’s Lemongrass body oil.  I like the smell (and taste when it is in food) of lemongrass, but I guess a little goes a long way. 

Finally, Fresh Mint.  It smells nice and airy and MINTY.  I think this one should be in a bedroom.  It would be a nice pre-sleep scent. 

In order of best to not as good (I won’t say best to worst, because none of them were bad…) I rank them Tomato Leaf, Fresh Mint, then Lemongrass.  They all light very easily and hold a steady flame.  I think they are great candles.

I guess the thing I like most about them is that they brought a little bit of indulgence into my “focused on getting through his shit” life.  They bring a new light, a new scent into what is feeling like a stale environment from being locked in it for so long.  And the Tomato Leaf scent made me remember that no matter how bad it is right now, summer is right around the corner.  The days are getting longer and warmer.  The sun is shining.  The fresh tomatoes in the garden can’t be too far away.

Price:  $9.99

Rating:  4.5

STAY SAFE!!!

Hyacinth in Glass Vase

I have not written a review in quite some time, sorry.  But last night’s shopping trip at Trader Joe’s revealed that it is TIME!!  It is TIME for the hyacinth!!!!! 

Hyacinth standing in line - waiting for new homes

Here is a review I wrote of them in 2018:  Hyacinth Review here

Here it is, 2 years later, and they are still the same price.  Thanks, Joe!!!  For a mere $2.99 you get a hyacinth bulb in a clear vase of water. 

Now for this part you need to trust me…  Just keep that little vase almost filled with water, give it some sunshine, and in just a wee bit you will have the most lovely smelling flower!  It will brighten up your home’s LOOKS and SMELLS! 

I have been really down lately, but seeing these back on the shelves made me smile.  And knowing that soon I will have purple blooms gives me something to look forward to.

Advice – go get yours NOW.  These are a harbinger of SPRING, and I can’t wait for Spring.

Dirt cheap - yet they contain no dirt!

Price:  still a crazy cheap $2.99

Rating:  duh, no brainer, a 5