Human Nature Series: Citronella Bug Spray

Tired of being bitten by pesky mosquitoes and other insects? Find the scent of commercial insect repellents absolutely repulsive and prices too much? Looking for the next best alternative? Human Nature has just the thing for you.

I found this Citronella Bug Spray  on their website a little while back, before my trip to Zamboanga. My lola has just moved to a new house further upstate, but still within the city, and the place has just been recently developed. I figured, I wouldn't want to catch Dengue along the way, so I tried the bug spray. Also, there seemed to be an unannounced conference of mosquitoes in our garage and in random parts of our home and I was getting sick of getting itchy, red bumps all over.

For Php 99.75 (around $2.50), you can get a 50mL bottle.

Now, on to the good (?) stuff...

I like this product for one major reason: it keeps the darn bugs away. Here's what Human Nature has to say about this bug spray. (from their site)

Our 100% natural bug spray effectively protects you from disease-causing mosquitoes and pesky bugs without the nasty effects of toxic chemicals. Includes organic virgin coconut oil (VCO), known for its skin-healing, moisturizing and anti-microbial benefits. It also contains organic citronella oil, a well known insect repellent, organic lemongrass, essential oil together with rosemary and lavender essential oils give off a pleasant smell that’s good for you but bad for the mozzies and bugs! Suitable for very young children!

There you go! It has no DEET, a chemical ingredient in most insect repellents. This toxic chemical cannot be used by babies and young children and poses serious health risks. It also has no parabens or preservatives, only natural goodness that Mother Nature has to offer. The bugs will surely hate you but your skin will thank you for it!

To use it, just pump the product out and apply as you would your lotion, making sure not to miss a spot. You won't need a lot, only about six pumps and you're good to go! The scent is a bit strong. You might not want to use this when you have to attend social events, go malling, or partying with your friends. I find the smell quite pleasant, but other people seem to react aversely to it, so use to your discretion. It's not much of a spray as it is an oil. When you apply it, it will leave an oily film on your skin but will evaporate after a long while. It's a little greasy but the protection from dangerous health risks make it all the more tolerable and worth all the con's. Scent and feel aside, this baby is definitely a must-have  especially if you're keen on staying healthy and dengue-free. (and protected from other mosquito-borne diseases)

What's your favorite insect repellent?

Love,

SGT <3

Human Nature Series: Organic Aloe-Guava Facial Wash

Hello, girls! Sorry for taking a two-day hiatus. Had to take care of a few things... but now I'm back! So, shall we continue with our Human Nature series of reviews, yeah?

Today's flavor: aloe and guava... in a facial cleanser, that is. It doesn't matter if you're a hardcore follower of a beauty regimen day in and day out or if you're just looking for the next product to use since you're running low on your chemical-laden, commercial tube of facial wash, then you might want to check this baby out.

As it says on the label, it's organic. Human Nature prides their company on three things: being pro-Philippines, pro-poor, and pro-environment. Using locally-grown organic ingredients (from poor farming communities) is their main advocacy. As a result, their products come at a lower price and you're sure to get all-natural beauty staples.

A 100mL bottle is priced at Php 149.75 (around $4)

Did I mention it has a yummy scent to boot?  It smells so good, you're gonna want to eat it! But please don't. ;)

So this Organic Aloe Vera and Guava Facial Wash can do two things, as you can see in the label. First, it can soften and moisturize your skin, then it can also firm up and tighten your skin. It says that it's also best for oily and acne-prone skin. I actually have combination skin, but this works wonderfully on my oily T-zone area (which is my nose line and my forehead).

The instruction indicates that only a button-sized amount of the product should be used but I use an extra squeeze because just a dot doesn't exactly do much for my face. It has no chemicals which probably explains why it doesn't give much lather (or bubbles) than commercial-brand washes. So yeah, I would recommend that you use a bit more product than instructed, to your discretion, of course.

After use, you will feel a little tightening and firming, but that's your pores closing up. What's even better is that even though this effect is taking place, it doesn't leave your skin dry as a desert. You may want to supplement moisturizer after (as with every cleanser) of course. Subsequently, it will give you an even better canvas for when you put on makeup. If you have oily skin, your pores will spit out less sebum than usual with this wash. On the other hand, I would not recommend this to those who have dry skin. Your pores are rigid as it is, you might want to use more moisturizing washes. Human Nature has them too.

I also noticed that I don't break out as much once I started using this facial wash. (Perhaps my tea tree oil concealer and PanOxyl help too, but more on those later.)

The packaging may look small but I think there's a lot of product in it than you would expect. With its gel formulation, it can take some getting used to, especially to the lack of lather. Plus, it can get a little difficult to squeeze it out onto your palms. Just be patient. Haha. You may also want to consume the entire container within 6 months due to its lack of preservatives (I can hear your face sing hallelujah already!).

If you're looking for a healthier alternative to expensive facial cleansers, this one's a pretty good substitute. It's safe for daily use, again, don't forget to use moisturizer, even at night, and let your skin breathe.

What's your favorite facial wash/cleanser? :)

Love,

SGT <3

Human Nature Series: Hand and Foot Salve

Here we are. This is the start of a series of reviews on amazing Human Nature products. I've been a fan ever since I discovered their products online late last year. They've been around for quite a while and have attracted a large number of avid supporters. What's great about Human Nature is that they use locally-sourced organic ingredients, no harmful chemicals, and biodegradable materials in all their products. So when you buy any of their merchandise, you're not only helping your body by introducing natural products into it, but you're also aiding communities in the Philippines that grow the ingredients, and you're also helping the environment BIG TIME. Plus, they're CRUELTY-FREE, which is great for vegetarians like myself. It means that they do not perform animal testing.

They're much like The Body Shop, only way cheaper since they get their materials from within the Philippines, they won't have to pay a lot of taxes, eventually resulting to more budget-friendly prices! It's definitely a social enterprise worth advocating. To top it all off, they have high quality products that are sure to satisfy your cosmetic needs!

One of my most valuable purchases so far are these hand and foot salve which promises to heal and moisturize even the driest skin, particularly in your well, hands and feet! Trust me, it really works! Having had cracked skin on my feet is such a pain. It feels uncomfortable and even if I had a foot spa done, after a few weeks, it will come back to its original state. When I discovered this hand and foot salve, I did not have to worry about how dry my feet would be. I just slough it on at least twice a day and slowly, I noticed that my insanely tough heels became softer. Using it in your hands is great too! It will soften the dry skin near your nail area and give a pinkish-reddish glow to your palms after you've massaged them.

It comes in two yummy-smelling flavors!

This is the banana-carrot-bee propolis variant. It smells insanely delicious, you'll want to eat the whole pot! A pot costs about Php 140 ($3) and you'll be using it for a long time. 

Non-greasy formula!

It also comes in eucalyptus scent. Great for those who love a relaxing minty smell.

Same price. Same formulation.

If you don't have enough moolah for a trip to the nail and foot salon for a good scrub, just slap some o' these babies on to your rough-and-tough skin and in a few days, you'll notice that your skin grew softer. Plus you'll have saved up on those foot spa sessions! It's also very handy. You can take it anywhere. If you're a fan of hand lotion, this hand and foot salve comes in a non-greasy formulation so you won't have to worry about things slipping out of your hands. You'll just have touchable, softer, and smoother skin! Definitely worth a try.

On the flip side, it contains bee pollen. If you're allergic, you might want to steer clear from this product. But other than that, it contains no paraben, no preservatives, so there's no reason to doubt it 'cause it's organic. ;)

What's your favorite hand and foot moisturizer?

Love,

SGT <3