SNOE Maximum Whitening Moringa Beauty Bar

Whew! That was a mouthful... and so is my review for this amazing soap from the future! Okay, maybe not from the future, but from SNOE! After my Human Nature discovery, I'm glad to come across this fountain of youth and beauty. Not only do they have prices that fit my kuripot requirements, they offer products that are of  great quality, are made of organic ingredients, have no preservatives, are cruelty-free, are locally made and really deliver on its promise! Check, check, and check!

I first got hold of SNOE's Here Comes the Sunblock! just in time for summer. After tanning, I had to get back to my original color and get rid of the pimples that started sprouting up from nowhere! Good thing I found this.

picture was from Snoe's website

According to SNOE, the Maximum Whitening Moringa Beauty Bar is/has/does:

• Rich in vitamins A, C and E
• Contains high level of Oleic Acid that makes skin softer and smoother
• Has healing benefits for cuts, pimples, and scrapes
• Daily use benefits includes young, healthy-looking and radiant skin
• Slows down signs of skin ageing
• Stimulates cell regeneration
• Reduces inflammation
• Gives a healthy, white glow
• Has real malunggay leaves

After having interrogated the salesperson at their Festival Mall kiosk, I was advised that the best soap for my wounded skin (sunburn and pimples included) is this. I was actually considering taking the oatmeal variant since it goes best for sensitive skin, but I figured, this one will serve more purposes than I initially wanted. It's made from what we locally know as malunggay, those round, green leaves your mom makes you eat. It's actually known for its healing properties. 

To use the soap, what I do is cut the big block of soap into smaller, more manageable pieces so it's tipid and I will have more to use for later. I rub it with both palms until it forms a rich lather (when I use it for the face) and apply the lather onto my skin. For my body, I just use it as I would other soaps. It  is suggested that you leave it on for AT LEAST 2 minutes. Heed my warning, it will sting, especially on the first few uses, but you'll get used to it. I love that I can feel the effect right away. Rinse thoroughly.

What I like about it:

• It dries up my pimples in about 3 consecutive uses.
• Doesn't leave behind dark marks, unlike when I use Benzoyl Peroxide on my zits.
• Has a mild scent.
• Can be partitioned into smaller pieces for a more economical use.
• Affordable (a bar costs only Php 139)
• Readily available (check their website for store locations; you can also shop online)
• Takes effect pretty quickly.
• Helps whiten (it may take a while before you see drastic results)

What I dislike about it:

• It has teeny, tiny bits of malunggay leaves. I find that kind of annoying.
• It stings.
• Melts pretty fast
• The packaging is haphazardly put together.
• Takes a while to use (2 minute waiting period before rinsing)
• Face feels a little tight after using

Overall, I'd recommend this specific beauty bar to girls (and boys) who have tried to take their zits under control, but to much dismay. This may not be the total solution but it really helps! If you can withstand a little pain, you'll definitely benefit from its perks and gains. I suggest using tea tree oil afterwards (check out my tutorial HERE) for a more direct delivery of treatment. I have sensitive skin and mine handled this soap just fine. However, if you feel uncomfortable or begin to show irritation, stop using it at once. I love it enough to recommend it to my relatives in the US! Hope you get to try this one too. I'm looking forward to getting the Vitamin C-Enriched Calamansi Beauty Bar a whirl!

Love,

SGT <3

Tea Tree Oil - Pimple Control

Okay, so I tried making a tutorial video for y'all. Please be gentle. Ha ha! It's my first one and it's not exactly of the best quality since I used my phone for recording and I'm not exactly Quentin Tarantino, so please bear with me.

Anyway, I noticed that my pimples are starting to manifest since my period is just around the corner. I know some of you can relate to such a crappy PMS moment. Others have regular or for the luckier ones, very rare episodes. In any case, this video will (hopefully) help you get rid of those zits fast sans the harmful chemicals and the hefty price tag.

I give you, Tea Tree Oil! It has soooo many benefits and pimple-control is only one of them. You can also use it for dandruff, wounds, etc. Just Google its uses and you're set. Anyway, this video probably says it all.

Products Used:

Zen Zest Tea Tree Oil (Php 150/15mL bottle)

Human Nature Organic Aloe Vera and Guava Facial Wash

Pond's Acne Expert Pore Conditioning Toner

Cotton bud

Steps:

1. Cleanse your face with a facial wash that is especially for pimple control or for troubled skin.

2. Toner is optional at this point.

3. Put a few drops of the tea tree oil on the swab and dab away.

Sorry if the video's too short or too quick. I'm really camera-shy. Heehee. Anyway, tea tree oil really helps get rid of those nasty pimples before they even start wrecking havoc on your precious face. Remember, don't go poppin' them 'cause it will only make things worse. Just dab on tea tree oil and keep your face clean at all times. Here's to a more flawless you! :)

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