Wordless Wednesday #79 | Summer Blooms.

Aside from the sweltering heat, these lovely blooms in our garden
are also tell-tale signs that summer has come.

Spotlight | Human Heart Nature Mineral ColorCreme Lipstick in Red Candy.

Two weeks ago, Human Heart Nature launched five new products in celebration of the summer season. Although I wasn't able to attend the Product Launching and Magalogue Turnover (I was out of town with the family that day), I was still given the privilege of road-testing the new products - thanks to the press kit sent by Gandang Kalikasan, Inc. And inside the press kit were four of Human Heart Nature's latest product offerings - including this new lip product.

Human Heart Nature Mineral ColorCreme Lipstick

The newest addition to Human Heart Nature's mineral makeup line, the ColorCreme Lipstick promises vivid color and luscious moisture - all in one tube.

Cute and dainty box with pretty, pink hearts.

Color + moisture in one tube. :)

It's made with all-natural ingredients such as cocoa butter, sunflower seed oil, and passion fruit seed oil that melt on the lips for an easy and smooth glide. It's also packed with natural vitamin E to keep your lips soft, smooth, and healthy.

All-natural ingredients.

Cruelty-free, too!

The ColorCreme Lipstick comes in a plastic, slim line lipstick tube, with six different shades ranging from corals to pinks to reds. The shades have either a shiny or satin finish; Red Candy, which is the shade that I received, has the latter.

Red Candy.

To be honest, I had a bit of a challenge using the lipstick. Twisting it up was a bit difficult, and drawing it back down was even harder. After twisting it up and down for several times, I managed to push a bit of the lipstick up, to an amount that will suffice for swatching and application.

As you can see, 'satin' is noted on the box.

Now here's how the product looks like when swatched.
Satin is actually my kind of finish when it comes to lipsticks. They're comfortable to wear and moisturizing on the lips, but the color payoff and coverage can be just as intense as matte lipsticks - without the drying feel.

One swipe on the left, two swipes on the right.

Despite the name 'Red Candy', this shade looks more pink than red, with slightly mauve undertones. The texture is lovely, the color payoff is gorgeous, and the product glides on your lips like a dream.

Red Candy on my lips.

It's feels soft and moisturizing on the lips (you can actually wear it without a lip balm underneath), but the wear time leaves much to be desired. It stays on for about two or three hours, and that's pretty much it. I don't mind reapplying, though, as this lipstick has a nice, slightly fruity scent. I love taking a whiff of that scent each time I retouch the color on my lips. :)

What I love:

- Satin finish.

- Great color payoff.

- Coverage is medium but buildable.

- Easy to apply.

- Moisturizes the lips.
- Has a mild, fruity scent.

- Made with natural ingredients.

- Cruelty-free.

- Proudly Philippine-made.

- Affordable price.

What you might not like:

- The lipstick tube is a bit difficult to maneuver.
- Doesn't stay on the lips for long.

Products Used:
FACE: Tony Moly Luminous Pure Aura CC Cream.
Missha Under Eye Brightener.
EYES: Ever Bilena Eyebrow Pencil in Brown.
BYS Waterproof Eyeliner in Black.
Majolica Majorca Lash King Mascara.
CHEEKS: Tony Moly Cristal Blusher in Pleasure Peach.
LIPS: Human Heart Nature Mineral ColorCreme Lipstick in Red Candy.

The ColorCreme Lipstick is currently being sold at Php 295 each - available online, at Human Heart Nature branches, or through registered dealers near you. :)

Foodie Goodie | Chicken Barbecue.

I was at the beach last weekend, where my entire family spent some quality time together. Basking in the sun, frolicking in the sea, and enjoying good food - it was definitely a weekend well-spent. (Will share the experience in a separate post; please look forward to it.)

I didn't bring my laptop to the beach, as I had no plans of working while I was there. But I did post snippets of our vacation on my social media pages, just so my readers and followers would have an idea what I was up to. And because of this food photo, I received recipe requests for the chicken barbecue, which we had for lunch on our first day at the beach. My sister prepared it, my brother-in-law grilled it, while the rest of us just devoured it. Haha! :)

Chicken Barbecue

Ingredients:
4 pieces chicken leg quarters, cleaned
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 piece lemon or 4 pieces calamansi
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup banana ketchup

Procedure:
1. For the marinade, combine the soy sauce, juice of 1 lemon, banana ketchup, salt, and ground black pepper in a bowl. Mix well.
2. Place the chicken leg quarters inside a large freezer bag, and then pour-in the marinade.
3. Shake the bag gently to coat the chicken with marinade. Remove the air inside the bag, seal it, and refrigerate overnight.
4. Remove the chicken from the bag and transfer the remaining marinade to a bowl.
5. Heat-up your grill and start grilling the chicken under medium heat for 12 to 15 minutes per side or until the chicken is completely cooked. Remember to baste the chicken using the remaining marinade mixture. Also, keep in mind that chicken takes a long time to cook. Grilling it in high heat will cause the outer part of the chicken to become charred, with the inside still raw.
6. Remove from the grill and transfer to a serving plate.
7. Serve with steamed or fried rice.

Shared with Food Friday and Food Trip Friday.

Spotlight | SpiruMint Plus Toothpaste.

If you're into health supplements and all-natural products, then chances are, you must be familiar or have heard about 'spirulina'. It's a form of blue-green algae that springs from warm, freshwater bodies. Heralded as a 'super food', spirulina is a valuable source of protein as it contains more of this nutrient than beef, chicken, and soy combined.

Spirulina.

One of the oldest life forms on Earth (it's been said that this is a staple food source for the Aztecs in 16th century Mexico), spirulina has been found in studies to successfully treat a wide range of ailments - including arsenic poisoning, candida overgrowth, and allergic rhinitis. It has also been seen to potentially lower stroke and cancer risks.

Knowing all these, I got all excited when these spirulina-derived products came in the mail a few weeks ago. They were sent by my good friend (thanks, Ros!), who is now part of the Evergreen Network - one of the largest high-grade spirulina producers in the world. I'll do a review of all three products, with the SpiruMint Plus Toothpaste taking the spotlight first.

Hand and body lotion, soap, and toothpaste from Evergreen Spirulina.

In some of my previous blog posts, I mentioned that I've been through all sorts of dental procedures, including a gingivectomy. And since then, I've been using a special toothpaste for my gums as per my dentist's recommendation. Now because this toothpaste is a tad expensive and rarely available at the local supermarket, I've been on the lookout for an alternative that's cheaper, and if possible, organic.

SpiruMint Plus Toothpaste.

This SpiruMint Plus may just be the alternative that I have long been looking for. It comes in a 120 gram tube and sells for Php 220 - a few pesos cheaper than the brand recommended by my dentist. It's made with spirulina, ganoderma, and mint, and has anti-microbial and natural cleansing effects which contribute to a healthy oral immune system.

Aside from being rich in protein, spirulina is also incredibly high in calcium with over 26 times the calcium in milk. And as we all know, calcium is essential for the formation and maintenance of teeth and bones. In addition, spirulina’s phosphorus content makes it helpful as part of a tooth remineralization regimen.

Made with spirulina, ganoderma, and mint.

Ganoderma, on the other hand, is a medicinal mushroom that's also known for its health benefits. This includes antibacterial and antiviral effects that protect the gums from infections and prevent them from bleeding.

Product benefits.

Product description + usage directions.

Now here's how SpiruMint Plus looks like.
The consistency and texture is no different from the regular toothpaste, but what sets it apart is the scent and the taste. Sure, it contains mint like most commercial toothpaste do, but SpiruMint Plus has a milder scent, and has a slightly sweet and more gentle taste. I reckon that this mildness can be attributed to the absence of fluoride in the product. In addition, this toothpaste doesn't leave a burning sensation on the tongue. Hence, my five-year-old was able to use this without complaining or whining that 'the toothpaste stings'. All the while he thought he was brushing with his usual kiddie toothpaste, haha!

Brush, brush, brush three times a day!

What I love:
- It contains spirulina, which is known for its countless health benefits.
- Effectively cleans teeth.
- Freshens breath.
- Gentle on the gums.
- Has a mild taste that even kids can tolerate.
- Certified organic.
- Chemical-free.

What you might not like:
- Not widely available; can only be bought through registered distributors.

Have you tried this toothpaste, or other Evergreen Spirulina products before? How was it? :)

To learn more about spirulina, visit the Evergreen Network website and like the Spirulina PH Facebook page.

Wordless Wednesday #78 | Sun, Sand, Surf!

Spent an entire weekend at the beach with my family.

The little rascals making most out of the sun, sand, and surf.

Summer - more fun, and definitely hotter in the Philippines! :)