Spotlight | Casa de Lorenzo Castile Soap.

You know you're taking your coffee addiction to the next level when you're actually bathing with it. Yes, coffee. For bathing.

Thanks to Casa de Lorenzo - makers of natural liquid soaps and essential oils - I had the chance to try their Castile Soap and enjoy bathing with coffee at the same time. They actually sent me two bottles of their popular Castile Soaps - one is the classic Lemongrass Manila Castile Soap and the other, their all-new Coffee Dark Castile Soap.

Casa de Lorenzo Castile Soap.

So what exactly is a Castile Soap? It's a kind of soap traditionally made from 100% pure olive oil, water, and lye. Others call this 'vegetable soap' because it does not contain any trace of animal fat. This soap traces it roots to a region in Spain called 'Castile', hence the name 'Castile Soap'.

Now let's take a closer look at these Castile Soaps, shall we?

Coffee Dark Castile Soap, Php 350/250 mL.

The newest addition to Casa de Lorenzo's product line, the Coffee Dark Castile Soap is rich, intense, and very indulgent. For coffee lovers, this product is definitely a delight both to the skin and to the olfactory nerves. To me, this is the perfect way to start the day.

Product description.

Made with natural ingredients and infused with local ground coffee beans, this soap is very moisturizing and leaves the skin soft and smooth after bathing. Ah, the wonders of coffee! Not only is it a rich source of antioxidants, it also promotes blood circulation resulting to healthy, youthful-looking skin.

List of ingredients.

My only gripe is that it does not produce much lather, so I tend to use more of the product as I scrub/rub it on my skin. And while the soap is dark in color - it is made with coffee, after all - it does not leave dark stains on the skin. Similarly, the strong coffee scent fades as soon as as you rinse it off your skin.

Yup, coffee all right! :)

Like the coffee variant, the Lemongrass Manila Castile Soap is made with natural products indigent to the Philippines. 

Lemongrass Manila Castile Soap, Php 350/250 mL.

It contains rice bran oil which is rich in antioxidants, vitamins B and E, and natural emollients. This ingredient not only hydrates skin, but also protects it from harmful UV rays and helps ward off the signs of aging.

Product description.

This soap also contains palm oil, which is a great lathering agent. As such, this variant produces a foamier lather despite its thin and watery consistency - an inherent feature to soaps made with coconut oil.

List of ingredients.

The lemongrass scent can be a bit overwhelming at first, but it fades away once you rinse it off your skin. The scent tends to linger on the bathroom walls though, which I actually like.

Thin and watery consistency.

If you would like to give these Castile Soaps a try (and I suggest you should, as they're chemical-free, great for the skin, and proudly Philippine-made), you can order them through the Casa Lorenzo website or via their Facebook page. The soaps come in different sizes, with the 250 mL bottles (like the one that I have) sold at Php 350 each.

Casa de Lorenzo Soaps, Oils, and Aromatics
order@thecasadelorenzo.com
+63 939 9192916

Spotlight | Human Heart Nature Vanilla Exfoliating Bar.

One of my all-time favorites from Human Heart Nature is the Bamboo Body Scrub, which I have raved about here. Unfortunately, this product was pulled out from the market sometime last year, much to my dismay.

This year, Human Heart Nature launched an alternative to this product, only this time it's in soap form. It's called the Vanilla Exfoliating Bar, with Loofah Exfoliants to boot.

Human Heart Nature Exfoliating Bar.

Human Heart Nature says this Exfoliating Bar will 'give your favorite spa a run for its money' as this product gives you the same spa-mpering experience at the comforts of your own bathroom.

Product description at the back of the box.

Infused with loofah extracts, this cleansing bar deeply cleanses as it sheds off your unwanted, dry skin. It's cold-processed and enriched with natural glycerin from coconut oil to keep the skin smooth and supple, and it soothes and invigorates the senses with it sweet vanilla fragrance.

Chemical-free!

And like all of Human Heart Nature's products, the Vanilla Exfoliating Bar is free from chemicals such as parabens and sulfates.

Those green thingamajigs are the loofah extracts. :)

What I love:

- It reeks of vanilla, my ultimate favorite scent!

- Exfoliates, without leaving the skin feeling tight and dry.

- Proudly Philippine-made.

- Made with natural ingredients.

- Chemical-free.

- Affordable price.

What you might not like:

- Some of you may find the loofah particles a bit rough at first, especially those with super sensitive skin. Hence, take extra care when rubbing against the sensitive skin parts. Also, I do not recommend using this on your face.

Priced at Php 84.75 each, the Vanilla Exfoliating Bar is available at Human Heart Nature stores nationwide, at their online store, and at select Beauty Bar outlets, Shopwise, Rustan's, and Robinson's Supermarkets in Metro Manila.

Spotlight | Human Heart Nature Scented Cleansing Bar.

Hooray for lazy, no-school Mondays! Thanks to the Teachers' Seminar happening right now at my son's school, we don't have classes and I have the luxury of waking up late, not having to prepare breakfast in a rush, and the chance to finish some of my long overdue product reviews.

And so today, I'll be featuring these Scented Cleansing Bars from Human Heart Nature. I've had them in my stash for more than a month already, and only had the chance to try them last week. There are just way too many bath and body products here that I have to roadtest, and I don't know which one to use first. Not complaining, though. :)

100% Natural Scented Cleansing Bar.

Here's the product description from the Human Heart Nature website:

When was the last time you burst into song in the shower? Let our cleansing bars’ cheery symphony of scents give you a new reason to belt your heart out! 
If you’re looking for just the right kick of citrus to invigorate your mind and stimulate your senses, then suds up with our Lemon Zest Cleansing Bar. 

Lemon Zest Cleansing Bar.

Check the label! :)

Craving a fresh, clean scent to get all that good energy flowing? Our Aloe Fresh Cleansing Bar is your perfect match. 

Aloe Fresh Cleansing Bar.

Check the label! :)

Whichever you choose, you can be assured that our cleansing bars are perfectly gentle on your skin. They’re cold-processed to retain their natural glycerin, which helps keep your skin soft and supple. Here’s a bonus: cold-processing consumes less energy and produces less waste – so each cleansing bar is not only skin-friendly, but Earth-friendly as well.

No harmful chemicals.

Tue enough, both soaps were mild and gentle, and did a good job moisturizing my skin. Not surprising, since they're made with all-natural ingredients. As in coconut oil, lye, sugarcane-derived sodium lactate and sodium gluconate (removes dirt and grime), plus plant-derived decyl glucoside (for the foamy lather).

Both variants smell lovely, with a scent that's neither mild nor overpowering. However, I find the scent of the Lemon Zest soap more refreshing than the other. And I believe it's because of the citrus peel extract incorporated in it. You see, while the other soap is called Aloe Fresh, and it does smell like aloe vera, there's no aloe vera as per the list of ingredients.

Earth-friendly packaging. :)

What I love:

- Cute, earth-friendly packaging.

- Made with all-natural ingredients.

- No harmful chemicals.

- Not tested on animals.

- Proudly Philippine-made.

- Moisturizes the skin.

- Mild and gentle; safe for sensitive skin.

- The invigorating scent of the Lemon Zest variant.

- Affordable price.

What you might not like:

- It dissolves faster than commercially-available, hot-processed soaps, but that's normal since this one is cold-processed. I suggest you keep this soap in a separate soap dish/rack that gives proper drainage. That way, the soap bar stays fresh and will last longer. 

Have you tried these soaps before? They sell for Php 69.75 each, and are available online, at local Human Heart Nature branches, or through registered dealers. They're sold at Beauty Bar outlets and Robinson's, Rustan's, and Shopwise supermarkets in the Metro, too!

Spotlight | Sutla Flawless Papaya Soap.

Several weeks ago, I received a Flawless Starter Kit from one of my favorite online shops, Pink Fortune. Included in the kit were three items - a tube of Sutla Lightening Lotion, a tub of Sutla Face & Body Bleaching Cream, and one Sutla Flawless Papaya Soap. This post will concentrate only on the latter, but rest assured that the other two items will also be featured in this blog. :)

This year saw a surge in the popularity of the Sutla Flawless Papaya Soap. They're all over Facebook and Instagram, and they're quite a hot topic on most women's/beauty forums - which made me all the more intrigued and excited to try this product. (Thank you, Pink Fortune for the opportunity! ^^)

Sutla Flawless Papaya Soap.

I did a bit of research before I actually used the soap. You see, I have really sensitive skin which makes me a bit wary when it comes to skincare products with whitening claims. Plus the fact that there's nothing much to read at the back of the box. Just a brief description of the product, some simple instructions on how to use it, and that's it. No ingredients ingredients whatsoever. (And you know how I love checking labels and reading through a product's ingredients list.)

Brief descriptions and instructions at the back of the box.

Anyhow here's what the Sutla Flawless website has to say about their 'Super Skin Whitener' soap.
Be white and flawless in just 2 weeks without any derma treatments. This natural soap does it all for you. Its combination of ingredients including papaya, moringga, bengkoang, kojic, glutathione, collagen, vitamin E, and placenta gives you a power soap that works effectively to cleanse, moisturize, whiten, soften, and tighten the skin. This soap can be used as often as you wish for faster results.

Made only with natural ingredients, this cold-processed soap contains no mercury, no hydroquinone, no animal fat, and no harmful chemicals. From what I know, Sutla Flawless Papaya Soaps are available in one size only (80 grams) and come in orange pouches that bear an odd resemblance with Jollibee's Peach Mango Pie. This soap, along with other Sutla skincare products, are manufactured by Glowcal Manufacturing Corporation - a BFAD-approved, local company that pioneered cold-processed soaps here in the Philippines.

Fits in the palm of your hand. :)

Now with regards to my experience with the soap, I've been using it for a little over two weeks and my skin feels softer and smoother than before. The soap's texture is a bit rough, so rubbing it directly on the skin is not advised. What I do is I wrap it with a small towel before rubbing it on my skin. There are no drastic changes in my complexion yet, but I've experienced a bit of micropeeling on my arms and legs. My skin didn't feel dry, and there were no allergic reactions either, which is the part that I like the most. One soap can last for about three weeks, and since my skin seems to be liking this product, I guess I'll be purchasing a few pieces of this from Pink Fortune. They sell for only Php 25 a pop, by the way. :)

What I love:

- Mild, fruity scent.

- Cute packaging.

- Made with natural ingredients.

- Softens and smoothens the skin without making it dry.

- Very affordable at Php 25only. 

What you might not like:

- Ingredients and other product details are not listed in the packaging.

Sutla Flawless Papaya Soaps are available at Pink Fortune for Php 25 each. Want the complete skin whitening regimen? Get the Sutla Starter Pack for only Php 380! :)

Spotlight | Human Heart Nature 100% Natural Kids Bath Soap.

If there's one loyal Human Heart Nature user in this household aside from me, it's my little man. He's been using Human Heart Nature products since 2009 - exactly a week after he turned one. He's turning five next month, which means he's been using nothing but organic products for the past four years!

One of his favorites from the brand is the Kids Natural Shampoo, which he fondly calls 'yummy shampoo'. Now he has a 'yummy soap' - aptly named 'Chocolate Adventure' - to go with it.

Get ready for some Chocolate Adventure! 

This is the all-new, 100% Natural Kids Bath Soap, which was included in the box of goodies sent to me by GK Inc. It comes in a cute and colorful box, which immediately caught the little man's attention as soon as he spotted this in the package.

100% Natural, Biodegradable, Cruelty-free.

What I like about this soap, (and with Human Heart Nature products in general) is that it contains none of those chemicals that can do more harm than good to a child's sensitive skin.

Looks like a chocolate bar!

There are no harmful synthetic surfactants (like SLS or SLES) in this product; instead, it has natural cleaning agents such as coconut oil and sodium hydroxide (lye) that remove dirt and grime. It also contains sugarcane-derived sodium lactate and sodium gluconate that keep your child’s skin from drying unlike most chemical soaps. It's also formulated with plant-derived decyl glucoside for a foamy lather, and to make bath time more fun for the little ones.

It's 120 grams; about 8cm wide and 2.5 cm thick.

Oh, and this soap smells heavenly, too! Like a freshly-baked chocolate chip cookie, which my little man loves.

Bits and pieces of 'chocolate'.

What I love:

- Cute packaging.

- Sweet, chocolatey scent.

- Made with all-natural ingredients.

- Contains no harmful chemicals.

- Keeps the skin soft, smooth, and moisturized.

- Safe for sensitive skin.

- Proudly Philippine-made.

- Cruelty-free.

- Affordable price.

What you might not like:

- None that I can think of. :)

The Human Heart Nature 100% Natural Kids Bath Soap sells for Php 69.75 each, and can be bought online, through registered dealers, and at local branches nationwide. Hopefully, this product will be available in the US website, too!