Spotlight | Human Heart Nature Natural Body Scrub.

After spending the holidays abroad, I came home to a Christmas tree surrounded with presents for Yue and I. Most of them were from friends and family, and some of them from sponsors and brands that I work with or have worked with for the past few years. Unboxing them was such as treat - it still felt like Christmas even though it was almost mid-January.

Among these presents was this lovely box from Human Heart Nature Laguna, and inside it was a tube of the Human Heart Nature Rose Bouquet Natural Body Scrub.

Thank you, Human Heart Nature Laguna!

I usually exfoliate twice a week, but I didn't have the chance to enjoy this luxury while I was in Korea. Taking a bath in negative degree weather can be very challenging - even a pain at times - so I'd bathe as quickly as I could and get my stuff done in the bathroom in the shortest time possible. Hence, I was very excited to give this product a try and take my time in the shower without the fear of getting hypothermia (haha!).

Human Heart Nature Natural Body Scrub.

Made with loofah and bamboo scrubs, the Human Heart Nature Natural Body Scrub exfoliates dead skin cells and deep-seated dirt to reveal soft and smooth skin. It also contains aloe vera to refresh and moisturize the skin, and rose oil to increase the skin's permeability.

Product description at the back.

As you can see, this product is certified by the Natural Products Association, the largest and oldest nonprofit organization in the US which serves as a 'watchdog' of all products that claim to be natural or made with natural ingredients. This includes cosmetics and beauty products, household products, and even food.

List of ingredients, and the Cruelty-Free logo!

To use, simply dispense an ample amount of the body scrub, then massage the fine granules onto damp skin in a circular motion. Rinse thoroughly afterwards.

Ready to scrub! :)

The body scrub has a thick and creamy consistency, with tiny bits of bamboo scrub embedded in it. Each tube contains an ample amount of exfoliant, and you can feel these bamboo bits as soon as you start 'scrubbing'. I love how this product leaves my skin soft, smooth, and supple afterwards.

Thick and creamy.

Contains tiny bits of bamboo scrubs.

The rose scent seemed to be a bit overpowering at first, and for those who are overly sensitive to (floral) scents, they might find that feature a little off. It works just fine for me though, as the scent of roses tend to linger on my skin even long after I'm done bathing.

After scrubbing. :)

Currently being sold at Php 274.75 for a 190 gram tube, the Human Heart Nature Natural Body Scrub is available at all Human Heart Nature branches nationwide. You can also purchase this product via their online shop, or through me (you can send me a direct message on my Facebook page) since I'm a registered dealer myself. This body scrub is also available in Coffee & Vanilla, which I plan to try as soon as I'm done with this tube!

Spotlight | The Cream Factory Scrub-in-a-Tub.

Last month, I had been introduced to a promising new line of bath and body products called The Cream Factory. Their Goat's Milk and Honey Bath Cream was the first product that I've tried. It's also one of my best skincare discoveries to date.

Not long after, I received an invitation from Because Inc. - the company behind The Cream Factory - to visit their office so I can take a look at their complete product line, and get first dibs on their latest product offering. I had to politely decline the invitation since I have way too much mommy duties to attend to, and going all the way to Pasig on a school day is just impossible for me.

Despite that, Because Inc., the kind people that they are, sent me a sample of their latest product anyway. Big thanks to my friend Sylvia for claiming this in my behalf. :) It's a body scrub that comes in a 255 gram tub. And they aptly called it 'Scrub-in-a-Tub'.

It's a body scrub that comes in a tub. :)

A handwritten note, with a pretty penmanship to boot, came along with it.

Don't you just love handwritten notes like this? :)

Sweet and delightfully creamy, this body scrub is made with real goat's milk that nourishes, moisturizes, exfoliates, and protects the skin. And just like the Bath Creams, the Scrub-in-a-Tub is infused with active botanical ingredients that provide detoxifying, clarifying, radiating, revitalizing, and relaxing benefits for the skin. That sounds like a lot, right?

Made with real goat's milk from the Netherlands.

There are actually three variants of the Scrub-in-Tub, each variant with two 'flavors'. All in all, there are six kinds of Scrub-in-a-Tubs, which I have listed below.

Salty. Contains fine rock salt crystals for deep exfoliation. 

Comes in Seaweed, the revitalizing ingredient; and Witch Hazel, the rejuvenating ingredient. 

Creamy. Contains walnut sprinkles to buff away skin impurities. 

Comes in Honey, the germ-killing ingredient; and Jojoba, the clarifying ingredient.

Yummy. Contains bits of cocoa beans to awaken the skin.

Comes in Almond, the detoxifying ingredient; and Cinnamon, the purifying ingredient.

This time around, cinnamon was my ingredient of choice. This popular spice has many benefits that go beyond cooking, and that includes healing wounds, treating acne and eczema, and petering out fine lines and wrinkles. 

Goat's Milk + Cinnamon.

Also, I may not have mentioned this before, but I'm a big fan of cinnamon rolls. I love them more than doughnuts, actually. And back then, every time my husband would pass by the Cinnabon store at SLEX, he'd make sure to bring me home a box (sometimes two, lol).

Chocolatey goodness for the skin!

And so taking a bath with this body batter feels like walking inside a Cinnabon store - with the flavorful scent of cinnamon lingering on your skin for hours. 

Looks like Trader Joe's Cocoa Almond Spread at first glance, lol.

The product itself looks like a chocolate spread - thick and creamy, with super fine granules that do not feel harsh on the skin. Let it sit for about 10-15 minutes before rinsing it off, and voila! You get super soft, healthy-looking, cinnamon-scented skin!

Cocoa bits come out as you scrub. 

This product is so addicting, you'd want to bathe with it everyday. Not recommended though, as experts say that you should exfoliate twice a week at the most. So what I do is use this at the the start of the week (which is Sunday), bathe with the Bath Creams for the next three days, and then use the Scrub-in-a-Tub again the following day (that would be Thursday).

Now considering the size of the product, and my frequency of use, it'll probably take me two or three months before I empty out the tub. So even if you're paying Php 699 for a 9-ounce tub, you're getting your money's worth since you're feeding your skin with nothing but the good stuff.

What I love: 

- The super yummy scent that brings me memories of when the husband and I used to date, hahaha!

- Thick and creamy; just a little goes a long way.

- Exfoliating particles are tiny, and they don't feel harsh on the skin.

- Six yummy variants to choose from, catering to different needs of the skin.

- Made with natural ingredients.

- Contains no parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, or any other harmful chemicals.

- Not tested on animals.

What you might not like:

- Products that come in tubs are usually prone to contamination, especially if you're sharing with other people in your household. Remember to use a spatula for this product, which you will have to buy separately. 

Now if you're thinking of trying this product out (and I recommend you do), you can find The Cream Factory at the following outlets:

Beauty Bar (Powerplant Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Shangri-La Plaza, The Podium, Robinsons Galleria, Eastwood Mall, Gateway Mall, Trinoma Mall, Robinsons Place, Greenbelt 5, Alabang Town Center, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Glorietta 2)
Rustan's Fresh (Glorietta, Powerplant Mall, Shangri-La Plaza, San Antonia Plaza, Katipunan, Cuenca Park) Robinsons Department Store (Galleria, Magnolia, Ermita) - Landmark Department Store (Quezon City, Makati)
SNOE (SM Muntinlupa, SM Center Pasig, SM Valenzuela, SM Center Las Pinas, SM City Sucat, SM City Sta. Rosa)
SM Supermarket (SM Megamall, SM Aura)
SM Hypermarket (SM Mall of Asia, SM Center Pasig)

My goodies from Because Inc!
Because I also won the Saforelle/The Cream Factory Instagram contest
held recently by The Sample Room. Yay! 

Big thanks to The Cream Factory for making bath time lots of fun - even without a rubber ducky! :)

Discovering Asian Secrets.

I've seen women flock over this product at Watson's, and I've read quite a handful of positive reviews for this online. Even one of my fellow mommies at school has nothing but praises for this product, so I've been wondering - what is it with Asian Secrets that makes it all the rave?

Luckily, I have been tapped by Unilab to give this product a try - a chance to finally satisfy my curiosity. I received this package last week, and inside were two huge tubs (250 grams) of Asian Secrets.

Asian Secrets!

One tub is the Licorice and Mulberry Leaf Extract variant, while the other is the Seaweed Extract and Vitamin E variant.

Licorice + Mulberry Leaf Extract on the left, Seaweed Extract + Vitamin E on the right.

Here's what the packaging says about the product:
Asian Secrets Lulur Indonesian Whitening Body Scrub is a beauty treatment which originated from the royal palaces of Java, Indonesia and is inspired by a ritual called lulur. Lulur was originally intended for the bride-to-be in order to beautify, smoothen, and whiten her skin before the wedding day.

And the benefits of using it:
- Exfoliates and removes dead skin cells to make the skin smooth and glowing.
- Continued use reduces skin pigmentation and evens out skin tone.
- Moisturizes the skin and leaves it with a fragrant smell.

Now here's how the product looks like. At first glance you'd think it's vanilla ice cream, haha! It's thick and creamy, with very, very fine exfoliating beads in it. Both variants smell wonderful, too. The Mulberry Extract variant has a floral scent, while the Seaweed Extract variant smells citrusy to me.

Like a tub of vanilla ice cream. :)

To use, simply take a dollop and scrub all over, paying particular attention on dark areas of your body (e.g. elbows, knees, armpits).

Take a dollop and then scrub away!

Make sure you scrub this while your skin is dry.

The beads come out as you scrub.

Leave the product on your skin for at least ten minutes before washing off. Rinse thoroughly with water.

Lulur beads on my skin.

What I love:
- The scent! Not overpowering, smells good, and lingers on the skin.
- Makes the skin smooth and soft to touch.
- No allergic reactions considering I have very sensitive skin.
- Affordable (Php 139 for the 250g tub, the smaller tub costs somewhere around Php 80 I think).
- Available at Watson's and most supermarkets.

What you might not like:
- I've always had issues with products that come in jars and tubs. I find it unsanitary, so the best thing to do is use a spatula when scooping it out (especially if you're sharing it with other people at home).

As for the whitening effect of this product, I have yet to use it for a few more weeks before I can attest to it. Will let you know once the color on my arms finally even out, haha! :)

Disclaimer: Product was sent to The Rebel Sweetheart for review. Thoughts and opinions expressed above are entirely my own.