Spotlight | NLIHome Honey Soap.

Earlier this week, I raved about the Essence Cushion from an up and coming Korean cosmetics brand, The Cellin. The brand is manufactured by NRCommunications of Korea, a distribution company which has been business since 1999 and the same company which produces and distributes NLIHome products.

NLIHome is a lifestyle brand which carries personal hygiene and home care products made with natural ingredients and eco-friendly materials. Among these is the Honey Soap, one of NLIHome's bestsellers.

NLIHome Honey Soap. 

Hangul text at the back. I reckon these are the product descriptions.

Honey has long been a popular additive in soaps and other skincare products, and rightfully so. For one, it's a natural humectant, which helps retain skin moisture. It also has antibacterial properties, which can help clear acne and prevent future breakouts. In addition, honey is a chock full of polyphenols, an antioxidant that protects the skin from free radical damage.

More Hangul text on this side.

And on the other.

Now aside from honey, this soap also contains propolis, dokudami (also known by its scientific name Houttuynia cordata; a medicinal herb famed in Asia for its health benefits), and snail secretion extract (packed with hyaluronic acid which increases skin suppleness and improves skin texture), among others.

Main ingredients of the NLIHome Honey Soap.

As seen on the NRCommuncation website.

Do note that most of the text in the soap box is written in Hangul, so I had to refer to the internet for the complete list of ingredients for this Honey Soap. Thankfully, I found them on the NRCommunication website, along with other details about the product.

Unboxing the NLIHome Honey Soap.

The NLIHome Honey Soap comes in an 80 gram box. Inside it is an opaque plastic pouch which contains the bar of soap.

The NLIHome Honey Soap, unwrapped.

Although there's nothing fancy about how the soap looks - rectangular in shape, fits the palm of my hand, has the NLIHome logo carved on the center - its scent is quite noteworthy. It has a sweet and nutty scent that's not overpowering but lingers on the skin even after bathing. It lathers quite well and rinses off completely without leaving a filmy residue on the skin.

Fits the palm of my hand.

I've used this on my face too, and I love how this mild and gentle soap cleanses thoroughly without the drying feel. I've been using this product for a little over two weeks now, and I love how this soap 'calms' the occasional red blotches on my face, which acts up whenever the weather is too hot and humid.

That being said, this soap is safe even for those with sensitive skin. Kids and babies can use this soap too, but please do a patch test first just to be sure that your little ones are not allergic to honey or bee by-products. Yue uses this soap, too. He's enamored with the scent and loves bathing with it.

The NLIHome Honey Soap sells for Php 130 each and can be bought online through The Cellin Cosmetics Facebook page.

Spotlight | Apicuria Natural Oral Spray.

It's officially the rainy season here in the Philippines, but for the past few days we've been experiencing nothing but the blazing sun and the scorching heat. Last weekend, however, was a totally different story. It rained non-stop, with thunder, lightning, and all. It's this extreme weather conditions that I'm always wary of, because it's times like these when Yue and I would often end up with a cough, sore throat, or a bad case of the sniffles.

Apicuria Natural Oral Spray.

Thankfully, I came across this product - the Apicuria Natural Oral Spray - which can relieve such minor ailments. Dubbed as a'natural throat soother', this oral spray is made with honey, propolis, and a variety of herbs such as mint, calamansi, licorice root, marshamallow root, and perilla seed.

Product description and ingredients.

It's manufactured by The BeEmpire Inc., a social enterprise which advocates beekeeping as a sustainable livelihood and gives credence to apitherapy or the use of honey bee products as alternative medicine. ('Api' is the scientific name for honey bee.)

Usage directions and expiry date.

The use of honey as medicine is nothing new. It actually dates back to the ancient civilization, when the Egyptians would use it to treat wounds or even as an embalming fluid for their mummies. The antibacterial property of honey has been proven by modern medicine, thus making it one of the most potent and most natural antibiotic.

Made with honey + propolis + herbs.

Similarly, the bee byproduct propolis has also been used for centuries to fight off infection caused by bacteria and to treat minor wounds. It also helps in boosting the immune system and hasten the healing of wounds.

Hexagonal box.

The Apicuria Natural Oral Spray is packaged in a hexagonal box, a reference to the shape of the honeycomb. The spray itself is housed in a 12 mL plastic bottle which comes with an easy-to-pump nozzle. Its handy and compact packaging makes it ideal for travelers and even frequent flyers.

Handy 12 mL bottle.

To use, simply spray 2 to 3 pumps on the throat, mouth, or affected areas (think canker sores, commonly known in Tagalog as 'singaw') 3 times a day or as needed, preferably after meals.

The same text on the box are also printed on the bottle.

I love the instant relief that I get from Apicuria whenever my throat feels scratchy, or when I feel like I'm about to catch a cold. It tastes sweet, just as honey should, with a hint of mint and citrus.

The nozzle.

But how I wish I had discovered this prior to our last trip to South Korea! You see, Yue got sick during our final week in Seoul. He had tonsilitis, which eventually led to three days of fever AND a trip to the doctor. Had I known about Apicuria earlier, we could have alleviated his sore throat then.

Spritzed it once on my palm, just to see what I'm spraying inside my mouth. :)

Definitely bringing a bottle or two of the Apicuria Natural Oral Spray next time we fly! This little wonder worker has earned a spot in my Seoul survival kit and my daily travel kit. There's actually a bottle sitting inside my purse as of this writing. :)

The Apicuria Natural Oral Spray retails at Php 299 per bottle. Available at the Human Heart Nature online store, Human Heart Nature branches nationwide, and through the Apicuria official Facebook page.

Spotlight | The Cream Factory Bath Cream.

Just as I am a sucker for perfumes with hints of vanilla or cherry blossoms, I'm also a patsy for anything with milk or honey when it comes to body wash and liquid soaps. And when I saw my Instagram timeline flooded with photos of this new bath cream made with goat's milk, I was like, "Where do I buy this? And how?!"

Lucky for me, Sample Room had 150 samples in stock earlier this week. And luckier for me that I was able to snag one. (You have no idea how fast those Sample Room ninjas are! One email announcement, and whoosh! The next thing you know, the product you are vying for is already out of stock. Lol.)

And so here it is, the bath cream that I've been eyeing for the past few weeks. It's also my first online purchase of the year. Well, I can't even call it a purchase because I got the item for free. All I paid for was the shipping fee, which costs Php 130 (provincial rate).

The Cream Factory, courtesy of Sample Room.

Now here's a little background about The Cream Factory. Their story is pretty simple, actually. They started with Goat's Milk from the Netherlands, which is prized for its quality and purity. It's loaded with essentials (vitamins D, C, E, B1, B6, B12) that's good for both the skin and body.

Real goat's milk from the Netherlands!

Then they added active botanical extracts to make the formulation even better and to further address specific skin needs. As for me, I got the one with Honey, which is all too perfect for my sensitive skin.

Goat's milk & Honey.

In case you didn't know, honey contains anti-microbial properties which helps protect the skin. It's a great anti-ageing agent, and has the ability to absorb and retain moisture - keeping the skin hydrated, soft, and supple.

Kills germs, moisturizes the skin. :)

Now if honey isn't your cup of tea, there are eleven other variants to choose from. Here's the rundown: Goat’s Milk & Almond: The Detoxifying Soap 

Goat’s Milk & Jojoba: The Clarifying Soap 

Goat’s Milk & Yogurt: The Soothing Soap 

Goat’s Milk & Seaweed: The Revitalizing Soap 

Goat’s Milk & Cinnamon: The Purifying Soap 

Goat’s Milk & Avocado: The Radiating Soap 

Goat’s Milk & Acai Berry: The Age-Defying Soap 

Goat’s Milk & Witch Hazel: The Rejuvenating Soap

Bath cream, baby! 

And you can also choose between two sizes. What I have here is the 221ml sample size. They're actually sold in bundled packs of three, priced at Php 799. Then there's also the 768ml full-sized bottle, which costs Php 699.

What I love:
- The scent! One whiff and I'm sold! And yes, the scent lingers on your skin for hours.
- The uber-cute milk bottle packaging. And no, they're not made of glass.
- Thick and creamy; just a little goes a long way.
- Effectively moisturizes the skin.
- Twelve variants to choose from, each addressing a specific skin need/problem.
- Made with natural ingredients.
- No harmful chemicals.
- Not tested on animals.

What you might not like:
- My only concern is that they're not available at the supermarket near my place. But then again, I can always order online. :)

Have you tried this bath cream? What's your favorite 'flavor'? :)