Spotlight | Godiva Natural Skincare.

If my memory serves me right, it was back in college when I first came across the brand Godiva. I was staying overnight at my best friend's house, and chanced upon his Mom doing her bedtime skincare ritual. I was quite surprised to see a 'Godiva' facial cream, since the only Godiva I knew of back then were the edible kind (ergo, chocolates).

Fast forward to twelve years later (gosh, has it really been that long since I've graduated from the University?!), I received a package of Godiva skincare products. And a generous one at that, as it contained full-sized bottles plus sample sachets of their entire product line.

Godiva Natural Skincare.

I believe Godiva disappeared from the market for a few years, as I don't remember seeing them in supermarkets or at Watson's for quite awhile. Now, the brand is making a comeback with a new and improved formulation together with a more eye-catching look. If I remember correctly, 'Godiva' used to be written with a cursive font, and they had this pink and white, girly-girly packaging.

As for the formulation, the all-new Godiva Natural Skincare line contains licorice, a plant commonly used as a sweetening agent. Its roots, on the other hand, are known to have several medicinal properties.

Licorice root extract contains an active ingredient called 'glabridin', a potent, naturally-derived ingredient, known around the world for its whitening properties. It works by inhibiting the production of melanin as it nourishes and protects the skin with its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. However, despite of its known skin benefits, glabridin is uncommon to commercial beauty products because of its steep price.

This is where Godiva Natural Skincare stands out. It uses licorice extract that not only has passed various clinical trials, but is also guaranteed safe and effective for use in skin whitening - at an affordable price, at that. Best of all, their products are all paraben-free!

Now let me walk you through each of the products that I've received. I'll give you my first impressions and initial thoughts about the products (not the usual, full-blown product review), as I've only started using them this month. I need more than four weeks (and perhaps bigger bottles, haha!) to properly gauge its whitening effect on my skin.

Read more about my experience with Godiva Natural Skincare products after the jump!

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! :)