Products: Organic Skincare - Human Heart Nature, Queen Helene, Lush!

Hello everyone! ~

I am so glad to have some time today to share more about the organic/natural skin care that I use day after day. These are a product of my experiments, tests and from there I finally found some great things that I could use! Being a fan of Human Heart Nature products that I purchased online, I now moved on to incorporating more of their product lines ;)

There are quite a bunch, right? I'm not crazy, these are mostly sample sizes. Also, I am hoping to trim it down sometime soon... I'm just trying out a variety to be sure what products works for me :) 

Human Heart Nature Products (Left-Right) Reviews:

Tomato Extract Nourishing Facial Wash (PHP 79.75 / USD 1.90)- This is a clear, runny gel-type wash that does not produce suds. It cleans so well but does not leave the face 'squeaky dry'. It has a gentle, fresh fruit smell that I really love, and helps me get rid of oiliness and dirt without a harsh feeling. This is a keeper until I try the Blemi & Orange Balancing Facial Wash and see if I like it (Balancing Wash is currently sold out all over!)

Tomato Extract Nourishing Face Toner (PHP 99.75 / USD 2.30)- A wonderful toner that leaves the face dewy. It is clear and watery, with a bright, fruit scent that is not overpowering. I prefer the Balancing Toner over this, though, but this is still good if I need an extra boost for dry parts of my face and especially my neck area.

Citronella Bug Spray (PHP 99.75 / USD 2.30) - I bought this because of the alarming incidences of dengue all over nearby towns. I purchased one for my little nephews and for myself as well--can't be too careful! This is oil-based and heavy. It has really potent citronella herb smell which mosquitoes hate but I like! I usually just apply this on some parts of my body like arms and legs. It definitely keeps bugs away, I stopped getting bitten! :)

Blemi & Orange Balancing Face Toner (PHP 99.75 / USD 2.30) - Amazing, amazing, amazing! I can't rave about this product enough. I love it because after toning it creates a soft, non-dewy, natural feeling on my face. It keeps my oiliness low throughout the day. It works so well for me that I want to purchase the big bottle as soon as it is available. The scent of smooth citrus perks me up! It is easy to spread using a square cotton.

Moisturizing Day Fluid  (PHP 149.75 / USD 3.50) - A light and easy-to-spread moisturizer that lives up to the "a little goes a long way" hype. It is filled with 15 vitamins and minerals for the skin to enjoy so you can't really go wrong with this. Makes the face dewy but I don't mind, it makes you look glowing and pleasant! Scented with some natural herbs, it gives me some energy, somehow... I dunno :)

Sunflower Beauty Oil - I have the large (PHP 249 / USD 5.90) and travel-size (PHP 129 / USD 3) variants. I keep the smaller one in my bag all the time. It is a clear oil which is amazing for almost everything skin-wise and it has no scent, too! It made my elbows smoother and somewhat evened out the tone (usually elbow areas are darker than other skin areas) I also apply this on my legs and feet at night. I take the small bottle with me to our very cold office so in case my lips get chapped I dab a small amount. I also use it as a hand cream hahah~ My skin definitely gets a lot of boost! I give credit to SBO for my smoother skin!

Healthy Lotion in Berry Bliss - Tried the small sample size and LOVED IT SO MUCH that the next day I got the big bottle. I use this night and day, and it is so light and dries so easily on the skin (no greasy feel what.so.everrrr.) The lotion is not creamy as much as it is runny and has a white color with a strong zing of candied berries! No harmful chemicals, a lot of skin-friendly nutrients: This is my lotion for life!

On the left side are my DAY products which consist of the face wash, toner, and moisturizer (if I'm really lazy I skip this which is probably bad!) and a light lotion for my arms, legs and body to keep the skin healthy.

On the right side are my NIGHT stuff which mostly is the same but the Sunflower oil is heavier than the day moisturizer, and I have some Citronella natural bug spray and the Mint Julep mask (which I use 2x a week only or as needed.)

I know that the Queen Helene Mint Julep mask is not 100% organic but it does have Kaolin Clay. I have wanted to try this product for so long. I used to be a seller of Queen Helene before, but I stopped because the product gets sold out almost all the time that I didn't even own a tube of it myself.

I just recently applied Mint Julep mask last week because my face took a huge hit. Due to my very irregular sleeping habits and stress, my face is a wreck. Here I am with a lot of my pimples (very icky, sorry!):

First application: Monday

Well, thankfully my consistent application of HHN products and a follow-up reapplication of Queen Helene (Thursday) helped my skin recover fast! I still have some zits but not as many as before.

Second application: Thursday (You know you love my clothes-clip-turned-hair-clip!~LOL)

I haven't been applying face masks both sheet and DIY face mask regularly like before since I practically have no time at all and I can't find a 100% organic sheet mask brand yet! But I am thankful that Queen Helene really works at keeping zits dry as fast as possible.

An addition to my organic bathcare routine is the Lush Dirty Body Soap that Mike bought for me during our trip to Manila. I made sure that I used up my other organic soap before using this. It is a cute blue soap that smells of the cleanest fragrance of spearmint. It not only keeps your body dirt-free, it leaves a nice scent that settles nicely for quite some time!

All these products are bought by me (or given as a gift!) Quite an aggressive switch from last year's old skincare regimen, don't you think? I'm trying to really make a stand that we should do away with a lot of irritants and chemicals in skin care. It is important that we use products that NOURISH and make our body happy and free from danger! Let's do our best~

Whew!
That was a long post; but that was for being away all the time and not being around more.
Thank you for reading! See you~

Products: Choosing to Go Organic in Bathcare!

Well well well, another post, another day to praise the benefits of organic products to the heavens! You must be getting tired of all these wonderful feedback, but I am all up in this cause. I want to find a comfortable pace in shifting to all-organic skin care, so I am now dabbling to bath care!

Zooming on Face Washing
Daily cleansing is a very important part that you just can't skip. (Don't even think of skipping your cleansing routine!) It is where the foundation to which the health of your skin rests on. There is more to cleansing than just washing away of the day's dirt or grime, as it should also:

1. Avoid stripping away the natural moisture
2. Help the skin replenish lost moisture due to make up or heavy usage of topical skin care products
3. Not aggravate skin conditions like dry skin or oily skin
4. Cleanse the face thoroughly without being harsh to the skin

Organic soaps should always be cut in smaller pieces, as these have no "hardeners"
and may melt a lot easily than ordinary soap

This is why I picked one of the more popular brands in all-organic bath soaps: Cyleina! They have sooo many varieties online that it's I'm always frustrated when I only see Tomato soap, the small versions of Strawberry and Glutathione soaps available in the dept store. I got both but I chose a full-sized version of the Tomato because it is going to be my main soap. The others I just want to get for no reason other than I had no other choice :D

Price List : Tomato - P100.00, Kojic - P75.00, Strawberry - P20.00

Some experts say that you shouldn't use the same soap you use for the body on your face; but I believe that organic soaps are an exception. I think that you shouldn't use commercial/non-organic soaps on your face at all! Those have a long list of ingredients that are not good for the skin in the long run. How can you go wrong with Cyleina's ingredient list?

Ingredients: Saponified organic vegetable oil, Jojoba oil, Sweet Almond oil, organic Tomato extracts

These soaps may not come cheap, but they are worth the penny!

Going Natural on Hair Care
Along with  the change in my soap, I was also able to try organic shampoo. I purchased this P300+ 532 ml bottle at Healthy Options, which carried the Nature's Gate brand that I have always been curious about. These are advertised as "organic", but I'm not sure what the percentage is. But compared to regular shampoo in the market today, these have zero to low levels of harmful chemicals and are free from SLS and other ingredients with carcinogenic (cancer-causing) properties. Scary, isn't it?

A big bottle! Worth its price!

The image below is the ingredient list of this product, and even I am skeptical if this is an "all-natural product", as they imply it to be. I'm still glad I can use this sometimes, because I found that if I use it my hair gets hard and tangly. This is ok as a clarifying though!

But there are really good ingredients on the list so I am positive that I'm still on the right track somehow! It's better than seeing these: (Taken from Shampoo Ingredients To Avoid at SavvySkin)

1. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
2. Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
3. Ammonium Laureth Sulfate
4. Ammonium Xylene Sulfonate
5. TEA Lauryl Sulfate
6. Sulfur (in dandruff shampoos)
7. Selenium Sulfide (in dandruff shampoos)

Thankfully none that I can find in the Nature's Garden Aloe Vera shampoo! I will need to find a better shampoo that will complement my hair type, so the journey doesn't end here.

All in all, I am glad for my baby steps in switching to organic skin and hair care products.

Products: Aicha Hearts Human Heart Nature

May is currently rolling, and I am feeling adventurous!

I've been using several products from Human Heart Nature these previous few months, obliterating most of  the products I've long been using. There is a certain relief in my part that I've committed to stop using chemical-laden products on my skin. I feel like I am going in the right direction, and my skin feels like its thanking me for this effort :D


I've been going on about "becoming healthier" or going "all-natural" in my previous posts, giving you a hints that all boil down to this online order:

Human Heart Nature is a local brand made popular by the subscribers of the Go-Organic subscribers or people who are on the Green-campaign bandwagon. I've recently developed a disgust in the usage of beauty products containing harsh chemicals which can "take care" of our skin. For me, that sounds like an oxymoron gone haywire.


I ordered a few items from Human Heart Nature, starting with their lipgloss, which I really need since my lips are often always pale, and a I needed a pretty shiny color that would make my face look better, or at least decent. I bought the Mineral Lip Gloss in Island Berry.

Direct Light

Indoor

Natural light

What I like:
> Natural color, not too bold
> Pleasant, non-floral scent
> No bad ingredients
> Moisturizing!!

What I don't like:
> Very very sticky
> The wand end is too large
> Color has little staying power

I also tried a small bottle sample of their Healthy Lotion in Berry Bliss, which I swear now will be my staple lotion because it is very good! The scent is so fruity and nice without being overwhelming. It sticks to the skin well and dries easily. Very runny!

What I like about it:
> Best organic lotion ever!
> Scent is so fruity
> Runny; easy to apply and dry
> No SPF - Perfect as nighttime sleeping lotion

What I don't like about it:
> That I didn't get a bigger bottle!!! :)


Finally, the crowing glory of my package, the legendary Golden Elixir that "is 100% Natural and packed with vitamins A, D & E that help moisturize and nourish your skin to give it that healthy glow -- without any harmful chemicals." Presenting the Sunflower Oil:

Since Day One I immediately latched on to it like a mongoose. I love this thing! It replaces all my daytime and nighttime moisturizers, as well as specialty lotions for my extra-dry body areas. There is nothing I can't do without Sunflower Oil. I will repurchase forever.

Have you tried organic skincare before? Do you prefer it over traditional skincare from so-and-so company? What products did you try?

Thanks so much for visiting!

DIY Skincare: Homemade Glutinous Rice Powder Mask vs Sheet Masks

A lot of girls are very much into keeping their skin healthy by using face masks. Whether it's a leave-on mask, a rinse-off kind or opting for the no-fuss sheet mask. It's also a great way to feel like you're being responsible about your skin, but it's not so rigorous since you get to do it 2-3 times a week. Great for the lazy bones!

I always feel relaxed when I have it on because it means I get a lot of reading done! But I got to thinking that despite the nutrients within a mask, we can read in the ingredients (for some brands that carry English translation) there is a lot of extra stuff like chemicals and artificial ingredients that are inside a sheet mask.

Image credit from Cosmetic-candy.com

Somehow it's kind of comforting that we can't read the ingredients list of some brands (Cant read Korean/Thai!) so we only see a bright fruit featured at the cover so makes us think it's from 100% fruit nutrient or concentrate, but I'm sure that somehow there's something inside it but at the same time leaves us in the dark! Good for you if you can read CHINESE:

Image credit from DiaryofAProductJunkie

ETUDE HOUSE SHEET MASK: ME AND MY MASKING HABITS


I am an avid fan of face masks. I've tried quite a few from different big brands like The Face Shop, Etude House, Missha, FaceQ and My Beauty Diary. I use it once or twice a week if I have some masks stocked inside my compartment.
 
Here I am with my mask anyway, because I needed a boost to hydrate my skin which has been dulling so terribly due to me always being under the sun, staring for 8 hours infront of the PC and not having enough fluids everyday!

  

 

But I got to thinking that I should really stop depending on commercial masks. I googled some DIY face mask but I always find the ingredients kind of expensive (hello, strawberries are not in season all the time, lemons are terrible to be wasted and it costs pretty high these days, and we don't have pure/raw honey sitting prettily in our kitchen cupboard, okay?)


GOING FACE MASK D-I-Y (Do It Yourself)!

So what I did was first raid the pantry and saw a good deal of GLUTINOUS RICE POWDER left over from New Years! It wasn't expired yet so I was wondering if I could do something with it! :D

Image credit here.

I tried it out myself! This is a DIY Mask that was so basic and so elementary that it doesn't make sense why I don't make it into a weekly skin treat!

 

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RICE FLOUR AND OTHER RICE PROPERTIES:

* Rice Flour is really good for blemishes, wrinkles and pigmentation. It is also known for its soothing and softening properties. (source)

* Its emollient and exfoliating properties keep skin cells healthy, while its Ceramide increases collagen production to make skin more supple and free of wrinkles. (source)

* You don't have to buy in to SK-II or other high end skincare brand which are expensive because it has Pitera properties. Rice naturally has Pitera. And according to SK-II's About Page, Pitera is "...derived from a unique yeast's fermentation, Pitera is a blend of vitamins, amino acids, minerals, and organic acids that work together to allow the skin's natural surface rejuvenation process to function at its prime, enhancing the renewal of the skin's outer layer.  Continued usage of Pitera leads to clearer looking, smoother skin."

So those are the reasons why I am definitely making my little Glutinous Rice Powder mask a weekly habit! It seems that it helps with my oily face somehow. I chose Glutinous powder because it was readily available, but not only that because it sticks on the face better than an ordinary rice powder. Glutinous is more sticky, so it tends to be like that.

Below is my findings:

	SHEET MASK	RICE MASK
Moisture	Very Moisturizing; Highly due to the lotion-like serum. Light feeling, watery.	Moisturizing but the rice powder is mixed with water so it feels thicker but it provides moisture continuously.
Fragrance	Has fruity scent	Has earthy, rice scent that is pleasant
Feel of the Mask	Very cool on the face, breathable.	It has some micro-scrubs but feels so good. Breathable.
Ease of Application	Easy to apply, though some masks may be drippy. The masks, even if they are soaked, the fabric remained strong.	Hard to apply since you will use all your hands and fingers. Make sure that your hands are EXTRA clean.
Removal of Mask	No problem removing; especially when the masks really dry on the face.	Easy to remove with washing it off with water. Very little trouble since it dissolves the second water touches it.

The RICE MASK gave me clean, fresh and clear looking skin!

I had blushing cheeks too, maybe from the powder which felt like micro scrubs.

I feel REVITALIZED! Ohyeaaa! XD



I am really more into organic skincare rather than commercial and chemical-dependent products that tend to be on the pricier side. But it's more than just a matter of having money to pay for it, but it boils down the things I want and don't want to put on my skin. I think I am going to be more adventurous in this new process of discovery!


Thank you so much for reading!
Stay healthy and safe~