Review: All Organics Lemongrass Facial Toner

 Ever since I started using organic soaps, I have been on the lookout for more organic products to try next. In fact, I have been trying various brands and variants of organic soaps left to right and realizing that there’s no harm in using such products, I decided to take another step further. I tried and am reviewing an organic toner this time.

All Organics Lemongrass Facial Toner is quite different from other commercially-available toners I have tried before. Apart from being organic, this is my first toner with an atomizer. LOL! But yes seriously, this one is indeed a breath of fresh air from the usual liquid and cotton partnership during application.

This toner comes in a green transparent bottle with labels printed on a sheet of paper and pasted on the body of the bottle. Actually, the general appearance of the bottle is nothing fancy. By simply looking at the bottle, one can easily determine that the product is made by small companies, not by skin care giants. The toner itself is cloudy white and must be shaken well before use.

I am using this toner twice a day (morning and night) and I am about to use up my first bottle. By the way, the 100 ml. bottle costs Php 155 and lasts for about two months when used twice daily. This toner is also sold in 200 ml refill bottle for Php 300.

Product Description:

• Made of 100% natural ingredients, Lemongrass Facial Toner is made of pure plant waters from 4 skin-loving, skin-nurturing plants, that controls oil without leaving the skin dry. No alcohol, no water added, just pure plant extracts. The plant's high anti-bacterial properties help prevent pimples and aid in faster healing of outbreaks.
• Store in the ref as a refreshing face cooler, use after washing to tone and refine skin texture.

Ingredients:

What I like about this product:
Refreshing - one word that best describes the product. I love that fresh feeling I get each time I apply the toner on my face. Then once absorbed by the skin (which usually happens within seconds or a minute), it gives that semi-matte finish and makes the skin look supple. It is not drying nor cause stinging sensation during application. Although the first application feels weird because of the cooling/refreshing reaction, I eventually got used to it. The same goes for the smell. At first I thought it’s too overpowering for me and almost turn my back to it but as I continuously use it, I can no longer be bothered by the smell or that cooling reaction. Actually, toner time equals fun time for me right now.

Initially, I doubted this toner’s cleaning power but after using it, I realized that it cleans the skin like other drugstore toners, but in a more gentle way. No redness, stinging sensation or any harsh reaction during application. This toner is true to its claim that it “keeps pimples at bay”. When I started using this, a few pimples are feasting on my face but they gradually disappear as I use the product religiously. What is left from those pimples are very light scars that I hope will totally disappear someday soon. I cannot say that this toner lightens scars but it truly helps prevent pimples.

I love that this toner contains 100% natural ingredients therefore I can be at ease that I am not exposing my skin to various chemicals drugstore beauty products often contain.

Will all the benefits this toner offers, I am surely getting my money’s worth.

What I do not like about this product:
What is there not to like about this product? Oh yes! This one is not widely available in department stores or drugstores in Iloilo. All Organic products are only available online and a few resellers in the area. Lucky for me because I have a friend who is a reseller.

It is not evident that the product is effective in minimizing the size of my pores (no product can minimize the size of the pores, right?) but my blackheads have improved significantly.

Rate:

Notes:

• Using this as stand-alone in caring for your skin may not garner same result. You have to use a cleanser that is appropriate for your skin type.
• With regards to blackheads, I do not rely on this alone either. I steam my face and use pore strips to get maximum result.

Review: Nivea Visage Sparkling White Acne Oil Control Cleansing Foam

This facial wash has been staying in my review list for the longest time ever but as what I’ve said before, I’m quite busy with daughter duties and tons of Christmas activities that I rarely have time to sit down and gather my thoughts to write something. Besides, I seldom use this facial wash because I tested two organic soap variants I have not tried before so I sort of haven’t given this particular attention.

Anyway, I started paying close attention to this a few weeks ago and thankfully, I am motivated to write a review so here it is.

Nivea Visage Sparkling White Acne Oil Control Cleansing foam comes in a white plastic tube container with flip top cap. The tube doesn’t have any image except for the Nivea logo and the text colors are in pink, blue and mint green. The 50g tube costs Php 75 and the 100g tube is sold for Php 125.

Product Description:
 Nivea Visage Sparkling White Acne Oil Control Cleansing foam contains 2x smaller molecules of:

•     Acne reduction technology cleans deeper into pores by effectively lifting dirt and oil which is the main cause of acne.
•     Skin nutrient formula helps lighten acne marks and dark spots.

Ingredients:

What I like about this product:
The smell of this facial wash is so light one can hardly notice it. Even those with allergies or sensitive to harsh scents may find this facial wash effective. Also, the viscosity of this pearly white cream is just right, not too sticky nor too watery either. A pea-sized amount of the cream should be enough for the face and neck but if you are like me who finds happiness in bubbles and creamy lathers, then you may want to add a little more.

This product gives me that squeaky-clean feeling after wash thus giving me the impression that it is really doing its job as promised. And indeed it is! It lessened my acne and helped improve the appearance of dark spots caused by acne. I really love how my skin feels each time I use this soap.

Most effective beauty products come with a prize but this one doesn’t. Considering how it affects my skin, I consider this facial wash on the affordable side.

What I do not like about this product:
Some stores in my area have limited supplies of this facial wash. Is it in danger of being discontinued? That I don’t know...

While it makes my skin clean, this facial wash can be drying sometimes - perhaps if I lathered too much and let it stay on my skin longer than a couple of minutes. But that is what facial moisturizers are for. :D

Will I repurchase?
Yes! This is one of the few facial washes that I find effective so I will surely buy again.

Rate:

More products from Nivea:

           

Paradiso Inferno Blue from Benetton

Remember the Let’s Move, Let’s Love post I made last September? Well, I got an email a few weeks back that I am one of the first 20 bloggers to submit an entry. As such, I get to win this 50ml bottle of Benetton Paradiso Inferno Blue and the package arrived the other week.

boxed

But since the perfume is for men and I still prefer women’s perfume despite often called "one of the boys" by friends, I handed this out to my male cousin whom I know will love it. The scent is not too strong or overpowering for me but I think he will appreciate it more.

Though I won't be able to use the perfume, I am still thrilled that my blogging effort is rewarded. I would like to thank Benetton for this and of course NuffnangPh for organizing the contest.

Want to get the Paradiso Inferno Pink for Women?

Check out Benetton's website for more info...

The 12 Days of Christmas: What is it All About?

Christmas is just a few days away and with everyone busy with various Christmas activities, we tend to neglect some trivial matters pertaining to the celebration itself. Sadly, some of us even forget the true essence of Christmas which is the birth of our savior Jesus Christ.

Christmas celebration wouldn't be complete without beautiful carols. Probably, most of us have been singing 12 Days of Christmas since we were little. But has it ever occurred to you to find out the meaning of the song? What partridge in a pear tree means or what is the relevance of nine ladies dancing to Christmas? Maybe some of you are are already aware of the song’s meaning but to those who aren’t, here it is.

There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me. What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?

This week, I found out.

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

• The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
• Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
• Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.-
• The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
• The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
• The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
• Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.
• The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
• Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.
• The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.
• The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
• The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed. 

 This was sent as an email and I’m not sure about the source. If you know the author, please leave a comment so that I can give proper credit.

Review: Dove Nutritive Therapy Nourishing Oil Care Nutri-oil Serum

It’s been ages since the last time I publish a post and I admit I feel quite guilty about it. With so many things going on and with the fast-approaching Christmas, it’s a bit difficult to find time to take and edit product pictures for the blog, let alone write a review about a particular product. But guilt and lack of fulfillment creeping in, I somehow managed to gather all the strength (and motivation) to finally sit down and review this product that I have been using for one month.

I bought this Dove Nutritive Therapy Nourishing Oil Care Nutri-oil Serum for Php 242.00, more expensive than the Human Heart Nature Sunflower beauty oil I used on my hair before this. The latter costs around Php 120 and has many uses thus marketed as miracle in a bottle. I have nothing but good words about the Sunflower oil but like many other girls out there, I sometimes crave for other brands or products in the hopes of finding the one that performs better than the one I am currently using.

Sorry for the crappy photo. I took this using my phone's camera.

As a whole, I cannot compare Dove Nutritive Therapy Nourishing Oil Care Nutri-oil Serum to Human Heart Nature Sunflower beauty oil because they are entirely two different products. The former is geared towards hair care while the latter was created as an all around beauty oil so I am leaving Human Heart Nature Sunflower beauty oil out of this topic. :D

Dove Nutritive Therapy Nourishing Oil Care Nutri-oil Serum comes in a clear bottle with pump. The bottle is sold in a clear plastic box which for me gives this product an edge in packaging as compared to other local products or similar valued products. The serum is very light yellow or gold in color but is hardly noticeable when you pump the serum into your palm. The concentration is just right - not too thin neither too thick that can make you feel like you are putting ordinary baby oil on your hair.

Product Description:

Ingredients:

What I like about this product:
There are so many things I like about this product. First of course is the sleek packaging. Yes, I am a sucker for pretty packaging and it always makes me happy seeing a beauty product in an unusually cute and sleek container or tube. The packaging is sometimes what I need when deciding whether or not to buy the product. The bottle of this product looks like it is that of a perfume and won’t ruin the view when placed in a pretty dresser along with other expensive beauty products. Anyway, so much for the packaging... I will move on to the product itself. As what I have said, the serum has a tint of very light yellow or gold but I can no longer notice it when the serum is in the palm of my hand. With this, I never have to worry about white residue in my hair or forehead especially when the product is not spread evenly (shout out to hair cream!).

I expected this product to be thick and hard on the hair but fortunately, it isn’t. In fact, it glides in the hair without problems during application and gave me that light feeling I never felt before, when it comes to hair products that is. It helps tame and moisturize dry, frizzy hair without wearing it down. Bad hair day was my constant companion before but when I met this Dove Nutritive Therapy Nourishing Oil Care Nutri-oil Serum, our relationship is on the rocks now and I am hoping to get rid of it soon. My hair has become easily manageable and no longer has a mind of its own nor flying in all direction because of this serum. I also love that it contains natural coconut and almond oils.

Two or three drops should be enough to a medium-length hair thus one bottle may last a couple of months or more, giving you your money’s worth. It is also available in most department stores nationwide so no need to worry if your supply runs low.

What I do not like about this product:
The only thing I do not like about this product is the smell. Though it is not that overwhelming, I am not a fan of it. I’d prefer an unscented one than this.

Will I repurchase?
Yes!

Rate: