My new facial love – Pond’s Deep Cleansing Facial Foam

Posted on by jane

A few months back, I won blogger friend Rowena‘s blog contest and the prize I got was several pieces of Pond’s Deep Cleansing Facial Foam. Rowena herself swears by it and she has been telling me that she loves its feel on her face.

(photo courtesy of Pond’s Philippines site)
I gave some away to family to try but kept about six for myself. At that time, I still had half of another facial foam cleanser so I did not get a chance to use Pond’s Deep Cleansing Facial Foam till last week. Here’s what happened…
Two weeks ago, two pimples suddenly appeared on my nose. Now this was very unusual. I have not had pimples in years! But these two were bright red and looked really awful. I applied skin antibiotic ointment and in the next few days, the pimples subsided. But one flared up again and worse, a third pimple on the side of one nostril was beginning. It was like teen-aged nightmare all over again!
I thought I’d stop using my current facial cleanser and look for an alternative. I picked up Pond’s Deep Cleansing Facial Foam to see why Rowena was all praises for it. The ingredient “activated carbon” intrigued me. I know activated carbon is used in many ways to adsorb (not absorb) toxic chemicals and poisons. It’s found in activated carbon filters of air purifiers, is used to adsorb foul smells (like baking soda), used in water purification and many others. Take a look at this article that talks of the benefits of activated carbon. Here’s an excerpt from that article:

Activated charcoal can do these various things because of its ability to attract other substances to its surface and hold them there. This is called “adsorption” (not absorption). Another one of the benefits of activated charcoal is that it can adsorb thousands of times its own weight in harmful substances.

The British medical journal, Lancet, discusses the amazing ability of the human skin to allow transfer of liquids, gases, and even micro-particles through its permeable membrane and pores, by the application of a moist, activated charcoal poultice and compress which actually draw bacteria and poisons through the skin and into the poultice or compress!

I was hoping the activated carbon in Pond’s Deep Cleansing Facial Foam would draw out whatever was infecting my pimples.

On my first use, I think I overdid it. I was used to other facial cleansers where I had to put a lot on the palm of my hand. I put as much of Pond’s facial foam on my palm and the lather it made was just so thick! So, next time around, I only used a pea size of the foam and it was good enough to work up a very good lather to cover my entire face. Very economical!

This is all you need to lather up your entire face!
True enough, after using it twice a day (morning and night) for several days, all my pimples began subsiding and now, it’s almost gone from my face. After every use, my face also feels so extra squeaky clean too. The activated carbon must be drawing out all the toxins and grime from my face!
I’m loving the feel and effectiveness of Pond’s Deep Cleansing Facial Foam! For now, this is my skin care partner!

Pao Pao Xiao Chi: A flavored fruit tea and Taiwanese snack place in San Juan

Posted on by jane
A stone’s throw from Xavier School is this flavored fruit tea and Taiwanese snack cafe that serves the students from the nearby schools as well as the surrounding community, offering a menu at very reasonable prices. One late morning, I joined several other food bloggers upon the invitation of Alvin of Cheftonio’s Blog. 
Jerome Tan, one of the proprietors, said they opened in San Juan City late 2009. I do remember seeing this place as I go to and from my gym but never really got a good look at it till we went there to try their food fare and fruit/milk teas.

The word Pao Pao when translated stands for “very full” and the word Xiao Chi means “small snacks”.

Our food adventure began with servings of their flavored fruit teas and specialty drinks. Mind you, they do not use flavored powder. Their fruit teas are made from fruit puree and are kept in modern cylindrical dispensers that actually look like fashion decor. And all their teas come in 20 oz. glasses compared to 16 oz. ones in other fruit tea shops.

Modern dispensers containing fruit puree for drinks
Taro Milk, Php 50
Green Apple, Php 45
Strawberry, Php 50
Add-ons for your drinks, Php 5-10 each
(Clockwise: Egg pudding, Chocolate, Sago,
Almond jelly, Strawberry)

Next came their version of spicy chicken, squid and pork. My kids would love this as they often go to another outlet for spicy chicken. What makes Pao Pao’s different (and I believe, better) is that they have at least 9 different spices that you can drizzle all over your spicy chops: black sesame, green tea, lemon, seaweeds, wasabi, orange, red chili, yellow curry and kimchi.
Spicy Chicken and Spicy Squid – Php 50;
Spicy Pork – Php 55
Hands down, the group’s favorite sprinkle was yellow curry while the spiciest one for me was the red curry (I hear that the Koreans who come and dine pour generous portions of the red curry over their food).
Dimsum came next.
Steamed Dumplings
Half – Php 45; Regular – Php 80
Fried Dumplings
Half -Php 45; Regular – Php 80
Fried Shrimp Wanton
Half – Php 60; Regular – Php 120
Steamed Shrimp Wanton
Half – Php 60; Regular – Php 120
By this time, my tummy was almost at bursting but still, the food kept coming. We were made to try their  noodles and rice meals.
Special Dry Noodles, Php 100
Beef Noodle Soup, Php 125
Lu Rou Rice, Php 60
Beef Brisket Rice, Php 105

We also got to try their new offering, Glazed Potatoes. It tasted different for me because unlike other potatoes I’ve tasted that were on the salty and dry side, these were marinated in a sweet, glazed sauce and sprinkled with sesame seeds. Guess it takes some getting used to.

Glazed Potatoes, Php 50
They actually have a lot more to offer. I have to say that their prices are really value for money. This is important for the students from the nearby schools who depend on allowances. They get their fill without it burning a hole in their pockets.
If you love fruit and milk teas, Pao Pao Xiao Chi is one you need to try because the flavors of their teas are comparable to the other ones around the San Juan area. The fact that they carry real food and not just pica-pica works well for those who want to have their teas with their meals.
Pao Pao Xiao Chi branches:
Main store (17 Gen. de Jesus St. cor. Gen. Lim St., Little Baguio, San Juan City, Tel 994-8554)
999 Mall, Divisoria, Manila
Ycaza Street, San Miguel, Manila(Beside St. Jude Catholic School)
Website: www.paopao.com.ph
Facebook: www.facebook.paopao.xiaochi

Healthy food tripping and more at Yummy Eats 2011

Posted on by jane

I brought my 2 boys to Yummy Eats at NBC Tent. It was an opportunity to get them out of the computer and into something that they loved doing – EAT!

An FIC ice cream truck was parked right in front of the venue, serving free ice cream to registered visitors.

The winning flavor for the day – LEMON CRUMBLE!

There were a lot of people at the food fair at NBC Tent. We registered, got our tickets plus a directory to help us locate the food stalls we wanted to try.

What impressed me with the choice of stalls that Yummy Magazine featured was this — there were a lot more of them offering healthy eats. I even found a vegetarian stall! I would have wanted to try the samples from each and every stall there but having arrived almost mid-afternoon, I had to saunter through some of them.

Before anything else, let me just give some space to one of the most creative and fun stalls I saw at Yummy Eats — themed cupcakes from Little Miss OC Kitchen! It’s not only children who’d love to have these in parties. If, like me, you’ve got Angry Birds and Plants vs Zombies apps in your device, you will too!

Plants vs Zombies
Yeehee!!! ANGRY BIRDS!!!

Pigs and Plants!
Despicable Me!
Little Miss OC Kitchen
Contact: Anna Sarmiento / Aleth Ocampo
Mobile: +63920 9512343

Email: littlemissoc@yahoo.com / alethmapa@yahoo.com

Here are some of the stalls my kids and I sampled:

Farm n Deli Enterprises

My kids and I love tinapa. I buy them at S&R most of the time. So it was a delight to see bottled tinapa. The proprietress, Cynthia Torres, spooned out samples on salted crackers for us to taste. Sarap! Their bottled tinapa is on the spicy side, though (a warning for those who may not like spicy food) but that is okay for my brood who actually love spicy food.

Farm N Deli Enterprises
Contact: Cynthia Torres
Mobile: +63917 5548180
Email: cntorres3466@yahoo.com

Pipino Vegetarian
This was a nice discovery. At least now, friends who are vegetarian can add them to their list of vegetarian food outlets. Aside from their food items, they had Pipino Iced Tea which we tried. I would recommend it any time – delicious and so cool, just right for the summer heat. Another gauge of how good it is? My vegetable-averse son actually loved it and wants me to buy more.

Pipino Vegetarian
Contact: Alessa Libongco Lanot
Mobile: +63917 5253772
Email: alessandralanot@gmail.com, alessandralibongco@gmail.com
Big Daddy’s Chicken
Being chicken lovers, my boys dragged me over to Big Daddy’s so they could sample the crispy chops fried to perfection the Taiwanese way. 
Big Daddy’s Chicken
Contact: Kim Ting
Mobile: +63922 8924878
Email: kimberly.ting@yahoo.com
The Fruit Garden
We discovered jams of all sorts using local fruits, French recipes and techniques. I saw their new chutney line offering mango, tomato and orange.
The Fruit Garden
Contact: Pierre Marmonier
Mobile: +63920 9453565
Email: pierre@thefruitgarden.net
Divine Desserts
I was tempted to try the very unusual Wasabi Kitkat Mousse but the word “wasabi” reminded me of nose-clearing spicy hotness. My older son though dared to try a sample and in his words, it was not hot like the real wasabi but there was a hint of its flavor in it. And the dessert was sweet. This stall had other yummy desserts for sampling as well, including home-made pickles!
Divine Desserts
Contact: Millet Soberano
Mobile: +63917 5359175
Email: milletbs@yahoo.com
Classic Confections
I was able to sample both their Almond Crunch and Calamansi Bars. Mmmmm!
Almond Crunch
Calamansi Bars
Classic Confections
Contact: Baba Ibazeta
Mobile: +63917 5245892
Email: bibazeta@yahoo.com
Carmela’s Best Ice Cream
This is owned, according to those manning the stall, by former Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr. The boys and I went first for their fresh milk including their chocolate milk. While the milk was really good and we all loved it, my marketing budget found the price a bit steep at around P120/bottle. At the rate my kids and I consume milk, I can’t buy too much of this at a time but I wouldn’t mind buying some every so often. The clincher for my dairy-loving boys though was their ice cream (Coffee as well as the strange sounding but very yummy Salted Caramel). The coffee flavored ice cream was well, coffee-tasting. But I was intrigued that the salty hint to the caramel ice cream actually complemented it very well. I actually ended up buying the Salted Caramel variant for the boys before we left the place.
Carmela’s Best Ice Cream
Contact: Paco Magsaysay
Mobile: +63917 8154406
Email: paco_magsaysay@yahoo.com.ph
Amaya Frozen Caramel
I met the husband and wife team who said that Amaya was their daughter’s name. Right now, their only product is the frozen caramel. I sampled it and boy, it’s a much better version than my favorite leche flan! The texture was melt-in-your-mouth leche flan but harder, due to its being frozen. The cold sensation as it hits the tongue is much better than leche flan that is eaten at room temperature. Thumbs up for me!
Amaya Frozen Caramel
Contact: Cathy Garcia
Mobile: +63928 5519734
Email: cathygarcia78@hotmail.com
Jaq’s Kitchen
The names of their products were somewhat unusual. The Vodka Tinapa intrigued me. I asked the lady there if it was spiked with vodka and she said yes! Hmmmm, next time I buy tinapa, I’ll try spiking it with vodka too.
Jaq’s Kitchen
Contact: Jennie Orros
Mobile: +63917 5296918
Email: jennieorros@yahoo.com
Simply Pie!
Healthy and delicious mini quiches! I got to try their Mushroom and Sour Cream quiche as well as the Spinach, Feta and Sundried Tomato quiche. Mmmmm…. They also have Bacon and Gruyere quiche.
Top is the Mushroom and Sour Cream quiche; the bottom is Spinach, Feta and Sundried Tomato.

Simply Pie!

Contact: Gail Ang
Mobile: +63922 8822194
Email: gailgenevieve@yahoo.com
Gourmet Dips and Dressings
Another healthy find – not just gourmet! I tried all 3 dips that Mira Angeles had as samples: Cheese Pimiento, Herbed Cream Cheese with Sun-dried Tomatoes (her bestseller), and the Basil Pesto Pate. Very, very good and tasty!

Basil Pesto Pate
Cheese Pimiento
Herbed Cream Cheese with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Gourmet Dips and Dressings

Contact: Mira Angeles
Mobile: +63917 5270913
Email: mira.angeles@gmail.com
Starbucks
With kids in tow, no stop is complete without Starbucks in the picture. We got a sampling of their Caramel Frappe and got free sachets of Italian Roast that was ready to be mixed with hot water for a great coffee break.
My Caramel Frappe and free Italian Roast blend

Starbucks (Rustan Coffee Corporation)

Telephone: 896-2755 / 895-2747
Email: customer@rustancoffee.ph
Website: http://www.starbucks.ph/
There were other booths we would have wanted to sample but had no time to visit. I also spotted LowCal Cafe’s Lindy Santiago who I met at the Suchero launch.
It was just a few hours spent at Yummy Eats but it was well worth our time (and gas) going out to the NBC Tent. Kudos to my dear friend Fran of frannywanny.com for organizing this very successful event. I hope there will be another one next year. 

Carrier launches its Designer Series airconditioners

Posted on by jane
Concepcion-Carrier Air Conditioning Company (CCAC) has long been a known name in air conditioning. At a recent launch I was invited to, I heard the Carrier executives explain why they decided to open up a designer line and what its intelligent features were.
For the longest time, airconditioners came in just one color – silver. Then in recent years, some brands came out with shell-white framed airconditioners. After doing a customer survey, Jojo Concepcion (CEO of CCAC) said that they were surprised to find out that for women, the color of choice was….BLACK!!! 
Well, I’m not surprised. Fashion-wise, black is THE color you see for daytime and nighttime wear. Whether worn in a casual gathering or in a formal occasion, black does look nice. Why not have an airconditioner that comes in black? It would look good and add class to the ambience of modern homes.
Midnight Black, Twilight Silver and Winter White are the colors of this series.

But not only do these designer airconditioners look good. They come with features that not only cool all the nooks and crannies of your home but also comes with an 8-in-1 filter (whoa!) and is supposed to save you energy costs because of its built-in intelligence.
Here are some of those features:
1. 8-in-1 filtering system – I only have 1 3M filter now in one airconditioner while with the others, I regularly take out and wash the filter that comes with the unit. But these designer series units have not 1 but 8 filters!
  • Anti-mold filter that prevents molds and other fungi from causing allergies, infections and toxicity
  • Zeolite filter/activated carbon filter – a natural earth mineral which remove volatile organic compounds and bacteria
  • Vitamin C filter – neutralizes free radicals and converts active oxygen to oxygen, preventing the increase of melanin which is the cause of dark spots on skin
  • Catechin filter – a bioflavonoid in green tea with antiviral/antioxidant qualities
  • Super sterilizer filter – harnesses the power of the 3 other filters (Sasa, Bio-Enzyme, Gingko Extract) to alleviate allergies and keep your family safe from harmful germs
  • Sasa – a bamboo extract with bacterial and viral deactivation properties
  • Bio-Enzyme – helps eliminate bacteria, viruses and molds
  • Gingko Extract – reduces agents that cause allergic reactions

2. Run-hour timer – This is similar to your prepaid card. You can automatically program your airconditioner to run according to a monthly budget and target energy consumption. 
3. Econo feature – when room temperature reaches a desired level, the unit shuts off and the electric fan turns on (used together with the Energy Savings Plug).
4. Cycle timer – you can program your unit to turn on and off at 30-minute intervals for a maximum of 24 hours.
5. Auto on/off – you can program your unit to turn on and off at preset times.
They also come with diagnostic features that alert you if the unit is not cooling, stops when ice forms on the coils, shows an error warning when the sensor has an open/short circuit, delayed start-up in case of power outage, and even a reminder when filters need changing or replacing. They come also with a 5-year compressor warranty and after-sales service.
These designer units are about the same price as most current standard airconditioning units. Here are the SRPs:

0.75 HP – Php 18,700
1.0 HP – Php 21,900
1.25 HP – Php 22,200
1.5 HP – Php 25,500

The Carrier designer series is available as window-type units or standalone slim variant for businesses and establishments.

Carrier executives at the launch with emcee, Tessa Prieto-Valdes

The Tour of Hope 2011 – 500: Going the Xtra Mile Against Cervical Cancer

Posted on by jane
As a woman with 2 daughters, I am well aware of the dangers of cervical cancer, a silent killer and now the number 2 killer of women worldwide.
So I enjoin you, if you are an avid biker or just own a bike which you use for leisurely exercise around your village, to come and support The Tour of Hope 2011 which aims to save 500 women from cervical cancer.
Organized by Bravehearts in partnership with Team David’s Salon and GlaxoSmithKline, this year’s tour aims to provide cervical cancer vaccinations for 500 women during its 5-day tour.
The tour will cover approximately 500 kilometers with stopovers in 5 major towns where, at each stop, 100 women (identified by their local officials) will get their first cervical vaccination. Beyond just giving women the vaccines, at each stopover there are going to be lectures to the local community about how to take care of their health.
This year’s Tour of Hope will kick off from TriNoMa Mall in Quezon City on May 28, 2011. From there, the tour will take bikers to Tarlac City, Tarlac on its first stopover, then to San Fernando, La Union where the renowned La Union Botanical Gardens is located. The third stop will be Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, home to historical churches and ancestral homes. The fourth stop is Laoag City, Ilocos Norte where tourists often go to visit the Juan Luna Shrine and get a glimpse of the Spolarium painting. Finally, the tour ends up in Paoay where bikers get to see the unique blend of Spanish and Chinese architecture at Paoay Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
To add glitz and excitement to the tour, several celebrities have pledged to join in as bikers including known names such as Matteo Guidicelli, Sen. Pia Cayetano, Marvin Kiefer, Rovilson Fernandez, Troy Montero, Aubrey Miles, Will Devaughn, Richie Hardin, Richard Herrera, Janna Victoria, Jeena Lopez, Gem Padilla-Thomas, Anthony Pangilinan and David Charlton. Tessa Prieto-Valdes is also currently working on a special project that will help raise funds for cervical cancer prevention.
Team David’s Salon with Tessa Prieto-Valdes
Some of the bikers who will join the Tour of Hope 2011 at its launch
Do you need to bike the entire 500 kms? NO. Since this is open to anyone who loves biking, you choose how far you want to go and at what pace you wish to go.
To join the Tour of Hope 2011 on May 28, 2011, please email Joyette Jopson at joyette.jopson@gmail.com or contact her at 0917-8827352.

How (and how not) to activate a prepaid Smart Bro micro sim on the ipad

Posted on by jane

When I got my 3G iPad last year, there were no prepaid micro sims available yet at Globe or Smart so I went to one of the stalls in Theater Mall, Greenhills where they charged me P100 to cut up a standard Smart Buddy sim to micro sim size.

I discovered that Smart had this smart feature called Web Connect.

You register the sim online, fill up some info about yourself, assign a password, a TPIN (optional) and you were good to go. Web Connect allowed you to inquire about your sim balance, avail of promo packages, and get technical help when needed.

For several months, I was happy. I’d use the Pasaload feature to load up my iPad whenever i needed to go 3G. But when carriers began offering prepaid plans with unlimited surfing for a day, a week and a month, I realized that being charged P20/hour was getting costly, especially since I needed to be online whenever I was out of the house.

Mistake # 1 – Wrong Sim

When the Smart system detects that your sim is a Smart Buddy, you only see call/text promo packages on your Web Connect account! So all that time, I thought an ipad could never avail of unlimited surfing packages and had to be content with hourly rates. Yun pala, I had the wrong sim! It had to be Smart Bro!

So last week, off I went to Smart Wireless Center and purchased another sim, costing only P40. This time, I made sure it was a Smart Bro prepaid micro sim.

Mistake # 2 – Registering on Web Connect via Web

As I’m always wifi-connected at home, it was just natural for me to register on Web Connect while on my home network. Apparently, Smart’s system requires that you register by being on 3G AND using the iPad’s micro sim. Otherwise, your Smart Bro packages and other promos don’t show up on your account’s screen.

I learned this the hard way and had to communicate with @SmartCares (Smart’s Twitter account). They had to refresh my micro sim so I could register again.

I think I successfully activated my micro sim because last I checked, I could already see the Smart Bro packages for unlimited surfing options.

Just one last hirit (my suggestion) for Smart people.

The iPad has no texting function unlike a smartphone where you text a given format to subscribe to unlimited surfing. The way the Smart system is now, it appears that you need to first connect to Smart using your 3G connection (which means you get charged P10 just to connect). Then you choose an unlimited surfing option, say the P50 unlimited surfing for one day. So in effect, I get charged P60 instead of what should just have been P50 had I subscribed on a smartphone.

Can Smart please find a workaround so I can register for surfing options via wifi on Web Connect instead of spending P10 just to connect via 3G? Anyway, the account requires a password so no one else can enter the account and register for a surfing option and other packages.

California Crunch Cassava Chips

Posted on by jane
When you hear the word “cassava”, what comes to mind?
For me, it has always been cassava cake or bibingka cassava, a cassava-based cake topped with a coconut milk and egg yolk custard and finished off with cheese toppings.
So when I was asked if I wanted to review a new brand of chips made of cassava, I immediately said yes. It piqued my curiosity since I could not imagine what chips made of cassava would look or taste like.
This is what the cassava chips looked like when it was sent to me.
The pictures of the ridged chips on the front of the packaging reminded me of Pringles. And sure enough, that is what it actually looked like.
We opened the Sour Cream & Onions pack first since that is one of my favorite flavors. The chips are slightly thicker than Pringles. Unlike Pringles which tend to break apart with a slight bite, it takes a bit more bite to break the cassava chips. But that’s okay for me as it gives a crisper crunch experience.

I must say, the chips surprised me as they did not really have that cassava taste I was expecting. It turned out tasting like regular chips. The same sweet, fresh and tangy combination of the sour cream and onions was still there. My youngest son actually took the entire pack and sat down in front of the TV munching it. That’s a thumbs up, I think, as far as the Sour Cream & Onions flavor.
A few days later, we tried the Barbecue flavored pack. I had already seen another blogger friend, Richard’s, comment that the barbecue was pretty spicy so I was already forewarned. True enough, I only got to eat 3 pieces of the barbecue chips before it became too spicy for me. But again, that’s just me. My boys gobbled up the rest of it.
As a mom, I prefer to choose healthier options for my kids. But kids will be kids and will always want to munch on chips. Reading the press materials given to me, I see that cassava has twice the fiber content and has a higher level of potassium compared to potatoes.
I also noticed that on the upper right of the packaging, it said that the cassava chips are 0% cholesterol and has 30% less fat than potato chips. So if California Crunch Cassava Chips taste like its potato chips equivalents, then this could be a healthier option for kids
Each 120 grams pack of California Crunch Cassava Chips currently retails at Php 44.50. It is available at SM Supermarket and SM Hypermart at the moment but there are plans to add outlets soon.
California Crunch Cassava Chips
Website: www.calicrunch.com

Human Nature’s Feminine Wash and Deodorant

Posted on by jane

I recently went to an intimate dinner with the Human Nature team, including Camille Meloto (daughter of Gawad Kalinga’s Tony Meloto).

Human Nature was a natural discovery by Anna Meloto-Wilk, her husband Dylan Wilk and Camille on a trip to the U.S. where they saw how natural and ethical beauty products were penetrating the market and they wondered how the Philippines’ rich, natural resources could produce such beauty products but at a much lower cost.

The story of Human Nature is, in itself, something amazing. The people behind it emphasize that its goal is not simply profit since they are a social enterprise. They live by 3 principles: PRO-PHILIPPINES, PRO-POOR AND PRO-ENVIRONMENT.

Those 3 principles are strictly observed in the development of new products. All Human Nature products are 100% sourced in the Philippines unless there is no availability of certain required raw materials. Gawad Kalinga residents and communities are the targets of livelihood by Human Nature. Where the raw materials are available, communities are taught how to extract these for production and these are bought at fair prices (sometimes, even above market price) by Human Nature in order to encourage the residents to continue providing their raw materials. And lastly, being aware that they are stewards also of this planet, Human Nature products from the raw materials to the packaging are closely researched and examined to ensure that at every step of production, the materials are naturally derived and do not cause environmental toxins in the different processes. Recyclable bottles are used for packaging.

You probably know already about their very popular and always-out-of-stock Citronella Bug Spray which is DEET-free and very effective as far as keeping those nasty mosquitoes off you. And friends have recommended their Hand Sanitizer to me so much so that on my next shopping day, I bought a couple of bottles to start off.

Two new products were introduced to us: Human Nature Feminine Wash and Human Nature Deodorant.

Human Nature Feminine Wash

I am very particular about what feminine wash I use and get for my girls. And why not? it cleanses a very private part of yourself. I want to be sure that I am not introducing toxins into my body when using this. This is why I was happy to find out that Human Nature had come up with their own feminine wash product.


At Php 59.75 for a 50 ml bottle, the Human Nature feminine wash is definitely affordable and competitively priced compared to chemical-based feminine washes in the market today. Many feminine washes contain triclosan, parabens and SLS/SLES which are considered harmful chemicals. Human Nature’s feminine wash has none of those chemicals. Its natural ingredients only contain the following: aloe leaf extract and chamomile essential oil (both known for their anti-bacterial, soothing, calming and aromatic properties), coconut and sunflower oils, natural cleansing agents, and rice and anise extracts that work as natural preservatives. Because it is gentle and mild and all-natural as well, it does not significantly alter the pH balance of a woman’s flora as is prone to happen when frequently washing with  scented soaps and perfumed feminine hygiene products.

The table above tells you that the ingredients that go into the feminine wash actually cost much more than those that go into the chemically-based feminine wash products but by encouraging GK communities to help in the production and with the help of good marketing strategies and the direct selling network, Human Nature has managed to keep the selling price competitive.

Human Nature Deodorant

What attracted me to the description of Human Nature’s deodorant were the words “natural, non-darkening”.

Human Nature does not tout this deodorant as an anti-perspirant. In fact, it does NOT stop sweating. And I think that is good because we eliminate toxins from our body through our sweat. That is what I learned as a yogini practicing yoga. The more you sweat, the faster you detox. Unfortunately, I myself have resorted to using commercially available anti-perspirant/deodorant combinations because many brands I have tried could not really stop the sweat from being contaminated with bacteria and turning into body odor. The main ingredient in Human Nature’s deodorant which will stop the development of body odor is chitosan, which has a natural, anti-bacterial property. It is 100% naturally-derived from the shells of sea crustaceans. It is also biocompatible, non-toxic and biodegradable.

Chitosan has also been clinically proven to promote wound healing, is anti-itching, anti-microbial and an excellent skin moisturizer. This is probably the answer to one of my girls’ dilemmas. She is allergic to many deodorant brands and these would darken her skin maybe because it causes itching and when she scratches, the aluminum chloride in the deodorant penetrates her skin and causes it to darken. I’m having her try Human Nature’s deodorant now to see if it is effective on her underarms.

Curious, I also asked them if they had plans for alum (tawas) to be incorporated in their deodorant products. I’ve been using tawas products on areas other than my underarms and they have been quite effective. The team of Human Nature however replied that tawas was not in their near future but could be worth looking at.

Next time you’re about to buy feminine wash or deodorant, stop and take a look at Human Nature’s. Not only will you be helping the livelihood of Filipinos but you will also save the environment as well as do your body a favor by using all-natural and organic products.

Check out Human Nature’s website at www.humanheartnature.com. For orders, go to your nearest Human Nature Branch or call (02) 931-5787. You may also visit Rustans & Shopwise for a select line of Human Nature products.

Yummy Eats: A cooking and eating fair this May

Posted on by jane
(click to enlarge image)
I love good food but before I try out restaurants, I always check my foodie friends for recommendations and feedback. Now, here is a painless way to try good food because everything under the NBC Tent, Fort on May 21, 2011 will represent the best food finds specially chosen by Team Yummy of Yummy Magazine.
Yummy Eats is a cooking and eating (I love that combination!) fair that will run from 10am to 6pm. Not only will you get to check out Team Yummy’s recommended food but there are activities running throughout the day.
In fact, I got a Facebook invite from LowCal Cafe to Yummy Eats just today as they are one of the best food finds. LowCal Cafe is behind those sugar-free but still delish dessert concoctions which even diabetics can take. I am actually hoping they will have their Sansrival at the fair. Their Sansrival is sweetened with Suchero (coco sugar) which I tried at the Suchero event some time back and I tell you, it tasted just as good as the sugar version (my post on Suchero is HERE).

I am looking forward to a day of eating because I am sure I’ll bump into my foodie friends there as well as get to taste some of the best food in town. And yes, I’ll do my workouts before and after this event.

The entrance fee is Php150 but pay only Php100 when you present the May issue of Yummy Magazine at the door.

Kudos to my neighbor and foodie friend, Fran of frannywanny.com who is the force behind this event.

Hope to see you there!

Free Mac App: MacX iPad iPhone DVD Video Converter Pack

Posted on by jane
From April 20 to May 3, 2011, this $35 Mac app is FREE as an Easter giveaway.
Maybe you’re wondering if there’s a need for this since iTunes and QuickTimeX offer iOS export settings. But this application comes in handy for formats that both programs above may have a hard time recognizing. It’s a pretty nifty utility for converting video formats into those compatible with your iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. 
The download gives you two free two-in-one programs:
DVD Ripper

Just load your DVD into the Mac, select your output format (iPad, iPhone, iPod, mp4, MOV or even Music) and click “Start” to begin conversion. EASY!

Video Converter
With this second application, you can likewise convert video files into the output formats as in DVD Ripper above, with the additional output format suitable for YouTube.

Note: Since this is being given away for free, the site says that no update or technical support is provided with this version.

To download this free dual pack, go to the link HERE and use the generated license code to register your app after download. Remember, you only have till May 3, 2011 to download this for free.
HAPPY EASTER!!!