Aside from the flood and traffic, the rainy season has one more thing to inflict upon us – malaria and dengue-causing mosquitoes. Protect yourself and your child with an organic insect repellent like Human Heart Nature’s new citronella bug spray. Not only is it completely safe and effective; it’s also free from the harsh, toxic chemicals found in conventional insect repellents.

One such harmful ingredient found in the average insect repellent is DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide). It was originally created as a pesticide for farms until the US Army made use of it on their military after their jungle experiences in World War II. According to lab rat studies by the Duke University Medical center, long-term use of DEET kills neurons, which affects the functioning of the nervous system. This is very dangerous for children, whose developing nervous systems are vulnerable to the effects of chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Other studies from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry in Atlanta, Georgia discovered that DEET can cause skin allergic reactions, birth defects, and hormone disruption in the long run.

So keep your child safe from mosquitoes and toxins with this 100% organic insect repellent from Human Heart Nature. Ingredients include citronella oil, a natural insect repellent, virgin coconut oil for its moisturizing effects, and organic lemongrass, rosemary, and lavender essential oils for a pleasant aroma. Only P84.75 for a 50ml bottle at Human Heart Nature or a dealer near you.
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Have you visited my personal blog, Touched by an Angel, my husband’s blog at The Warrior Lawyer and my other blogs like

Pinoy Food Photo Blog for Restaurants & Food Events
Your Pinoy Real Estate Broker for Real Estate Needs
Techie Gadgets for Cellphones, Laptops & Gadgets. Please pray for us that justice will soon be served with regards to my son’s death at the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort.

You might also want to visit my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com.

Thanks for visiting….Noemi Lardizabal-Dado

For a society that doesn’t think twice about our polluted surroundings, we sure are obsessed with personal hygiene. It probably has to do with the awful summer heat and the buckets of sweat that we must secrete everyday. Even during the rainy season, the humidity that comes before a downpour makes our skin feel sticky and gross.

It’s no wonder that Filipino men and women shower more than once a day to feel fresh and smell good. We’re also constantly in search for products that will keep us fresh-smelling all day. To help us stay cool and give us that just-showered sensation all day, Rexona came out with a new line of products called Shower Clean. Aside from roll-on anti-perspirant deodorants, which the company is well-known for, the Shower Clean line includes deodorant spray, deo-lotion, and deo-stick. Each product is infused with a fresh, just-showered scent that will last all day, no matter how hot it gets. Pick one up at the nearest drug store or supermarket and feel the difference.————

Have you visited my personal blog, Touched by an Angel, my husband’s blog at The Warrior Lawyer and my other blogs like

Pinoy Food Photo Blog for Restaurants & Food Events
Your Pinoy Real Estate Broker for Real Estate Needs
Techie Gadgets for Cellphones, Laptops & Gadgets. Please pray for us that justice will soon be served with regards to my son’s death at the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort.

You might also want to visit my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com.

Thanks for visiting….Noemi Lardizabal-Dado

Did you know that soaps – even those made for babies – contain harsh chemicals and irritants? For the last ten years, By Nature Handmade soaps has made organic handmade soaps available and affordable for the average consumer. This May, on By Nature’s tenth birthday, they’re giving away lots of prizes for their 10-10-10 Promo! View the mechanics here.————

Have you visited my personal blog, Touched by an Angel, my husband’s blog at The Warrior Lawyer and my other blogs like

Pinoy Food Photo Blog for Restaurants & Food Events
Your Pinoy Real Estate Broker for Real Estate Needs
Techie Gadgets for Cellphones, Laptops & Gadgets. Please pray for us that justice will soon be served with regards to my son’s death at the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort.

You might also want to visit my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com.

Thanks for visiting….Noemi Lardizabal-Dado

On March 24-27 and March 29-30, enjoy up to 80% off on your favorite brands at the Summer Sale in Robinson’s Equitable Tower. Participating brands include Dial, Adidas, White Rain, Lander, Esprit, Jeanne Arthes, Calgon, Nautica, Chubs, and Sally Hansen. All major credit cards are accepted, but try not to shop too much!

Robinson’s Equitable Tower is located at ADB Avenue corner Poveda Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. ————

Have you visited my personal blog, Touched by an Angel, my husband’s blog at The Warrior Lawyer and my other blogs like

Pinoy Food Photo Blog for Restaurants & Food Events
Your Pinoy Real Estate Broker for Real Estate Needs
Techie Gadgets for Cellphones, Laptops & Gadgets. Please pray for us that justice will soon be served with regards to my son’s death at the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort.

You might also want to visit my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com.

Thanks for visiting….Noemi Lardizabal-Dado

Human Heart Nature is coming out with a bunch of new products this year, and the new line of strawberry scented organic body care products looks too tasty to resist!

Strawberry Anti-Bacterial Hand Soap
200ml – Php 139.75

Strawberry Hand and Body Lotion
100ml – Php 94.75
200ml – Php 159.75

Strawberry Body Butter
50g – Php 89.75
100g – Php 139.75
200g – Php 239.75

Strawberry Hand Sanitizer
50ml – Php 69.75

I wish Human Heart Nature thought to include shampoos and body washes in the strawberry line, because I love how strawberry-scented bath products smell. In any case, you can avail of these delicious berry-scented products through the Human Heart Nature website, the Echo Store, and other retailers. ————

Have you visited my personal blog, Touched by an Angel, my husband’s blog at The Warrior Lawyer and my other blogs like

Pinoy Food Photo Blog for Restaurants & Food Events
Your Pinoy Real Estate Broker for Real Estate Needs
Techie Gadgets for Cellphones, Laptops & Gadgets. Please pray for us that justice will soon be served with regards to my son’s death at the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort.

You might also want to visit my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com.

Thanks for visiting….Noemi Lardizabal-Dado

I certainly wasn’t old enough to appreciate The Body Shop’s best-selling originals when they were released in the 1980s, and I’m glad that they brought them back now that I’ve got my own money to spend and a new appreciation for bath and body products. The Body Shop Originals are a line of fresh, fruity facial washes, cleansers, bath gels, and hair care products that smell yummy enough to eat! They were the store’s best-selling items in the 1980s and they’re here for a limited time – and for a reduced price. If you buy them now, you get to snag them for 30% less! It’s a really good deal considering that the average price of one bottle is around P550.

Check out the entire line under the jump!

Banana Shampoo - Gently cleanse and nourish your hair with a shampoo that smells good enough to eat and will leave your hair feeling clean, soft and silky.

Banana Conditioner – Nourish and protect your hair with an irresistible smelling conditioner that leaves it free of tangles and easy to manage. I actually have this one, and I can attest to its delicious banana scent!

Passion Fruit Facial Cleansing Gel – Wash away excess oil, makeup and impurities with a refreshing cleansing milk that gently cleanses without drying to leave skin feeling soft, smooth and refreshed.

Cucumber Cleansing Milk - Wash away excess oil, makeup and impurities with a refreshing cleansing milk that gently cleanses without drying to leave skin feeling soft, smooth and refreshed.

Cucumber Freshening Water (Toner) - Remove excess traces of oil, dirt and makeup with a mild toner that will refresh and soothe your skin without over drying it.

Dewberry Shower Gel - Feel fresh and clean with a deliciously fruity gel that creates a luxurious foamy lather to leave skin feeling cleansed and gently fragranced.

Dewberry Body Lotion – Moisturize and hydrate your skin with a deliciously fruity body lotion that will leave it feeling soft, smooth and fragrant.

Fuzzy Peach Shower Gel – Enjoy the rich lather of a soap-free, cleansing gel that leaves your skin feeling clean, soft, supple and scented with the sweet and fruity scent of fresh peaches.

Green Apple Shower Gel - Feel fresh and clean with the luxurious foamy lather of a fresh and fruity cleansing gel that will leave skin feeling cleansed and gently fragranced.

Carrot Moisture Cream - Hydrate and protect your skin with a rich, moisturizing, non-greasy daily moisture cream that leaves the skin feeling beautifully soft and supple.

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Have you visited my personal blog, Touched by an Angel, my husband’s blog at The Warrior Lawyer and my other blogs like

Pinoy Food Photo Blog for Restaurants & Food Events
Your Pinoy Real Estate Broker for Real Estate Needs
Techie Gadgets for Cellphones, Laptops & Gadgets. Please pray for us that justice will soon be served with regards to my son’s death at the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort.

You might also want to visit my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com.

Thanks for visiting….Noemi Lardizabal-Dado

If I had known about the existence of Human Heart Nature months ago, I would have stopped buying commercially-made shampoos, conditioners, and beauty products (and saved myself a couple of hundred bucks). We take the body care products we use for granted and assume that they are safe, simply because we find them on the shelves. The truth is that commercially-made cosmetics and beauty products are laden with a number of chemical preservatives and toxins that can cause infertility and speed up the development of some cancers. I suggest that you read this interview with Stacy Malkan, author of the book Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry. It’ll give you a great overview on the harmful chemicals in our cosmetics and how to avoid them.

I used to have the impression that organic body care products were expensive and mostly available in the US, which is why I was so delighted to discover Human Heart Nature. First of all, Human Heart Nature is 100% Filipino-owned and 100% Filipino-made. Unlike other manufacturers who are only out to make a quick profit, Human Heart Nature was set up with the goal of providing more livelihood to Gawad Kalinga residents and communities. Their products are very affordable because the owners want to encourage the use of organic, environmentally-friendly cosmetics and sustainable livelihoods for organic farmers. Best of all, Human Heart Nature products are just as good – if not better – than their commercially-made counterparts! I bought a tiny sample bottle of their shampoo and conditioner a few weeks ago and fell in love with their sweet scent and the way my hair looked and felt after my shower. The Mango Styling Creme is also very excellent – wait for the review at my new beauty blog.

You can buy Human Heart Nature products through www.humanheartnature.com and pay via Gcash, bank deposit, or credit card! The credit card payment option won me over and I started shopping like crazy last night. Here’s what I bought.

Organic Shampoo in Mandarin

Made with egg white, aloe vera, and extra virgin coconut oil, this citrusy shampoo deeply moisturizes and cleans. Perfect for someone with chemically treated hair. You can give it a try by purchasing the tiny 50ml bottle for just P34. I bought the 200ml bottle for only P109.

Organic Conditioner in Mango Butter

The organic conditioner is available in three finishes – mandarin, peppermint, lemongrass, or unscented. I chose the mandarin one to complement my shampoo, and also because it provides a silky smooth finish. The 50 ml bottle sells for P34 as well, whereas the 200ml bottle costs P99.

Tomato Toner

I haven’t tried the Tomato Toner myself but according to reviews, even girls with very sensitive skin no longer break out after using this product regularly. I hope it works on me! It only costs P99 – a far cry from the expensive toners I usually buy at Clinique.

Organic Lip Balm in Peppermint

I’m a sucker for peppermint-scented products, so I decided to give this one a try. Unlike commercially available lip balms, this one only costs P 49!————

Have you visited my personal blog, Touched by an Angel, my husband’s blog at The Warrior Lawyer and my other blogs like

Pinoy Food Photo Blog for Restaurants & Food Events
Your Pinoy Real Estate Broker for Real Estate Needs
Techie Gadgets for Cellphones, Laptops & Gadgets. Please pray for us that justice will soon be served with regards to my son’s death at the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort.

You might also want to visit my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com.

Thanks for visiting….Noemi Lardizabal-Dado

Beauty comes at a price, but the price tag doesn’t always have to be high – especially if you know where to shop. Those looking for affordable beauty and body care products need to look no further than HBC (Hortaleza Beauty Center), a family owned store that provides products made especially for Filipinos. The average item at HBC won’t set you back more than 200 or 300, but prices are even lower now that they’ve launched the Tatak Exclusibo Sale.

Last night, we attended the formal launch of the sale and got a sneak preview of the items up for grabs.

San San, HBC’s in-house makeup brand, offers really affordable products for below P200 (although I’m not sure if this is the sale price). I was intrigued by their kohl eyeliner, which comes with a sponge.

The highlight of the evening was an auction of three large chests filled with HBC products. Everyone who entered the door received gift certificates to use for the auction, and my mom got too excited with the bidding that we ended up winning the first chest!

We ended up with lots of San San products, mostly face powders, vitamin creams, lip gloss, nail polish, and cheek tints. We’ll probably be raffling some of these off in the future.

As for me, I bought two items from Body Recipe – a hair spa creme and a coconut body scrub. I tried both of them when I showered last night and I was impressed by the quality of these products. The coconut body scrub has a fragrant but subtle coconut-y scent and a generous mix of scrubbing beads that left my skin feeling softer and cleaner. I wish the coconut scent lasted longer on my skin; I would have loved to keep on smelling it even after my shower. The hair spa creme is made of coconut oil, sabalia, and horestail extract, and works like a glorified conditioner; after shampooing, simply coat your wet hair with the product starting from the roots to the tips. Massage gently. Although the instructions on the bottle said to leave your hair under a steamer for 15-20 minutes, I only let the product stay on for about five or ten minutes before rinsing it off. My hair ended up smelling sweet and feeling unbelievably soft after I let it dry. The best part about it is that it’s really affordable – I think it only cost around P195. Watson’s has hair spa products too, but I think they’re about a hundred pesos more expensive. The Body Recipe Hair Treatment Creme was definitely a good buy, and will be very useful after I get my hair digipermed this weekend.

Visit the HBC website to find the nearest HBC store in your city. You can purchase HBC products through the website too!————

Have you visited my personal blog, Touched by an Angel, my husband’s blog at The Warrior Lawyer and my other blogs like

Pinoy Food Photo Blog for Restaurants & Food Events
Your Pinoy Real Estate Broker for Real Estate Needs
Techie Gadgets for Cellphones, Laptops & Gadgets. Please pray for us that justice will soon be served with regards to my son’s death at the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort.

You might also want to visit my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com.

Thanks for visiting….Noemi Lardizabal-Dado

The Body Shop just released a brand new fragrance and is giving away discounts in honor of its arrival. Just buy the new limited edition White Musk Midnight Iris and save P100 on your next fragrance purchase (except soap). You can also enjoy all these great deals and freebies:

Promo available now at all Body Shop stores.————

Have you visited my personal blog, Touched by an Angel, my husband’s blog at The Warrior Lawyer and my other blogs like

Pinoy Food Photo Blog for Restaurants & Food Events
Your Pinoy Real Estate Broker for Real Estate Needs
Techie Gadgets for Cellphones, Laptops & Gadgets. Please pray for us that justice will soon be served with regards to my son’s death at the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort.

You might also want to visit my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com.

Thanks for visiting….Noemi Lardizabal-Dado

What I like best about Clinique products – aside from the fact that they work very well – is that you get tons of freebies when you buy a certain amount. Now that September’s about to roll around, it’s time for yet another Clinique Bonus! For a single minimum purchase of P3,500, you’ll receive a 6-piece gift set that includes a make-up back filled with travel sizes of All About Eyes Rich, Lash Power Mascara in Black Onyx, Fresh Bloom in Peony,
Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, Super City Block SPF 25, and Take The Day Off Cleansing Oil.

If you spend up to P4000 on a single purchase, you’ll receive this chic travel bag for your out-of-town trips!

Offer is good until September 17, 2009, so avail of it while you can.————

Have you visited my personal blog, Touched by an Angel, my husband’s blog at The Warrior Lawyer and my other blogs like

Pinoy Food Photo Blog for Restaurants & Food Events
Your Pinoy Real Estate Broker for Real Estate Needs
Techie Gadgets for Cellphones, Laptops & Gadgets. Please pray for us that justice will soon be served with regards to my son’s death at the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort.

You might also want to visit my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com.

Thanks for visiting….Noemi Lardizabal-Dado