Haul: By Nature

Once again, this post is late. So late that I could follow on with a review on all the products, which I won't. Yes, I am a bad blogger. But then, I'm no longer on maternity leave.


To sum up my hauls, the first haul made two weeks before the latest were soaps and Disinfect It! Spray.

From top left is Citrus White, which I hoped would erase the dark photosensitive marks on my body brought on by the pregnancy. It didn't work as of yet but I only used it for a week. I can only review on scent and it's non-drying properties. Efficacy will have to wait. To report, it is citrusy.

I liked Milkenhoney best out of all the soaps. I'll post some more love on it later. Scent is fresh honey from a jar.

Lavender Treat was somewhat of a disappointment for me. I expected it to smell like lavender, really but it smelled a whole lot like herbs to me. It wasn't sweet enough for the lavender lover in me.

Olive Beauty is the least scented out of all the soaps. I like it for my hair but we use it more on baby's skin. So far so good with my baby's super sensitive skin. One bar could last 6 months.

Dairy Bar is the creamiest soap out of the lot but please don't expect the scent of milk. It actually smelled herbal as well.

To sum up my soap-buying experience for By Nature, I like them a lot and they deliver as promised when it comes to the effect of the soap on the skin. Except for Citrus White. It will probably take the whole soap for me to be able to judge any effect at all. This is fair, I think. If a soap whitens you in the first week, it is stripping way too much of your skin layers. Much better to wait it out.

I didn't mention the last soap, Cocoa Butter Melt, because I didn't buy it for myself.

Additionally, I also got a bottle of Disinfect It Spray. It's a water-based disinfectant. I like it. It smells like band aid, weirdly enough, and I tote it around in my bag.

My next haul was a follow-up. I have bought the Baby Oilotion and Baby Salve before and the last haul had the Disinfect It Spray. The only new buy in the lot was the Sunblock Away. It's SPF 55. I figure that if I was going to use a whitening soap, I better load up on sun protection. It's working so far and I'm skipping the moisturizer as it's oil-based.

As usual, I got the lot through Pedala from Organic Joys. Aimee was so nice. She sent me the hauls once the order was confirmed before I even paid for them. So then I had to pay promptly.

Haul: Ilog Maria

This post is late as late can be, just like the time I arrive at the office. The actual excitement of having the products have gone already. But nevertheless, I figured the blog deserves a post for this weekend.

The following was ordered and received quite promptly:

Feminine wash as I like the scent and it feels fresh *there*.

Propolis ointment for my sister. She's having her first baby and would like to try it. It works well but it has menthol which I'm avoiding.

Honey Face Scrub for the really irritating flares. This works but the condensation in the refrigerator has changed it. I'll post more on that later.

Milk Bath Salt in lavender for the annoying stretch marks. This smells divine, I could sing just smelling this on me.

Insect repellant for baby's playpen. I just get a smidgeon and rub it round and no insects for the night dares to go near.

Shampoo. I've posted lots on this already so moving on.

Liniment for my mother's leg pain. She says it works wonders but it sure does smell. Not a bad smell but we're trying to avoid menthol right now.

So there. I'll post on my By Nature haul next and then the next batch on that. Ok, I'll post reviews and other stuff as well. I'm a bad blogger. No wonder I don't get money out of this.

Craves: Saya Baby Carrier

I am in full crave mode for the Saya Baby Carrier. We have two carriers at home already but with me not going out without baby these days as I prefer breastfeeding him directly, I'm trying to find a carrier that is convenient, has great shoulder and back support and is easy to breastfeed in. Baby is already 5 kilos, by the way and he's just a month old. I can barely lift him without my wrists aching afterward.

The Saya is made in the Philippines and is worth P950. From all reviews I've read so far, it's a favorite of baby-wearing mommies and is comfortable for mommies and babies who are ok with swaddling. What I'm really excited about is that it looks easy to breastfeed baby in. I'm not sure as I have yet to try it but it looks like I can even switch breasts while baby is in the carrier. I want this carrier so much I'm almost convinced that I need it.

Haul: Ilog Maria

Above image is what's left of my second Ilog Maria haul. That's 3/4 of their Honey Glycerin Face Soap, whole Honey Propolis Feminine Wash, half of their Milk and Honey Soap, a whole bar of lavender soap, Propolis Throat Spray with a few squirts used and a month's supply of Royal Jelly. I forgot to add in the family size shampoo and lip balm.

Just to confess publicly, it took me over a week to pay for my order after getting a confirmation. It wasn't because I was out of money. The haul costs less than a thousand and considering how many products I got and how happy I am with them, I consider the price really good. My hubby just kept forgetting to pay for me though. I got really embarrassed over it but thankfully enough, Ilog Maria sent me my order promptly after confirming payment. I am a bad bad costumer.

To give a quick overview of the products, I'd have to say that the honey face soap smells weird and as expected of a glycerin soap, melts easily. I can't vouch for effectiveness yet as I have yet to finish off the quarter of a bar I'm using. The feminine wash smells delicious and also melts easily. It probably is delicious as the rats got to it one night. Thank goodness I like using my soaps by quarters so I still have some left. It leaves a minty feeling behind. The milk and honey soap is love. I use it as hand soap and it doesn't dry my hands no matter how often I wash and with taking care of the baby, I wash my hands lots without moisturizing with lotion or oil after. I also love the lavender soap and it leaves a really good smell but it's a little more drying but not by much. The throat spray tastes weird but is effective for bad mouth stuff. I have to remember to reorder 2 more of these. Warning on overuse though as I sprayed a little too much one night and woke up with a really sore throat. 2 sprays on a single day max. The royal jelly I bought for my mother and she says it tastes weird. No note on whether she's feeling a bit more spry.

On a note on the ones not in the picture, the shampoo, I still love lots and not regretting getting the family size at all. The reason for the second haul is actually because I ran out of their personal size shampoo and I wanted to repurchase. They also have a personal size lavender version which sounds promising. The lip balm, I also love but regretting buying as the old tub is not even a quarter used up. The thing about buying handmade and/or organic is you have to use it up within 6 months as they usually don't have preservatives. With how little I actually use per swipe, I'm not sure I'm going to finish off 2 tubs within said period.

Craves: By Nature

As I've posted my wish list from the Ilog Maria catalog last time, I may as well share another list from another line I love.

I would like to try the following:

Cocoa Butter Melt, P115
This soap is moisturizing and fragrance-free, which is ideal while I'm still breastfeeding. I actually bought one already but sold it to a friend of mine whose father has a skin condition.

Lavender Treat, P145
There's absolutely no question that I love lavender.

Dairy Bar, P145
I've always wanted to try goat milk in my soap.

Baby Blue, P145
This soap is good for sensitive skin and I've learned that the main ingredient, blue chamomile, is good for boo-boos.

Just Tea Tree, P145
My hubby's skin tends to flare up and I'm wondering if I should get him this to stop said flares.

No Bites Bar, P145
Dengue season. That's all.

Disinfect It! Spray, P190
Alcohol is not good for babies so I'd like to try this so as to have something on hand that won't do any harm to my child.

Facial Oil in One, P250
I've found that their salves and balms are really good for my face so I'm guessing that the dedicated product would probably be even better.

Moisturizing Insect Repellant, P260
Dengue season.

Moisturizing Oilotion, P260
For the same reason as the facial oil, I'd like to try their oilotion for the body.

The following I already have and tried and would like to haul once again:

Total Attraction, P175
I love the scent, really. I want this for shampoo needs.

Olive Beauty, P175
I'm using this and baby is using this, so I need another haul.

Baby Salve, P200
I initially used the baby salve on an insect bite on myself and hubby. I'd like to buy a dedicated one for baby.

Balm of Butter, P350

I use this on my stretch marks, on my face before taking a bath and as a base for salt scrub. I've got half the tub through. I need more, I think. Or maybe not because the tub is so big.

Images from the official By Nature website.

Craves: Ilog Maria

I ordered my second batch of Ilog Maria products last Sunday and hopefully will receive them within the week. However, even with said order, with how much I enjoy the products I got from them last time, there are a bunch of products from their catalog I'm keen on trying that I haven't ordered. Maybe I'll get to visit the farm one of these days or one of the peeps I know will and I can give them my shopping list.

My wish list from them are as follows:


Propolis Bath Salts (lavender), P104.50
I know I can use the fine salt in our pantry for my at-home scrubs but these use salt from the Dead Sea. I know it's kinda stupid because a scrub is a scrub but there's no beating the price compared to similar products found elsewhere. Actually, the same thing could be said for all of their products. Of course I'd pick lavender. I need the calming effect.


Royal Jelly Hair Oil, P121.00
My hair is generally uncontrollable, except for right now as I don't go out of the house, so I tend to haul on hair care products.


Sting-Less Mosquito Repellant, P77.00
It's dengue season. I would have ordered this already if I were to go out more but since I'm stuck in the house till the end of next month, what would be the point?


Aromatherapy Oil (lavender and citronella), P99.00 each
As mentioned, I always prefer lavender scents. I'm choosing citronella as well for the insect-repelling properties.


Leather Balsam (S), P88.00
I'm not sure I need this. I'm just dreaming of buying an LV bag and needing this. Wishes!!!

Honey Face Scrub, P154.00
I haven't bought this as I'm not having a lot of problems on my face right now (other than big bags under the eyes) but I'm guessing that once I go back to the polluted outside world, I'll be needing a good face scrub.


RJ Face Oil, P121.00
RJ Honeymilk lotion, P132.00
RJ Cleanser Moisturizer, P88.00
I'm vain, so yes, I want these. But then, I don't need these. So it's a toss-off but this is a wish list and I can list anything I want.


Virgin Honey, P330.00
You're not supposed to eat them but I so want to.



Propolis Cider Liniment, P104.50
I don't have a lot of aches and pains. Ok, I have a persistent back ache from my bad breastfeeding posture, but I can deal with it fine. My hubby, however, has a very bad knee. This could help.

Gadz, I'm shallow. I might as well post my By Nature Wish List next.

Images are from the official Ilog Maria website.

Brain Drain: By Nature Balm of Butter and Baby Salve

I am currently loving these products and would like to share how I'm using them.

Balm of Butter

• As a stretch mark cream

Unfortunately, with the marks I have, it'll take more than a few weeks for these to fade.

• As a facial moisturizer before taking a bath

This is so effective my hubby swears I don't have forehead wrinkles anymore. I know he believes it because he actually tried it on his face. It's not easy to wash off with his soap but my clear soap washes it right off and leaves it silky soft.

• As a lip balm

I'm kind of lazy so I used it as such one day. This was effective for me and worked better than the By Nature lip balm. It tastes kind of funky but it isn't so bad if you think about the main ingredient being Cocoa Butter.

• As a base for a salt scrub

I rub this all over my body, wet myself with a bit of water and rub fine salt all over. This actually beats more expensive salt scrubs for effectiveness on my skin.

Baby Salve

• For boo-boos

It generally works unless it's an engorged and enflamed, then something stronger is needed.

• As a facial moisturizer

I like to use this after taking a bath and before going to bed. Lighter on the skin than the Balm of Butter and yet effective. Great for wrinkle prevention in spite of having no sleep.

• As a lip balm

Yes, it works but it tastes too funky with the lavender scent. Not recommended for that unless you're desperate.



Initial pictures from the official By Nature website.