Camay Gets a New Upgrade

I remember Camay when I was much younger being a staple in the grocery cart. Its logo back then had a triangle with a lady's face inside. It came in three different colors - peach, pink, and white. Each soap addresses to a different skin type, with each girl modelling having a different personality. I remember, if I'm not mistaken, the Camay girl assigned to the pink soap was depicted as sweet and innocent, the one on the white soap was the sophisticated and elegant one, and the peach one was the free-spirited energetic one or something. Camay girls both here and abroad were usually very beautiful, sophisticated glamour girls. It's actually very prestigious to be called a Camay girl.

I researched some ads in Youtube and I found some commercials dating back to 1950s such as this:

Here's something with a more familiar packaging, a 1992 Camay ad:




Here's also one from the Philippines featuring Donna Cruz and Jesi Mendez



A little tidbit I would like to share was that not only was the soap a staple in the bathroom, it was sometimes used to wash clothes, just to make it smell nicer without that "detergent" scent. When fabric softeners were not yet that popular, clothes would be washed in laundry soap, rinsed twice, washed with Camay soap (usually the white one), then rinsed once more. Remembering that, a laundry soap brand even launched a variety with a bath soap smell, probably taking to this experience. It was popular and sometimes bought in hoards.

Camay made a very quiet and graceful exit from the market during the 90s. Yesterday, however, it came back with a bang with new packaging, new scents, and a new Camay image model - Angelica Panganiban.

Photo taken from the Camay Philippines Facebook Page

Camay still had the peach, white, and pink beauty bars with a different packaging. The scents get an upgrade to popular scents of today. They come in two sizes, a 55-g bar costs Php14.00 while an 80-g bar costs Php 25.00.

Aside from the soap bars, they also have shower gels, which cost a fraction of other shower gels in the market, at Php 70.00 for a 200 mL bottle.

Before yesterday's launch, I saw several of these being sold at Watson's last January 2 so I purchased a few to try on my own. I purchased two of the scents I'm familiar with and also personal favorite scents, vanilla (white) and grapefruit (peach).

The Dynamique Grapefruit scent seems to be the crowd favorite. It has a very citrusy, happy scent. I can't wait to use it in the summer, when its light and fresh scent would be perfect as the temperature rises. In fact, this can be a great soap to use in the morning, all year-round. Remember how grapefruit and citrusy scents give that energy boost? Here's how it can work. You wake up feeling very sluggish, but you have no choice but to wake up early because you have an early call time or a meeting. Soaking in that Dynamic Grapefruit scent will give you a quick boost of energy in the shower, and you haven't had your cup of coffee yet. For pole dancers, this is pole-dance friendly too, as it's not too slick on the skin.

Vanilla scents are usually sensual and sweet. Creme Vanilla has that sweet and mellow scent without being to overpowering. It's actually a bit nuttier yet still sweet. Back then, I remember the scent of the white Camay soap being very clean instead of floral or sweet. This one  mixes both sweet and clean in a very refreshing scent. As the old Camay white would be for dry skin (with cold cream, as some commercials say), this one feels very luxe on the skin. Some people who don't like the afterfeel of moisturizing soaps (some find it too slick, sticky or oily, saying hello to some of my male friends here) may find this as a lighter option to still care for the skin's moisture needs.

I admit being quite hesitant at first to purchase Romantique Rose despite claims that it's for tempting skin. I always thought of floral scents to be very heavy and warm, and well, quite ageing (nag-lolola ang amoy). I'm actually quite surprised that this rose scent is actually now more youthful, from the pretty hot pink color of the shower gel to the floral but refreshing and a bit fruity instead of  the heavy, spicy-woody rose scent we're used too. Not only did Camay upgrade their packaging for today, but they've also upgraded on the scent department, to fit the needs and preferences of everyone.

What I do like though, is that they actually smell quite similar to some expensive shower gels and soaps with similar scents too, at a fraction of the price. I purchased two soap bars and it didn't cost me much at all. you can even do your little layering experiment by using say vanilla soap and rose shower gel or vanilla grapefruit or something, if you want to purchase all three scents.

This sweet-scented box of goodies are just so awesome, a little something I got to take home after the launch at Sky Lounge last night. :)

That sweet-scented candle can be a great companion in the bath, yoga practice, or just freshen the air from it smelling too much like kitty.

With this new relaunch, Camay will definitely be in the market for quite some time now. Oh, and yes, my sponges are Dynamic Grapefruit-scented as of the moment. Probably tomorrow, I'll put Vanilla to the test.

A Bright Avon Summer

I just want to give big hugs and kisses to the wonderful people of Avon who delivered this pretty big tote to me this morning. My baby cat Candy seems to be pleased too, or intrigued. Nevertheless, the bright purple and pink vinyl bag got his attention up.

Did I say bag? It opens up to a beach mat full of goodies just in time for summer.  Hello Avon March products, you scream summer, my favorite season! The bag alone is a goody as it’s roomy enough to fit beach essentials, big beach towel and book included and it’s comfy enough to let you lay on the sand as you work on your summer 2012 tan with no worries of  getting sand wedged inside your bikini. It’s even got a tiny pouch to house in small items like lip balm, alcohol, etc.

Just a reminder, in the Avon March 2012 collection, gray tabby cat and cat treats not included. :P   

Should I fill you in on some of the goodies? Okay, let’s start off with makeup. Many ask me if I wear makeup during the summer. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t, but most of the time, I do. Although our skin gets darker, a bit of color can add a bit of sugar.

 The eye quad called Smoke and Mirrors has very sheer and subtle wearable pastel shades that would look awesome as a wash of color or a sparkle here and there. This shimmery powder stays dazzling for up to 12 hours.

The Smoke and Mirrors Ultra color Rich Lipstick feels creamy and cushy to the lips. This one’s called Apricot Mystery.

It was very sheer on me, almost a gloss effect without the annoying tack, as if I ate a melon pop or something. 

Remember how a cold glass of fruitshake quenches our thirst by the beach? Think fruity shakes for dehydrated skin from Avon Naturals with yummy “flavors” like Strawberry and Guava and Pomegranate and Mango combinations to quench our fried skin from a day of swimming and sun worshiping.

The best accessories with the tan? Dainty jewelry of course!

Spice Market collection, with exotic-colored stones to go with a basic white or turquoise maxi dress.

Lush Paradise collection, with the flowers remind me of an island princess in a cabana. Real flowers wilt. They don’t.

I love animal prints, and this sunglass case seemed to call to me. I don’t buy expensive shades so sometimes, they don’t come with protective casing. This keeps my case protected so it helps me save money from buying and buying glasses after my shades break. Not to mention it looks super cute and really rar.

Higher temperatures call for lighter fragrance. Very potent perfumes can overwhelm during the day. If you find yourself switching to body splashes or EDTs during the summer, you’re not alone. I do the same thing myself, or sometimes I go with no fragrance at all. 

Heaven Scent Splash Colognes have got the fragrance department covered with light fragrances – fruity, floral, or pure, it’s up to you. The picture reminds you of a deck of cards yes?

Since summer means whisking to getaways, and if you’re OC like me, travel organizers in loud pink colors (I like loud colors for travelling goodies because they make me see things in a flash because a sea of neutrals can render me blind because all look the same and I hate losing things when I travel) spell awesomeness to people who have high risk for obsessive-compulsive disorder like me. It separates the shoes from the slippers, keeps teensy underwear in place, and separates dirty clothes from clean clothes.

Having fun staring at them yet? Guess what? I’m feeling generous because I’m sharing my blessings with you, yes you! Because I have another contest and I’m giving away this much prizes!!!!!!!!!!!

I’ll be choosing winners and there would be one winner of each item and here’s what’s in store:

ITEM 1: One set of Avon Fashions Spice Market Collection necklace and earrings. 

ITEM 2: One Avon Smokes and Mirrors Eyeshadow quad.

ITEM 3: Two Avon Naturals Antibacterial Hand Gels. When you're travelling, you'll never know what's out there.

ITEM 4: Six bottles of Avon Heaven Scent Splash Colognes. 

ITEM 5: Avon Style Essentials Nail Buffer and Nail Clipper Set  and Avon Naturals Shake Body Lotion in Strawberry Guava.

ITEM 6: Outspoken Intense By Fergie Shower Gel - a provocative mix of shining starfruit, passion flower, and sensual musks for hot and rar summer nights. 

So how to join?

Just answer this question: 

How do you plan to make your 2012 summer awesome? 

Answers must be in the comments section along with your full name. Winners will be chosen randomly by a name generator, and no, the cat is not up for raffle. Enjoy the summer and good luck!!!! 

Everything's Up In Chocolate

Something yummy's in my drawer but it's not for my tummy. In line with Valentine's Day, The Body Shop takes inspiration from an iconic Valentine treat that's not just for grownups but for everyone, regardless of sugar level - CHOCOLATE. Their bath and body line, Chocomania, isn't just a treat for the skin but also for the senses.

Sensual, sweet, and tantalizing, the Chocomania bath and body line came in time for Valentine's day. Taking a whiff from the products, it really does smell like chocolate. I'm reminded of chocolate cake or brownie batter, had I closed my eyes, I would've taken a taste. But let me remind you that although they smell sweet and yummy, the Chocomania range is best left for the skin instead of the digestive system. It's not an edible treat okay?

What I have here with me are the Chocomania body lotion and body butter, both for moisturizing my skin on off-pole days or relieving chafed skin (I always have to stress that I use moisturizer only when I'm not dancing) after an hour of class or practicing. The one I have is just half of the entire Chocomania range, though.

For sloughing off dead skin, the body scrub (Php 995) makes showering and exfoliating a nice treat. This one was the one whose appearance reminded me so much of brownie batter, and it smells like it too. Then use the shower cream right after (Php 895)

To retain the soft baby smooth skin in the shower, seal off moisture with the moisturizer. The moisturizer left my skin feeling nice and soft, and it's easily absorbable on the skin. I'm glad that it didn't rub on my clothes after, or else that would be a pain to remove.

The Chocomania body butter is pricier than usual body butters (Php 1095). It is not your usual body butter. Your usual body butters provide only 24 hours moisturization. This body butter is a little more generous in adding another 24-hour duty, so that's a total of 48-hour moisturization. If you compare it to other body butters, if you're a body butter user like me, it's richer and heavier in consistency, almost like real spreadable butter on bread except that it's semi-solid on room temperature. I use only little amount and on areas that are super dry and need extra care - elbows, knees, feet, hands, and sometimes my tummy and back. It works well, too well that it's scary to pole if you have this on your thighs, back-of-knee and tops of the feet the night before. The best time to use this? Saturday night, when there's no pole on Sundays.

Aside from layering the entire line for an intense, yummy, and chocolate-y feel, feel free to experiment and mix with your favorite The Body Shop lotion/body butter "flavors". I've tried mixing my Chocomania lotion with my Candied Ginger hand cream from the holiday scents and I got a really nice, warm, spicy-sweet scent that reminded me of hot cocoa and gingerbread. A very romantic concoction could be classic romance icons - strawberry and chocomania - like sweet strawberries dipped in dark chocolate. How about mixing satsuma and chocolate? or if sweetness is your thing, try vanilla and chocolate. I have yet to try the combination of Moringa and Chocomania, which can be interesting, but so far the ginger and chocolate scent is in my favorite list. Now that's something yummy!

Organic Goodies from Balai Isabel

Club Balai Isabel in Talisay, Batangas is a beautiful and breathtaking resort by the famous Taal Lake that's a famous destination for a relaxing holiday only 2 hours away from Metro Manila or for destination weddings. Kristine Hermosa and Oyo Sotto's wedding was held here and imagine the very kilig moment of saying "I do" by the shores of Taal Lake in full view of Taal volcano. Just check out the breathtaking pictures I captured, and I'm not a real photographer like my companions are. I'm just armed with a good view, nature itself, and the auto setting of my camera.

Sunset pictures

This little kitty likes it here too!

I was in Club Balai Isabel last Tuesday with the iSnap Creatives team for a super cute prenup photoshoot. During our lunch break (held when the sun's too hot and scorching), I noticed the gift shop selling little bottles and pots of balms. My kikay side sensing "organic goodies" made me waltz my way there. Imagine how my eyes just popped at that entire wall of bath and body stuff in scents like ginger, lavander, lemongrass, and olive. I didn't have my wallet at that time as I had my retouch bag with me. When I got back to the gift shop, I hoarded a few items that got my fancy.

Organic soaps that I could still use for pole class because I don't end up super slippery. I love lemongrass too. I think it's an interesting scent so I got the lemongrass soap in a teensy little size. But knowing organic soaps being really solid and pure, that ought to last me longer than a week. Pairing up with my lemongrass soap is lemongrass shampoo, which surprisingly didn't leave my hair sticky or weigh my hair down. My hair behaves quite nicely and looks really pretty during hairflips. It is however, kinda dry, from the nature of organic shampoos, which could be fixed by a good leave-on conditioner that doesn't weigh the hair down (because weighing the hair down would defeat the be-all end-all purpose of why I love this lemongrass shampoo). Hmmm... now lemme have lemongrass tea.

For me, whenever I get massages, I prefer dry massages if I'm on-the-go. If I'm just at home, I prefer using my own oils, depending on the scent and how it feels on the skin. I saw the massage body butter and I was drawn to it because with my experience on body butter, I think this is better than oil because my skin's less slick and slippery but it's got the same deep-moisture effect.

This body butter is sort of like a balm but less greasy. You grab a bit with your fingers and warm them by rubbing your palms together. It feels really nice on the skin. When the butter's all nice and warmed up, you smell the relaxing lavander scent.

And speaking of balms, the teensy pot of healing balm, I have to warn isn't a lip balm but it's like Salonpas/Tigerbalm/Vicks but better. Rub it on the temples to ease migraines, sniff it to aleviate dizzy spells or the like, or rub on muscle pains after a workout if you're going somewhere and got an ouchie but don't want to smell like a lola. And it's so tiny, my complaint is that it can get lost in my endless abyss of a bag but it's teensy enough to slide in a teensy weensy purse for nights out or if you don't want to carry a big bag.

Aside from my own personal hoards, there are a few other things I'd love to bring along. I'm curious though that they were selling real gugo bark there. They say it's good for the hair, but the love-for-convenience in me would really just rely on shampoo in a bottle or bar than a tree bark. The prices too are quite affordable, my hoards plus two full-size lemongrass soaps that I purchased as pasalubong for Danah and Stacy didnt cost me an arm and a leg altogether. Hopefully, I'll be having more destination gigs at Balai Isabel, and when I'm there you know where I'd stop by before heading back to the Metro.

Which Body Butter Are You?

*disclaimer: product provided for review

Enjoying the cold months saves me electricity and garners me the effortless fresh look instead of looking like I'm about to melt with the sweat and my hair mushrooms up due to the humidity. The downside of the cold months too, though is the dry skin and pain of my skin and heels cracking. Not a pretty site really. While exfoliation gets rid of the dry flakes (I use good ol' exfoliating gloves or loofah to do the trick), I need to replenish the moisture lost and keep the new skin cells healthy. Lotion does the trick during the day when I go out. For stay-in cooler days though or on times where I'm exposed to nothing but cold recycled air, I rely on body butters to butter me good for baby-smooth skin.

Why body butters? They're less greasy too and they don't leave a shiny sheen, which the matte girl in me doesn't like. The oils I prefer to layer on my damp skin then towel it off. Body butters are really lush and feel like, well, butter on the skin and they get absorbed well so they sink right to our dehydrated skin rather than stick to the clothes.

The Body Shop was where I've heard first about body butters, my first body butter I remember was the mango variety (it would be weird to say flavor though, but come to think of it, they do smell yummy!), and I remember it being tad too heavy for me to wear when I go out all over my body so I save it only on my feet and hands, the parts which get dry a lot. Another yummy-scented body butter I had from The Body Shop was coconut, which literally took me to the beach during the dry seasons. The formula of body butters are so much lighter now, richer than conventional lotion but it was okay enough for me to slather some on my tummy during the day without the need for me to wipe it off after.

There are various scents to choose from, inspired from yummy fruits and luxury scents. My favorite two though, do not come from an orchard yet smell as yummy.

Moringa and Olive both have lush formulas suitable for normal to dry skin. The scents are just as divine and I like how both of them smell fresh and clean and sort of mysterious. The olive one reminds me of a clean scent that you'd be drawn to but you can't seem to know if it's fruity or floral. It's a familiar scent (probably if you're familiar with olive oil) but you don't know where it's from. I don't really know if olives smell like that really but it's one of the scents I find so comforting, fresh, clean, and well, expensive. I jokingly call it an "amoy-mayaman" scent.

Moringa is actually english for our very own malunggay. The scent of moringa is actually an acquired one, this scent is more floral and powdery. The scent is very clean but kinda exotic. It's a very sexy scent actually, kinda like a Middle Eastern princess like feel. It's a very clean, sexy, and sensual scent at the same time, it's not a nostril overkill scent. And that scent I don't smell in my tinola.

Of course, there are other old favorites should olive and moringa be too unusual for others. Another favorite of mine is strawberry, which is lighter in formulation with a sweet, fruity scent that makes you smell as sweet as fresh strawberries. Strawberries always have that pleasing taste anywhere and they smell just as terrific. Satsuma and Pink Grapefruit are citrusy and yummy scents which give an uplifting feel. I reserve the sweet scent of Mango for very cold days when I need a tropical scent boost with a body butter made for very dry skin.

Super dry skins would benefit from Shea body butter or Cocoa body butter, with a warm yummy scent of chocolate and vanilla that's comforting to the senses as it is to the skin. The good thing too with the variants for dry and extra dry skin are that their scents are not as overpowering so it doesn't overwhelm us just like that so that it stays just there in our vanities rather than being used.

Of course, I can't recommend and insist what body butter to use, since it will really depend on the person. Olive and Moringa are my personal choices. Of course, I'd love to have all but that would overwhelm my senses, pocket, and husband since I'm taking over already half of his vanity. Maybe I could alternate and switch as I finish each tub. I could switcharoo to Pink Grapefruit during the summer or Cocoa Butter should my skin start cracking again. Since it's pretty dry now, it's pretty okay to use this all over the skin, especially at night. For summer, the heat and humidity could cook the skin and senses with an intense moisturizer so I leave this on trouble spots or when sleeping at night in a cold airconditioned room.

Tis The Season To Smell Fab With The Body Shop

Start of December everyone! Have you girls done your shopping yet? If you girls haven't, I've scoped out a few stocking stuffers for all of us. First up, I've checked out this Holiday's collection of The Body Shop. As I blogged about the winter collection, let's check the stuff out to keep our body skin squeaky clean, baby-soft, and yummy smelling, right?

This year, The Body Shop brings back memories of Thanksgiving turkey with the fruity scent of Cranberry Joy. If you want red and berry scents, that is.

Cranberry Joy shower gel, shimmer lotion, body butter, body scrub, hand cream, and lip balm give the festive vibe that would last us from Thanksgiving to New Year. The hand cream is handy enough to tote in our purse and would be great to moisturize your hands after subjecting it to a hand dryer or to harsh detergents. The body butters take away the chappies on our heels or whenever we need spot-correcting. Or if skin's super dry, slather it the night before to wake up with cushy skin in the morning. The lip balm moisturizes the lips that's chapped from too much hot drinks or exposure to dry recycled air.

What I do like though is the improvement on the body scrub formulas. I'm not a fan of scratchy and oily-based scrubs since they leave my skin raw and sticky. The scrub here is gentler, in a gel-like base that reminds me of strawberry (err... cranberry) jam.

If you want the scent of cranberries to fill your home or to deodorize a lavatory after doing your nasty business, you could check out the pretty home candle that smells good even if it's not lighted yet.

If you're more on citrusy scents though, something more fresh check out jolly orange, with scents that remind us of orange gum drops.

Of course there's also a lip balm at hand too, if you prefer the fruity citrusy taste on your kissers. :) The lip balm isn't waxy when I tried it (I tried all 3 flavors in store) and the TBS lippies gets my lips some definite lovin'.

The third scent is my absolute favorite, Spiced Vanilla, since I gravitate towards the spicier warmer scents since the weather's colder. Also, my signature scent is vanilla.... ooops. I didn't mention that. :P

It says vanilla has a very sensual scent, but I really think it just reminds me of cookies, spice, and a hot cup of cocoa with a dash of nutmeg, since this one has got just a hint of spice, at least that's what the scent says. Instead of the gel formula of the body scrub that Cranberry Joy and Jolly Orange has, this one takes a creamy lotion form. I suggest as the scent of Cranberry Joy and Jolly Orange are more uplifting and energizing, the warm cozy scent of vanilla would be perfect to wind down with a cup of hot tea reading your favorite book curled up with a quilt after a long day. Quite a description, but you get the picture.

Hand creams and lip balms are perfect tiny stocking and purse stuffers for girls on the go. There are also bath sets available, depending on the budget you want. The full sizes are perfect if you're a fanatic of a particular scent. Shimmer lotions would be perfect for the party girl or for anyone who's out and about at night who wants to shimmer and shine like a disco ball.

Whether fruity or spicy, the choice is up to you so be sure to catch The Body Shop's bath and body line this Christmas!

Energize, Soothe, and Relax with Amu'in

It has been months since I was whisked away to paradise with a few other bloggers to witness the new Nurture Spa. I do miss the fresh air and the food and it was my visit there that I pushed myself to living a healthier life more, which means more of the soy, granola, and hence Tara Stiles and I bonding thrice weekly and now I incorporate the Bidasha twins in my exercise routine.

Anyway, I'd like to share too my experience with the goodies I got in the bag after the trip, namely the Amu'in products whose scents I am so addicted to right now. I've finished already two of the travel-sized bottles and I am so loving them. I've seen Amu'in products whenever I visit the Echo store over at Serendra when I shop for my stock of organic products but it was only during my Nurture Spa trip that I experienced them first-hand. They come in four varieties and here I am writing this post to share my thoughts on it.

Depending on our needs and our mood, we tend to shift to different products. Whenever it's hot and sunny, we prefer lighter and more citrusy fragrances. For a night out with someone special, a mellow scent like vanilla or musk would be my personal choice. When I have a hard time sleeping, I bring out something with a tad of lavander. There are several scents that could address the needs of our minds and emotions and hence that must be the principle behind aromatherapy.

My goodies were travel-sized products from Amu'in, which feature three of their four lines: Alaga, Hulay, and Sigla.

These are so convenient travel-sizes I could tot them along with me in my purse. Oh a little trivia with Amu'in products is that their ingredients are all sourced here in the Philippines since Amu'in is committed to build the essential oil industry and support the communities producing essential oils. Lemongrass essential ils are sourced from Mambugsay, Negros. Also, a percentage of the sales of Amu'in products is donated to the communities living there in Negros.

The woven pouch that holds these three bottles is actually locally-woven fabric. "Abel" is a century-old weaving tradition in Bangar, La Union that is in danger of dying out. The use of Abel fabric in gift boxes, bags, and pouches aims to keep the craft alive.

Aside from promoting tradition and using materials sourced locally, Amu'in uses Filipino words to name their products. The name Amu'in itself is actually a Tagalog verb that means "to caress" or "to tame". Even their four lines are also named using Filipino words, depending on their use.

Sigla is a Tagalog word for "energy". If the orange labels are not enough, the citrusy and fresh scents (blend of Lemon, Lemongrass, Peppermint, and May Chang) are there to perk up the mood two to three notches higher. The Sigla line is for those who would want a healthy jolt of energy and focus for the day.

Isn't the happy orange hue uplifting in itself? The scent spells E-N-E-R-G-Y too, and the citrusy scent is reminiscent of taking a tall glass of fresh orange juice for breakfast. The body mist could be totted in the bag during a day full of energy, say I'll be doing makeup for a wedding.

The body lotion is what I use in the morning before I run off to work when I have work. The smell is pretty fresh and the lemongrass scent isn't reminiscent of cough lozenges. Plus, there's a tingly minty feeling after due to the peppermint and this could be great for hot days that make us all sluggish.

Use Sigla when:

• You have a hard time getting out of bed but need to.
• You need focus for a number of tasks during the day
• You're on the beach. Citrusy scents and sunshine give such positive vibes. Plus the mint will cool us down.
• During a post-workout shower to keep the energy up.

Winding down after a long day, the Hulay line eases tension and relaxes the body. A lot of stress sometimes couldn't make us sleep, and we all know now the importance of a good 8-hour sleep. With the warm and delicate scents of Lavander and Ylang-Ylang (which are iconic ingredients in spa products), this would be absolutely perfect during the time that we need to wind down. The word "Hulay" is actually Visayan for "relax," which this line aims the user to do, and I don't mean Frankie says Relax. :P



Lavander is such a calm and cool color to look at. The room and linen sprays would be a must-have in the bedroom especially when we need to rest after a long day at work. The lotion (above) is my nighttime lotion which I apply all over my body before I go to bed. It's not very greasy and the scent doesn't offend the nostrills, to think it's a pretty warm nighttime scent. The scent though lingers through the morning when I wake up.


Use Hulay when:

• You need to sleep and wind down after a long day.
• You get your at-home massage.
• You do meditation or yoga to calm the mind and the senses.

Alaga, which means "to care for" or "to soothe" in Tagalog is what we could use whenever nasties come our way. Depending on our needs, the Alaga line has special blends to address them whether it be aching muscles, headaches, insect bites, or dirty hands. For example, the insect repellant has citronella and peppermint to ward off bugs and insects (perfect during dengue season). The Alaga massage oil has Rosemary, Ginger, and Peppermint to warm and relax tense and tired muscles.


What I have with me is actually an almost-empty bottle of the Natural Hand Sanitizer. This 50-mL spray bottle protects ad cleanses my hands without the need of water. It smells really good and citrusy. I use this to sanitize my hands before I do makeup on my client or when I need to quick-clean my brushes. This hand sanitizer does not sting the hands since they use ethyl alcohol instead of isopropyl.


Use Alaga...

• Natural insect repellant when you would be outdoors. You'll never know what bug could bite.
• Stress Relief balm when you need a midday calming-down, say you're plugged up with meetings and deadlines.
• Hand Sanitizer for quick-cleaning before eating, snacking, or handling clients (in my case).
• Massage Oil when you need to relieve aching backs, feet, or legs.

For the romantics, Gayuma (Tagalog word for "love potion") was created to unleash and induce romance with sweet orange, cedarwood, rosewood, and ylang-ylang to put anyone in the mood for some loving. Nurture Spa uses this for the couple's massage and it's been said that some of the ingredients were used by Cleopatra to lure Marc Anthony to her. Apparently, it seemed to work. I was able to smell this and it wasn't that musky or heady. It starts out rather fresh at first and then fades to a muted musk. Ylang-ylang calms the nerves too and the woody fragrances rather attract the senses. I told them that I was quite intrigued by this line.


Use Gayuma when...

• On your next out-of-town trip with your honey
• When you want to spice things up a bit. Spray the room with the room spray, light up the essential oil, Use the massage oil as a moisturizer and get creative.

Plus, pink is such a pretty color too. Sometimes alluded with femininity, beauty and love, the pink-labeled bottles would look great on a seductress's vanity. But who says that this could only be used for couples? We could use this whenever we just want to feel sexy. Try using the massage oil sparingly or walk through a mis of the room spray. Who knows? Cleopatra's charm could work too. The Gayuma line is also a great bridal shower or affordable wedding gift to add spice to a friend's wedding night.


So there you have it. If this got anyone's interest up, you could check Amu'in products at their website. In Manila, I know they're available at Echo stores (I saw stores in Podium and Serendra). You could hop over too at Nurture Spa during one of your out-of-town trips since they're available as well there too.

[pictures of the Alaga, Sigla, Gayuma, and Hulay lines taken from the Amu'in website]