Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Rethink Your Pink with Human Nature (A Capsule Review)

While others are probably busy partying, trick-or-treating, or celebrating Halloween (a festivity I don't care about), I'm at home being a Tita and I love it.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so I'd like to use my time wisely to spread awareness on how we can improve our shopping habits, especially in the beauty aisles.

Did you know that 1 in 8 Filipinas will suffer from cancer in her lifetime?

I'm used to trying a lot of beauty products, and I've heard of certain ingredients to be potential causes of cancer. I don't give a huge deal about it, but it had me thinking. No matter how minimal the ingredient is, what we use consistently (such as personal care products/cosmetics) can build up over time - at certain exposure levels, some of the chemicals may contribute to the development of cancer in people. And it's something we can avoid if we start reading the label.


Human Nature is a local brand close to my heart. I got acquainted with it way back 2011 at their Read the Label event, and after that I decided to become a dealer myself but mostly for personal use. After they became widely available in malls, I bought my stash from there instead. If my 5-year younger self only knew that THIS lovely bloggermail from Human Nature will land on our doorstep one day, she'll would be so overjoyed.


I was asked if I was willing to take part of "The Sweep Challenge" for 7 days. I had to use these natural beauty products, which was so easy. It was like rediscovering the brand - I liked that my old favorites were in it, as well as products I have yet to try.

By the way, did you notice that every October, there are some brands that would proclaim support Breast Cancer Awareness Month via pink ribbons, packaging, etc...


This practice is called pink washing. Ironically, many of these contain ingredients linked to breast cancer, the very disease they say they aim to help cure.

We can raise our Pink IQ and avoid products with...


Shopping, however, can be risky business. Begin uncovering the truth about personal care with the help of Human Nature's goodness list!


Prevention is always better than cure. Human Nature goes genuinely green (or in this case, genuinely pink) by sticking to natural products that are truly safe for our body. Their products are certified by Natural Products Association (NPA), which upholds the strictest standard of naturalness and safety worldwide for personal care and home care products.

Now, I'll share with you my capsule review of this huge Human Nature haul!

Human Nature Hair Care

Human Nature Natural Strengthening Shampoo 200ml (P130)
 
Human Nature Natural Strengthening Conditioner 200ml (P150)

This duo is no stranger to me as it's an old favorite of mine. I've repurchased a couple of times, and you may read my ancient review here. First thing I noticed about the current version is its improved packaging, which has a more formal look. Also, I felt that Human Nature has improved their formulations to have longer shelf life despite being all natural - and this goes across all of their products.

The Natural Strengthening Shampoo and Conditioner are made for brittle, falling hair and come in a soothing aloe scent. For me, it has a grassy, green scent which doesn't smell as delightfully sweet as their chemical-laden counterparts. I don't mind though, as these products do not contain fragrances (a suspected endocrine disruptor) and most importantly, they don't contain sulfates, silicones, and parabens. I've stopped all forms of chemical treatments since 2014, so my hair's back to black. However, I've been having a bout with hair fall for the past months and the front part of my scalp is thinning (qué horror), and whenever I use Human Nature's Strengthening range, I can always see changes even during the shower, as there's really less hair fall. (Probably less than 10 if I count it!) Also, my wavy hair is enhanced whenever I use these duo as opposed to conventional shampoos with sulfates make my hair fluffy/buhaghag.

Human Nature Skin Care

Human Nature Acne Defense Facial Wash 100ml (P170)

Upon using this facial wash, I realized that Human Nature products steer clear of colorants. Almost everything I've tried from them comes in a milky or white hue. Such as this facial wash with tea tree. I've used a big bottle of tea tree facial wash from another brand before and it comes in a bright green liquid. This one's just white. It's also free from chemicals such as benzoyl peroxide and my skin's BFF, salicylic acid. (Haha. I can't deny, I still love salicylic acid.) I use this facial wash day and night, but I still use a separate makeup remover at night to double cleanse. This facial wash smells strongly of tea tree, and it does its job of cleaning my face without being drying or breaking me out so we're good!

Human Nature Balancing Face Toner (P175)

This toner is such a refreshing treat for the skin. It has a light and pleasant citrus scent which makes me happy whenever I apply it. I have a confession: I only use toner at night because I'm so lazy but this one makes me want to use it even during the day. The first time I tried it, I felt a slight tingle on my skin (probably due to spearmint) but no irritations happened. The unique ingredient it contains is Manila Elemi for oil control, and I can't vouch yet for how many hours this controls my oil during the day, but it does make my skin feel more balanced. I immediately ditched my pricey Korean toner that does nothing for my skin to this one and haven't looked back since.

Human Nature Body Care

Human Nature Natural Body Wash in Gentle Berry 200ml (P160)

"How can a body wash with no chemical sulfates give me THIS much satisfying lather?" was exactly my thought as I used this natural body wash. It's AMAZING. It comes in a clear liquid formula and has a delicious berry scent. Best part is I only need a 1 peso coin-sized amount and a bath lily, and it gives me a bubbly lather enough for the whole body. Also, notice the pink label: A portion of the proceeds goes to the Philippine Foundation for Breast Care Inc, to help indigent women with breast cancer.

Human Nature 100% Natural Healthy Lotion in Blossom Beauty 200ml (P200)

Did you know that up to 60% of what we put on our skin can get absorbed by the body?

That's why I never use shady and cheap lotions. I don't mind spending more as long as the product is good and it manages to banish my scaly legs. This 100% natural lotion does not contain mineral oil and parabens. Instead, it has a healthy blend of 12 nutrients and antioxidants: Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B9, Vitamin B12, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Zinc, Amino Acids, Essential Fatty Acids, and Phytosterols.

This lotion has a watery/runny formula, and the packaging doesn't go well with it. (It could use some improvement.) For people using it for the first time, you'll be surprised and you'll end up squirting too much product out. Good thing it smells delicious and sweet - just like my favorite Scott's Vitamin C Pastilles! (Oddly enough, since it's supposed to have a floral scent.) The formula is very light, similar to a body milk, and it absorbs easily leaving my parched skin velvety soft. My hands are now silky to hold despite doing the laundry... much to Panda's delight. LOL! Thank you, Human Nature, for my soft(er) hands!

Human Nature Natural Feminine Wash in Chamomile Cool 200ml (P157)

The first time I ever used Human Nature's Natural Feminine Wash was way back 2011, and it was a small bottle which I reviewed with all my might. Haha! I repurchased continuously, and wished for them to create another one just as mild but with a cooling sensation. Wish granted! You can backread my old review here. I'm loving the pink bottle now, and how their feminine wash range looks more uniform now. The same feedback still holds true as it was and still is so gentle and refreshing. The only con I can think of is that it's pricier compared to other brands.

Human Nature Natural Toothpaste 120g (P150)


To be honest, I never bought the natural toothpaste hype. I've tried one brand and it had an unpleasant grey shade and it wasn't minty enough for me. And I've tried another brand that seemed to work fine but was too pricey for long-term use. I was pleasantly surprised that Human Nature's Natural Toothpaste is just as minty as the chemical toothpastes I'm used to, minus the sting! It's a bit pricier than the leading brand, but it's worth a try! You might end up liking it more.


You can backread all my Human Nature posts here. Care to share with me which ones are your Human Nature must-haves? :)

For more information
Instagram: @humanheartnature

Love,
Helen

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4 comments:

  1. I absolutely adore human nature. I just started using some of their products like the beauty oil and the feminine wash and fell inlove with it.

    Joyce | Joycentricity

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    1. It really does make a difference as compared to the conventional products we're used to. My forever favorite is their shampoos. :)

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  2. Were you referring to The Body Shop's tea tree facial wash? I'm currently using that one and although it's not foamy, it leaves my skin clean without drying it. How does Human Nature's tea tree facial wash compare?

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    1. Hello Aviva! Yup, exactly that one. :) But the last time I've used it was way back during college days, so I can't compare it now because they could have reformulated throughout the years. For Human Nature, you'll need more product per wash and it isn't as foamy, but it does leave my skin clean as well without the dry feeling. Same-ish and worth a try. :)

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