Sheng Joins Yet Another Contest!

So why am I joining all these contests all of a sudden?

It just struck me that I missing out on these great opportunities to win fab freebies. I have a blog so might as well use it to win some prizes. And who knows, I might host a blog contest, too.

Sheng Wants Fossil Ladies Watch. Be Mine!

It's been a while since I last posted in this blog. But what got me blogging this time is not a product, place, service or anything that I'd like to rave/rant about. It is for a chance to win one of these two beautiful Fossil Ladies Watches or this chic Kate Spade pouch:

 Aren't they so pretty?

The contest holder/blogger is so generous for giving away these prizes:

1st prize - Fossil Ladies Watch
2nd prize - Fossil Ladies Watch
3rd prize -Kate Spade kikay kit (orange)

And I'm hoping to be one of the lucky winners. (Please Random.org, hehehe)

The contest started last Oct 12, 2010 and will run until Dec 18, 2010. What a wonderful Christmas gift it will be. So what are you waiting for, you still have 5 more days to join.


Click here for the complete mechanics.

Service: Earth Organics Spa at SM Sta. Rosa

Last week, I experienced some twitching on my right shoulder that went up to my neck and down my back. I tried massaging myself and also asked my husband to massage me using liniment oil, hoping these would relieve me of the muscle aches. But three days after, the pain worsened and I couldn't raise my right arm, sit up straight or use the computer anymore. So I decided to have a massage.

We live south of the metro (San Pedro, Laguna), where there aren't very many spas and wellness centers to choose from. I was thinking of trying those spas that line up the national highway, but husband suggested we go to SM Sta Rosa instead because he saw one there (and because he wanted to take advantage of the free WiFi while I'm having a massage).

The spa that he was referring to is Earth Organics Spa, located at the second floor of SM Sta. Rosa. When we went there, an attendant immediately gave us a flyer (pricelist of the services they offered) and ushered us inside. I chose their Signature massage, a combination of different massage techniques including Shiatsu, Swedish and the traditional hilot. It costs P399 for 1 hour, which includes the use of the shower room. But because I still have my period that day, I chose to skip the shower and just had my feet washed instead.

Product: Shulammite Carrot Soap

If you've read my 2 other soap reviews, then you are aware that I am on a mission--a mission to find a soap that can effectively control my long-time and on-going pimple problem, and give me a beautiful, glowing skin. After trying out Cyleina Organic Soaps, I found another one that looks promising, based on other sises' feedback on GirlTalk: Shulammite Carrot Soap.

I was delighted that the soap is available at most Watson's branches and I won't have to find a reseller to purchase the product from. I've nothing against reseller, but because I live outside of Manila, finding a reseller that can arrange a meet-up near my area can be frustrating sometimes.

So on my next trip to SM Muntinlupa (I think there's a Watson's drugstore in every SM malls), I bought 1 bar to try. Shulammite Carrot Soap comes in an orange packaging and costs P94. Some were able to buy this soap at a cheaper price at local Chinese drugstores in Tutuban Mall and Quiapo. I find it nice that it has an expiration date on the box, so you'll know if you're buying a fresh soap or an old stock.

Shulammite Carrot Soap

Event: Tanduay Rhum Rockfest IV

This is not really a review, but a narration of my experience at the recently concluded Tanduay Rhum Rockfest IV held at SM Mall of Asia Open Grounds. This is my first ever rock concert, and I'm not really a rocker. I am your average mellow/acoustic/light-rock/easy-listening music listener. But I happen to be married to one who loves rock music, the band Wolfgang especially. And when he learned that they will be playing at the 4th Tanduay Rockfest installment, he bought us two VIP tickets (bought 6 bottles of participating liquor products to secure 2 VIP tickets actually).

And that is how I found myself lining up at the entrance of MOA's concert grounds at 4 pm yesterday, October 15. To be honest, I was a bit scared and unsure of what to expect, being a first time rock concert attendee. I know rock concerts are identified with mosh pits and body slams, and all sorts of those rowdy behaviors that can lead to accidents or to somebody getting hurt. But my husband was there with me, so I felt a little safer.

Still, when we were just outside the concert venue, waiting to get inside, and I saw the type of crowd that we'll be rocking with, I couldn't help but be fearful again. They are you're black-clad, sporting Chuck Taylor sneakers, I-don't-care-if-I-hurt-you-as-long-as-I'm-having-fun-looking, smoking, ready to trash and bash and mash and squash type of rockers.My only relief was that I was wearing black myself, so I sort of felt I was "in" with the crowd, with the wardrobe at least. But other than that, I was afraid I don't have enough 'rock' in me to get through the night's big event. But I didn't want to spoil my husband excitement so I had to brazen up.

Product: EC27 Guava Soap and RCC Amazing Touch's Products

I used EC27 Guava Soap, which I bought at RCC Amazing Touch clinic, for more than 4 years. And this is my review of the soap and of other RCC Amazing Touch products and services.

It was I think 2005 when my Aunt told me of a soap that she heard over the radio. All she could remember was it's called guava soap and can only be purchased at Amazing Touch clinics. I guess she told me this because she knew my battle with acne. I searched for the name of the clinic first and found out that they have branches at some SM malls. Good thing, there's one that's quite near our place.

When weekend came, I went to SM Southmall in Las Pinas to look for the RCC Amazing Touch clinic. I found it on the lower ground floor just beside Onesimus. It's not a facial nor derma clinic, like what I thought initially, but a warts-and-moles-removal shop. They perform non-surgical removal of moles, warts, skin tags and other unwanted skin marks using a Filipino-invented herbal solution derived from cashew. They also sell DIY removal kit if you want to do the procedure yourself.

I also noticed that they sell many soap products like papaya, glycerin, whitening, tea tree, etc. I inquired about the guava soap and the person at the front desk asked what's my concern. When I said that I want to clear my pimples, she told me that they have an anti-acne kit and asked if I want to try it instead. She said the magic word "anti-acne", of course I want to try it.


I forgot what exactly and how many items does the kit contain, but I'm sure it includes a tea tree soap and an antibacterial lotion. I think the third item is an antibacterial cream and I'm not sure if there is a fourth item. She told me how and when to use each product and to come back to the clinic after 2 weeks for a facial cleaning. Yes, they also offer facials and back scrubbing/cleaning. I remember the kit cost more or less P500 and gave me that hope that it will get rid of my acne.

After two weeks of meticulously following the instructions and using the products on my face, I did notice a significant difference. Most of my pimples, particularly the smaller ones, have dried up. And there are no new ones coming out. So I eagerly went back to RCC Amazing Touch, excited to have my facial.

Their facial includes a massage, pore cleaning, and tightening mask. The facial massage was very relaxing, rejuvenating and I felt like my skin was lifted slightly. The pore cleaning was, as usual, painful especially because I have MANY blackheads. The mask was just like any other tightening masks. But what I really love was the products that they used on my face. They smelled really good. They also use new sets of facial foams every session.

I went back there a few more times to have my facial (every two weeks for 5 sessions) and replenish my stock. After 3 months, my face was 90% clear already. There were one to two zits here and there, but that's it. All that's left were the dark pimple scars.

When most of my pimples have already dried up, they recommended that I use EC27 guava soap instead for maintenance, because the tea tree soap can be too drying for the skin and because the guava soap has whitening effect that will help fade my dark marks. They also said that I should continue using their antibacterial lotion to prevent future breakouts.

They said the guava soap is an all-around health soap. It has antibacterial, antiseptic and whitening properties that can cure 27 skin problems including acne, allergies, fungal infections and even Psoriasis. While the antibacterial lotion, that looks like a crystal-clear skin toner, has Clindamycin, a proven pimple-fighting active ingredient.

The guava soap may sting especially if you leave it on your skin for too long. The antibacterial lotion may sting a little too (but not like a harsh astringent type of sting) and redden your face for a while. But it will go away after a few minutes.

And for 4 years, these two products are the only ones that I used on my face and have effectively controlled my pimples. Somewhere in those 4 years, I tried to use Burt's Bees Garden Tomato Soap and developed strange and alarming bumps on my face. I switched back to using guava soap and swore never to try another soap again.

But the guava soap is not a beauty bar. It won't moisturize your skin, won't make it glow and I'm a little dubious of its whitening effect. It was just effective in preventing my pimples, especially when used with the antibacterial lotion.

The antibacterial lotion is RCC Amazing Touch's own product. It looks like clear water and you have to use it after you cleanse your face (like a toner). But sometimes, when I'm too tired to wash my face, I just use this water-lotion and a cottonball to wipe the dirt and oil off my face. I also use it as a spot treatment. Whenever I see or feel a pimple starting to form, I soak a small cotton ball with a few drops of the antibacterial lotion and press it against the pimple-wannabe for at least 5 minutes. It will sting and will leave a red patch but when I wake up the next morning, that spot will be pimple-free.

But a few months ago, I stopped using these two already. Okay, if they were effective, why don't I use them anymore?



Early this year, I noticed the guava soap and the antibacterial lotion seem to have lost their potency. Either the manufacturers' changed their formulation or my pimples have gotten used to them and developed immunity. Although some will argue that if a product is effective, it will be effective forever, I believe the reason is the latter.

Another reason is the guava soap, being not a beauty soap, did not improve the overall quality of my skin. I am not fond of using moisturizers or any beauty creams. And because the guava soap offers no moisturizing, glowing and toning benefits, years of using it left my skin dry and dull and not really fairer than before. That's why I decided, despite my promise to myself, to try other soaps.

I will probably purchase the antibacterial lotion in the near future, once I feel the immunity period has expired. But I think I have found some good soaps to replace the guava soap for a long time, if not permanently. Or maybe, I'll go back to using it again when my pimples becomes uncontrollable again.

And that's it, my review of EC27 Guava Soap and RCC Amazing Touch's Antibacterial Lotion. As with my other facial product reviews, you have to bear in mind that not all products will have the same results for everyone. Our skin types are different, the products that are effective for me may not be effective for you and vice versa. But I try to make every review as objective and detailed as possible so it can help you decide if you'll try it or not.

Place: Rockpoint Hotsprings Resort - Hotel and Spa at Calamba, Laguna

We were at Rockpoint Hotsprings Resort - Hotel and Spa Calamba last August to celebrate my husband's birthday. Weeks before that, I was torn between 3 resorts: Rockpoint Calamba, Valentino Resort and Spa in Batangas and Sanctuario de San Pablo in San Pablo City, Laguna.

Our main goal was to have a nice and much needed R&R, so I wanted a place with an in-house spa, an indoor pool or jacuzzi, and somewhere that's easily accessible by public transportation because we don't have a car. It would be a plus if the place has a scenic view to boot.

In the end, I decided against Valentino Resort because we didn't want to travel very far. It came down to Sanctuario de San Pablo and Rockpoint Hotel. I chose the latter because it's nearer, relatively cheaper and they had an on-going Rainy Days Promo that month.

I called up their office, and the person who answered was very polite and helpful. That was a good sign, I thought. She accepted my reservation even without a downpayment because it was Friday afternoon and the bank where I need to deposit the money to was already closed. The booking was for the following Monday.

I was excited because in their website, the place looked promising, even though I had read a few negative feedback about the resort. The Rainy Days Promo seemed like a sweet deal, too. For P3,915.00 we would get:

1. Overnight stay at the Executive Room (w/ indoor jacuzzi)
2. Breakfast and Dinner for 2
3. Aromatherapy massage for 2

So Monday came and we arrived in Calamba two hours earlier. Going there by public transport was easy. We board a jeep en route to Crossing-Calamba. Our original plan was to alight at the Crossing Terminal. But because it was still early, we decided to go to Walter Mart first and have our lunch there. When it was only 45 minutes before 2 PM, our check-in time, and because we're already bored in Walter Mart (there's not much to see or do there), we hailed a tricycle. The tricycle driver already knew where Rockpoint Hotel is and asked for an P80 fare.

The trike ride took some 10 minutes. When I first saw the resort, my first thought was it looks small. Inside the lobby/reception area, we were greeted warmly by the guard and the front desk staff. We're still early but it was ok, said the receptionist. She called for someone to check if our room is ready. While we were waiting, she processed the bills and gave us our meal and spa stubs.

After a few more minutes, our room boy came. I forgot his name, but I didn't forget that he was very courteous. He ushered us to our room, taught us how to operate the jacuzzi, and told us that if we need any help, we could just call the front desk.

On the way to our room, we passed by the pool area and he said that there's another pool just behind the wall. The swimming pool didn't look inviting. It wasn't dirty or anything, it just looked plain and common. If you've been to Pansol too many times, you'll know what I mean. I saw an outdoor jacuzzi tucked in the far corner of the pool but I forgot to ask if it's functioning. I didn't go close so I couldn't tell how big it is. All I could see was it was made of ordinary bathroom tiles, but I couldn't tell if the tiles were clean or not.
Maybe because I knew that we have our very own jacuzzi inside our room, that's why I didn't bother to check out the other jacuzzi.

Now, our room:

The room was spacious, that's the first impression. But it didn't look as beautiful as the one posted on their website. It looked the same, but it didn't have that classy feel to it. The picture in their site was cleverly taken to make it appear like a 3 or 4-star hotel room.

It was clean, but not spotless clean. If you're particular about black tile grouts, you'll find some on the floor tiles. But it's not filthy dirty or 'kadiri' dirty. To be honest, I wasn't bothered by it. The room was still clean by my standards.

As I've said, the room looked like the one on their website, except for the bed linen of course. Inside, there's the 21-inch colored TV with clear cable channels, there's a mini-table and 2 nice-looking chairs (not monoblock chairs), another nice-looking dresser with mirror, two bedside tables with pretty lampshades on both, a personal refrigerator, an aircon and electric fan. All the lights were ok, none was busted. The aircon was working very well and kept the room cold so we didn't find any use for the electric fan. But the interior of refrigerator was rusty and looked dirty. We didn't bring any refreshments anyway so it stayed shut the whole time we were there.

There was also a small jug of water that they provided for us. At first, I was hesitant to drink the water but I got thirsty and tried it anyway. It didn't taste like tap water, or anything funny, weird or unclean so it was okay to drink.

I almost forgot the queen size bed. The mattress was ok, not springy.The pillows were ok, too, plump and soft. I love the design of the comforter but when I slipped underneath it, it was a bit itchy. My husband felt the same way so we just lay on top of the comforter the whole time and used half of it as blanket when we slept.

And then there's the bathroom. It was very roomy and clean. I even thought the tiles in the bathroom were cleaner than the floor tiles of the room. The toilet bowl was clean, too. There was sufficient supply of water and the water didn't smell of chlorine. There was also an exhaust fan and ample lighting. They also gave us two sets of towels (2 bath towels and 2 smaller towels), which smelled clean but was a little harsh and stiff (maybe they didn't use fabric softeners.)

Now the jacuzzi. It was big enough for two people, was clean except for some white stains, which the room boy explained was caused by the sulfur content of the hotsprings water. It didn't look dirty and it wasn't really bothersome. At first, we thought the jacuzzi wasn't working, but we found out how to operate it eventually (the room boy already told us how but we still fumbled with fixtures, went silly and had lots of fun).

We really had a very relaxing time in the jacuzzi. The warm water squirting out from the jets massaged every aching part of our body. I forgot to bring some bubble soak so I just improvised. I threw in my Cyleina Tomato soap. There wasn't much bubbles, but it's better than just plain water. We're told not to operate the jacuzzi for more than an hour because the motor might overheat. So we just had an hour of jacuzzi in the afternoon and another hour the following morning.

Right after our first jacuzzi session, I was already sleepy. But we decided to use our massage stubs because the spa will be closed the next day (they are close every Tuesday according to the "manual/menu" that we found in the room). The Kalipayan Nature Spa, their in-house spa, is located in the lower ground of the resort. The interior was very homey and Filipiniana-inspired. The furniture and decors are made from wood, rattan, sawali and bamboo. It felt like a traditional bahay-kubo (nipa hut) inside. And the staff were very friendly, too. It seemed the staff and personnel in Rockpoint Hotel Calamba are all friendly and courteous.

I gave our stub for 2 aromatherapy massage. We were told to wait for a few minutes as they need to prepare the couple's room. Inside the couple's room, we did the usual -- undress and lie down on the massage beds. When we're ready, they lighted scented candles (or was it scented oils) and started the massage. The massage was great. I felt even more relaxed and heady and sleepy. My husband said it was ok, but too light for his preference. (He prefers hard and bone-breaking type of messages.)

After the massage, we headed to the cafeteria to claim our free dinner. The cafeteria is just beside the lobby and looks like a school canteen, in a nostalgic, trip-down-memory-lane way. We presented our meal stub for 2 set meals, but ordered an additional viand just in case their serving is small. I thought the prices were reasonable except for the drinks, which were like double or triple the original price. But that's usual among in-house restos and cafes.

I would've just asked for our food to be delivered in our room had I known that there's a group of six or eight who ordered ahead of us and that it would take an hour before our meals will be served because of this. Good thing, there's a TV in the cafeteria where we watch the fateful bus-hostage drama unfolds. When the food of the earlier group were served, the cafeteria was filled with a very delicious aroma that made me hungry. And we just pretended to watch the TV as the group heartily ate their dinner.

An hour later, our food was finally served piping hot in big, round clay plates. And I could tell you, it was worth the wait. First, their serving size is big. I ordered the fish fillet set meal and my husband picked the beef-something set meal. We also ordered chopsuey. The fish fillet was the best I've tasted. It was crunchy and coated with breadcrumbs on the outside, and flaky-soft and tasty on the inside. The mayo-pickled-something dip that came with it was perfect, too. It complemented the fillet fish very well. My husband's beef dish came with tender and equally tasty beef strips. But we both agreed that my fish fillet was better. The chopsuey was also flavorful and was more than enough for both of us. It just didn't look and taste like chopsuey, more like sauteed vegetables in soy sauce, but it tasted good. We went back to our room smelling like we spent time in the kitchen and cooked the food ourselves (the aroma was that strong and lingered on our clothes) but feeling so full and bloated.

The next morning, I was excited for our breakfast and ordered them early. We had tapsilog and daing na bangus. They weren't as filling as the dinner we had the night before, but still tasted good. And before we checked out at noon, we ordered our lunch (this time, we paid for it because the promo did not include lunch.) We ordered fish fillet again and pork sisig, and both were tasty and delicious as expected.

We checked-out 1 PM and walked our way to the national road. It wasn't very far anyway. Then we just took a jeepney (way cheaper than a tricycle ride) to get to the Crossing Terminal. At the terminal, we took another jeep on the way to San Pedro.

The Verdict

Two thumbs up for the food and the jacuzzi. These are the highlights of our stay at the resort. Plus point also on the massage but it would've been better if they have a sauna in there, too. The room was ok, but as I've said, if you were expecting for a 4-star hotel-class type of room, you'll be disappointed. I couldn't comment on the pool, except that it wasn't enticing, because we didn't took a dip. My husband didn't want to swim because we'll just feel tired afterward. We would rather relax in the jacuzzi. Thumbs up also for the staff and personnel and the service that they rendered us.

But the resort itself was a bit boring for me. I didn't took pictures because there wasn't a lot to take pictures of. If you're a family or a group who's looking for fun and activities or who wants a resort that's close to nature with a scenic view to unwind, I won't recommend this. But if you're a couple, like us who wants some "cuddling" moments and R&R in a room with a jacuzzi, then you might want to check out this resort.

Overall, we had a pleasant experience during our stay in Rockpoint Hotsprings Resort - Hotel and Spa in Calamba. We were looking to have a much needed time-out from our work and relaxed our aching muscles, and we found it there.

Product: Cyleina Organic Soaps

First, let me say that here in the Philippines, organic is synonymous to natural and Cyleina Organic Soaps are not certified organic. Unlike in the US and other countries, we do not have a certifying body for organic products. Nor do we have any law that sets the rules on which products can call themselves organic and which should just be labeled natural or pure.

Moving on to the review. After more than 4 years of using EC27 Guava Soap, I decided to try other soaps. And because a lot of my fellow GT (GirlTalk) sises are raving about Cyleina's soap products (spanning 12 threads as of this writing), I thought this brand could be the apt replacement.

Cyleina's soap are sold at selected Hortaleza branches only and through resellers. Because there's no Hortaleza branch near my area, I went about and searched online for a reseller who can meet up with me at a convenient place.

My (facial) skin is a bit problematic. It's really oily, acne-prone with large open pores, has an uneven skintone and a little on the dull side. Based on the recommendations for my skin type, my first Cyleina order were Tomato, Black Pearl, Rice Bran, Strawberry, Papaya Goat's Milk and Agave Scrub.


I first tried Black Pearl and Tomato. Tomato is said to reduce oiliness and shrink pore size while Black Pearl is reputed for being an effective whitening soap. I used Tomato in the morning, a combo of Tomato and Black Pearl at noon when I take my bath, and Tomato in the evening. I use PGM for my body.

Tomato stings and can be very drying, especially for if you're a first time user and you leave it on your skin for a bit longer. I made that mistake -- leaving Tomato suds on my face for more than a minute before I rinse it -- and put up with a red, stinging face for two days. Black Pearl, on the other hand, has moisturizing and cooling effects (because of the Peppermint oil) on my skin. And I love its smell.

After one week of using this soap combo, I did note a few subtle effects. My (facial) skin seemed to have a reddish glow, felt softer and smoother, and my oiliness was slightly lessened. What surprised me was that majority of my blackheads were gone, especially on the nose area. However, there was no visible changes in my pores and skintone.

The skin on my body felt softer and smoother, too, although I find the PGM to be very drying. I don't apply lotion regularly because I don't want to feel all sticky afterward. So everytime I take a bath, my skin would look scaly and flaky and really dry. They said this was the micropeeling effect and it's good because it's peeling off my dead skin cells and making way for new cells to surface. New skin cells are instrumental to having a youthful and fairer skin. Unfortunately, micropeeling made my skin look dry, so dry I could write my name on it.

But because the 1-week result was more positive than negative, I decided to purchase more variants. I added Kojic, Triple Citrus, Carrots & Pineapple, Grapeseed and Shea Butter (the most moisturizing of all, hoping that it would counteract the drying effect of the other soaps) to my collection.


Cyleina's soaps melt easily because they don't have soap hardeners. To prolong their "life", I cut each bar into 4 parts and only use 1/4 of the bar at a time. I didn't cut the Black Pearl into smaller parts because it looked hard enough to me. In fact, more than 3 months later, my first Black Pearl is still half it's original size and will probably last me 3 more months. Maybe because I only use it on my face.

1 month after I started using Tomato and Black Pearl, the effects were still the same but nothing dramatic had happened. The effects were actually quite gradual. I also noticed that the glow usually last 1 to 2 hours after I wash my face. I'm not really "red-cheeks" the whole day, or even half of the day. As for whitening, Black Pearl was doing a very slow job.

Then came the week before my period, pimples started coming out. A few small ones and 1 to 2 big, red zits. Tomato was not able to do anything about them. It dried some small pimples but that's it. Didn't do a good pimple-control job for me.

So I decide to try Rice Bran, which is the "for acne-prone" soap because it has antibacterial properties according to testimonials. I tried it out for a week and one thing I can say is, it is very drying. I immediately noticed how dry my palms were everytime I use this soap on my face. Ironically, my face didn't feel dry, probably because it's really oily. But my palms were all wrinkly and it's as if I've used a detergent.

Rice Bran didn't made my skin glow, like Tomato did. And it didn't dry my pimples either. But I was reasoning out that maybe I need to use it longer to see the effect. Close to a week of using it, I noticed some dry patches on both corners of my mouth. And they hurt whenever I opened my mouth too wide like when I yawn, or laugh too hard. That's enough to make me stop using Rice Bran.

Next soap is Kojic, another whitening soap that's also supposedly good for pimples. The week that I was using it, I had two big pimples that didn't bulge nor flinch nor made any sign that they were about to go dry. And like Rice Bran, I was missing the glow that Tomato gave my face. No whitening effect, too even when I'm already using it with Black Pearl.

And like Rice Bran again, close to a week of using it, I noticed a weird bump on my upper left cheek. I inspected it. It's not a pimple but it's raised and there seemed to be something hard underneath the skin. I also noticed that the pores appeared to be clogged and they looked pretty much like facial warts.

I know you're not supposed to pop pimples, but this ain't a pimple so I squeeze it with my bare (but clean!) hands. What came out were hardened oils just like when you pop a blackhead. But lots of them. I do have blackheads and they are usually flat. It's the first time that I had one that's raised and looked bigger than an inflamed  pimple. It's like oils hardened and were trapped inside my pores and eventually formed a bump on the surface. It grossed me out.

So go back to Tomato I did. So far, this was the best soap that I tried in the bunch. If only it can control my pimples. Unfortunately, it can't. I used Tomato on my face until I found another soap to try.

As for the Cyleina's soaps that I used on my body (Papaya Goat's Milk, Strawberry, Kojic, Rice Bran, Triple Citrus, Shea Butter, Carrot & Pineapple and Grapeseed), they were ok. But I micropeeled in all of them (which means my skin dried out in all of them), even with Shea Butter. That's weird. But my favorites are Strawberry, Shea Butter and Triple Citrus, because of their smell.

I use Rice Bran when I don't feel like applying deodorant because it is said to have deodorizing properties. When you work at home, you can afford to skip some beauty regimens, like applying lotion, deodorant or using shampoo or conditioner.

But I can say that my skin has improved. It looked better and smoother, although not really visibly fairer. Sometimes, I look like I'm slightly whiter but I'm not sure if that's because of the soaps or because I seldom go out of the house.

The Verdict

What's left of the Cyleina Organic Soaps that I purchased.

The thing I like about Cyleina's soaps is that they are mild. You could feel that you're not putting harsh chemicals on your skin. I also like their scents, which smelled fresh and not overpowering. The price is reasonable, too. Remember that I cut each bar into 4 smaller bars. 1 small bar would last me more or less a week. So 1 whole bar is good for a month. At P60 per bar, it's really a good buy. And luckily for me, they did allow my new skin cells to surface by peeling off the outer dead skin cells. Although I don't like that it made my skin look dry. But it can easily be remedied by applying lotion, something that I still not do regularly.

As for the soaps that I used on my face, they didn't do very well. Tomato had some nice effects but I still feel that it's not something that can replace EC27 Guava Soap, which for years had effectively fought off my pimples. But being someone who has an undying affair with pimples for quite a long time, I know that not all products that worked on others will work the same on me. So maybe, Cyleina's soaps and my skin were not well suited. But it doesn't mean that the soaps are no good. A lot of people are still swearing by their effectiveness.

Regarding their whitening properties, I am inclined to believe that Cyleina's whitening soaps are not the best there is in the market. They can make you look fairer, but you may have to use the soaps for a few months before you see any significant changes.