Our Tiny Buds Faves + A Tiny Buds Laundry Giveaway!

Moms today are spoilt for choice. It used to be that it was impossible to find organic and natural products locally, but now, there are just so many brands we can rely on to fill our needs.

One of my go to brands is Tiny Buds, a premium line of baby care products made from high-quality natural extracts. They are free from harmful chemicals and is a guaranteed safe choice for our family.

Tried & Tested:

So far, we've used the Baby Bottle & Utensil Wash, which is made from 100% food safe ingredients that can remove bacteria and foul smells, and is free from artificial coloring, preservatives and cancer-causing parabens. It's so mild it doesn't leave any residue or smell on baby bottles and silicone nipples, and may be used to clean baby's fruits and vegetables as well.

We also love the Sticky Hand Wipes, an absolute must in any diaper bag! Tiny Buds hand wipes are also made from food grade ingredients, formulated with Chamomile and Vitamin E to clean and moisturize baby’s skin, and is hypo-allergenic, alcohol free and paraben free.

Extra thick and silky soft, they don't leave any sticky after-feel and one sheet can in fact be used repeatedly to thoroughly clean mouths and hands made gooey with melted ice cream.

Xavi all clean after finishing a scoop of Bono Gelato and wiping off the stickiness with Tiny Buds Sticky Hand Wipes

I've tried the Rice Baby Powder, based on samples I've gotten from my Mommy Mundo loot bags, but haven't gotten around to using it regularly. But I loved how natural it felt, as it's 100% made from rice grains and was grittier than the usual baby powder we're used to, and totally free from talc, so it's safe for sensitive and delicate skin.

It wasn't until Lorina Tan of Tiny Buds sent me their vast array of goodies though did I realize that I have only scratched the surface of their entire product range. I had a grand time going through this gift basket, sniffing around and reading labels. I can't wait to try them all one by one.

Gift Basket Service:

I told Lorina I loved how it was packaged too.

Turns out they do accept customized gift basket orders, as Tiny Buds make great baby shower presents.

If you would like to order a customized gift basket, simply email Tiny Buds at info@tinybudsbaby.com - I know I loved the sight of this basket overflowing with products, so I am pretty sure your sister, cousin, friend or work colleague will too.

New Products!

Tiny Buds recently launched the latest addition to their lineup: Laundry products such as the Natural Laundry Powder for Babies, Natural Liquid Laundry Wash for Babies and Natural Fabric Softener for Babies. 

They are the first line of natural plant-based laundry washes specially made for baby's sensitive skin. 

The special ingredients are biodegradable which means they dissolve easily in water without leaving any harsh chemical residues on the fabric. In fact, laundry water after use is non-harmful to plants and the environment. 

A Giveaway!

That said, Tiny Buds and yours truly would be thrilled to have three of you dear readers get to try their Laundry Liquid and Fabric Softener, so if you'd like to do so, please join the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Make sure to

1. Like the Tiny Buds Facebook Page, https://www.facebook.com/tinybuds
2. Follow @tinybudsbaby on IG

3. Leave a comment on this blogpost answering the question,  

"Why do you want to try Tiny Buds Natural Baby Products for your Baby?" 

Entries are accepted until 11:59 pm on June 5, 2015 and 3 winners will be announced the following week. Join to win Tiny Buds for your tiny tots!

Little Earth Tiddler: Natural, Organic & Ethically Sourced Goodies for Little Ones

It was a pleasant surprise when I discovered that Berry's favorite Organix Goodies was now available here in the Philippines, along with Bear Nibbles, Kiddlylicious, Carman's Yummos and Ella's Kitchen all natural kiddie snacks - thanks to Little Earth Tiddler!

Little Earth Tiddler is a kids’ online retailer that aims to provide a carefully curated product line to be enjoyed and loved by our most precious little ones. 

The brainchild of a mom, Jan, and her best friends Julia and Innah, Little Earth Tiddler focuses on supplying nurturing products for our kids that are natural, organic and ethically sourced as much as possible.  

Jan has personally tested everything on the site, and prior to bringing them in, frequently bugged her friends to bring these back from their trips, because of the dearth of choices back home.

From Jack n Jill's organic toothpaste to products by Tangle Teezer, Child's Farm, Thursday Plantation, and essentials like Hedrin Lice Spray Gel, Infacol Colic Relief, Britt Bear Mosquito Click, and more, Little Earth Tiddler's merchandise are chosen with care, and mostly sourced from the UK & Australia. 

And because nurturing involves feeding the mind as well, Little Earth Tiddler stocks Usborne books, perfect for curious little minds!

For moms who are familiar with these brands, or looking for new products for their kids to try, hurry over to Little Earth Tiddler and stock up, stock up! 

For inquiries email info@littleearthtiddler.com or call +63916-778-1978. For updates, Like their Facebook Page, https://www.facebook.com/littleearthtiddler and follow @littleearthtiddler on Instagram.

Zenutrients Natural + Organic

My favorite toiletries and skin care products, all good to the last drop

I discovered Zenutrients thanks to Karrots. She had a Zenutrients Gugo Shampoo & Conditioner aka "Gugobelles Giveaway" over at LiveLoveLolz and of course, I joined. At the time, Xavi was just about 5 months old and I was going through postpartum hair loss. I know for a fact that gugo helps strengthen hair and increase volume so wow, just what I needed.

To cut a long, well fine, not so long story short, I won a set from Karrots and became a believer. She introduced me and Kris to Angela Dinglasan, the wonder woman behind Zenutrients, and she got us to road test more products from her line. Now, I have never met a Zenutrients product I did not like.

The Tea Tree Underarm Spray is so minty and kilig to the kili kili powers! Especially "refreshing" and cooling these hot summer days, it combats underarm wetness and body odor:

When I get colds, or a stuffy nose, I rub All is Well on my temples. Forget White Flower, this is the way safer alternative - organic and natural. Made with extra virgin coconut oil, essences of peppermint, eucalyptus, white tea, lemongrass, pineapple, vetiver and extracts of ginger and tea tree, it has a delicate minty smell that does not overpower but is completely soothing. Angela says this is great to apply on insect bites too:

Now that the gugo shampoo & conditioner have run out, we are currently using the Enhancing Green Tea Shampoo & Conditioner, which is great for oily hair. Dada loves using this as well, we both love the scent.

The Anti-Mosquito Sleeping Cream works like a charm and is especially great if you're the outdoorsy type.

Angela shares that Zenturients was originally called Z.E.N. until she and her group took over in late 2011. An all organic VCO based line of products that is all natural and affordable, you may check out the full line of products through authorized retailers and the Zenutrients stores in Virra Mall, Galleria, Festival Mall and Lucky Chinatown.

lemongrass, lavander, cotton mint & tea tree bath gels

herbal pain relief balm

citronella mosquito repellant

coffee body scrub

I know that the paper sticker labels leave much to be desired, because the colors tend to bleed when they get wet, but Angela says they're working on that. What matters is, the products are love! I am re-stocking the gugo and green tea shampoos & conditioners by the gallon, that's for sure.

The Zenutrients Story:

Z.E.N. started in 2007 as the creator, Gerry Villena& his family were asked by his church group to help young, underprivileged women, primarily from the provinces. The overall idea was to create jobs – a livelihood program – that would teach women a craft. Most of the women were young and from desperately poor families. Z.E.N. then began as a brand bottling & selling VCO, which rapidly expanded to other related lines: massage oils, scrubs, health balms, lotions, soaps, shampoos and the like. Despite limited sales outlets and no advertising, the brand found a strong underground following. 

In 2011, it was taken over by a new management team, led by an investment group and brought in a new General Manager, Ms. Angela Dinglasan, coming from a 14 year experience with manufacturing, specializing in beauty products having worked with Unilever, Coca Cola and Reckitt Benckiser. She continues to run the company with this social responsibility guiding her.

For inquiries, email: zenutrients@gmail.com 

For updates and more, like Zenutrients on Facebook.

MFO's Verdict On: ioECO Monotheme Artichoke Shower Gel

The Product: ioECO Monotheme Artichoke Shower Gel

The Promise: ioECO Monotheme is an innovative line characterized by active ingredients that are  more than 98% vegetable in origin. It is the result of an in-depth scientific research  that has produced a complete line of body care products that are naturally based and respectful of nature due to the low impact level on the environment of their production cycle.

- No SLES/SLS
- No Parabens
- No Artificial colourings
- No petroleum derivatives
- Dermatologically tested

Put to the Test: First thing I noticed about the ioECO Artichoke shower gel (for oily skin) is that it leaves a silky feel to the touch. After you towel off, skin definitely feels moisturized. While it does not smell as good as most shower gels, it has a pleasant scent that my husband likes. I guess that's the trade off given that the product is said to be 98% made from vegetables - yes, NO fruits or flowers. Tell me, is there a vegetable that smells good? Oh my gulay! If you don't like harsh or strong scents, this is the product for you.

A huge plus, given that I have sensitive skin is that I never had a reaction with this product. I use this in conjunction with a hypoallergenic shampoo and I do like the fact that I've never had bouts with zits on my back at all (I am prone to getting zits on my back when I use products not compatible to my skin).

Passing the Verdict: While there are many shower gels out there, there are limited choices when it comes to products that are made solely from vegetable ingredients and do not contain parabens, SLES/SLS and artificial colourings. If you are extra picky with the products you use and are on the lookout for something that is more natural than most, this is a safe bet.

Practical Tip: The ioECO Monotheme line comes in three vegetable variants

- Carrot: ideal for dry skin and hair, with nourishing vitamins

- Cucumber: ideal for sensitive skin, purifying and refreshing

- Artichoke: ideal for oily skin and hair, purifying and antioxidant action.

Because the line is natural and vegetable based, I would think these products are especially great not only for those who are into the green/eco-chic movement but also for pregnant women who want to take extra care in minimizing their exposure to harmful chemicals. 

Price: Prices range from Php325 for the Cucumber facial cleansing gel to Php395 for the full range of shampoos and shower gels. The most expensive product tops at Php445 for the Cucumber body lotion.

Point of Sale: Rustan's Beauty Source

The Human Nature Flagship Store in Q.C.

A few weeks ago, my best friend Nina asked me to come with her to the opening of the Human Nature flagship store on Commonwealth Avenue, in Quezon City. She said her friend Anna Meloto-Wilks started the company which makes really great natural products. She actually did a special interest report on Human Nature for TV sometime ago, and had the products tested by chemists. And true to Human Nature's claims, the products Nina swears, are safe and truly natural. Now, I have actually heard of Human Nature prior to Nina's raves, so it did not take me a lot of convincing to drop by with her.

When we finally arrived at this really pretty and well-lit store, Nina introduced me to Anna, who like us, is pregnant and expecting a Dragon Baby! And, as Manila is truly small, it turns out, my sister Trina is friends with Anna too - they used to surf together a few years back, when they were all still young and carefree! And now, Anna has this amazing and truly world-class store to speak for!

Here's Anna & Nina against a wall of social enterprise products. Anna shares that apart from Human Nature products, they also carry items championed by social entrepreneurs who have endeavored to provide livelihood to impoverished communities and at the same time create value out of random raw materials while celebrating Filipino creativity.  Will tell you more about these soon, but first let me talk about Human Nature, hehe.

Anna gave us a tour of their store, which she shares was designed by two very young Filipina architects, Mau Adraneda and Joyce Angara. She says everything in the store is sourced in the Philippines, and all are made from sustainable materials. See those chairs above? Those are actually made from corrugated boxes! Clever no? They wanted a store that was truly Filipino, without falling into that ethnic, rustic cliche. And I think they really did an amazing job!

Anna says that they really want the place to be more than just a store, but also a destination. Where the whole family can hang out. There's shopping for the ladies, a reading nook for the kids, and unlimited (yes bottomless barako, mountain blends and Sulu) coffee (and free wifi too I think!) for the dads or those who just want an alternative to hanging out in overpriced coffee shops (although mahiya naman kayo and buy something from Human Nature as well hehehe).

And now, a quick run through of some of the products that caught my eye:

Apparently, the sunflower oil is a great makeup remover, and can be used for belly rubs to prevent stretch marks as well!

Love the packaging of these kids natural shampoos! Makes bath time so much fun! Human Nature also has a natural makeup line composed of powders, blushes, glosses and lipsticks. Camille, Anna's younger sister who is into cosmetics, took the lead in developing the line, experimenting with colors. What a fun (and meaningful!) job right?

Like I said earlier, apart from Human Nature personal care products and makeup, there are great finds in store like food, drinks, household and fashion items, which also make great gifts, giveaways and pasalubong for visiting relatives or friends from abroad:

Enchantea: healthy iced tea from GK Enchanted Farm

Golden Eggs: salted eggs, a Filipino favorite, without the toxic food color

Café de Sug: Gawad Kalinga’s famous coffee from Sulu - only for the brave!

- FilBambu: all food containing bamboo, winners in the Shanghai Expo

- Theo & Philo Chocolates: the only 100% bean to bar Filipino artisan chocolate

- Jacinto & Lirio: luxury bags made from leather and water Hyacinth

- Red Carpet, Blue Bamboo, Salabatea and more!

What made the launch of Human Nature's flagship store extra fun was the yummy, healthy food! Tito Tony told us with beaming pride that all the food served came from the GK Enchanted Farm and/or developed by young social entrepreneurs. 

A volunteer from France, serving organic lettuce from the Enchanted Farm stuffed with Golden Eggs & tomatoes

We had the yummiest fromage de chevre/ goat cheese with nuts spread over crackers aka as Gourmet Keso from GK Enchanted Farm. This was developed by Xilca Alvarez, who I remember was Trina's classmate during their grade school days. Nina and I ate a lot, never mind if it's pasteurized or not. These were just too good! Hahaha!

So, if you are ever in the Quezon City area, or even if you are way on the other side of town, I really think it is worth your time to schedule a visit to Human Nature's concept store. Not only do you get to stock up on various natural products, you also get to do your share in supporting the livelihood of the GK communities where all these products come from.

Human Nature is the Philippines’ largest brand of genuinely natural personal care and cosmetics products. As a social enterprise, it lives by being PRO-PHILIPPINES, PRO-POOR and PRO-ENVIRONMENT. Founded by Anna Meloto-Wilk and Camille Meloto, daughters of GK founder Tony Meloto, Human Nature’s products are 100% made in the Philippines and 100% free from harmful chemicals.

The Human Nature flagship store is located at 460 Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City (past the Caltex station and across Puregold).

To learn more about Human Nature products and advocacy or to learn how to be a dealer, visit www.humanheartnature.com or your nearest Human Nature Branch, or call (02) 931-5787. You may also visit Rustans, Shopwise and Beauty Bar for a select line of Human Nature products.