We women love our skincare potions, but of course that's not all there is to it. We still need novel solutions to small yet equally important concerns. Say, where to get a hand sanitizer that also doubles as a hand moisturizer? Things like that! That's why I'm into Snoe. This brand isn't just about cooking up great face and hair care products, it also addresses our daily needs as women.

Snoe recently released new products that I am loving right now (surprise, surprise). Here's my favorite among them - the Snoe Oh My Wash (P169)!

I'm used to feminine wash that smells a little clinical and obnoxiously soapy, so this pink Oh My Wash! is quite the breath of fresh air. Really, it smells quite fruity. I would hazard a guess of pomegranates?

Lulur originated from the royal palaces of Java, Indonesia, and was used by brides-to-be in a beautifying ritual shortly before their wedding. Since lulur came to the Philippines last year, it became an instant hit! It cleansed and smoothened skin wonderfully so it's no wonder that more brands are coming in.

When I heard about the Purbasari Lulur Mandi Putih, the first thing I wanted to know was if it would match or even best my favorite lulur scrub - Asian Secrets. I don't want to play coy. Both products are housed in the same jar, they also look and feel the same, and can be both be purchased in drugstores for P130. Which is better? 

The first thing I noticed about Purbasari is the smell. I didn't particularly like it. It's this heavy, soapy, grandma smell that turned me off. I didn't want to use it but for the sake of this blog...it was a pleasant surprise.

I really need to be visit drugstore aisles more often. It seems that I'm missing valuable news! If a reader didn't tell me about the new Asian Secrets variants, I wouldn't have known until oh I don't know, next year. Tsk. Anyways, yes it's true: there are now more Asian Secrets products to love!

AS now has two more versions of its best-selling lulur scrub: Licorice and Mulberry Extract (purple) and the Seaweed Extract with Vitamin E (blue). They both smell nice, though they're more on the soapy kind.

I have never heard of lulur before the kind folks behind Asian Secrets clued me in. So what is lulur? There is an ancient Indonesian custom that requires future brides to apply a luxurious body scrub mix 40 days before their wedding.  The lulur is traditionally made from jasmine, ground rice, green tea, scented moisturizing oils, and yogurt. This practice of applying lulur originated from the palaces of Java, and is intended as a purifying, beautifying ritual to prepare brides-to-be for the big day.

Of course, you don't have to be a bride to reap the benefits of lulur! It's for every woman (and man, if they are so inclined) who loves having radiant, soft skin. 

Finally, lulur is here in the Philippines. The brand is called Asian Secrets - apt, if I may add, since this beauty ritual is indeed one of Indonesia's best-kept secrets. It is marketed as a luxe whitening body scrub, formulated to target dark skin areas like armpits, elbows, knees, and the singit. 

Asian Secrets is available exclusively in Watsons and Beauty by SM. 250g/P130 and 135g/P80

What I love about this product:

• It's a gentle yet effective exfoliating scrub. I hate abrasive scrubs that feel like my skin is rubbed raw! The lulur felt light but still left my skin feeling squeaky clean after I rinsed it off. 
• It's creamy and moisturizing. I didn't have to apply lotion afterwards. No kidding. This is a huge achievement for a body scrub. I scratched a fingernail on my arm and look ma, no dry white lines!