Spotlight | Holika Holika Aloe 99% Soothing Gel.

We're now officially on summer break, and here in the Philippines, summer also spells fun and is synonymous to beach trips, vacations, and barbecue parties. On the downside, summer also means extreme heat and humidity which can cause sunburns, rashes, all sorts of skin infections, and even damage to your hair. It is this time of the year when I find the Holika Holika Aloe 99% Soothing Gel most helpful.

Aloe vera, the thick, short-stemmed plant that stores water in its leaves, has been used for centuries for its medicinal and healing properties. It's also widely-used in many beauty products, as its inner leaf juice contains vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants that work wonders for the skin. And this product from Holika Holika contains 99% of it.

Holika Holika Aloe 99% Soothing Gel.

Made from aloe veras grown in Jeju Island, the Holika Holika Aloe 99% Soothing Gel is a "fast-absorbing gel that provides lasting moisture and calms reddened skin". Aside from aloe vera, it also contains a variety of plant extracts such as cucumber, watermelon, centella, bamboo, and corn. This product also boasts of the 7-Free system, meaning it's free from harmful additives such as parabens, benzophenone, propylene glycol, BHT, mineral oil, animal ingredients, and artificial coloring.

Aloe vera packaging.

One thing I love about this product - aside from the fact that it's made with natural ingredients - is its packaging. Very on-point, if I were to describe it. It's an aloe vera product contained in an aloe vera-shaped bottle. How can you get wrong with that? :)

No-spill cap, still sealed.

I also love that it comes in a squeeze tube, which is more hygienic than having to dip my fingers in a tub. However, the tube tends to dispense a bit too much of the product even with just a tiny squeeze.

Squeeze tube.

Now as for the product itself, the Holika Holika Aloe 99% Soothing Gel has a watery, gel-like consistency. The texture is a bit slimy which is quite similar to raw aloe vera. It's easy to apply, fast-absorbing, without the sticky or greasy feel. It moisturizes and nourishes the skin and makes it look healthy and hydrated. It's pretty effective on rashes and sunburns as it soothes the skin and reduces redness and inflammation.

A 'not-so-small' squeeze of the product.

I also love this product's mild and refreshing scent which lingers on the skin long after you have applied it. The scent is more of cucumber than aloe vera, which I absolutely do not mind. This product can be stored at room temperature, but I keep mine inside the fridge for that extra cooling effect.

Watery but not runny.

There are plenty of ways to use the Holika Holika Aloe 99% Soothing Gel, but I prefer using it as a sleeping pack (applying a generous amount on my face and neck before I hit the sack) and as a soothing lotion (because I have a sun allergy and my skin gets red and itchy at the slightest exposure to the sun). My Mum, on the other hand, likes using this as a hair treatment - applying it on areas of her scalp where hairs are thin and seemingly sparse.

How to use the Holika Holika Aloe 99% Soothing Gel.
(Click to enlarge)

Price-wise, the Holika Holika Aloe 99% Soothing Gel is affordable at 5900 won (around Php 290 or $6) for this 250 mL bottle. Comparing it with similar products on the market, it is a tad more expensive than the Nature Republic Aloe Vera Soothing Gel, priced at 4400 won (around Php 215 or $4) for a 300 mL tub and the Foodaholic Aloe Vera Soothing Gel, priced at 2900 won (around Php 140 or $2) for a 300 mL tub.

Seal of authenticity.

However, the Nature Republic soothing gel is made with only 92% aloe vera and contains alcohol, while the Foodaholic soothing gel is strongly-scented and comes in a tub.

Hangul text at the back of the bottle.

Manufacturing + expiration date.
Use within 18 months after opening.

Luckily, I got my Holika Holika Aloe 99% Soothing Gel during a sale event at one of the Holika Holika stores in Myeongdong. For every purchase of the 250 mL bottle, you get a free 100 mL bottle - not bad for 5900 won, right? I actually bought several bottles for my Mum, my sister, and I, and gave the smaller bottles as gifts to friends.

Will I recommend and repurchase? Definitely, yes!

Expect me to buy a few more bottles of these when I fly back to Seoul next month. :)

Spotlight | Human Heart Nature Hydrating Face Mist with Aloe Vera.

Upon receiving a bottle of Human Heart Nature's new face mist during the last Magalogue Turnover/Product Launch (many thanks to Elaine and the ever-so-wonderful staff of Human Heart Nature Laguna), my initial reaction was, "Oh, cool! This will definitely come in handy when I travel!"

Little did I know that I would get what I wished for sooner than expected. I was admitted to the hospital two days later due to a severe asthma attack and this product was one of the few things that I hurriedly stuffed in an overnight bag, together with some clothes and hygiene basics (i.e. toothpaste, deodorant, bath soap).

Human Heart Nature Hydrating Face Mist with Aloe Vera.

Bringing this along was a wise decision, as this face mist became my skin-saviour during the course of my confinement. Staying in an air-conditioned room for an extended period of time can send the skin's natural moisture out of whack, and you can end up with dry, flaking, itchy skin.

Product description, directions for use, and ingredients on the side of the bottle.

This is where the Human Heart Nature Hydrating Face Mist with Aloe Vera came in handy. I would spritz this on my face whenever it feels tight and dry and boom... instant hydration!

List of ingredients.

This product is infused with aloe vera gel whose benefits to the skin are well-known. Not only does aloe vera moisturize the skin, it also helps remove dead cells. In addition, aloe vera improves skin elasticity and helps prevent the early signs of skin ageing. Furthermore, aloe vera is rich in vitamins, minerals, and anti-oxidants which can reduce skin inflammation and heal chronic skin problems.

All-natural, chemical-free, cruelty-free.

Aside from aloe vera, this face mist also contains beetroot extract which moisturizes the skin and keeps it smooth and supple. A rich source of iron, vitamins, and minerals, beetroot also has anti-inflammatory properties for healthy, glowing, acne-free skin.

Expiration date indicated at the bottom.

And so despite being confined to an air-conditioned room 24/7 for the next five days, my face was in a much better condition than my lungs. 

100% natural and certified by the Natural Products Association.

It's a good thing that this face mist is lightly-scented and easily absorbed by the skin. Otherwise, it could have triggered another attack and aggravate my condition. 

The spray nozzle.

As much as I love the wonders that this face mist does for the skin, I dislike the spray nozzle. It takes extra effort to pump it, and the nozzle is too difficult to control. Also, the nozzle does not give you a mist, but a rain. A rain!!!

Here's how the product looks like when sprayed on the skin.

This product could have been all-too perfect, if not for the nozzle and the dollops of liquid that it dispenses. But as they say, there's always room for improvement, and I hope they can tweak the nozzle to make it suitable as a makeup setting spray. :)

The Human Heart Nature Hydrating Face Mist with Aloe Vera comes in a travel-friendly 50 mL bottle and retails for Php 250. You can purchase this product at Human Heart Nature branches nationwide, or through the Human Heart Nature online store.

Project BB Cream | SkinFood Aloe Sun BB Cream.

Some of my friends and readers have been asking me why I haven't done a CC Cream review yet, and when will they see one on my blog. To be quite honest, my schedule has become a little crazy since the little man started school. And by the time I get home, I'd be too tired or too lazy to do product shots and swatches and FOTDs, which are part and parcel of any product review.

Anyhow, I'll make sure to do a CC Cream review soon - in two weeks' time perhaps? But before I do, let me get this BB Cream review posted first as it's been sitting in my Drafts folder for way too long.

This one is the Aloe Sun BB - my third BB Cream from SkinFood (the first two were the Rose Lemon Tea BB and the Honey Black Tea BB), and my tenth BB Cream review overall.

Hello, Aloe!

According to SkinFood, this is a 'multi-function BB Cream that protects skin from UV rays and moisturizes the skin while achieving a clear, radiant skintone'. Now I beg to disagree with the sun protection function, since the Aloe Sun BB is a mere SPF20 PA+, just like the two SkinFood BB Creams that I've tried. Quite ironic since it's a Sun BB Cream, huh?

I can however, attest to its moisturizing and nourishing quality. I used this BB Cream for the most part of the summer, when my skin looked dull and dry from all the heat and excessive sweat. But thanks to Aloe Extract, this BB Cream saved my face from dullness, and even gave it a nice, healthy glow.

Swatch!

The SkinFood Aloe Sun BB Cream comes in two variants - #1 Radiant Skin and #2 Natural Skin. This one's the Radiant Skin variant.

Blend, blend, blend! Left without BB, right with BB.

It has a creamy texture and a lightweight formulation that makes it easy to apply and blend. It's not as heavily pigmented as some of the other BB Creams I've tried (i.e. TFS Power Perfection BB), but it does a good job of concealing redness or dullness and making your skintone look even.

Left without BB; right with BB.

A full-sized tube (50g) of this product costs around 9900 Korean Won. That's somewhere around Php 380 or US$ 8. Pretty affordable, right? That is, if you're buying in Korea. I'm not sure how much this is being sold in the Philippines, since this wasn't in stock the last time I visited a SkinFood stall. I've seen some eBay sellers carrying this product, but alas they're selling for almost double the price ($15).

Matches my skintone nicely! :)
Left without BB, right with BB.

What I love:

Has a soothing effect on the skin.

Moisturizes and gives the skin a nice, healthy glow.

Buildable, light to medium coverage.

Smells nice (like a softer, subtler version of Irish Spring).

Lightweight, easy to blend formulation.

No breakouts whatsoever.

Affordable price. (If you're buying in Korea.)

What you might not like:

SPF20 PA+ only (And it's a Sun BB!)

Face of the day, ta-daaa!
FACE: Majolica Majorca Skin Lingerie Pore Cover, Benefit Erase Paste in Medium,
Skin Food Aloe Sun BB Cream.
EYES: Almay Intense i-Color Trio for Hazels, BYS Liquid Eyeliner in Black,
Majolica Majorca Lash King Mascara,
Ever Bilena Eyebrow Liner in Brown.
CHEEKS: SkinFood Sugar Cookie Blush in Bebe Pink.
LIPS: Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Sweet Tart.