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 Sunflower Lip Miracle.

A few weeks ago, Human Heart Nature released the newest issue of their magalogue (that's magazine-slash-catalogue) and launched new makeup, lip care and skincare products. I was not able to attend the said event as I was still in Korea that time, but the avid Human Heart Nature advocate that I am made it a point to visit the Laguna branch a few days after my return to the Philippines. I may have missed the launch party, but I definitely will not miss out on trying the new products - especially this Sunflower Lip Miracle.

Human Heart Nature Sunflower Lip Miracle.

Housed in a handy, 10-gram squeezable tube, the Sunflower Lip Miracle promises 'sensationally soft and healthy-looking lips' and based on my experience, it does just that. Not surprising, as this product is made with beeswax and castor oil (both with skin softening and nourishing properties) and sunflower oil which has 44x more Vitamin E than cocoa butter, another common ingredient for lip balms and other lip care products.

Product description and ingredients at the back of the tube.

The Sunflower Lip Miracle can be used two ways: 1) as a gloss to make your lips look fuller and to give it a moist sheen; 2) or as an overnight lip mask for a more intense, deeper conditioning especially on days when your lips are extra dry to the point of chapping.

Easy to swipe!

For the past few days nights, I've been swiping this on my lips before going to bed and have been enjoying the benefits since then - waking up to soft, supple lips, pesky lip lines kept at bay. My son, whose lips seem to be perennially parched, has also been using this as on overnight mask and since then, his lips no longer look parched and dry. 

Sunflower Lip Miracle, swatched.

Both of us love the cooling sensation of this Peppermint variant, but if you prefer something fruity, I suggest you try the Peach variant. Both 'flavors' sell for Php 199.75 and are sold online and at Human Heart Nature branches nationwide.

Fits my palm! :)

They say good things come in small packages and Human Heart Nature's Sunflower Lip Miracle is just that - a lip saviour in a pocket-sized tube. 

Before - dry lips, prominent lip lines.

After - moisturized lips, what lip lines? :)

For even better results, exfoliate with the Human Heart Nature Lip Scrub twice a week. :)

Spotlight | Human Heart Nature Natural Lip Scrub.

Matte lipsticks are all the rage these days, and I must admit, I have a growing fondness for this lipstick trend. However, my major - and perhaps my only - concern is how they make my lips look parched and dry afterwards.

Thankfully, my favorite local skincare brand Human Heart Nature now has a product that can address this problem. Ta-daaaa ~~~ the all-new Natural Lip Scrub!

Human Heart Nature Lip Scrub.

I was looking forward to this product so much that despite being under the weather, I made it a point to attend the Magalogue Turnover/Product Launch held last March 18. Two days later I was rushed to the hospital because of a severe asthma attack, haha.

Product description.

All-natural ingredients.

Expiration date and storage instructions.

So anyway, the key to keeping your lips moisturized despite the annoying drying tendencies of matte lipsticks is to exfoliate properly. And by that, I mean exfoliating before and even after wearing (matte) lipstick.

Here's the lip scrub, uncapped.

This genuinely natural exfoliant does just that - it buffs away dry, dull skin and makes your kisser soft, smooth, and yes, kissable. It's made with all-natural, homegrown ingredients such as raw sugar from Negros, beeswax, sunflower seed oil, and jojoba seed oil.

A closer look. The jar is stuffed, like super-stuffed with sugar crystals.

The sugar crystals gently slough away rough, dry skin while the medley of moisturizers soften the skin and make the lips look plump and healthy. Oh, and this lip scrub contains peppermint too. I love its minty-fresh scent and its cooling effect on my lips!

Swatched. :)

To use, simply apply a pea-sized amount of the Human Heart Nature Natural Lip Scrub on the lips. Then massage the scrub gently for a minute or two. No need to worry about the sugar crystals falling off from your lips. They adhere pretty nicely, so none of those precious crystals go to waste. Afterwards, rinse your lips or simply wipe it off with a wet tissue or a damp washcloth.

My lips, parched and dry after 8+ hours of wearing matte lipstick.

I also used this product on my son, whose lips are often as dry as the Sahara. As soon as I applied the lip scrub on his lips, he licked the sugar crystals off the corners of his mouth because 'they were sweet', he said. Guess what? They're actually edible, but I don't recommend you to eat it. Lol. Also, you don't need to exfoliate everyday; twice or three a week will do.

After using Human Heart Nature Lip Scrub!

Overall, this product does a stellar job of getting dry and parched lips back in shape. I love its cool and refreshing formula, aside from the fact that it does not contain chemicals and is made with natural, locally-sourced ingredients. It's reasonably priced, too - just Php 175 for a 12-gram jar. Definitely pure bliss for my lips. :)

The Human Heart Nature Natural Lip Scrub is available at the Human Heart Nature online store and all Human Heart Nature branches nationwide. I'm thinking of doing a giveaway in collaboration with Human Heart Nature Laguna, so please stay tuned for details! :)

Spotlight | Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Cream.

I think I've mentioned this before -  while I do have a skincare routine that I follow religiously, I make adjustments to it depending on the season. And now that the temperature dips low and the winds are awfully cold, I have tweaked my skincare routine accordingly by using a brightening ampoule on top of my moisturizer. (And that's after cleansing two ways, exfoliating, and toning.) Also, I have switched to a creamier moisturizer to fight the moisture-zapping temperature that we are experiencing these days.

This is the Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Cream, which I have been using since last month. Got this product from WishTrend, where I also got my Klairs Illuminating Supple Blemish Cream.

Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Cream.

One of Klairs' best-selling products, this concentrated facial cream 'provides immediate and long-term hydration for a radiant complexion'. Made with all-natural ingredients such as Jojoba seed oil and Centella asiatica (it's the same ingredient found in Kiehl's Skin Salve), this product also boasts of an infusion of yeast-derived beta glucans that 'support the skin's natural defense system and improves repair capabilities'.

Gotta love the eco-friendly packaging!

Hangul text (I reckon it's the product description) plus company info.

The Rich Moist Soothing Cream promises deep hydration, and as far as I'm considered, Klairs delivers on its promise. My skin, which tends to look dull and feel awfully dry during the cold months, could not be more grateful to this moisturizer. After a few days of continued use, the dry patches on my face were gone, no more redness around the nose, and my skin felt softer and smoother.

Comes in a jar; no spatula, though.

I use this twice a day - in the morning before I put on my makeup, and at night before I hit the sack. But I guess it'll take awhile before I run out of this product, since it's very economical to use. Because of its super creamy texture, you only need a teeny dollop for your face and neck.

See how creamy this product is?

Just a little goes a long way.

Now as far as potency is concerned, I have no complaints about this product. In fact, this baby even exceeded my expectations! My only gripe is that it does not come with a spatula - and you know how partial I am when it comes to (skincare) products in tubs, with the sanitary and contamination issues and all. Anyhoo, I guess I'll just have to buy another spatula from the local beauty store.

The Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Cream comes in one size only (50 mL) and sells for $23.99 (around Php 1000) at WishTrend. They do ship internationally, and offer free shipping for products worth $70 and above. You also get free samples for every purchase. :)