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. :)