Five must-have beauty gems in Healthy Options
Whenever I'm at the mall, there are stores that I can't resist going into for a quick browse. I feel that pull whenever I pass SM Beauty, Watsons, Beauty Bar, Korean beauty stores, and Healthy Options. Wait, what? You might think Healthy Options is an odd one out but it really isn’t!
Ever since I discovered that they carried the Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque, I’ve been scouring their racks every time I get the chance for more MakeupAlley or Amazon top-rated items. So far, I’ve not been disappointed! And today I’ll share some of my favorite beauty finds from Healthy Options and some others that I can’t wait to get my hands on.
Image via pana.com.ph
Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque (MakeupAlley: 4.1/5, Amazon: 4.4/5)
The first thing I said when I applied this on were these exact words: “This feels like masking with toothpaste.”
The masque smells very minty and feels very cool so it was quite enjoyable to have it on my face for 10 minutes. When I washed it off, I was rewarded with deeply cleansed skin that was matte and brightened! This is my go-to cleansing mask nowadays, and I also use this to spot treat pesky pimples overnight. For P395, you get a generous amount of 227g (8oz.) I have about 25% of the product left but I’ll definitely be repurchasing once I run out.
Dickinson’s Witch Hazel Toner (MakeupAlley: 4.3/5, Amazon: 4.4/5)
Witch Hazel often pops up in the best ingredients lists for fighting excessive sebum production and pimples. As part of your regular skincare routine, it is often lauded for its pore-tightening benefits and ability to reduce inflammation, which is exactly why it works for those two purposes.
My pores went back to their normal, rather enlarged size after I ran out of Avene’s Gentle Toner. Not wanting to spend more than a thousand bucks on a new bottle, I searched for a cheaper pore refining option and found this in MakeupAlley. True to its claim, it really does shrink the size of my pores and is effective against drying out pimples as well! It’s very cheap – 59ml for P75 and 475 ml for P300 - so I’m happy to find an alternative that works. If you haven’t had any past experience with witch hazel, I recommend getting the travel size first just so you can check your sensitivity! You might not enjoy the scent of this (smells like vodka) so try out the smaller version so it won’t be such a commitment.
Image via itsagandechlife.blogspot.com
Alba Botanica Terra Tints (MakeupAlley: 3.4/5, Amazon: 3.3/5)
It used to be that these Terra Tints were the only makeup one could find in Healthy Options, so many of us who love shopping there have probably grabbed one at some point! These all-mineral lip tints are moisturizing and has SPF15. Blaze is a pretty shade that leaves a hint of cherry red on the lips.
Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay (MakeupAlley: 4.4/5, Amazon: 4.4/5)
Another one from the masking department, this Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay Mask throws away all signs of modesty by dubbing the product as the World’s Most Powerful Facial. This product is just 100% natural calcium bentonite clay in powder form, which is a famous treatment for oily acne prone skin. To use, simply mix with equal parts of water or apple cider vinegar, spread on your face, and then rinse off with warm water. For P429, you get a whopping one pound of product!
I like how clean and lifted my face feels after using this. I did a half-face test for this once, and I noticed that my skin felt smoother and my pores appeared to shrink (albeit temporarily) as if I applied a silicone primer. While I don’t reach out for this as often as Queen Helene because of the prep process, it really works wonderfully to keep you oil-free for the day and is definitely bang for your buck!
Desert Essence Jojoba Oil (MakeupAlley: 4.3/5, Amazon: 4.7/5)
I recently developed a fascination for oils and what they can do for me beauty-wise. I’ve tried almond oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil, and argan oil so far. Now I’m itching to try jojoba oil next. Jojoba oil is often called as the oil that combats oil. Because it closely resembles human sebum, when used as a moisturizer, it can modulate sebum production to make you less oily.
Jojoba is also said to be a powerful acne inhibitor. Not only can it deep cleanse the skin, but it has potent anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties as well. On top of that, it has been shown that this oil enhances the skin’s ability to heal and regenerate. Talk about a multitasker!
This costs a little over P500 a bottle.
Have you tried shopping for beauty products from Healthy Options? What are your favorites and recommendations from HO?
Healthy Options is available in these locations.
