Give a gift of beauty this Christmas

MANILA, Philippines - You know it’s almost Christmas when the traffic jams are 10 times worse they can turn you into a jelly. You know it’s almost Christmas when everybody seems to be in a mad dash to beat the last-minute shopping rush. As for me, although I made my shopping list months ago (and checked it twice, too), there’s always somebody I’m bound to forget. Like me, you probably find it easier to choose gifts for your female friends or relatives than your male friends or relatives. Gifts of beauty (cosmetics, perfume, body care products) are sure winners. This year, for instance, you probably decided to give your mom an anti-wrinkle cream or pore vanisher. And what did you give her last year? The wrinkle, of course!

Now, I’ve discovered a beautiful Christmas gift idea that will surely put a glow on the receiver’s face.  It’s called Manuka Honey. Honey? Yes, honey! You probably already know how honey was used in beauty rituals back in the ancient times. It’s no secret that Queen of the Nile Cleopatra, a timeless beauty, used honey on her face to nourish her skin and heal it, too. An outstanding botanical chemist, Cleopatra knew her honey and used it, too, to conquer Julius Caesar and Marc Anthony who simply turned to mush at her sight!  Chock-full of vitamins and minerals, honey has a wealth of health properties: It contains phytochemicals that kill viruses and bacteria, and has a natural anti-inflammatory effect that heals wounds. I read, too, that Cleopatra used honey to whiten a tan. She mixed green grapes with one tablespoon of honey, applied it on her skin, and left it on for 15 minutes.

If there’s a word women back then used to describe honey, it’s “godsend” — a divine blessing, it naturally gives the skin a beautiful glow and plumps up and vanishes fine lines.

The glowing Catherine Zeta Jones reaches out for the jar of honey in her pantry for her beauty/pampering fix. She once said in an interview, “I rub a mixture of honey and salt all over my body to moisturize and exfoliate. You wash it off and your skin is gorgeous.” Catherine also conditions her hair with honey and beer. Now, you know the secret of movie queen Catherine’s crowning glory.

The beautiful news is that now, you don’t have to go through the trouble of mixing your own honey because, thanks to Manuka Health New Zealand, this ancient home beauty remedy now comes in convenient, affordable, easy-to-use products. Not only did Manuka Health harness the beauty properties of honey, it went many notches higher by using genuine Manuka honey from New Zealand in developing its skincare and personal care products.

Charles Ley, who brought Manuka Honey from New Zealand to Manila, can personally attest to the health benefits of Manuka honey. Now a staunch advocate of honey, Charles reveals the beauty edge of Manuka Honey over regular honey: “The honey, which comes from the Manuka bush that’s native to New Zealand, possesses the highest MGO (methylglyoxal) content ever independently tested. It’s many times more powerful and effective than regular honey due to the unique environmental conditions of the country. It’s the MGO content that determines the potency of the honey. The higher the MGO content, the more potent its anti-bacterial capabilities are.”

Charles Ley and Robby da Silva add, “Because it’s also an antioxidant, MGO Manuka Honey has also been found to have excellent anti-aging and rejuvenating properties, which make it a wonderful skincare ingredient. As such, it is the foundation of all skincare and personal care products developed by Manuka Honey New Zealand.”

Robby stresses, “All the products are laboratory tested, natural, plant-based, with no preservatives, colorants or fragrances. They’re hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic (will not cause blackheads).”

Charles shares, “Manuka honey has been around for a very long time, it was used by the Maori (who arrived in New Zealand back in the 13th-century AD). They found out that when they fed the cows with Manuka flower, the cows never got sick. And that’s where it all started. It’s a natural progression from Manuka health to skincare and personal care.”

He goes on to confess, “I actually use honey as a face mask.  The only problem is, I easily doze off so when it drops, my shirt gets all sticky.”

Who says men don’t need beauty pampering, too?

Charles introduces us to Manuka Honey’s skincare line (which is all anti-aging as the entire range deals with fine lines):

For the face

• Manuka Honey Gentle Cream Cleanser (80ml, P800). Formulated to remove makeup, dirt, and excess oil from your skin without stripping it of moisture. Its sweet almond and avocado oil formula is rich in fatty acids that soothe, moisturize, and nourish dehydrated and sensitive skin.

• Manuka Honey Gentle Facial Toner (80ml, P800). Formulated to stimulate, purify, balance, and revitalize tired skin. A gentle, alcohol-free toner, it uses only the best ingredients renowned for their ability to rejuvenate, soothe, and moisturize dry skin.

• Manuka Honey Moisturizing Face Cream (50ml tube, P1,000). Manuka Health’s MGO 250+ Manuka Honey Moisturizing Face Cream is especially formulated to restore the skin’s healthy radiance.  It slows the signs of aging, bringing youthful glow back to your skin.

• Manuka Honey Nourishing Night Cream (50ml tube, P1,000). A natural formula developed specifically to moisturize, soften, and nourish your skin deeply during sleep, the period when the skin absorbs the most nutrients. Sweet almond oil and shea butter in the formula act as super foods for your skin. Rich in natural, essential fatty acids, vitamins E and D, and pro-vitamin A, they help skin regain its firmness and radiance.

• MGO 250+ Manuka Honey Lip Balm (1.6oz, P300). MGO 250+ Manuka Honey is renowned for its beneficial properties for the skin. It also contains wheat germ and jojoba oils, calendula to soothe and calm damaged lips, and irwinol (wild mango butter) and natural oils to nourish.

• Manuka Honey Deep Cleansing Clay Mask (50ml tube, P900). Uses the extra-absorbent properties of kaolin clay to lift impurities gently. MGO 250+ Manuka Honey and aloe vera help restore the skin’s healthy radiance. With its rich, creamy texture, the mask glides effortlessly over skin and is easily removed once dry. Skin feels healthy and purified. It’s suitable for all skin types.

• Manuka Clear Mask (50ml tube, P1,200). A breakthrough formula, it provides intensive hydration, protection, and soothing relief for aggravated and very dry skin. This 100-percent water-free formula starts with a base of MGO 600+ Manuka Honey, some of the strongest Manuka honey available anywhere! In addition, it’s got CycloPower with MGO 400+ Manuka Honey and pure calendula extract.

• Manuka Clear Intensive BB Gel (30ml tube, P1,200). MGO 600+ Manuka Honey is blended with a unique proprietary complex of MGO 400+ Manuka Honey with CycloPower to extend the remarkably skin-enhancing properties of Manuka honey. Combined with pure Manuka essential oil and aloe vera gel, this BB gel will help restore the healthy appearance of your complexion.

For the body

• Manuka Honey Toning & Moisturizing Body Lotion (200ml tube, P700). Designed to hydrate, nourish, and protect the skin. It contains MGO 250+ Manuka Honey to aid in the skin’s repair and renewal process, and natural emollients to plump up dehydrated cells and provide a barrier against environmental pollutants.

• Manuka Honey Moisturizing Hand and Nail Cream (75ml tube, P500). You can truly nail it with this formula as it is designed to hydrate, nourish, and repair the skin of your (much-abused but neglected) hands. Also, it helps strengthen and nourish your nails.

• Manuka Honey Hypoallergenic Soap (100g bar, P350). On top of the skin-friendly vegetable oils, MGO 250+ Manuka Honey and glycerine were added to provide moisture that leaves skin feeling oh-so-soft and hydrated.

I can’t think of a more beautiful — or sweeter — gift (for myself or my loved ones) this Christmas than honey!

And if I could share this tip with all the men out there: Your honey will surely love you for your gift of Manuka Honey long after Christmas!

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Manuka Health New Zealand can be found in Metro Manila at: 1-D Kensington Place, 1st Avenue, Burgos Circle, Bonifacio Global City; 3rd Level, Lucky Chinatown, Reina Regente Street corner Dela Reina Street, Binondo, Manila; 2nd Level, Robinsons Magnolia, Aurora Boulevard corner Doña Hemady Avenue, Quezon City; 3rd Level, North Ave., Ring Edsa corner North Avenue, Quezon City. Its provincial locations are: Ayala Center Cebu (2nd Level, Cebu Business Park, Archbishop Reyes Avenue, Cebu City); Centrio Ayala Mall CDO (2nd Level, Claro M. Recto Avenue corner Corrales Avenue, Cagayan de Oro City); Ayala Abreeza Mall Davao (ground floor, Abreeza Mall, Ayala Business Park, JP Laural Ave., Bajada, Davao City).

Manuka Health can also be found at organic bazaar markets in the metro — The Podium, Glorietta 4, and Alabang Town Center.

You can also order by calling 636-5588, 09178635588, 09999974277; email info@manukahealth.ph. Visit www.manukahealth.ph for more product info and follow Manuka Health on Facebook and Twitter.