I remember being a child and seeing my mother apply a gel substance from a leaf on my father’s scalp. She called it “sabila”. Years later I was to learn that sabila came from a succulent called “aloe vera”.
Nobody calls aloe vera “sabila” anymore, except maybe my mother and other people from her generation. Aloe vera is now bottled and placed in jars for topical and oral use. It isn’t just for helping your hair grow or keeping your scalp healthy. Aloe can help ease digestion problems and soothe skin irritations and minor cuts.
Aloe vera extracts have been found to be good for the skin, as a topical remedy for burns and sunburns, cuts and other skin irritations. Natural aloe vera also contains components that help the body fight off inflammation. The aloe vera plant also contains salicylic acid, a compound that stops the production of the hormones which cause inflammation.
I was invited to the launch of Australian beauty brand Grace Cosmetics in the Philippines and was privileged enough to meet Julie Charanduk, who founded the company 34 years ago when she was barely 20 years old.
As Julie tells the story, she was a 19-year-old plagued by acne when she turned to aloe vera for a solution. Julie and her parents, who were into direct-selling, decided to market the product and that is how the company grew.
“Most beauty products’ ingredients lists begin with water. Our main ingredient is really aloe leaf juice. It’s on the list,” Julie explained during the launch of Grace Cosmetics at the residence of the Australian ambassador to Manila.
Julie was accompanied by her husband Joe, who is in charge of manufacturing for Grace Cosmetics.
The traditional way of using aloe vera was to extract the leaf’s gel by hand and apply it directly to the skin. However, there is now a more convenient way to harness benefits.
Joe said Grace Cosmetics products have a higher content of aloe vera. All the company’s products are, in fact, aloe vera-based.
“Our aloe vera is organically grown. So every product, from the facial cleanser to the eye cream, contains this ingredient,” Julie said.
The products will be sold in the Philippines via direct-selling, thanks to entrepreneur Myrna Yao, CEO of RichPrime Global Inc. Yao had first learned about Grace Cosmetics via a trial pack from a friend.
“I really noticed the difference. I had been using more expensive products, but Grace Cosmetics was cheaper and more effective. My skin is very sensitive and I really saw positive results and a healthy glow on my skin,” Myrna said.
Through the company, Myrna hopes to provide a means of livelihood for others, especially women.
“Ever since I was young, I’ve always strived to do things that would always benefit others. That’s why I invested in quality toys and products for children, so that our customers will not be harmed while using them. This is the same principle with Grace Cosmetics. I’m proud to be bringing it here, not only because they have good products, but also because I want to help empower women by giving them a means to help their families financially,” she added.
I was given a sample of the Aloe Medicated Skin Cream, a lightly fragranced product which I use as a balm for rashes and dry spots. I have been using it for a week and, so far, have been liking it.
For more information about Grace Cosmetics and its products, visit www.gracecosmetics.com.ph.