Gandang Lokal: What’s Inside Our Local Skincare Products?
There’s this stereotype that international skin care products are better and more effective than local ones. The products celebrities and the media usually advertise often overshadow the proudly Filipino skin care items which are on the same level or even better than foreign competitors. The lush tropical forests and greeneries of the Philippines hold the edge in skin care because organic skin care ingredients can be found here. Lucky for us Filipinos, there are many independent local vendors which use the very best organic skin care ingredients!
Pili Oil
Harvested from Bicol’s pili tree, pili oil is a nutrient-rich ingredient used in a lot of products. It nourishes our skin through its essential fatty acids, vitamin A, and vitamin E. Looking to stay young despite the stress? Well, compared to other types of oils you might use for your skin, this locally sourced oil has a higher moisture index and higher content of carotenoids and fatty acids which can help you beat premature aging. Not only that, pili oil can do almost everything! It can serve as a moisturizer, skin barrier, and antioxidant!
You can try out pili oil in Pili Ani’s Self-Care Night Recovery Oil for a soothing effect on your skin when sleeping!
Calamansi
Calamansi does not only add more flavor to your dishes, but also makes your skin more luscious! This ingredient which thrives in the Zamboanga Peninsula region, can brighten the skin and fade dark spots using its high amount of vitamin C. Your face can achieve a more balanced complexion as calamansi promotes a more regular sebum production.
The well-loved Filipino brand Human Nature offers a Vitamin C + Hya Calamansi Radiance Serum which promotes skin elasticity and firmness. With the vitamin C coming from the calamansi, the antioxidant properties present protect your skin from the pollutants around you and keep you fresh throughout the day!
Volcanic Ash
What may sound dangerous or intimidating at first can actually be good for your skin! Volcanic ash is rich in minerals, acts as a natural detoxifier, and can gently absorb your skin’s excess oil. The fine particles of volcanic ash act as a gentle exfoliant to help clean out your skin, remove dead cells, and unclog your pores. Perfect for sensitive skin because of its gentleness, volcanic ash has the capability to cleanse your skin deeply without causing redness or irritation. You can usually see this ingredient being used in face masks, soaps, or scrubs.
Pili Ani’s Deep Detox Volcanic Exfoliating Mask combines volcanic ash harvested from Mayon Volcano in the Bicol Region, Amazonian kaolin clay, bamboo charcoal, and moisturizing oils to detoxify, exfoliate, and balance out the oil production in your skin!
Aloe Vera
Primarily grown in Bataan, aloe vera is perfect for those with dry skin with its soothing capabilities for dry patches and inflammation. Particularly, it has vitamins A, C, and E, enzymes, antioxidants, and contains a lot of water. Whether you have a sunburn, need a moisturizer, or want something revitalizing, aloe vera’s got you!
Try out Apotheke Science’s budget-friendly and best seller 10% Niacinamide Serum for tighter skin, unclogged pores, and lighter pigmentation! Using aloe vera as its soothing base, the product helps even out tone, calm irritation and inflammation, heals acne, and increases your overall skin health!
There are so many reasons as to why we should be proud of independent Filipino skin care vendors! For one, they are more accessible and cheaper than their international counterparts. Additionally, they support the country’s economy and productivity. Most of all, these businesses use locally sourced ingredients which are the best for our skin’s health. You don’t need to buy from international luxury brands anymore because the best organic ingredients are already available locally!
References
Moya, J. (2025, April 3). A very Filipino skincare: Beauty products made from widely produced ingredients in the Philippines. Tatler Asia. https://www.tatlerasia.com/style/beauty/filipino-skincare-natural-ingredients
Pili ani’s guide to native Filipino ingredients: The superfoods your s. Pili Ani. (n.d.). https://www.piliani.com/blogs/news/pili-ani-s-guide-to-native-filipino-ingredients-the-superfoods-your-skin-has-been-missing
Tagabucba, M. T. (2025, May 16). The best natural skincare ingredients from the Philippines. Allure Philippines . https://allure.ph/skin/these-skincare-powerhouse-ingredients-are-found-in-the-philippine-islands/
Tonelada, R. (2024, June 20). 5 proudly Pinoy skincare ingredients you need to add to your routine ASAP. Cosmopolitan PH. https://www.cosmo.ph/beauty/skin/indigenous-pinoy-skincare-ingredients-a6906-20240620?s=913q18lccjsehs82rq66bqjcgp