Holiday Beauty Products: Part 2

Following on from my last post I thought I’d tell you what I picked up on my travels in Hong Kong and Thailand. There were a lot of mysterious, intriguing products out there, most of which I couldn’t read the ingredients of and didn’t know exactly what they were. I find shopping for beauty products way more fun when abroad – for some reason the allure of the foreign words, smells and packaging sucks me in and before I know it I’m piling up my basket with goodies.

Tiger Balm
Tiger Balm

The first thing I picked up was an essential really while in Thailand – Tiger Balm – essential because I was covered in mosquito bites and desperately needed something to relieve the itch. Mosquitoes are obsessed with me; it doesn’t matter how much bug spray I use they fight their way through and feast on my blood. It must be tasty. Anyway, Tiger Balm is fantastic for soothing bites so I always pick it up when I’m in Thailand, although it’s pretty easy to get hold of here too. They have two types: one that heats up and one that cools. I like the cooling one (clear/white coloured) for bites. The brown (warming) one is good for muscle injuries I’m told. The strong menthol smell is also good for clearing your airways if you have a cold. I urge you to buy some if you haven’t tried it!

Organic coconut oil
Organic coconut oil

Next I bought some coconut oil from a market stall in Hua Hin. I thought it’d be useful for removing eye makeup and general cleansing. The 200ml bottle only cost me a few pounds, and if I didn’t have haggling fatigue by that point I’m sure it’d’ve been even cheaper. It claims to be 100% organic too so that sounded perfect. I used it a couple of times while away and it was great for taking off my waterproof mascara (which I wear only on holiday as it’s such a pain to get off). However, it didn’t survive the journey home as the temperature in the aeroplane hold seems to have completely ruined its consistency. I didn’t really think it through before flying as I am aware that oils change consistency with temperature, although being 200ml I wouldn’t have been able to take it as hand luggage anyway. It has now turned from a clear liquid to a white solid which won’t pump out. I could run it under hot water but I think it’s permanently ruined as it looks so funky. Ah well.

Fruity soaps
Fruity soaps

Wondering around Patpong in Bangkok (not to see a ping pong show I can assure you!) I purchased two delicious smelling soaps from a lovely woman stall owner. They are handmade glycerine soaps containing herbal extracts and essential oils. Beautifully packaged and absolutely yummy scents – I went for pomegranate and jasmine.

Healing Oil
Healing Oil

Last is a Hong Kong purchase which I picked up in the airport as we had time to kill and I was fascinated by the medical and beauty isles – I just had to buy something. It’s called Banjemin Jaminton Healing Oil, recommended for bruises, minor cuts, muscular aches, minor burns & sprains. It comes in what looks like a little whiskey bottle and is the colour of whiskey too, although it assures me it’s for external use only! I haven’t used this yet but am very intrigued so will review it properly when I come to put it to the test.

I’ll leave you with some holiday snaps taken on my crappy 3GS iPhone as my camera decided to break on the first day out there. Enjoy!

View from the Grand Hyatt
View from the Grand Hyatt
A scorching day to see the Big Buddha
A scorching day to see the Big Buddha
View from the top of Big Buddha mountain
View from the top of Big Buddha mountain
Fishing village, Hong Kong
Fishing village, Hong Kong
Bangkok long boat trip
Bangkok long boat trip
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6 thoughts on “Holiday Beauty Products: Part 2

  1. Coconut Oil is good for toe fungus, too. I would love to test the pomegranate soap you show in the picture. I am a big fan of pomegranate benefits for skin.

  2. tiger balm — it’s everywhere here in Singapore. I feel nostalgic just looking at the picture. But it’s great for mosquito bites and itchy patches. :)

  3. Coconut oil turns solid in cooler temperatures!!! So in england it’ll stay solid unless its ridiculously warm then it becomes liquid again :) so your product isn’t ruined, it’s just how it is.

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