Holika Holika's 99% Aloe Soothing Gel Actually Cooled and Healed My Skin

We put the Holika Holika 99% Aloe Soothing Gel to the test after receiving a complimentary sample from the brand. Keep reading for our full product review. 

The aloe leaf-shaped bottle of Holika Holika Aloe 99% Soothing Gel might as well be the actual plant—it’s filled nearly entirely with actual aloe vera juice. Like the tropical succulent, this Holika Holika product is filled with a gel-like substance that can hydrate, moisturize, and soothe skin. As the name implies, 99% of the formula is aloe vera gel. It’s sourced from Jeju Island, a South Korean province. The other 1% is a mix of ingredients, including flower and fruit extracts to further soothe skin.

It can be used on the body or the face anytime, but aloe vera proves its worth when skin needs it most: when skin is sunburnt. But anytime skin is red or irritated—whether from the sun or razor burn—a slather of aloe vera can feel fantastic while helping skin heal at the same time.

To see whether the Holika Holika 99% Aloe Soothing Gel is the product you should keep on your shelves (or in your fridge!), I tried it myself.

About My Skin: Loves hydration 

My skin tends to be normal, leaning more oily or dry depending on the season. While it’s less dry during the summer, the heat of the season means more exposure to the sun, sweat, and to drying salt water. While diligent sunscreen application keeps me from any sunburns, shorts and tank top weather mean that my skin is still exposed. After a long, hot day, I applied the gel to my legs.

The Feel: Super slick

Holika Holika 99% Aloe Soothing Gel is thick and slick right out of the bottle. It spreads over skin quickly and feels slippery, and dries down to a slightly sticky feel before disappearing into the skin. It feels cool on the skin which makes it a really good choice to use in the summer, especially if you find your usual moisturizer melts off your skin in the heat. 

The gel has an added fragrance that’s pretty strong, but the scent itself is light and fresh and tones down over time.

The Results: Soothed skin

After the gel sank in, my skin immediately felt more hydrated. And while it moisturizes skin, in my opinion, the real benefit of using this aloe vera gel is how well it works as a skin soother. When I use it, I feel like my entire body is cooling off.

Because of this, my favorite time to use aloe vera products is after a long day at the beach, when my skin is dehydrated and red from the sun. It can also be great to use over any skin irritation. Keep it in the fridge to enhance the cooling effects!

Aloe Vera Juice, which makes up 99% of the product, is known as a great skin soother. It calms irritation, moisturizes, and can help heal breakouts. Some people can be allergic to it, so if you’ve never used aloe vera products make sure to test the product on a small area before applying it all over.

The Value: More expensive, but better quality

The large bottle is just over 8 ounces and costs around $9. This is more expensive than other aloe vera brands—basic aloe vera gels are available for half the price and double the product. But, and this is a big but, the cheaper alternatives are often filled with other ingredients like glycerin and alcohols, instead of tons of aloe vera juice like this product. Holika Holika also has more beneficial ingredients than just aloe vera, so the upcharge can be worth it if you want to get the most out of the product.

Similar Products: More aloe vera products

Seven Minerals Aloe Vera Gel ($19): This aloe vera gel has a much shorter ingredients list, but still packs 99% aloe vera gel. Unlike Holika Holika’s, this brand uses organic aloe vera. It’s also more expensive per ounce. There is no added fragrance and the formula is nearly completely scent-free.

Innisfree Aloe Vitalizing Soothing Gel Hydrating Face & Body Moisturizer ($10): This is another k-beauty alternative to Holika Holika. It’s more affordable, but it doesn’t have as high of a percentage of aloe vera (the actual amount isn’t disclosed). Innisfree sources their aloe vera from the same island as Holika Holika!