Bali, Indonesia: On this Island

As we touched down at Bali Ngurah Rai International Airport in Indonesia, the ladies and I were slightly surprised b the scorching rays and suffocating heat that greeted us in this tropical paradise. The Bali heat had our heads swirling and the intese rays further dried out our jet-lagged skin, but we soon discovered that the solution to all our skincare needs could be found on this island.

The grand Nusa Dua Beach Resort and Spa awaited us like an oasis in the sweltering desert. Trimmed with three-story high ancestral trees, lined with soft baby-powder sand beaches and sculpted gardens that would put even Babylon to shame, this five-star diamond hotel has pampered no less than the world’s kings and queens. And this group of Manileñas was given nothing less than the royal treatment during our three-day stay in the land of divine beaches.

After a quick freshening up in our superior suites, the group reassembled at the expansive lobby overlooking the Indian Ocean and we made our way around the 23 acres of lush gardens filled with familiar vibrant blooms like the gumamela, santan, kalachuchi and bougainvillea. The garden took 25 years to create, shares our enthusiastic guide, and was designed by the legendary landscape artist Made Wijaya, the creator of world-renowned gardens like the landscapes found in Bali Hyatt, Four Seasons Hotel and Jimbarnan. But from the thousands of local and exotic blooms that charmed the regal landscape, the one bloom that interested the group the most was the humble and timid camellia leaf plant. 

Originally found on the foothills of the great Himalayas, the camellia leaf is Pond’s newest discovery in its White Beauty Naturals line. Camellia leaf, also known as the Chinese tea leaf, has been recognized for its anti-oxidant properties. But this shrub has more potent powers than just making a great cup of tea. After years of research and study, scientists at the Pond’s Institute have discovered that the camellia leaf extract is highly effective in skin whitening. 

“The Pond’s Institute has been searching for the best natural solution that would lighten skin. And after consulting with many natural specialists all over the world and after testing a variety of different naturally grown ingredients, we found that the camellia leaf was the most effective in terms of skin lightening,” says Elizabeth Kim, Global Pond’s senior PR claims manager. 

The camellia leaf—or more correctly, its leaf extract camellia sinensis—softens and smoothes skin, revealing the desired pink hue of youth. The camellia leaf works in lightening the skin by reducing the production of tyrosinase, the enzyme that is responsible for the skin darkening melanin, at the molecular level. Pond’s ambassadors Apples Aberin-Sahdwani and Rissa Mananquil swear by the camellia leaf’s effectiveness. And upon looking at their youthful faces (fresh even under the glare of the Bali sun), the group was convinced. 

In order to experience for ourselves the rejuvenating powers of Pond’s White Beauty Naturals, we rushed to the sanctuary that was Nusa Dua Spa.

Lying down in the spa suite with our eyes closed, we absorbed the soothing notes of the trickling water from the falls and allowed them to calm our excited spirits. The warm scent of the sweet, spicy ginger tea wafted through the room, adding another layer of perfume in the room already laden with scents of essential oils: ylang-ylang, sandalwood and cinnamon. 

The journey of pure indulgence started with an exotic fruit foot scrub and a sensual Balinese scalp massage that used coconut and jasmine oil to soften and strengthen the hair. Tenderly working the pressure points on my face, my gracious attendant Sunna started to rehydrate my skin with the first wash of Pond’s camellia 

leaf. Applying the expert soothing techniques of a traditional Balinese facial with Pond’s White Beauty Naturals, Sunna had me asleep within minutes. 

Time was lost and I awoke hours later to a refreshing feel of soft, baby smooth skin. My skin was supple and for the first time since arriving in Bali, my pores could breathe. 

Pond’s White Beauty Naturals provides a natural skin care solution that tackles the need for a whiter and healthier glow. But it is not the first in Pond’s masstige line that harnesses the potent powers of nature. 

Pond’s Gold Radiance line addresses the four aging dimensions of skin dullness: texture, color, evenness of tone and hydration with the use of 98.5 percent real gold micro-particles. Diminishing fine lines and stimulating the skin’s natural regenerative processes, this revolutionary anti-aging skin care solution brings back the radiance of aging skin cells. Gold Radiance endorser Tweetie de Leon-Gonzalez praises the instant luster the product offers. “In just a matter of weeks, you’ll see the changes in the texture of skin. But with just the first application, you’ll see an immediate glow and radiance due to the real gold flakes. Gold, ladies, is not only to be worn on your fingers,” she adds with a smile. 

With these two products in tow, Pond’s new direction is becoming clear—natural is the way to go.

In this exotic location, rich with culture and traditions, we discovered the elixir of youth in a humble plant which would have remained an inconspicuous ingredient used in our favorite tea blends if not for Pond’s. Best of all, one doesn’t need to travel far to seek its benefits because now you can buy and bring home your own elixir of youth.