Discovering Pili Ani and How it's Improving My Hypertrophic Scarring

Thursday, April 11, 2019


The Brand
Pili Ani in a not like any brand I've used before. This Filipino skincare company features a truly unique ingredient in their products which is an absolute game changer. Originating in Bicol, the southern island region of the Philippines, Pili Ani was built around the rich oils of the pili tree, which is specific to this location. Rosalina Tan, creator and proponent of organic agriculture, gravitated to this "chosen tree"and focused primarily on its beneficial oils.

These potent oils -- pili oil, which is found in the fruit's pup and elemi oil, which is found in the tree's bark -- carry intensely moisturizing qualities as well as being antioxidant-rich and have skin firming properties. These vital oils coupled together are the star ingredients in their exclusive skincare line.





The Key Product
While their multi-dimensional products are promoted as ultra-hydrating, fine-line and wrinkle diminishing skin wonders, pili oil is rich in Vitamin A and E which also aids greatly in healing. I was thrilled to learn more about the pili oil and was excited to hear stories of skin ailments and scarring healed through its use. I couldn't wait to get my hands on their Intense Hydrating Facial Cream and try it on my own scars, of which I have plenty.

With so much hope and being so moved by the brand's story and testimonies, I wondered if this product would work on my aggressive, hypertrophic scarring, With a lot of patience, I put their cream to the test.

To help explain the degree of my major scarring, I should explain a bit and how they develop. Oh boy are they frustrating.



My Scar Story
Caused by trauma, some of my scars are more extreme than others. Surgery is a form of trauma which causes inflammation of the tissue. With time that inflammation converts into a scar, sometimes becoming a hypertrophic scar (keloid). This kind of scar is a thickened, elevated scar that grows beyond the measures of a surgical lesion. As someone who has experienced extensive surgery, I am all too familiar with keloiding and found that my skin responds to all trauma with this kind of collagen-rich scarring.

The most frustrating and decades-old scarring is on my shoulders which was caused by a terrible sunburn. As the skin naturally-healed and peeled away, it caused small tears in my skin which healed over in large, puffy, dark-toned keloid scars. Growing with time, these were painful, tight scars which would pull on the skin. I didn't know how to tackle them at the time and tried everything under the sun to treat and heal.



Keloiding is my skin's natural response to healing. That meant cuts, surgery wounds, or even a pesky blemish could and would heal as an unsightly keloid. I refused to get cosmetic work (injectables and laser therapy) or have them surgically cut out as the chance of them returning or getting worse/bigger was far too high. Additionally, the amount of scars and area of coverage was far too much. The time, pain and money involved to treat by these cosmetic methods without a guarantee was not worth it.  I knew a topical treatment was my only method.

The Results
Vitamin E was working the best so far. Discovering that Vitamin E was a component found in pili oil, I had high hopes and started to lather my scars in their Intensely Hydrating Facial Cream as a new at-home treatment method. The progress was slow and while I secretly wished for a instant response, I held on and continued use. To my surprise the condition of my scars, even those decades-old shoulder keloids which I was so self conscious of, began to improve with use.

With a few months of consistent use, Pili Ani's cream has not only improved the texture of my keloids but has began evening out their color and lightening the harsh darkness, The raised-puffy nature of my scars haas also flattened which is such an improvement from their initial state. A keloid is very tough to the touch and with use, the areas of intense hypertrophic scarring has softened and continues to do so. Best of all, the painful strain I feel in each scar has finally settled due to do the intense hydration.



Like all great things, this is not an over night cure-all. It took consistent use and twice-a-day application to garner any results. I imagine it would work much quicker if the product is applied to a fresh scar. The scars I've treated are many years old and therefore require more product and greater attention. I have used Vitamin E creams and various oils in the past, in the same fashion, to no results. It is this uniquely blended, pili oil-rich cream that has really delivered an overall improved change in the condition of my scars.

Pili Ani has become a major staple in my daily morning/evening routine and I can't rave about it enough. I have been so embarrassed of my scars which constantly draw odd looks and comments. I am thrilled to proudly show them thanks to the help of Pili Ani. While I know my scars tell a visual story that will never be fully erased, I'm so glad I found a product that truly works and heals the additional troubles that come along with my scars and has improved their overall look and texture.

Hair Pin - Asos | Lace Bralette - Free People | Robe - Flora Nikrooz


Currently Loving - Kristin Ess Instant Exfoliating Scalp Scrub

Monday, April 1, 2019


As the weather cools, it's completely normal to see your skin dry out and require twice as much moisture than the warmer months of the year. While we're inclined to drench the skin on our faces and bodies with moisture-rich products, we often forget that our scalps need the same attention.

The winter season tends to strip the scalp of its natural hydration and leaves behind a flaky, somewhat irritated surface in need of extra attention. Though it may seem like you would need a plethora of hair care products to remedy each issue separately, I found a single product that is getting to the root of our troubled winter scalp concerns. 

Kristin Ess' amazing hair care range for Target recently launched an effective scalp-targeted hair care roundup with products providing a hefty dose of protective TLC. More specifically, the Instant Exfoliating Scalp Scrub, which has changed the way I look at my scalp health. 



Prior to shampoo, this richly-formulated sugar scrub is meant to be applied directly to the scalp and massaged in small circular motions. This method gently exfoliates the targeted area while softly breaking up buildup and flakes. I found that my scalp started to flake more during the brutally cold winter and this product effectively lessened the flaking and subsequent roughness from the buildup. Additionally, I found that while my scalp feels incredibly clean after use, it's more hydrated without producing more oil, an issue I found with most hydrating conditioners and masks. Greasy roots the next day after a wash is not something I want after using a high-quality product. 

Along with its lovely subtle scent, I feel that my hair has become stronger from prolonged use and see less breakage and fallout. This could be a result of the Zip-Up technology unique to this product. This exclusive complex aids weaker bits of the hair (the cuticle and split ends) while promoting overall healing and protection against those pesky environmental irritants. 

Much like the skin on our face, we need a product that tackles seasonal scalp issues while offering enough protection and healing long after the product is applied. While this product has rebalanced my suffering winter scalp, my overall hair health has great improved. Best of all, this genius hair product allows me to skip an extra day (three) between washes and still feel fresh and clean without losing its bounce/natural volume. 



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