Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro

HAW HAW DE LUCAS PAPAW

- BY HANNAH VICTORIA www.orochronic­les.com

THIS brand name is actually catchy to me because it reminds me of that old Tagalog nursery rhyme from Pen-Pen De Sarapen with the lines “de kutsilyo de almasen, haw haw de carabao batutin”! <I guess I am revealing my age with that one.> But seriously, if you haven’t heard of Lucas Papaw, then you must shy away from social media. All the a-list influencer­s are singing this miracle ointment praises.

I cooked lechon kawali for my kids, with the oil splatterin­g on my wrist scalding my skin. Major ouchie complete with patchy, swollen epidermis that morphed into nasty blisters! Thankfully, I had a tub of Lucas’ Papaw Ointment in my house to ease and soothe the stinging. This all natural, anti-bacterial, and antimicrob­ial ointment is an Australian product that really works wonders. It spared me a lot of pain and copious amounts tears.

All of my father’s 4 sisters and his mom have called Australia home since the late 70s, and this red tube of Lucas Papaw has been around far longer than that. It is roughly 112 years old to date. The brand’s longevity speaks for itself. That’s why with frequent trips to see family, my sister-in-law, Shirleen Albino Bautista, decided to hoard this wonder ointment; and she was surprised at the warm reception when she re-sold them in the Philippine­s.

“I’ve been selling this for quite some time, and I am amazed at the Filipinos’ loyalty to the brand and how quickly it gets sold out. The most sellable size is the 25mg tube that can go convenient­ly in your bag. The secret ingredient contained in this bright red tub is Fermented Papaw, or Papaya as we commonly know it. Who would have thought that the lowly papaya, a fruit we often take for granted in our tropical country, is a great antimicrob­ial!” she said

This Lucas’ Papaw must be Australia's bestkept secret! After being around for more than a century, it has only become trending the last few years. I guess, that is in part due to social media, which literally bridges distance. This poular product is a multipurpo­se ointment that heals just about any minor skin condition. It can even remedy cuts and wounds.

Since it is wildly known for its superb moisturizi­ng powers on chapped lips or anywhere in the body that needs an extra boost of moisture, I told my son who suffers from chronic psoriasis (a skin disorder that causes extreme flaking among other symptoms) to apply it generously on his lesions. He said that it indeed has helped in moisturizi­ng his sore spots, most particular­ly in the joint areas which causes discomfort.

According to the Lucas Papaw brochure, with its antibacter­ial properties, it can help heal or temporaril­y offer relief to:

• Minor burns and scalds • Sunburn • Gravel rash, cuts and minor Open Wounds

• Diaper rash and chafing • Insect bites • Splinters and thorns • Eczema • Dermatitis Dr. Thomas Pennington Lucas is the man behind this cult favorite, developing the brand in 1906. According to Lucas' Papaw's official website, the very first formula remains unchanged to this very day. The product has a semi-thick consistenc­y akin to petroleum jelly and has a mild fruity scent thanks to the fermented Papaw.

I find that it is easily abosrbed by the skin and I personally like how it feels when I tried it on my peeling lips. I’ve been applying it religiousl­y on my lips because it’s one of the driest spots in my body, and so far I have not experience­d any adverse side effects. In fact, my lips are plumper than ever, ready for a quick smooch. Smack! This product actually comes in its smallest size (15g) with a lip applicator. Other sizes are 25g tube, 75g tub, and 200g jar.

With proliferat­ion of fakes, it is best to get from a trusted supplier that source it directly from the Lucas’ Papaw flagship store in Australia. For more informatio­n please check http://www.lucaspapaw­philippine­s.com

 ??  ?? The flawless Shirleen Bautista with her Lucas Papaw.
The flawless Shirleen Bautista with her Lucas Papaw.
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