はふた

It’s so cheap, but it has whitening effects?

In this article, we will introduce you to the popular toothpaste brand “Colgate“!

This article contains advertisements.

What is Colgate?

Colgate is a brand of oral care products developed by a manufacturer based in the United States.

The company has expanded its sales channels globally, and there’s a good chance you’ll see Colgate in a wide range of Southeast Asia, including the Philippines.

Well, it’s not something you see around much in Japan. They tried selling there back in the 90s, but the competition was too steep, so they had to pull out.

At the moment, the only way to buy them in Japan is online, and the only way to get imported foreign products is through Amazon and similar sites. You can also get them on Amazon, but they’re pretty pricey.

Reputation of Colgate

Colgate isn’t a household name in Japan, but it’s definitely the top brand in the Philippines.

That’s why they’re displayed in supermarkets as the main product. There are quite a few variations, not only in types but also in different capacities. The product you casually pick up is probably Colgate toothpaste.

Now, let me go back to the topic I mentioned at the start of this article.

Well, it’s because you can get toothpaste with a whitening effect at a low price, which you can’t get in Japan.

Colgate is good for suvenia?

One day, the following X (formerly Twitter) post came across my feed.

Colgateのホワイトニング歯磨き粉（左）。強力すぎてびっくり！！一回でクリーニングしたのかと思うくらいつるっつる。普段使ってる週1使用のプレミアム歯磨き粉（右）より、さらにつるんつるん。lazada公式ストアで235ペソhttps://t.co/uJG6AJWg8Q pic.twitter.com/KeEZFKJMVb

— yalesna (@yalesna_cebu) April 29, 2024

The toothpaste in the photo looks pretty luxurious, right? You can see that the packaging and the bottle caps are shiny and specially designed.

しょっちゅうセブに行く留学エージェント20人が集まった時にやたら買い溜めしていたフィリピンのお土産
①石鹸Palmolive papaya 20p位
②歯磨き粉Colgate optic white2 250p位
③トリートメントvita keratin salon daily treatment 400p位
詳細はツリーへ pic.twitter.com/cejURIeNm8

— 安達由恵/フィリピン親子留学のPANATAG (@yoqqyn) November 25, 2024

This isn’t the only post I just made, but it’s been mentioned a bunch of times like this.
Study abroad agents who know the Philippines really well also choose them as souvenirs. If people who know their way around the country like to buy them, you can be sure of their quality.

フィリピン購入品④
・歯磨き粉
私歯磨き粉は1年に1回初売りで買いだめする人なんだけど、来年度分の歯磨き粉をフィリピンで手に入れました
Colgateめちゃ安かった
・石鹸　
グリーンパパイヤ石鹸いい匂い
舞妓さんみたいなの書いてあるやつは美白効果あるみたい。友達にも買った pic.twitter.com/D57XFezHCr

— Hinasë (@Hinase1997) December 15, 2024

This post is also sent out as a souvenir. Upon closer inspection, the design is slightly different from the one shown earlier. It seems that there are several different types of whitening toothpaste.

The reason that Colgate is chosen as souvenirs

There are two reasons why Filipino experts take local toothpaste as souvenirs.

The price is cheaper than in Japan.

If you look up “toothpaste with whitening effect” sold in Japan, even the cheapest one costs about 1,200 yen for 100 grams.

Colgate’s premium brand is 235 pesos for 85 grams. If you combine the units to make it easier to compare, 100 grams costs about 750 yen. This means that in the Philippines, it costs about 60% of the price in Japan.

The ingredients are special.

The price is attractive, but it’s what’s inside that really catches your eye. Basically, the ingredients that have whitening effects are special.

First, it’s said that the following two actions are the principle of teeth whitening.

But there are some drawbacks to this.If you overdo it with the whitening, you might end up with sensitive teeth and mouth ulcers.

To avoid these kinds of risks, there are limits on the amount of whitening ingredients allowed in Japan. As we mentioned before, Colgate has decided not to expand its business in Japan. This might be because of legal restrictions.

Product Reviews

Here is my review of the actual use of the product.

はふた

When you hear about the powerful whitening effect, which isn’t available in Japan, you probably want to try it, right?

I’ll introduce three toothpastes with whitening effects and one regular toothpaste.

There are three main Colgate whitening toothpastes available in the Philippines.

I’ll be frank about my own experience with the product and my impressions.

OPTIC WHITE PURPLE

The first one is the least expensive toothpaste with whitening properties. It’s got a pretty purple color. The toothpaste is purple in the packaging and in the tube. Most of these colored products lose their color and become white by the end of brushing, but this one stays purple the whole time.

派手な紫カラーが特徴的です。

As for the texture, it’s not too far off from regular toothpaste, but it’s a bit more coarse. It also foams up nicely. The taste is minty, almost like it doesn’t have any suds. Other than the color, it’s pretty standard.

After using one bottle, I can honestly say that it was quite normal. Compared to Japanese toothpaste, you would be hard pressed to find any difference. Also, the safety aspect seems to be fine. I did not have any sinking or sore teeth after a while.

https://s.lazada.com.ph/s.KBkQN?cc

Lazada

It’s the least expensive of the whitening claims, so it’s a good entry level.

OPTIC WHITE NATURAL ENZYME

The white product is next, and it seems to be the least common type. The price is about the same as the purple version we talked about earlier, but the capacity is slightly smaller.
There are a lot of different versions of the white package, from single-bottle sold types to large-capacity and portable versions.

Now, let’s talk about the review.
I was surprised by the taste. It was so sweet!

It’s got a flaky sweetness, like yogurt on a toothbrush. The texture is a clear gel, a little softer than a regular paste. There’s a subtle lack of lather, and it feels like you’re brushing with a paste.

I’m just guessing here, but I think the sweetness was detected and saliva was produced, which mixed with the sweetness and didn’t foam much. To me, it was like using a sweet-flavored toothpaste for kids, and it didn’t work. I like to feel refreshed after brushing my teeth.

https://s.lazada.com.ph/s.KBkCX?cc

Lazada

OPTIC WHITE 2 ACTIVE OXYGEN

Next up is the real deal, the most expensive product that’s getting a lot of attention around here.

The packaging feels luxurious, and the squeeze port is a different kind of construction — it’s removable. It’s clear that this product is different from other brands.
When I first used it, I was so shocked that I had to start the review right there. The moment you put it in your mouth, you feel “heat.” The toothpaste itself is warm.

The concept of toothpaste being “cool” or “refreshing” is instantly blown away. This warmth is the one and only, absolute characteristic of the product, apparently influenced by hydrogen peroxide, which has a whitening effect.

I’m not really familiar with the nitty-gritty of the theory, but I think it’s probably due to its chemical makeup. Either way, the heat makes the user feel like it’s working.
The temperature is what sets it apart, but the rest of the characteristics are pretty standard. The texture is exactly what you’d expect, and the lather is your typical type.

As for the taste, it’s got a light minty flavor. After you brush, you’ll feel refreshed.
I’m a bit worried about the effect on the mouth. I’ve bought a total of five bottles and have been using them twice a day, morning and night. So far, I haven’t had any noticeable health problems.

https://s.lazada.com.ph/s.KBPhr?cc

Lazada

You won’t feel any sinking or soreness in your teeth, so you don’t have to worry about any disadvantages for a short while after using them.

Total CHARCOAL DEEP CLEAN

Here’s another type to compare: the product includes charcoal.

This one doesn’t say it’s for whitening, but it does say it’ll protect against bacteria for 12 hours. This toothpaste with charcoal is supposed to whiten teeth thanks to the charcoal.

The stuff is kinda gray because it’s got charcoal in it. The texture is pretty standard, the lather is good, and the taste is a subtle minty flavor. Overall, it doesn’t really stand out.
This might be a bit beyond what we’re discussing in this article, but for anyone who doesn’t need whitening, this is the product I’d most recommend.

When I first started studying abroad, I came across a lot of toothpaste that was pretty random. Eventually, I found this one, and I started using it every day because I thought it was good. If you’re not sure about toothpaste in the Philippines, I suggest buying this one to start.

https://s.lazada.com.ph/s.KBPM5?cc

Lazada

Are they effective for whitening?

I’m not really sure about the whitening effect, which is the most important thing. I feel like it’s working, but I’m not positive.

I was really surprised by the OPTIC WHITE 2 ACTIVE OXYGEN, especially since it’s the most expensive. I don’t think it’s changed that much, though. I still use it regularly, but I also drink coffee every day, eat a lot of colorful food, and don’t really try to use it enough.

On top of that, they’re currently sporting braces, which might be why they’re having a hard time brushing thoroughly. As of now, I haven’t noticed any sensitivity or mouth ulcers, which are supposed to be common complaints.

I’ll keep using it and taking it for a spin, keeping my fingers crossed that it works.

Conclusion

In this issue, we talked about a toothpaste that’s really popular in the Philippines and can whiten your teeth. It’s pretty hard to find in Japan, which is why people often bring it back home as a souvenir.

I’d also like to take a moment to thank the X followers who helped me learn about these products. I’d say, “Give them a try!” and think they make a great gift. They might not have a Filipino feel, but if you explain how special they are, they’ll be happy.

Hey, if you’re ever in the Philippines, you should totally give it a shot! It’s just a bit more than what you’d pay for toothpaste in Japan, but trust me, it’s worth every cent.

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