The gel from the aloe vera plant heals burns and is good for the skin. Therefore, this type of substance is also good for cosmetic preparations, hair care, and spa applications. To understand how aloe vera can be beneficial to the skin, you first need to find out how it works on the skin.
A Rejuvenating Facial Substance
The translucent and gooey type gel of the aloe vera plant’s leaf is filled with plenty of vitamins and antioxidants. Whether you have sensitive, oily, or dry skin, you can use aloe vera to improve your appearance. The gel heals the drying effects of the weather and rejuvenates the face and body. Therefore, you can use it alone or in a cream or soap you make yourself.
How Aloe Vera Can Be Applied
To elaborate on the use of aloe vera in cosmetics, you only need to read the list of benefits. The gel from the aloe vera plant proves to be a great solution, as it can applied to –
- Moisturize and heal flaky and drying skin.
- Reduce the signs of the aging process.
- Soothe facial and skin irritations.
- Fight blemishes and acne.
- Remove puffiness and dark circles from around the eyes.
- Revitalize the skin (using a DIY mask).
Cooling Properties
Because aloe vera gel is a natural moisturizer, it magically absorbs into the skin. Its light texture and 99% moisture content proves to be helpful for acne-prone skin as well. Because the gel has cooling properties, it can be used in cosmetics and creams to alleviate the following:
- Sunburn
- Rashes
- Redness
- Itchiness
- Infection
Good for Sensitive Skin Types
Needless to say, if aloe is added to cosmetics and facial washes, it makes caring for sensitive skin an easier task. The antifungal properties of aloe reduce skin inflammations, such as cysts or heat boils in hot weather as well. In fact, the gel is often used in the summer because of its cooling and anti-fungal properties.
Removing Wrinkles and Fine Lines
As the skin ages, it loses elasticity. That is why you begin to see sagginess, crow’s feet, and smile lines as over time. Because aloe helps the skin retain moisture, it smooths out lines and wrinkles and prevents premature aging. The gel contains antioxidants that repair damaged skin cells.
Treating Acne
The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of the gel reduce signs of acne. That is because the gel stops the bacterial build-up that leads to the formation of blackheads and whiteheads. When you apply a small amount of gel on a pimple, the offending lesions vanishes after a short time. Acne scars also become a thing of the past, as aloe greatly reduces their appearance.
Get Rid of Dark Eye Circles
If you don’t want to look tired all the time, you can count on aloe gel to give you a new lease on life. Those unwanted dark circles start to fade when aloe cosmetics and creams are applied to the face. That is because the gel contains vitamin E and antioxidants, both which fade darkness around the eyes. The cooling properties of aloe get rid of the puffiness as well. Apply an eyecare product with aloe vera gel and “Poof!” like magic – dark circles ultimately disappear.
How to Use Aloe on the Face
You can use aloe on the face naturally in one of several ways.
1. Extract Aloe Gel from an Aloe Leaf
Cut away an aloe vera leaf from the aloe plant, remove the thorny spikes, and extract the gel. Wash away or remove the yellowy sap, or alotin, as it can be toxic. Use a sharp knife to extract the clear gel from leaves. Typically, you can get what you need if you use the gel from two leaves. Combine the gel with an essential oil and apply the mix to your neck and face using your fingertips.
The above mix is a great night facial formula. Leave it on overnight and wash it off your face when you get up in the AM.
2. Make a DIY Aloe Vera Facial Mask
If you have oily and combination skin, you can get rid of the excess oil and prevent acne by creating your own aloe vera mask. Use fresh aloe vera gel and mix it in a medium bowl with about 12 drops of tea tree oil. Whisk the gel and tea tree oil into a paste.
Apply the paste on your face overnight and remove it by washing it when you get up in the morning. Use this mask treatment twice a week for the best results.
3. Soothe Dry or Cracked Skin
Heal dry or cracked skin by plumping it up with a homemade facial mask using aloe vera gel, cucumber, and honey. To make the mask, blend a cucumber and add a teaspoon of honey and aloe gel into the mix. Apply the dry-skin mask to the face, leaving it on 20 minutes before rinsing it off. Your face will look glowing and smooth.
4. Take Care of Normal and Sensitive Skin
Again, using an aloe mask will help you brighten and care for normal and sensitive skin. In this case, try a do-it-yourself mask that works on all skin types. Mash a banana into a bowl and add a couple drops of rose water and two tablespoons of aloe vera gel. This mixture will prevent skin rashes and get rid of any itchiness. The mask also enhances the skin’s elasticity. To use the facial mask, apply the mixture to the skin. When it dries, wash off the residue.
5. Apply Skin Care Products Infused with Aloe Vera Gel
If you cannot harvest the gel from aloe plants, or you don’t have enough aloe plants to use the gel naturally, you can always use products that contain the gel.
Find aloe-infused products on sites, such as Amazon, or locate them in natural health stores. For example, some aloe-based moisturizers provide a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or 20. Not only does you skin stay moisturized, the product protects it from UV rays. You can also buy a face wash that will reduce the damage caused by free radicals.
Making Your Own Face Cream Using Aloe Vera
If you want to get the full benefits of aloe vera moisturization, make your own facial wrinkle cream. The recipe before will lead to smoother and younger-looking skin. You don’t have to spend your money on expensive face creams. You can make your own aloe vera cream and receive as good, if not, better results.
Aloe Vera Cream – A Basic Recipe
Ingredients You Will Need –
½ cup of coconut oil
2 tablespoons of jojoba oil
1 cup of aloe vera gel
3/4 of an ounce bar of beeswax (grated)
Optional – 6 drops of an essential oil, such as geranium
Directions for Making the Cream
This luscious and soothing cream is made by placing beeswax, jojoba oil, and coconut oil in a double boiler. Heat the ingredients. Once the mixture is liquified, pour it into a blender and permit it to cool completely. This should take about 2 hours.
After the ingredients cool, use a spatula and scrape the sides of the blender to loosen the residue. Turn the blender on a low speed while gradually adding the aloe vera gel into the mix. Stop every now and then to further mix the contents.
If the mixture gets stuck inside the blender, continue to use the spatula to scrape the sides. Whip the mixture by hand until it becomes fluffy and textured. After you add the aloe vera gel, include 6 drops of an essential oil, if desired.
A Couple Caveats: You will get the best results by including a gel fillet when making the cream. Do not use a liquid form of aloe vera. Also, make sure the mix has completely cooled for the best results.
Do You Have Eczema?
When you add aloe vera gel to a homemade face cream or use a product infused with the gel, you will find that a large number of skin problems can be addressed. The gel is recommended regularly for treating sunburns or burns, getting rid of acne, and for treating eczema, psoriasis, or rosacea.
Primary Benefits of Using Aloe Gel:
The gel is touted for the following:
- Removing excess oiliness
- Tightening and firming
- Shrinking large pores
- Combatting acne
- Sealing moisture into the skin
- Cooling down rosacea
- Softening the skin
Recipe #2 – Aloe Vera Face Cream
The following recipe can also be used for making an aloe vera facial cream. Regardless of the recipe you follow, you will need two appliances – a double boiler and a blender.
What You Will Need
Below are the ingredients and tools for recipe #2:
1/3 cup of aloe vera gel
1/3 cup shea butter
2/3 cup distilled water
3/4 cup jojoba oil
1 tablespoon of beeswax (pastilles)
4 drops of lavender essential oil
4 drops of peppermint essential oil
Measuring cups – preferably Pyrex
Clean jars for storing the cream
A double boiler and blender
Instructions
1. Add the aloe vera gel, distilled water and the essential oils into a large measuring cup. Place the cup aside.
2. Using the double boiler, melt one tablespoon of the beeswax. Follow by adding 1/3 cup of shea butter into 3/4 cup of jojoba oil. Mix the two substances over medium low heat on the stove.
3. Take the melted mix, remove it from the stove’s heat, and place it in the blender.
4. Wait for the melted mix to cool at room temperature. Don’t let the mix stand and solidify. It should stay in a semi-solid state or be somewhat creamy.
5. Blend the ingredients, adding the ingredients from the measuring cup.
Adjusting the Ingredients
You can experiment when making the cream, so you can modify the mixture according to your preferences. You will not need to add a preservative, such as citric acid. You can use this cream for about a couple weeks. Place it in a jar and seal it tight. Keep the mix in a cool place.
You will find that most aloe vera cream recipes can be adjusted, as they contain about the same ingredients or reasonable facsimiles. For example, along with the gel, some of the usual ingredients include sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, beeswax, coconut oil, and your choice of essential oils.
Some Tips to Note
Your choice of an essential oil will hinge on the type of scent your like. You can use lemon essential oil if you want your facial cream to be citrusy, or lavender essential oil, if you prefer a calming floral scent. When making this product, again, always use aloe fillets or gel to reap good results. Otherwise, the ingredients will not blend or whip properly.
Producing Aloe Vera Soap
You may also want to make aloe vera soap. Again, many of the oils used in the cream will be added to the soap. You will also want to include lard, lye, and water. Below is a standard aloe vera soap-making recipe:
Ingredients:
15 oz. of coconut oil
13.5 oz. olive oil
10.5 oz of lard
9.6 oz of aloe vera gel and water (add water to the gel until your get 9.6 total oz.)
2.5 oz. of shea butter
6.7 oz. of lye
9.9 oz. of water
Add lye to the water after it has boiled and cools. Heat up each of the oils until they melt. Add the lye to the oils as they cool and include the aloe gel before trace. Mix until the ingredients thicken to the point of trace. Trace is when the any solution’s surface begins to ripple and the ripples remain on the surface. At this point, the recipe should resemble a thick custard.
Making a Mold of the Aloe Soap
Pour the thickened ingredients into a mold – insulate the soap mix and allow it to set for 48 hours. Afterwards, unmold and cut the aloe soap, leaving it to cure on a cookie rack for about a month.
Tip: If you use aloe from a plant, make sure to harvest the gel directly from the leaves.
Using the Gel Alone
As you can see, you can have fun using aloe vera gel directly or in cosmetic and soap preparations you make yourself. If you do use the gel alone, you can store it in the fridge for up to 14 days. You can keep the gel longer in the freezer, or for about 3 months at a time.
One Final Note
So, what do you think? Would you like to experiment and make your own aloe products? If so, you can do so easily. Just adjust the amounts after you catch on to making a soap or cream. Take advantage of the skin-smoothing properties of the gel.