Have you ever asked the question, is aloe good for your face or wondered why so many natural recipes call for it? Well, we’ve searched far and wide to answer the top 5 most popular questions about the aloe vera plant and even concocted a few aloe recipes for you to try.
Aloe vera has been used for millennia. It is a species of plant that is often used for the jelly like sap within its fleshy leaves. An easy-to-use ingredient that can be found in a cacti or succulent garden, or even purchased as a pre-made gel it purportedly originates from the Arabian Peninsula and was traded along the Red Sea for its medicinal and cosmetic use. Today, it is grown worldwide where it continues to be used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. Its name is derived from the Arabic word “alloeh”, meaning bitter, while vera originated from Latin, meaning true. The Ancient Egyptians called it a “magical elixir.
In researching Middle Eastern natural cosmetics aloe vera is a primary ingredient used to treat skin ailments. It is even mentioned in the Egyptian, Ebers Papyrus, an herbal medicinal papyrus dating back to the 1500’s BC. This magical elixir was often used for medicinal purposes making it the perfect ingredient when concocting natural cosmetic recipes. Aloe vera gel is frequently used to make sunscreen, facial masks, shampoos, and moisturizers. It helps to treat rosacea, eczema, age spots, acne, and sunburns.
Let’s begin with the benefits aloe vera has on the face and answer some common questions the overall effects aloe vera has on the skin.
Is aloe good for your face:
Aloe vera gel is abundant in Vitamin A, a natural retinal that regenerates cells and lightens dark spots; Vitamin C, an antioxidant that penetrates the skin and increases circulation. Vitamins B and E reduces the effects stress has on the skin. The high concentration of enzymes, lipids, and 18 different amino acids make it highly effective in refreshing damaged and aging skin.
ANTI-AGING ALOE FACE MASK:
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 tablespoons aloe vera leaf
- 1 drop vitamin c oil
- 1 drop chamomile essential oil
Steps
- Place aloe vera gel and honey in a blender and blend for 30 to 60 seconds (or until well blended)
- Transfer the mixture into a bowl
- Add vitamin c oil and chamomile essential oil until well combined
- Gently apply the facial mask onto your face and let it sit for 15 minutes
- Rinse off the mask with warm water and pat dry
- Lasts in the fridge for up to one week
- Enjoy!
You can use this treatment as a full facial mask or as a spot treatment to treat dark spots and acne. Just spot treat the area and leave overnight.
- G&G tip: This is a wet face mask meant to hydrate so don’t be alarmed if it does not dry like clay face masks.
How to use aloe vera on face:
Known as the healing herb, aloe vera promotes healing and is particularly effective in revitalizing damaged and dry skin. You can use it directly on the skin or mix it with carriers like, oil, honey, lotions, and even lemon juice. If you are prone to dry skin, we recommend using carriers with aloe to enhance its benefits.
We’ve created a great all-natural recipe using the aloe vera plant to treat sunburns. It can also be used if you need to rehydrate parched skin. You can apply it on just the burned areas or all over the body.
G&G’s Magical Elixir Sunburn Gel:
- 1 cup aloe vera gel (directly from leaf or pre-made)
- 15 drops vitamin e oil
- 5 drops roman chamomile or lavender essential oil
Steps:
- Mix the vitamin e and chamomile essential oils into aloe vera gel
- Pour ingredients into a dark bottle, shake until combined
- Apply gently to sunburned or irritated areas
- Store in refrigerator, good for five to seven days
Benefits of aloe vera on face overnight:
Aloe vera is filled with antimicrobic, antifungal, and antibacterial properties, along with soothing agents to hydrate inflamed or reddened skin. It is great in treating acne and can even reduce inflammation overnight. If you are interested in trying an all-natural recipe to treat a particularly stubborn blemish that just won’t go away, try our aloe and witch hazel blemish gel.
G&G Blemish Gel
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons aloe vera gel
- 2 teaspoons witch hazel
- 10 drops each of, lavender, geranium, and thyme essential oils
Steps:
- Combine aloe vera and witch hazel
- Add lavender, geranium, and thyme essential oils
- Gently stir ingredients together until well combined
- Transfer to a glass container with lid
- Apply to clean dry skin at night, as needed
- Gel is good for up to 30 days.
Aloe vera is classified as a succulent from the Liliaceae family, a species of plant that is often used for the jelly like sap within the fleshy leaves of the aloe vera plant. Filled with enzymes, lipids, amino acids, and vitamins, aloe vera has a plethora of health and beauty benefits. It is often used, cosmetically, as a skin penetrator to get deep down into the lower layers of the skin’s cells. It revitalizes and regenerates dry aging skin, diminishes break outs, and soothes burns. This magical healing plant is beneficial for all skin types and can be used alone or mixed with ingredients that will enhance its healing powers. Aloe vera would make a great staple succulent in your herbal beauty garden. If you are just getting into natural beauty aloe vera is a very versatile and easy to use ingredient that will enhance many of your recipes.