When Aloe Vera is talked about as a skin product, a lot of people are familiar with using it as an aftersun because of its great soothing quality on sunburn. But there are so many more benefits that Aloe Vera can offer your skin.
Aloe Vera has been used for its medicinal benefits such as lowering blood sugar levels and relieving heartburn for many years, but we want to give you more of an insight into this wonderful ingredient and how to use it in your skincare routine.
Feel free to use the links below to jump ahead to any specific topic in the blog!
What is Aloe Vera?
Aloe Vera is a spiky succulent that tends to grow naturally in hot, dry climates in Africa, Asia, Europe and even some southern and western parts of the US. It has thick leaves that store a gel-like substance that is full of beneficial properties.
Aloe Vera is good for soothing and healing the skin due to the powerful antioxidants found in its gel. Aloe Vera is also good for balancing the complexion of the skin as studies have found that it can reduce erythema, which is redness in the skin.
It’s also a great product to have on hand as a light moisturiser. The gel found in the plant’s leaves is 99.5% water, so it's a great way to boost hydration back into your skin.
How Does it Work?
Aloe Vera is an ingredient that has so many different uses. Because of all of its amazing properties it can be used in a wide range of skincare and also hair care products. But this isn’t to say to use that old bottle of Aloe Vera aftersun gel to get healthy shiny hair. Alot of Aloe Vera gels such as that can contain various added ingredients that might not be as natural or as good for your hair and skin as you think.
The main uses of Aloe Vera would be to soothe, hydrate and heal skin, as well as help to heal and protect your hair. In a lot of our products we use organic Aloe Vera for a range of uses.
In our Daily Detox Facial Wash we use organic Aloe Vera to help soften the skin which works well alongside the natural Sugar Extracts in the wash that cleanse impurities. We also use organic Aloe Vera in our Sunless Glow Body Lotion. With this lotion you can create a gradual tan to your liking over a number of applications. We use Aloe Vera as an ingredient to soothe any irritation or redness that may occur.
| DAILY DETOX FACIAL WASH | SUNLESS GLOW BODY LOTION |
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A delicately foaming facial wash to detoxify and rebalance normal to combination skin.
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This rich body lotion is designed to give the body a gradual tan over a number of applications.
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We know that Aloe Vera works well on both hair and skin so we love using it in our hair and body washes such as our Daily Apple Hair and Body Wash. It’s great to use on the body because the Aloe Vera can help to soften dry skin, it’s also incredibly calming so makes for a nice and relaxing shower experience. Aloe Vera also contains polysaccharides which form a film that helps to protect your hair when styling.
What does it do for your skin?
As well as all of the wonderful properties that we have already mentioned, Aloe Vera has many more benefits for skin.
Aloe Vera can help to heal small abrasions and cuts to the skin. It works well to help soothe the initial pain of the wound but also because of Aloe Vera’s molecular structure it can help to heal wounds quickly. It can also help to minimise some scarring caused by wounds. This is because Aloe Vera boosts collagen and helps to fight bacteria.
Aloe Vera is also great because its moisturising qualities can help relieve skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. As it is highly hydrating Aloe Vera can help the itchiness and dryness that appear and help calm and moisturise the skin.
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How long does it take to work?
How long Aloe Vera takes to work may differ based on what reason you’re using it. But typically you should use it twice daily on the affected area. If you stick to this routine every day then you should see a difference in around 3 weeks. However, this timescale may differ from person to person.
Side Effects
When you use Aloe Vera topically it is rare that you will experience any side effects. However, it is of course still possible that you can experience irritation and rashes. Before using any new product we would recommend you do a patch test 24 hrs beforehand to see if any reaction occurs.
Which skin type is it suitable for?
Aloe Vera is suitable for all skin types. It is great for dry skin as it is incredibly hydrating and can help soothe dry, tight and itchy skin. It is also great for oily and acne prone skin as it has anti inflammatory and antioxidant properties to help aid acne and surface scars.
How does it compare to other similar products?
Aloe Vera is definitely one of a kind when it comes to a natural ingredient that can help with a variety of different things and is an essential in so many beauty products. There are some other natural ingredients that are used in beauty products that carry similar properties to Aloe Vera, one being Prickly Pear. Just like Aloe Vera, Prickly Pear has a number of benefits when it comes to including it in your skincare. It is really hydrating just like Aloe Vera, making it a brilliant hydrator for dry skin. It’s also a great substance to help heal wounds or blemishes because of its antioxidant properties.
However, unlike Aloe Vera, Prickly Pear is not as soothing and carries slightly more risk of side effects. A reaction to Prickly Pear can bring on asthma and nasal inflammation. It is also not recommended for pregnant women or women who breastfeed to intake in any form as it can interfere with the development of the fetus or child.
How to use it in your routine?
We’ve made it really easy to use Aloe Vera in your daily routine. Aloe Vera is a key ingredient in a few of our products, such as the Daily Detox Facial Wash, the Sunless Glow Body Lotion and the Daily Apple Hair and Body Wash.
One easy way to use Aloe Vera in your routine is by using our Family Favourites Bundle! This price saving bundle includes our Daily Apple Hair and Body Wash to protect you and your family's hair whilst keeping your skin soft and hair shiny.
How often should I use it?
You can use Aloe Vera whenever and how often you like. As it is such a gentle ingredient it won’t damage your skin with numerous uses.
So…is it for you?
Essentially, Aloe Vera can be for anyone, so yes, it probably is for you. It can help dry skin feel hydrated and can help control oily skin and calm breakouts. With its multiple uses it’s also great for using on your hair to protect against styling damage and to create shine.
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Our Sources:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23195077
- http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/56937908/herbs-gastroesophageal-reflux-disease
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4078333/
