Aloe Vera - the benefits and uses
Native to East and South Africa, aloe vera has long been considered a miracle plant. In Ancient Egypt, it was called “blood of the gods” and “immortal plant”. Aloe vera has gained quite a reputation within the skincare community, being widely used in a range of products and treatments.
We take a look at some of the benefits of aloe vera and why it’s so popular for use in beauty and skincare.
What is aloe vera?
Aloe vera is a short stem shrub belonging to the lily family. A naturally derived ingredient, aloe vera is best known for it’s soothing properties.
Aloe vera leaves are made up of 3 layers; the inner gel or mucilage (made up of 95% water), the middle latex and the outer layer. The inner gel is extracted from aloe vera plants for use in skincare products including face washes, toners, moisturisers and masks.
But why is aloe vera so good for the skin?
Aloe vera is rich in vitamins, minerals, amino acids, polysaccharides and phyosterols making it a great all-round ingredient. It contains vitamins A, E, C and D, as well as minerals such as zinc, magnesium and potassium. This makes it suitable for a variety of different uses, including hydration and soothing.
9 Benefits of aloe vera for skin
1. Moisturising
Aloe vera helps soften and hydrate skin without forming a greasy film or clogging pores. It can be used for deep hydration of severely dehydrated skin or as a soothing aftershave balm.
2. Soothing
Aloe vera has natural soothing properties due to its high water content and moisturising effects. This makes aloe vera ideal for irritated or burned skin.
3. Skin cell restoration and renewal
Studies show that aloe vera can help accelerate the production of new skin cells by as much as eight times. For this reason, it is used to treat first- and second-degree burns, cuts, sunburn, and other injuries.
4. Targets acne
Aloe vera has antimicrobial properties and cleanses and protects against bacteria while soothing redness and irritation. It works as an astringent to clear skin of surface impurities and tighten pores. By encouraging the growth of new skin cells, it also helps to fade acne scars.
5. Gentle on the skin
Aloe vera is gentle a gentle active, soothing and nourishes the skin. It’s well tolerated by almost all skin types and can be used in conjunction with nearly all skincare products and ingredients.
6. Rich in vitamins and minerals
Aloe Vera contains a wide range of vitamins and minerals making it a great all-round ingredient. It contains vitamins A and E which have anti-inflammatory properties that target blemishes and fine lines. It also helps increase the production of collagen and can help to even out the skin tone and fade the appearance of stretch marks and scars.
7. Prevents Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL)
When the skin becomes dehydrated, transepidermal water loss occurs. This can result in dry and irritated skin. Aloe vera helps to rehydrate the skin, soothe irritation whilst phytosterols prevent further water loss.
8. Cools and hydrates the skin
When the skin is burned, it can be become itchy and uncomfortable. Aloe vera has soothing properties that can help to cool minor burns and rehydrate the skin to relieve irritation.
9. Helps prevent visible signs of aging
Many signs of aging occur as a result of dehydration. Using aloe vera frequently to hydrate the skin can help to stave off fine line and wrinkles. Skin elasticity also reduces with age. Aloe vera can help to promote the production of collagen to keep skin looking younger for longer!
How to use aloe vera
To reap the benefits of aloe vera, you should look to incorporate it into your daily skincare routine.
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Whilst aloe vera can be used sporadically to treat skin conditions such as sunburn, using it regularly can help to address skin conditions such as dryness, irritation and aging before they occur.Aloe vera can be found in a number of different skincare products but the most common are:
Face wash
Face washes such as our Freshening Face Wash C4 with aloe vera and green tea can be used to cleanse the face, removing impurities and dirt whilst hydrating the skin. Use twice per day (AM and PM) before applying any other skincare products. Massage into the skin and rinse with warm water.
Facial toner
Toners are used to remove any residual dirt and rebalance the skin without stripping away moisture. Our Colloidal-C Anti-Redness Toner T3 also contains aloe vera. After washing your face, you should apply toner using a reusable cotton pad to sweep it over your face and neck. Apply in the morning and evening.
Moisturiser
Aloe vera is also commonly used in moisturisers because of it’s natural hydrating properties. Our Supergel Oil-free Moisturiser M3 for Oily and Acne-Prone Skin combine aloe vera and niacinamide to help combat acne whilst soothing and hydrating the skin. Massage into the skin after cleanser and toner in the morning and evening, let absorb into the skin and follow with sunscreen in the day time.
When to use aloe vera
Aloe vera can be used at any time, and works best when incorporated into your daily skincare routine however there are certain conditions or ailments for which aloe vera could make a big difference.
Eczema and psoriasis
For those with eczema or psoriasis, skin can be left feeling sore, irritated and itchy. The soothing properties of aloe vera can help to alleviate symptoms and rehydrate the skin to help prevent future flare-ups.
Sunburn
Aloe vera is commonly used in products such as aftersun as it has been shown to help soothe sunburn. Please note that aloe vera will not help prevent sunburn so sun protection should always be used.
Dry skin
The inner gel of aloe vera has a 95% water content. Using aloe vera on dry skin can help to rehydrate and moisturise the area whilst preventing further water loss.
Red or irritated skin
When the skin is irritated it can become red and inflamed. By removing irritation, aloe vera can also seek to reduce redness.
Minor burns
Much like sunburn, aloe vera can also be used on other kinds of minor burn. This includes wind burns and thermal burns.
Are there any side effects of using aloe vera?
Gentle on the skin, aloe vera is generally well-tolerated by all skin types and is often used by those even with sensitive skin. There are no serious risk to using aloe vera on the skin however the use of aloe vera in skincare is unregulated so you should always carry out a patch test before continued use.
Aloe vera and skincare: what is the verdict?
Aloe vera has been used for centuries in skincare. Rich in vitamins and minerals with proven soothing properties it’s no wonder aloe vera is favoured by so many. Aloe vera is safe to use on the face and can be used for a wide range of conditions including eczema, psoriasis and sunburn.
How often should I use aloe vera in my routine?
You can use products containing aloe vera every day. A face wash containing aloe vera can be used twice daily. We recommend using a toner after cleansing your face in the morning and at night. Our M3 moisturiser contains organic aloe vera leaf extract and can be used twice daily.
Shop our range of aloe vera skincare products at the bottom of the page. contains organic aloe vera leaf extract and can be used twice daily. contains organic aloe vera leaf extract and can be used twice daily.
