At a time when organic and natural products are making a comeback, a fashion phenomenon is appearing for one ingredient in particular: Aloe vera, Aloes barbadensis. More than a fashionable green plant serving as a backdrop for Instagrammers' photos, Aloe vera will amaze you with its many properties. This succulent plant from the Liliaceae family comes straight from Africa, even if it has since traveled a bit: Spain, Mexico or the United States, a real globetrotter la vera! Whether in the field of beauty or in the field of health, it is everywhere and never ceases to surprise us. However, among all the articles that we can read here and there, we quickly find ourselves drowned in information and we quickly end up becoming discouraged. To sort out fact from fiction and get off to a good start, here is a little file on our dear friend Aloe!
This article was updated on 17/05/2024Aloe vera for the skin
How does it work?
Aloe vera is widely used to make creams and balms of all kinds, whether by the cosmetics industry or by people who are starting out with homemade cosmetics.
Thanks to its high water retention capacity and its composition rich in nutrients, it will hydrate, soften and soften the epidermis to restore real baby skin.
Its main quality is also based on the fact that it will stimulate cell regeneration. It is therefore very interesting to fight against scars or wrinkles for example. If you combine this property with the fact that it is anti-inflammatory, you obtain a treatment to relieve your minor injuries such as burns, wounds and cuts, but also for all skin reactions: eczema, psoriasis, hives or herpes. , everything goes! In the event of an open wound, however, it is necessary to disinfect and wait for the bleeding to stop before applying Aloe vera gel.
How to use it ?
Simple use
Apply Aloe vera directly to the skin, several times a day if necessary.
Express moisturizing day care
Mix a hazelnut of Aloe vera with 1 or 2 drops of vegetable oil adapted to your skin type, then massage your face for 1 or 2 minutes until the mixture is absorbed.
Deodorant
To make a 100% natural deodorant, mix 9mL of Aloe vera, 20 drops of apricot kernel vegetable oil and 6 drops of essential oil (Palmarosa, Noble Laurel, Tea tree, etc.). Recipe proposed by Julien Kaibeck.
Minute make-up remover
Mix a nut of Aloe vera and a few drops of vegetable oil in the palm of your hand. Massage your face with the mixture to remove makeup particles, then rinse everything with water. And since you have all the ingredients on hand, you can finish with an express moisturizing day treatment!
Treatment of burns, sunburns and post-shave irritations
To relieve sunburn, superficial burns or after-shave irritation, apply a small amount of Aloe vera to the affected area to soothe it.
Wound healing
Aloe vera helps accelerate the healing of a superficial wound. You just need to apply a small amount to the previously disinfected wound.
Moisturizing body balm
To reinforce the moisturizing power of a body butter and add a touch of freshness, it is possible to add a small quantity of Aloe vera.
Aloe vera for hair
How does it work?
When a product does so much good on the skin, we want to use it everywhere. And that’s good, since Aloe vera also works wonders on hair! It will cleanse the roots and repair split ends, to restore supple and silky hair, but also facilitate detangling and add volume and shine to the hair. All these properties will cleanse the scalp to fight against small daily annoyances such as hair loss and dandruff. Say goodbye to itching and hello to dream hair!
How to use it ?
As a treatment or conditioner
- You can massage a little Aloe vera juice onto the scalp before shampooing, or leave it on overnight for greater effectiveness.
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Add a dab of Aloe vera to your usual treatment (preferably natural) and use it as usual.
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After dampening the hair, apply a small amount of Aloe vera throughout the hair, from roots to ends. Leave for at least 30 minutes then rinse.
- Mix a tablespoon of Aloe vera with half a teaspoon of vegetable oil suitable for your hair (Jojoba, Coconut, Avocado, etc.). Spread on the hair, leave for around thirty minutes then rinse.
In shampoo
If you are a fan of home-made products, you can also include a portion of Aloe vera in your shampoo preparation.
By untangling
After shampooing, coat the hair with a small quantity of Aloe vera to help detangle, then brush as usual.
Aloe vera as a mouthwash
A 2014 study proved that aloe vera could be a good natural alternative to mouthwashes. Indeed, in comparison with a broad-spectrum antiseptic used in dental care, Chlorhexidine, it has been shown that Aloe vera significantly reduces dental plaque and minor gum bleeding. We're not going to give you a Mac Lesggy-style overview, but we really want to suggest it for his next ad!
What is Aloe Vera?
Similar to a cactus due to its prickly leaves, Aloe vera is a plant that is described as succulent. Not that it has an exquisite taste, its succulence is based on the fact that it contains a large quantity of juice in its leaves, allowing it to withstand the extreme conditions of arid environments. The MacGyver of plants in a way!
To benefit from all its benefits, we use this pulp, which is abundant and composed of clear mucilage. However, care must be taken not to confuse the pulp with the juice, also called latex, potentially toxic and irritating, but above all powerful laxative due to the presence of aloin. The pulp is extracted by cutting ripe Aloe vera leaves in half, while the juice is leaf sap, the yellow liquid that flows from the leaf when it is sliced.
Its composition
Composed mainly of water, the pulp also contains a cocktail of active constituents which will work wonders on your body:
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Minerals: calcium, potassium, copper, magnesium, chromium, iron, manganese, phosphorus, sodium, zinc
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Enzymes: phosphatases, catalase, bradikynase, proteolytiase, nucleotidase, amylase, cellulase, etc.
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A pool of vitamins: A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, C and E
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Mucopolysaccharides,
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Amino acids: leucine, isoleucine, threonine, valine, phenylalanine, lysine, methionine
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And finally anti-oxidants
Last but not least, the pH of Aloe vera is generally around 4-5, close to that of the skin which is 5.5. It thus preserves the natural balance of the skin and hair! Applied pure, the gel will form a protective film to retain hydration. In too large a quantity, you risk being surprised by the “cardboard” effect it can give when it dries, which is not necessarily pleasant for the skin. Be vigilant when carrying out your treatments!
When Aloe vera works inside (and it shows outside)
Have you followed all our advice on using Aloe vera outdoors, but it's not the best indoors? Here too, this plant works wonders. You must have probably gone over its composition quickly, and yet there is a molecule that should not be forgotten, this is mucopolysaccharide. It is this molecule which is responsible for the very particular texture of aloe vera gel, slightly viscous. In addition to helping you win at Scrabble (don't thank us), this molecule will be of great help to you in relieve minor intestinal pain. When consumed, mucopolysaccharide stimulates the intestinal flora to strengthen its immune defenses and fight against digestion problems such as constipation, ulcers, hyperacidity or colitis.
In addition, Aloe vera promotes the elimination of toxins to cleanse the body. Hoping you have a healthy mind, or at least helps you have a healthy body!
How to choose the right Aloe vera?
For oral use of Aloe vera, there are ampoules of Aloe vera juice. Unfortunately, to obtain this type of conditioning, the ampoules undergo a heat treatment, risking altering the gel and making the Aloe vera less effective. The easiest way to consume Aloe vera remains aloe vera juice.
It is also possible to obtain aloe vera gel, the most common and simplest form which allows all possible and imaginable uses. However, remain vigilant about the composition and quality of the product. The extraction method can alter the mucilage of the plant (you know, the central part that we use).
Also be sure to keep the Aloe vera cool.
A good Aloe vera gel must contain juice whose purity must be around 100%, and possibly vegetable thickeners and natural preservatives.
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