The Aloe plant has been well known and used as a medical treatment for centuries. It began as a traditional healing plant- the ancient Egyptians even referred to it as the ‘Plant of Immortality’. This eventually led to its popularity in alternative medicine. Numerous societies have used the Aloe extract for its powerful healing properties.
Today the extract from the Aloe Vera plant has become wildly popular across a broad array of cosmetics. It’s featured in mainstream skincare and health products because of its amazing benefits.
What is Aloe Vera?
Aloe Vera is a plant belonging to the cactus Liliaceae family that is found across the world. Because of its favorable status as a powerful healer, it has been cultivated worldwide.
Although Aloe is nearly 99% water, the gel also contains a number of powerful compounds including what are known as glycoproteins and polysaccharides. These substances work by facilitating the healing processes like reducing inflammation and stimulating skin repair.
The power of the Aloe plant is harvested by plucking leaves from the rest of the plant. The leaves secrete a clear gel. This gel is then applied to skin, creating powerful healing treatments.
Benefits of Aloe Vera
Numerous studies have been performed to demonstrate the benefits of the plant and it was shown that Aloe does indeed have a number of beneficial properties when it comes to skincare and even general health.
A few benefits include:
- Healing Properties: It’s used to quickly treat bites and burns. It can also be used to treat acne if used on a consistent basis. The extract is rich in anti-inflammatory properties which help to soothe the burns.
- Protects from UV Radiation: In terms of sun damage, Aloe Vera has the potential to protect against radiation from the sun because of the antioxidants and cytokines.
- Prevents Signs of Aging: As we grow older our skin starts showing signs of aging through wrinkles and fine lines. This is due to dryness and a lack of elasticity. In order to combat this we need to moisturize skin and regenerate new ells. Aloe Vera provides a great deal of moisture and provides healing properties that help roll back the appearance of these wrinkles.
- Moisturizes Skin: This natural substance is about 99% water, so it’s no wonder that it hydrates so well. Plus, Saccharides found in the Aloe extract help to bind moisture into the skin, essentially locking in moisture for a long-lasting, fresh feeling.
Best Aloe Vera Gel for Face Care
The reason Aloe Vera is so sought after is because of the powerful nutrients found within the aloe gel. These include a wide variety of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, fatty acids and amino acids- it’s truly amazing how many nutrients are found within this one plant.
It’s perfectly okay take off a piece of Aloe Vera from the plant and put it on your face, as it’s gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin. But if you want to buy an easy to use gel, then here are some of the best brands:
1. Art Naturals
The Art Naturals formula is packed with vitamins A, C, and E- all powerful antioxidants that serve to prevent skin cell breakdown. This product is a great way to replace the moisturizer or other creams in your daily skincare regimen.
The moisturizing and anti-inflammatory effects of the gel are not only more effective than most commercial products, but they won’t cause irritation that comes with the added chemicals.
Art Natural’s gel is one of the most expensive brands on the market, but the quality makes it well-worth the cost.
2. Fruit of the Earth
This Aloe Vera product is 100% gel. This means you’ll get anything less than the purest quality, assuring you that you won’t have to deal with any unwanted irritation.
The Fruit of the Earth gel provides a wonderful, cooling sensation when applied to your skin. You can put it all over your face, body, and hair.
This is the best value brand on our list, as the 24 OZ. bottle can be purchased for a cheap price.
3. Radha Beauty
Radha Beauty is an exceptional skincare brand that uses only 100% natural, organic ingredients in its formulas. Their Aloe gel is a fantastic source of anti-aging nutrients. And although it’s based around Aloe Vera, it’s full of other revitalizing nutrients as well.
The gel will help reduce signs of aging, heal sun damage, get rid of blemishes, and it will also get rid of dryness on your face and body. You will certainly be amazed at the benefits that the Radha Beauty gel will give you. It’s also great for men to use on their face and neck to lessen any potential razor bumps and burns.
The 8 OZ. bottle is a little pricey, and it is one of the more expensive brands for sale.
How to Use It
Aloe Vera is simply great for skin conditions. When you find yourself with a sunburn or bug bite, use the gel immediately. Rub it in gently and let it soak in as you enjoy the fresh, cooling smell. Continue to put the gel on several times each day until the issues subside.
Another way to use Aloe Vera is to apply it as a mask on your face. Simply coat your face with Aloe gel and wait 10-15 minutes. This can help reduce fine lines and wrinkles, treat sun damage, and help get rid of acne. Using this mask regularly will help clear your complexion, make your skin smoother, and reduce inflammation in general.
Conclusion
Aloe Vera is an incredible plant, with amazing skin healing properties. It should almost go without saying that you should have a bottle on hand for whenever you or a family member suffers from a sunburn or bug bite. But it’s also great for using all over your body as a moisturizer or to treat any blemishes on your face. Get one of the products above and you will be in love with how fresh your skin feels.