Aloe vera's soothing gel inside the thick, succulent leaves is an incredible natural skin care product. Aloe vera is a semi-tropical succulent plant originally from North Africa, and now grown worldwide. It looks like a desert plant. Aloe vera is one of the oldest and most popular medicinal plants known to man. The bulk of the aloe vera leaf is filled with gel, which is approximately 99% water. The other 1% contains over at least 75 known nutrients including 20 minerals, 12 vitamins, 18 amino acids, 200 active compounds called phytonutrients, enzymes and of course, water. It is used worldwide in just about every skin and hair care product imaginable.
The processed leaf of the Aloe Vera plant is a popular gel that is known to have brought healthful benefits to our skin. Aloe vera gel is an excellent skin moisturizer. It supplies oxygen to the skin cells which in turn increases the strength and synthesis of skin tissue. It soothes, hydrates and rejuvenates the skin.
Aloe vera has also been known to relieve and/or improve external skin discomforts such as eczema, psoriasis, ulcers, stings, bites, bruises, sprains and frostbite.
BENEFITS OF ALOE VERA GEL TO THE SKIN
Suitable for all skin types, aloe vera gel can be used even by people with sensitive skin. Let`s take a look at the benefits of using aloe vera gel to treat skin conditions.
1. Aloe vera gel is great for moisturizing.
For women: Popularly used as a moisturizer by women who use mineral make-up regularly, aloe vera gel is great for face. Applying aloe vera gel on skin prior to application of make-up can prevent the skin from drying.
For men: Aloe vera gel can be used as an aftershave. Its healing properties can treat small cuts caused by shaving.
2. Aloe vera gel is great for treating acne.
Aloe vera gel has antimicrobial properties that kill bacteria and anti-inflammatory properties that reduce skin inflammation. It allows the skin to heal quickly and naturally with minimal scarring. Aloe is moisturizing but doesn`t give skin a greasy feel, so it`s perfect for anyone with an oily complexion.
3. Aloe vera helps fight common problems of skin aging.
Let`s face it: as we get older, everyone begins to worry about the appearance of lines and the loss of elasticity in our skin. The vitamin C and E present in aloe gel can improve our skin`s natural firmness and keep our skin hydrated.
4. Aloe vera can lessen the visibility of stretch marks.
Whether due to a growth spurt, weight change, or pregnancy - many of us are plagued with unsightly stretch marks. These marks appear due to minor tears in the layers of the skin caused by sudden and excessive stretching. Aloe vera gel can help hide these stretch marks by healing these wounds.
5. Aloe vera can be used to treat sunburn.
Aloe vera gel can reduce the pain and swelling you experience during sunburn. It acts as a protective layer on the skin and helps replenish its moisture. When the skin is hydrated, then it will recover faster from the sunburn.
6. Aloe vera can be used to treat sunpots
Using aloe vera gel is a great way to heal sunspots.
ALOE VERA GEL FOR THE EYE AREA
• The Aloe Vera gel contains beneficial ingredients that are good for the eye area. This gel is rich in nutrients that have different vitamins such as vitamins A, C, B12 and vitamin E. It also contains minerals such as zinc, calcium, magnesium, proteins and amino acids. All these help the eye areas restore its youthful looks.
• The Aloe Vera gel helps reduce fine wrinkles around the eye areas. Its anti-aging properties help maintain collagen of the skin. The gel also helps stimulate collagen formation to help restore the suppleness of the skin around our eyes.
• The gel also acts as a good moisturizer and emollient for the eyes. As we age our eyes are one of the prominent body parts that show signs of aging. The skin around our eyes begins to thin and become sensitive. Applying the gel would help reduce these problems since they help hydrate the skin.
• Applying the gel around the eyes would also help reduce infection. The Aloe Vera gel has anti-bacterial properties that would protect the eyes from virus and help prevent further spreading of infection to the eyes.
• Another benefit of this gel is that it can heal wounds, bruises or burns near the eye area. It provides soothing relief for these problem areas. It also lessens inflammation and helps increase blood circulation to the injured part of the eye area.
• The Aloe Vera gel also helps in reducing dark circles around the eyes. It helps lessen puffy eyes and keeps the eyes look refreshed and alive. It can be substituted as an eye cream to keep the eye area healthy.
ALOE VERA GEL FOR THE HAIR
Some hair care products like shampoos, conditioners and styling solutions contain aloe vera gel and other byproducts of the aloe vera plant, and even pure gel squeezed straight from an aloe leaf can be used in your hair care routine.
- Dandruff Prevention : Aloe vera gel has natural antibacterial and fungicidal properties. Various fungi and the spread of bacteria caused by excessive sebum oil production in the scalp can cause dandruff, so using aloe vera gel shampoo or even massaging pure aloe vera gel into the scalp can improve this condition. Aloe vera gel also has proteolytic enzyme characteristics, meaning that it can break down proteins, including dead skin cells. This helps the gel to serve as an exfoliant on the scalp, sloughing away dead skin so that it doesn't appear later as dandruff.
- Conditioning: Aloe vera gel is a powerful hair conditioner that nourishes hair strands from root to tip. At the scalp level, aloe vera is used in combination with other botanical ingredients in medicated herbal shampoos to open the pores, which helps exfoliate follicles and condition hair right at the root.
- Hair Loss Prevention:
Both men and women can use this natural product to solve hair loss or significant thinning. It also lessens the effects of Alopecia that causes hair loss and promotes the growth of new hair, but Aloe Vera can be effective in the treatment of hair loss if used at the first sign of excessive hair loss.
- For Hair Growth: Aloe Vera activates new hair growth along with the growth of already existing hair follicles by increasing the blood circulation to the scalp.
OTHER BENEFITS OF ALOE VERA
Aloe vera is an antioxidant and cancer fighter, especially colon cancer
Reduces and stops inflammation, both internally and externally
Oxygenates blood and energizes cells, hydrates skin and repairs skin tissue
Aloe vera heals internal digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, acid reflux - cleanses the intestinal tract
Reduces risk factor for strokes and heart attacks by making "sticky" blood "unsticky," and boosts the oxidation of your blood, plus circulation
Alkalizes the body, helping to balance overly acidic dietary habits
Boosts cardiovascular performance and physical endurance
Stabilizes blood pressure and reduces triglycerides
Aloe vera juice can be used as mouth wash for some relief and to speed up healing of mouth ulcers.
*****I personally use aloe vera gel as under-eye cream, mostly. It soothes my tired eye area while hydrating it. Try out yourself! You'll be thankful to me :)))*****
