Aloe Vera: A Must-have Herb for Skin and Hair Care
One of the most beneficial plants for skin and hair health is aloe vera. Easy to make your own and inexpensive to buy, aloe vera gel should be a key component in every skin and hair care routine.
The plentiful benefits for skin and hair arise from aloe vera’s many nutrients and therapeutic properties:
Smooths fine lines by stimulating collagen production—vitamins A and C
Softens skin by preventing moisture loss—vitamins B12 and E
Promotes healthy skin cell growth and recovery—vitamin B12
Improves the elasticity of skin—antioxidant properties
Unplugs blocked skin pores—salicylic acid
Reduces dandruff—selenium
Eases an itchy, flaky scalp—anti-inflammatory properties
It is easy to make your own aloe vera gel if you have a plant and I give directions to do that below. One of the limitations of a home-made gel is the short shelf life. Once the gel is exposed to air, the oxidation process starts and nutrients start to lose potency. It lasts only about a week in the refrigerator and up to two months if you add a preservative. It’s a lot of work to go to for a daily routine, so if you’re not into that, purchasing a high-quality gel is the best option.
Use caution when selecting a commercially-produced aloe vera gel, as the gel you find in most stores has a low percentage of aloe vera and has added alcohol to preserve it. Look for high quality aloe vera in health food or vitamin stores or online that is at least 90% aloe vera. The other 10% of the ingredients will be antioxidants that help preserve the gel and add to its benefit.
I add a touch of aloe vera gel to most of my skincare products, but the product that features it most prominently is Lavender Mousse, made with lavender-infused jojoba oil and aloe vera gel. Lavender is a classic skin herb that calms inflammation and stimulates collagen production, while jojoba is so close to our own skin’s sebum that it is readily absorbed and acts as a protectant and cleanser. In addition to being a lovely face cream, it can also be used for sunburn relief, as aloe’s anti-inflammatory properties helps to cool minor burns.
To make your own aloe vera gel, follow these steps:
The plant should be a few years old before you harvest the leaves. Choose thick leaves from the outer sections of the plant and remove no more than four leaves at a time.
Cut the leaves close to the stem. Most of the beneficial nutrients are at the base of the leaves.
Wash the leaf, removing any dirt.
Cut off the tip of the leaf and stand it tip-side-down in a cup or bowl for 10-15 minutes to drain the latex-containing resin which is irritating to skin.
After draining, wash off any resin that remains on the outside of the leaf.
Cut off both of the leaf’s serrated edges, then using a small knife or vegetable peeler, peel off the thick outer skin on one side of the leaf.
Scoop the gel out of the leaf, being sure not to include any pieces of the skin.
If you want a smooth gel, blend it until frothy and liquified. It will keep for up to a week in the fridge.
To keep it for up to two months in the refrigerator, add a preservative—either powdered vitamin C or E. For every 1/4 cup of aloe vera gel, add 500 mg of powdered vitamin C or 400 iu of powdered vitamin E directly to the blender.