Aloe vera is the the most underrated bacteria-fighting, redness-soothing, inflammation-reducing, irritation-calming healing agent that we should all be incorporting into our daily routines. The National Institute of Health (NIH) has tested the effectiveness of Aloe Vera for medicinal purposes and found that this plant has considerable healing properties.
Whether you grow it at home or buy it from the store, this miracle plant is just what you’ve been looking for to give your skin and hair a well-deserved refresh.
Aloe Vera for Skin
Sunburn Healing
Aloe Vera is one of the most common sunburn remedies due to it’s cooling and healing properties. The plant simultaneously treats the burn and mitigates discomfort by reducing swelling and soothing the skin.
The gel produces collagen, a substance that speeds up the skin’s healing. For best results you can store it in the fridge to get some added cooling power!
Clear up Stubborn Acne
With its bacteria-fighting properties, aloe vera can help clear up acne, according to Mayo Clinic. When combined with other natural bacteria-fighting agents like cinnamon and honey, the remedy works even more effectively. (Not to mention it’s far cheaper than most of the acne products on the market.)
To reduce the inflammation and redness caused by acne, apply the gel to your face and wait until it dries, which usually takes about five minutes. Then rinse it off and enjoy the results!
Makeup Primer
There are hundreds of makeup primers on the market that claim to make your makeup last all day, protect your skin, and so on. But these products can be pricey and often have tons of unkown ingredients that are not great for your skin.
Aloe vera gel does everything the expensive primers do. It hydrates your skin, soothes redness, and controls the oils on your face; it even feels the same on the skin!
Aloe Vera for Hair
Hold Curls in Place
You might consider trying this natural option instead of the off-the-shelf (and expensive) curl-defining products that we see advertised everyday. Aloe vera gel will help hold curls in place if you have curly or wavy hair. The high water content moisturizes the hair while the gelatinous texture defines the curls or waves.
Apply aloe vera on your wet hair after shampooing, and leave it in for a few hours to let it soak. Or, you can wash it out right away if you prefer a more wavy, relaxed look.
Grow Your Hair
The minerals in aloe vera strengthen your hair follicles, control grease and oils, and even promote healthy hair growth.
The plant contains vitmains A, C, and E, which help hair growth and it is also rich in amino acids and proteins which prevent breakage. You can simply add aloe vera gel to your shampoo and use it as you normally would.
Eyebrow Gel
Many of the eyebrow products on the selves actually already contain aloe vera as an ingredient. But you can make your own effective product right at home for much cheaper! You can also mix aloe vera with a small amount of honey for even more grip.
Just dip a mascara wand into aloe gel and apply it to your eyebrows; let it dry and what those wiley eyebrow hairs stay in place all day.
