The Egyptians called it the “plant of immortality.” Many cultures use Aloe for its renowned wellness properties and it has a long history of providing its benefits to us. Aloe Vera’s hydrating, nutrient-dense gel creates delicious Aloe Vera recipes, and it is a core ingredient in an array of naturally beneficial home and beauty products. Read on to find out how it can benefit you!

 

 

What is an Aloe Vera Plant?

Aloe Vera is a plant with so many applications that it can sometimes be hard to figure out exactly what to use it for, or even what it is! It is a hardy green succulent plant featuring serrated leaves filled with a clear gel. Aloe thrives in many places across the world, including North America, South America, India, and parts of North Africa.

 

Coming from the genus “Aloe,” many Aloe plant varieties exist, but Aloe Vera is known as “true Aloe” and is the most well-known and widely used variety. While people often associate Aloe Vera with relief for sun-burnt skin, it offers many other health benefits.

 

Is Aloe Vera Good For You?

Aloe Vera can be very naturally beneficial for a variety of applications. Because the Aloe gel contained within the Aloe Vera plant leaves are approximately 99% water, it is highly effective as a moisturizer and prized for its ability to soothe skin irritations and minor burns.

 

Research shows Aloe Vera gel is also rich in various nutrients such as vitamins A, E, and C. These vitamins function as antioxidants that help purify the body of toxins. Aloe plants also contain many amino acids and enzymes, producing anti-inflammatory properties when applied topically to the skin. For this reason, Aloe Vera promotes a soothing, cool sensation, perfect for times where your skin needs rescue and relief.

 

 

 

 

What Types of Products Have Aloe Vera in Them?

There are many different products available for those who want to take advantage of all the benefits associated with Aloe Vera. Although it can be very beneficial in its raw form as a topical, incorporating Aloe Vera in other products can help us use it for more specific applications or increase the effectiveness of a product.

 

Because of its usefulness, Aloe Vera can be found in many common household products, sometimes without us even being aware of it! Below are some product types it is commonly found in.

 

Cosmetics

Beyond simply providing skin hydration, Aloe is a popular ingredient in natural cosmetics products due to its deeply nourishing and protective qualities. Lots of cosmetics use Aloe Vera gel for its ability to fight wrinkles, protect skin cells, clear pores, and promote overall skin health.

 

Some cosmetic products that don’t include Aloe as an ingredient resort to using chemical agents. Aloe helps cut back unnecessary synthetic additives while still being more effective and holistically beneficial than the alternative. Aloe Vera is not just a great natural way to moisturize your skin but an excellent tool to manage the effects of stress and aging without the use of synthetic chemicals or overly expensive ingredients.

 

Lotions

Because Aloe Vera is so good at nourishing and protecting skin, it makes for an excellent ingredient in moisturizing lotions. Aloe gel provides deeply penetrating skin hydration which is naturally “sealed into” the skin due to Aloe Vera’s protective qualities, resulting in a longer-lasting and more impactful form of hydration. Aloe Vera is also non-oily, making it a great addition to skincare products intended for many different skin varieties!

 

Beverages

Although Aloe Vera may be more commonly associated with skincare products, Aloe Vera beverages are another fantastic way to enjoy the health benefits provided by the plant. Aloe Water is a popular and tasty option, sometimes flavored with fruit juice or light sweetener, and is in most convenience stores! Aloe Water often includes pieces of the Aloe gel suspended in the drink, adding extra nutrition and fun texture to an already very beneficial drink.

 

Foods

You can even use Aloe Vera as an ingredient for cooking delicious recipes! To eat Aloe Vera, the leaves are first split open to reveal the inner gel, which is then sliced into small cubes and lightly poached and sweetened, resulting in a pleasantly soft, chewy texture. When prepared this way Aloe Vera can be used as a stylish addition to salads or a healthy topping on plain yogurt for a light, refreshing breakfast.

 

 

What Can I Make with Fresh Aloe?

Aloe Vera’s range of uses makes it a game-changing plant to incorporate into your lifestyle through various available products, many of which you can easily make at home! One of the great things about Aloe Vera recipes is how simple they are to prepare! But what is even better is that you can easily get your own Aloe Vera plant right here at Planted Pot! Once that’s taken care of, we can easily make, with just a few ingredients, homemade products like:

 

• Makeup Remover
• Lotion
• Body/Face Scrub
• Shaving Cream
• Cleansing Face Mask
• Anti-Acne Scrub
• Mosquito Bite Relief
• Shampoo

 

 

 

 

Aloe Vera Recipes

Aloe Vera is popular for its uniquely reinvigorating characteristics, which we can utilize in a variety of ways. These nurturing qualities combined with the plant’s inexpensive and readily available nature make it an alluring ingredient for a range of DIY projects.

 

Now that we know all of the benefits we can get from using Aloe Vera and some of the ways you can use it, let’s look at some simple recipes that help us transform our raw Aloe into useful, beautiful, and natural products to use at home.

 

 

Homemade Aloe Vera Juice

Homemade Aloe Vera juice is a great way to use your Aloe plant to potentially manage weight loss and hydration without too strong of a ‘green taste.’ You can make it with low or zero sugar and provides a host of benefits not easily acquired through other juices making it a great choice for those trying to limit sugar intake or avoid it entirely. Besides these factors, it also happens to be immensely refreshing to drink!

 

Combined with the many vitamins and nutrients found in Aloe Vera, Aloe juice can be a natural and delicious detox drink. To make Aloe Vera juice follow this simple recipe below:

 

1. First, find a large Aloe Vera leaf or a prepackaged container of Aloe Vera gel at your local grocery store.
2. Rinse the Aloe Vera leaf with water, then soak the leaf until the water becomes cloudy.
3. Use a sharp knife to remove the base and sharp spines of the Aloe leaf.
4. Using the knife, separate the skin from the gel, creating two halves.
5. Carefully scrape the clear inner gel from the leaf, being careful to avoid scraping the rind (No green parts!).
6. Now that you have it ready, blend a small amount of your Aloe Vera gel directly into your desired liquid, such as water, coconut water, or even fruit juice.
7. If desired, add sugar, lime juice, lemon juice, or your choice of sweetener, and enjoy your homemade Aloe Vera juice!

 

Aloe Vera Lotion

Aloe Vera is a great ingredient for crafting homemade lotions without too much of a greasy texture. The plant’s gel absorbs quickly, resulting in super-fast hydration without any artificial scents or unpronounceable ingredients. This quick and simple recipe uses only a few ingredients, should only take you a couple of minutes, and will provide you with naturally revitalized skin. Follow this quick recipe to make your own:

 

1. Start by taking your Aloe Vera leaves and remove the base and spines with a sharp knife.
2. Separate the skin from the clear inner gel.
3. Scrape the gel from the inside of the Aloe Vera leaf.
4. Add 1 cup of your gel to a large bowl with 4 tbsp of fractionated coconut oil.
5. Add 10 drops of your choice of essential oil if you’d like to add fragrance.
6. Blend the mixture with an electric mixer or whisk until it reaches a very creamy consistency with a white/opaque color.
7. Spread it on your skin and enjoy natural homemade wellness.

 

Exfoliating Face and Body Scrub

This Aloe Vera-based face and body scrub is perfect for those of us struggling with irritated, oily skin. Anti-inflammatory Aloe helps soothe red, irritated acne, while lemon juice and sugar help break down oils on the skin. The result is an ultra-nourishing, all-natural face scrub perfect for washing away worrisome blemishes and oils. If you’d like to make some for yourself, follow our short guide:

 

1. Take an Aloe Vera leaf and remove the base and spines using a sharp knife
2. Separate the skin of the Aloe leaf from the clear inner gel and remove the gel
3. Place 2 tbsp of your fresh Aloe Vera gel in a bowl
4. Add 2 tbsp of white granulated sugar and stir to dissolve the majority of the sugar
5. Squeeze a small amount of fresh lemon juice into the mixture and mix well
6. Apply to your face or body as needed, scrub, and rinse for a clear complexion

 

 

Final Thoughts – Aloe Vera Recipes

Aloe Vera leaves host so many expansive health-giving benefits beyond simple skin softening or sunburn relief. It is essential for any person interested in the power of natural wellness. Aloe Vera recipes are a great option for exploring ways to incorporate common plants in our lives. With all these exceptional qualities, it is no surprise you can use it in so many different recipes and products!

 

Cultures have valued Aloe Vera throughout history. It is a plentiful, low-maintenance plant packed with healing ability and numerous daily applications. Aloe Vera is an important and powerful tool that can benefit all who seek its power. Even in raw form, you can use Aloe Vera as a powerful addition to your wellness routines. And with a little work, you can easily transform it into high-quality products using simple ingredients!