You Had Us At Aloe (Vera, That Is!)

We’re going to put you on to something today, friends, and that something is aloe vera. You’ve probably seen aloe plants, single aloe vera leaves available for purchase, and maybe even aloe vera drinks, and while aloe has been used for centuries for a number of skin ailments such as minor burns or small cuts, this magical plant may be just what your skin regimen is missing. In the words of Shania Twain, let’s go girls. 

Benefits of Using Aloe Vera on Your Face 

1. It helps moisturize. The beauty of using aloe vera gel on your face versus most moisturizers you can nab from a drugstore is, aloe is natural and doesn’t leave a greasy film on your face. Aloe also unclogs pores and leaves your skin feeling uber-soft. Aloe is also great to use on your skin after you’ve shaved because not only will it moisturize your skin, but it also has healing properties that treat minor cuts and burns. 
2. It helps fade dark spots. If you suffer from dark spots or hyperpigmentation, then you already know how frustrating it can get trying out products that don’t even out your skin tone as much as you’d like. Well, we have good news for you, a compound known as aloesin is found in aloe vera and it has been proven to lighten those stubborn dark spots.
3. Fights aging skin. Applying aloe vera gel to your skin fights aging skin in a big way. It contains an abundance of vitamin C and vitamin E, it contains antimicrobial properties, it’s an anti-inflammatory, it helps eradicate skin blemishes, diminishes age lines, and it helps increase the production of collagen in the body and skin. 
4. It can clear acne. Aside from being antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory, aloe vera is also a natural source of salicylic acids which can help with breakouts of both blackheads and whiteheads. 
5. It soothes psoriasis and eczema. These types of skin conditions signal general inflammation and a compromised skin barrier, but the good news is that both of these things can be helped by aloe vera. Not only will aloe vera fight back against fungi, bacteria, and viruses, but it can also soothe redness and irritation, as well as scaling caused by these conditions. 

I’m Sold. But How Do I Use It? 

There are actually a number of ways you can use aloe vera, the trick is finding the way that works best for you. But nobody losses in this game of trial and error. 

Method #1: Mix aloe vera gel with honey to create a face mask to treat inflamed skin. 

Method #2: Use aloe vera gel as a spot treatment to tackle problematic areas. Sleep with the gel on your face, then wash it away the next morning. 

Method #3: Blend aloe vera gel with a little water and pour the mixture into silicone popsicle molds to create an aloe vera gel popsicle you can use on your face every evening before bed.

Method #4: We mentioned that aloe vera gel is extremely moisturizing, so another way you can use aloe is by replacing your moisturizer with aloe vera gel.