What are the benefits of aloe vera for skin?

Cultivated since ancient times for its medicinal and cosmetic virtues, theAloe Veraand more precisely its pulp, is adored by enthusiasts of natural beauty who recognize a soothing, plumping and firming effect incomparable.

It’s so popular that it even beats retinol and vitamin C in the number of Google queries, ranking #1 in searches for cosmetic ingredients in 2021. Not bad for a plant that only grows in arid, desert areas. !

What are the benefits of aloe vera for skin?

Aloe vera gel is a “Swiss army knife” product which has the particularity of being suitable for all skin types, but also of being able to respond to various skin problems such as dehydration and irritations.

Emilie Jolibois, head of ingredient research and development at Aroma-Zone, explains a Lose :

” Aloe vera gel is mainly used for its moisturizing, soothing and repairing character. It is also highly valued by damaged skin because facilitates the regeneration of the epidermis.

Aloe vera to quench the thirst of dehydrated skin

Thanks to its richness in minerals, vitamins and sugars, aloe vera gel moisturizes the skin and helps it maintain an optimal water content to protect it from dehydration.

Aloe vera to soothe sunburn

In case of a superficial burn or sunburn, aloe vera helps calm the fire, soothe the pain and promote the repair of the epidermis.

Its cooling effect is very pleasant, especially after prolonged exposure to UV rays or a sharp razor stroke.adds the expert.

Be careful though:exposure to the sun is not recommended after applying aloe vera gel due to her photosensitizing effect.

Aloe vera to reduce dark spots

Aloe vera gel naturally contains a small amount of salicylic acid, a BHA whose keratolytic properties help fight dark spots and gently fade them over time.

Aloe vera to calm acne

Its non-greasy texture and its anti-inflammatory properties they also make it an interesting product for suffering skinacne or excessive sebum production. According to Emilie Jolibois, “Aloe vera gel soothes inflammation and repairs injuries. Like him naturally contains salicylic acid, purifying properties are also attributed to it. »

Aloe vera to find firmer skin

Thanks to its richness in polysaccharides, it also helps fight the signs of aging thanks to a tensor effect that smoothes fine lines and firms the epidermis. In short, if it could pass the vacuum cleaner, it would be really perfect!

How to integrate aloe vera into your beauty routine?

Depending on your beauty habits, needs, and tastes, you can incorporate aloe vera into your skincare routine (daily or extraordinary) in a variety of ways.

Pure aloe vera gel for face and body

For visible results on skin quality, recommends Emilie Joliboisuse raw aloe vera gel : “ it is the best way to enjoy all its benefits “.

For the face as well as for other areas of the body, it can be used instead of moisturizeralone or mixed with a few drops of vegetable oil (jojoba, argan, etc.), or like a serum, before applying your usual cream or oil. Applied in a thick layer, it can also act as a moisturizing and soothing mask.

Aloe vera as an ingredient in a classic skin care product

If you prefer more conventional beauty products, you can opt for a cream, lotion, or serum that includes aloe vera among its main ingredients.

In the INCI lists it is found under the name “Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice”, even if the term “juice” can be misleading! The expert in cosmetic ingredients details:

” Can be freeze-dried or atomized native aloe vera juice powder depending on the quality of the good. The first technique is the only interesting one, because it is the one that allows you to preserve the properties of the gel as much as possible.

Unfortunately for consumers, the method used is never specified on the label. »

In order for the skin to really benefit from the virtues of aloe vera, we would tend to rely on the position of the active ingredient in the INCI list of the product. It’s actually more complicated:

” In a conventional cosmetic product, it is better that aloe vera is at the top of the list, but if it is not, it does not mean that the product has no interest. !

In case of the powder, rarely makes up more than 1% of the formula, so there’s nothing abnormal about finding it at the end. The only concern is that for reasons of confidentiality, we do not know the exact amount of aloe vera contained in the product. »

Last tip: beware of products that promise a high percentage of aloe vera but contain no juice, just crushed leaves (Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Powder), with uninteresting virtues.

Shopping for aloe vera for face and body

Front page image photo credit: Nati Melnychuk on Unsplash