Boost your skin health with Aloe vera
Aloe vera is well known for giving a cooling, calming effect on the skin and the use of the Aloe plant for its therapeutic properties is not new. In fact, it is well documented in history as being used by the ancient Greek and Roman healers.
The succulent Aloe is recognizable by its thick, fleshy, serrated green leaves that release a clear, mucilaginous gel when cut open. It’s this gel that contains the most beneficial bioactive compounds in the plant, including vitamins and minerals, antioxidants and amino acids that are all instrumental in enhanced skin health.
Nutritious and packed full of goodness
Aloe vera naturally contains many vitamins and minerals that can nourish our skin, and is brimming with vitamin B, folic acid, vitamin C and carotene, which is a precursor of vitamin A.
Juice from the Aloe vera leaf is composed primarily of water, as well as polysaccharides, anthraquinones, amino acids, glycosides, minerals, flavones, phytosterols and salicylic acid. Polysaccharides create a protective barrier on the skin, and are what give the Aloe vera its hydrating and emollient properties. The large number of anthraquinones within Aloe vera offer antimicrobial and antioxidant benefits and flavones provide additional protection against damage from free radicals.
The benefits don’t stop there though! Anti-inflammatory phytosterols can calm and soothe itchy skin, while providing it with additional moisture and protecting against water loss. Aloe vera soothes and restores the natural moisture balance within our skin and is widely used to help treat sunburns, thanks to its naturally cooling properties. A clinical trial tested the performance of skincare gel containing aloe vera and showed that it may be useful in the topical treatment of inflammatory skin conditions such as sunburn. 1
A natural effective ingredient for skin hydration
A separate study in Skin Research and Technology explored the moisturizing properties of Aloe vera and concluded that it was a naturally effective ingredient for improving skin health and hydration and may be used as a complement in the treatment of dry skin. 2
When considering your skincare routine, including products that contain natural Aloe Vera is a great way to boost your skin health by providing intensive hydration that will cool and condition beneath the surface layers and will leave your skin both looking and feeling fabulous.
- Reuter J, Jocher A, Stump J, Grossjohann B, Franke G, Schempp CM. Investigation of the anti-inflammatory potential of Aloe vera gel (97.5%) in the ultraviolet erythema test. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2008;21(2):106-10 [↩]
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.0909-752X.2006.00155.x [↩]