Proven Benefits of Using Aloe Vera Gel on Your Face and Skin
Aloe vera is a plant with healing properties that can do wonders for your face and skin. Aloe vera gel is a popular ingredient in many skin lotions, face masks and cosmetics for its medicinal and moisturizing properties. You can also use aloe vera gel directly on your skin and face to treat sunburns, help wounds heal quicker, treat skin irritations and reduce inflammation.
The reason that aloe vera gel is so good for your face and skin is that it contains a wealth of nutrients. Gel from the leaf of the aloe vera plant contains vitamins, minerals, active enzymes, and amino acids. You can also add to aloe vera gel ingredients like tea tree oil, witch hazel, coconut oil, or essential oils to help treat a number of skin conditions naturally.
In this article, you will find out what scientific research has revealed as to the healing properties of aloe vera gel. You will also find practical ways on how to use aloe vera gel on your face and skin everyday.
What is Aloe Vera?
Aloe vera is one of the types of aloe plants – this plant from the Aloe genus has fleshy leaves that contain a clear gel with medicinal properties. Aloe vera gel has been used for centuries to treat various dermatological conditions. In fact, the Egyptians called aloe vera the “plant of immortality.”
The aloe vera leaves are usually long and pointed with a thick skin. Inside each aloe leaf are gel and a bitter yellow latex-type sap. According to scientists, there are about 75 active compounds in aloe vera, many of which are beneficial for your skin. (1)
You can get the health benefits from aloe vera gel by applying it topically to your skin or by consuming aloe vera juice.
Aloe Vera – Nutrients and Medicinal Properties
Why is applying aloe vera gel every day to your skin or face so beneficial?
A review of the medicinal properties of pure aloe vera gel has shown that it contains many vitamins with antioxidant potential. Natural aloe vera also has enzymes that help to reduce skin inflammation, as well as minerals and fatty acids that promote skin health. Other amino acids and compounds in aloe vera gel have antiseptic and antimicrobial properties. (2)
Aloe vera gel is good for your skin because it contains polysaccharides (a type of sugar molecule) that help to increase collagen production. This has a beneficial effect in both helping wounds to heal and reducing scarring. Aloe vera also stimulates the production of collagen and elastin which improves the skin’s elasticity and helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines. (2)
Gel from the aloe vera plant also contains antiseptic compounds that help to prevent bacterial, viral, or fungal infections. (2)
Benefits of Aloe Vera on Your Face and Skin
There are many benefits of regularly applying aloe vera to your face or skin. Researchers have identified that you can use aloe vera gel for wound healing, moisturizing dry skin, treating psoriasis or dermatitis, and treating burns. (3)
Let’s look in more detail at scientific research showing the daily benefits of aloe vera for your skin.
Aloe Vera Can Help Wounds Heal Faster
You can apply aloe vera gel on your skin to help accelerate wound healing.
Aloe vera contains anti-inflammatory and antibacterial compounds that help promote healing. Researchers have found that a number of compounds in aloe vera work together. One study showed that dressing a wound with aloe vera helped to heal a wound 3 days quicker than wounds where aloe gel wasn’t applied. (4)
The journal Annals of Plastic Surgery reported that aloe vera gel can help make the wound site smaller and prevent scar tissue from developing. Scientists also observed that wounds treated with aloe vera had more amounts of collagen and antioxidants. (5)
One randomized double-blind clinical trial showed that aloe vera helped wounds heal quicker after a cesarean section. Researchers found that the antiseptic, antioxidant, and antibacterial effect of aloe vera gel benefited wound healing. (15)
A review of many botanicals that are used in treating wounds found aloe vera gel to be especially effective. Researchers have reported that you can use aloe vera gel to treat bruises, skin irritations, and minor wounds. (6)
Learn more about how to care for wounds naturally to help get rid of scabs faster.
Aloe Vera Help to Heal Minor Burns and Sunburns
Aloe vera is a great natural remedy for sunburn because it soothes and heals inflamed, damaged skin.
The reasons that aloe vera gel is good for healing minor burns are due to the fact that it moisturizes the skin and reduces inflammation. The journal Burns reported on a review of medical studies showing that burns treated with aloe vera gel healed almost 9 days quicker than other burns. The researchers concluded that aloe vera can be used to treat first and second-degree burns. (7)
One study compared the effectiveness of aloe vera for treating burns with silver sulfadiazine – a popular antibiotic cream used to treat burns. The researchers observed that wounds healed quicker with the aloe vera treatment. The study showed that aloe vera accelerated sunburn healing and left less scarring. (8)
The results of another study showed that aloe vera gel can be used as a natural after-sun lotion. In fact, aloe vera was just as effective as 1% hydrocortisone cream in reducing inflammation and itching in sunburned skin. (23)
Find out the best way to get rid of sunburn and prevent blisters from causing discomfort.
Aloe Vera Moisturizes Dry Skin
You can apply aloe vera gel to your skin everyday because it has a high moisture content which helps to hydrate the skin.
Scientific studies have revealed that aloe vera gel is an effective moisturizer when used on its own or together with other natural ingredients. For example, aloe vera with wheat germ oil had an increased effect in skin hydration. (9)
Another study showed that applying aloe vera gel to the hands can help to treat dry hands that are the result of irritant contact dermatitis. The research found that applying aloe vera gel daily reduces redness on hand and improves the appearance of fine wrinkles. The study concluded that aloe vera is a good topical remedy for contact dermatitis. (10)
Other studies have also confirmed that using aloe vera gel for skin care is an effective ingredient to hydrate and moisturize the skin. (11)
You can also make your own natural moisturizers to treat dry skin around your eyes.
Aloe Vera Has Skin Anti-Aging Properties and May Reduce Fine Wrinkles
Applying aloe vera gel or cream on your face daily may improve the appearance of fine lines and under eye wrinkles. Aloe vera naturally improves the skin’s elasticity and stimulates collagen production.
Researchers say that natural aloe vera is good anti-aging remedy because its gel contains antioxidants, reduces inflammation, and can protect against UV damage too. (11)
Other research has shown that pure aloe vera has an astringent effect that helps tighten pores. Aloe vera cream can also improve the elasticity of your skin which helps to reduce the appearance of fine wrinkles. (2)
Learn what foods you should eat to protect against wrinkles and help delay the signs of premature aging on your face.
Aloe Vera Can Treat Eczema and Psoriasis
Aloe vera’s skin care properties mean that you can also use the gel to treat chronic dermatological conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
Both eczema and psoriasis are characterized by patches of itchy red skin that can become inflamed and flaky.
One study into the healing properties of aloe vera found that applying aloe vera gel helped to give relief from atopic dermatitis lesions. Another study found that a cream containing 0.5% aloe vera helped reduce the size of skin plaques associated with psoriasis. (12)
Aloe vera is just one of the many home remedies to help treat eczema and other inflammatory skin conditions including skin rashes.
Aloe Vera Can Help Clear Face Pimples and Acne
Another reason for using aloe vera gel on your face and skin is that it can assist in treating acne.
One of the reasons to use aloe vera for face pimples is that its anti-inflammatory activity helps to reduce redness and inflamed pores. (13)
However, you can also use aloe vera with other ingredients to help get rid of acne. For example, tea tree oil and witch hazel together with aloe vera gel can help fight off pimples. At the end of the article, you can find out how to make an anti-acne ointment using aloe vera.
Some dermatological studies have shown that aloe vera can also boost the effectiveness of common acne treatments. For example, applying aloe vera gel on the skin along with tretinoin showed significantly better results than just tretinoin alone. (Tretinoin is a pharmaceutical cream used to treat moderate acne). (14)
You can also try some of these effective DIY face masks for acne.
Aloe Vera Can Help Get Rid of Stretch Marks and Scars
Use aloe vera gel or lotion on your skin every day to help get rid of stretch marks and reduce the appearance of scars.
Stretch marks can appear on the stomach after pregnancy or rapid weight loss. The ability of aloe vera to improve the skin’s elasticity helps to remove unsightly stretch marks.
Other studies have shown that regularly applying aloe vera gel can help prevent stretch lines after pregnancy. One study used aloe vera gel together with sweet almond oil. This natural remedy for stretch marks reduced itching as well as lessened the spread of stretch marks. (16)
If you have stretch marks on your belly, learn about other ways to lessen the appearance of these marks.
Aloe Vera May Lighten Skin and Treat Dark Spots
Aloe vera gel contains compounds that help to lighten skin and give your face a more even tone.
Dark spots or liver spots can appear on the skin because of sun damage or aging. Liver spots commonly appear on the face and the back of your hands. Regularly applying aloe vera gel to your face or skin can help to treat these dark blemishes.
Research into the extracts of aloe vera has found that it contains a chemical called aloin. This reacts with the skin to lighten it and could be useful in treating hyper-pigmentation issues. (17)
Other studies have shown that aloe vera extracts can inhibit the production of melanin – pigments in the skin that give skin its tan or brown color. (18)
There are other natural ways to even the tone of your skin and reduce sunspots.
How to Use Aloe Vera on Your Face and Skin
There are many ways that you can use aloe vera gel, lotion, or cream on your skin and face. You can use aloe vera gel straight from the leaf by breaking off a leaf and squeezing out a small amount.
However, you may find it easier to buy aloe vera gel from your local health store or online. When looking for the best aloe vera gel, it is important to look for it in its purest form. Aloe vera can spoil quickly and so some preservatives are usually added to keep it fresh.
Try to purchase organic aloe vera gel that contains as much as 99% bio-active aloe vera or 100% aloe vera – here is one example.
How to use aloe vera with essential oils to beat wrinkles
You can use aloe vera gel to lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by adding some essential oils.
Many essential oils like lemon essential oil, clary sage, frankincense, and lavender have antioxidant properties. This means that they help to destroy free radicals from your skin which are associated with signs of premature aging.
For example, studies have shown that lemon essential oil can protect the skin from oxidative damage. (19) This can help prevent fine lines getting deeper and developing into wrinkles. You can find many other essential oils to combat wrinkles in my previous article.
How to make anti-wrinkle aloe vera gel:
- Take 30 ml (1 oz.) of aloe vera gel and add 4 drops of lemon oil, 4 drops of sandalwood oil, and 4 drops of lavender oil.
- Mix well.
- Cleanse your face with your usual facial cleanser.
- Apply the aloe vera anti-wrinkle remedy daily to your face and back of your hands to help improve the appearance of your skin.
- Leave the aloe vera gel on without washing off.
How to use aloe vera with witch hazel and tea tree oil to treat acne
You can create your own aloe vera gel treatment to help get rid of pimples and other signs of acne.
This home remedy uses aloe vera for its anti-inflammatory properties, witch hazel for its astringent effect, and tea tree oil to kill off acne-causing bacteria.
The Journal of Inflammation reported that witch hazel helps to tighten the skin and reduce the appearance of enlarged pores caused by acne. (20) Research into tea tree oil has found that it is a beneficial natural ingredient to improve mild to moderate acne. (21)
How to make your own aloe vera lotion for acne:
- Mix 6 tablespoons of witch hazel and 2 tablespoons of aloe vera together.
- Add 5 drops of tea tree oil and 5 drops of lavender oil and mix well.
- Use a cotton ball to apply the aloe vera lotion to your acne prone skin to cleanse it and remove impurities.
- Use the aloe vera remedy morning and night for best results.
Tea tree and lavender oils are some of the best essential oils for acne.
Make your own aloe vera and coconut oil moisturizer
You can make a rich aloe vera moisturizing cream by adding coconut oil. The benefit of this aloe vera cream is that coconut oil has antimicrobial properties and can help to treat dermatitis.
One study into the properties of coconut oil found that it has antibacterial properties and it also moisturizes dry skin. Researchers found that applying coconut oil to skin affected by atopic dermatitis is a useful natural treatment. (22)
How to make a homemade aloe vera cream for deep moisturizing:
- Put 1/2 cup of solid organic virgin coconut oil and 1/3 cup aloe vera gel in a bowl and whisk with an electric whisk. (Should take between 5 and 10 minutes). Don’t melt the coconut oil as it will only whip up if it’s solid.
- Add a few drops of tea tree oil while whisking.
- Put the aloe vera coconut oil cream into a glass container and store in the refrigerator if your house is warm enough to cause the oil to melt. (You want to keep its whipped consistency).
- Apply 2 times a day to patches of dry skin to help hydrate your skin and prevent your skin from cracking.
How to use aloe vera to heal skin and accelerate healing of wounds
The active healing compounds in aloe vera mean that aloe vera gel is a great treatment to heal wounds or soothe skin abrasions.
Aloe vera is so effective in helping repair damaged skin that you just have to apply pure aloe vera gel to the affected area. Apply aloe vera gel or lotion 3 or 4 times a day to help your wounds heal faster.
How to use aloe vera after sun lotion for sunburn
The anti-inflammatory soothing properties of aloe vera mean that aloe vera lotion is an excellent choice for after sun skin care.
This natural sunburn aloe vera lotion uses honey for its skin-healing properties. Many studies have confirmed the fact that honey is a natural treatment for skin burns. Honey contains antioxidants that also help to reduce inflammation. Honey can also prevent secondary skin infections due to its antibacterial properties. (24)
How to make a cooling aloe vera sunburn remedy:
- Mix 1 tablespoon aloe vera gel, 1 tablespoon honey, and 1 tablespoon plain yogurt.
- Optional: Add a few drops of peppermint oil to the mixture to help cool your skin.
- Apply to the sunburned skin and leave for 20 minutes to help reduce inflammation and heal your damaged skin.
- Rinse off with cool water and gently pat dry.
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