Aloe vera has been known as a medicinal plant for many years and is used in many areas today. Its moisturizing effect on the skin and hair makes it particularly popular. But what uses are there for aloe vera and how is it applied?
The desert plant offers your body numerous benefits and application options and is now also contained in numerous beauty products, lotions, creams and masks. The skin benefits primarily from the many vitamins and vital substances as well as many other ingredients of this special medicinal plant. Aloe vera is also said to help with sunburns and other burns, has cooling properties and provides the skin with the necessary moisture
Origin and healing power of aloe vera
Aloe vera grows predominantly in most tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The plant can cope with very little water and has been used as a medicinal plant in numerous cultures for thousands of years. The desert plant is also known as the "source of eternal youth" and contains more than 160 vital substances, the perfect combination of which has benefits not only for health but also for beauty.
The fatty and amino acids, anthraquinones, minerals, vitamins and enzymes it contains are said to have healing powers and the active ingredient acemannan in particular is considered to be very effective and healing. The polysaccharide forms the basis for all connective cells, including the skin. It also includes the vascular walls, joints, cartilage, ligaments and tendons. It also forms the basic framework for our bones.
In some cultures, the locals also refer to the aloe vera plant as the "plant of immortality", so it is no wonder that it is an integral part of many healing applications.
It is said to have the following effects:
- Pain relieving
- Helps with immunodeficiency
- Invigorating
- Regenerating
- Supports the liver, kidneys and digestive system
- Helps with inflammation or fungi
- Moisturizing
Aloe vera - effects for your skin
Many people use aloe vera primarily to pamper their skin. Aloe vera can be used as a moisturizing face cream, for example. Here, the gel or sap of the plant makes the skin beautifully supple and not only promotes blood circulation, but also the production of collagen and elastic fibers in our connective tissue.
Aloe vera is also considered a natural anti-ageing agent. No wonder, as the active ingredients delay the formation of wrinkles and keep the skin looking younger for longer.
In addition to skin care, aloe vera can also help in the fight against various skin problems. For example, the plant can be used to treat burns such as sunburn. But your skin also needs regeneration and help with scalds, allergic reactions and ulcers.
Thanks to its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, aloe vera is also used in the fight against pimples, abscesses and herpes. Even many people who suffer from psoriasis or neurodermatitis often place their hopes in the healing effect of this all-rounder.
How can aloe vera be used for the skin?
Aloe vera is available in many different forms. This means it can be used as required. Below you will find tips and tricks for different possibilities:
Aloe vera as a serum
If you want to use aloe vera as a serum, you can buy a high-quality serum or make your own with a mixer. The serum is then applied to the face or other parts of the body. Aloe vera serum helps to give the skin the care it needs, especially for very dry skin.
Aloe vera as a refreshing spray
Aloe vera has an enormously refreshing effect, which is particularly popular in summer. You can mix the aloe vera gel with water in a normal spray bottle. You can now spray the refreshing spray on your body or face as required in summer and on hot days.
Aloe vera as a facial scrub
To achieve an exfoliating mass, you can mix aloe vera gel with a little turmeric powder, jojoba oil and chickpea flour in a blender. Make sure that the ingredients form an even mass. Then apply everything to the face in circular movements. Leave the mixture on for a few minutes before removing it with a towel. The residue can remain on the face and is not washed off. The flour has a gentle exfoliating effect, while turmeric works against impurities on the skin. The aloe vera gel and jojoba oil pamper and moisturize the skin.
Aloe vera as rich vitamin pads
For the vitamin pads, a large leaf of the medicinal plant is cut off and then the thorns are removed. The leaf is then cut into pieces about four centimetres wide. You should then take care not to break the pieces when cutting them horizontally. The aloe vera gel is now carefully scraped out of the leaves with a knife and can be put to one side for later use.
The insides of the leaves are now moist and can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge. The leaves can be used to treat sunburn, wounds, scars, mosquito bites or dry skin. They are also ideal as a cooling refreshment.
Aloe vera as a face mask for blemished skin
Pimples and the like are finally a thing of the past. A mask made from honey, lemon juice and aloe vera helps to permanently combat pimples without damaging the skin. The finished mixture is applied to the face with a brush and left to work for 15 minutes. The residue is then washed off thoroughly with warm water.
Aloe vera as a natural shaving gel
The fresh aloe vera gel can also be used as a natural and therefore excellently tolerated shaving gel. This means you can do without expensive shaving foam with chemical additives. Simply apply the gel as usual. The aloe vera moisturizes the skin, which can prevent skin redness or razor bumps.
Aloe vera as a body or hand cream
If you want particularly soft and supple skin, a cream made from aloe vera and coconut oil is suitable for intensive skin care. Mix the two in a ratio of two thirds to one third. A hand mixer is ideal for mixing. The creamy and pleasant mixture is particularly good for dry or chapped hands.
Aloe vera as eyelash and eyebrow gel
To make an eyelash and eyebrow gel from aloe vera, the gel is mixed with a few drops of castor oil and should be placed in a small container. The mixture is best applied with an old and thoroughly washed-out mascara brush, leaving the gel to work overnight. To get a grip on any unruly eyebrows and keep them in shape throughout the day, apply the pure gel in the direction of growth.
Aloe vera for the hair
It is not only the skin that benefits from the many advantages of the aloe vera medicinal plant. Hair can also be cared for in many ways. Whether curly hair, tight hair or dry ends, hair also benefits from the ingredients of the aloe vera plant.
Aloe vera as a hair conditioner
To give your hair an extra dose of moisture, massage the aloe vera gel into the entire hair and scalp. The gel should now be left on for at least 15 minutes and then washed out as usual.
Aloe vera as a leave-in conditioner
Would you like to pamper your hair? Then mix the aloe vera gel with a few drops of jojoba oil. Use a blender to mix everything into a homogeneous mass. This can now be applied to the ends, roots and full length of the hair and massaged in in the direction of growth. This not only conditions the hair, but also gives it more body. This mass now remains in the hair permanently.
Using aloe vera for the immune system
Aloe vera can not only be used externally, but also provides many benefits for the body from the inside out. This plant contains many different vitamins and minerals, which are very valuable for the intestinal flora and the immune system. However, it is important to ensure that the juice is of pure organic quality, as this is the only way to guarantee that no harmful additives enter the body. If you don't want to make the juice yourself, you can also buy it in special health food stores.
Conclusion - Aloe vera for our body
Aloe vera is healthy, rich, immune-boosting and particularly versatile. It is not only the skin that becomes wonderfully supple and benefits from the extra portion of vitamins and moisture. Aloe vera can also be used to care for hair in a variety of ways. If you have aloe vera plants at home, you can easily make numerous products yourself and mix them with other high-quality oils and other ingredients.
