The miracle skin saver
Your mom was onto something when she snipped off the tip of an aloe leaf and squeezed it onto your sunburn. The plant has been shown in studies to help heal minor wounds eight days faster than standard dressing, not to mention it’s an antibacterial and contains vitamins and minerals that can ease eczema and psoriasis flare-ups. But creative and enterprising beauty experts are using it for a lot more than the occasional cut or rash; they’re using it to get gorgeous, too.
We collected experts’ completely natural aloe vera uses in these 10 DIY home recipes. To avoid added fragrance and dyes, look for 100% pure aloe vera gel. It’s available at most pharmacies and health food stores.
As a makeup remover
You have to get the raccoon eyes off somehow, but many makeup removers contain harsh chemicals that are very drying to your skin, says Ildi Pekar, founder of an eponymous skin care line. She recommends you squeeze a dollop of pure aloe gel onto a cotton ball and swipe away the day for a simple and effective alternative.
As a shaving cream
In-the-know beauty buffs swear by pure aloe as the perfect shaving cream: It’s antibacterial, which is great for nicks; it’s slippery, allowing for a nice close shave; and it moisturizes, too. You can use it on its own, or combine with other nourishing ingredients for a more luxe (but still DIY) product.
Erika Katz, author of Bonding Over Beauty, shared this recipe with us: Mix 1/3 cup aloe vera gel, 1/4 cup castile soap or hand soap, 1 Tbsp almond oil, 1/4 cup distilled warm water, 1 tsp vitamin E oil, and 5 drops of eucalyptus oil in a foaming bottle or a clean soap pump dispenser. Shake well before you use, and refrigerate up to six months.
As a soothing ice cube
Grab an ice cube tray, fill with aloe gel, and freeze. Pop them out and store in a freezer safe container. “These little frosty fellows are great after too much sun exposure, run-ins with your stove, bug bites, poison ivy, and even psoriasis,” says Corene Hejl, owner of beauty company feedmyskin. “At our house we call it the boo-boo pop!”
As a face wash
Is there anything it can’t do? Mix 1 Tbsp aloe vera gel with 1 tsp almond milk, and 1 tsp lemon, wash and let sit for a few minutes before rinsing. Since some minerals found in aloe are antibacterial, this face wash is ideal for sensitive skin, breakouts, and rosacea, says Pekar. Need an anti-aging boost? Mix 1 Tbsp aloe with 1 tsp 100% raw organic coconut oil, massage into hands until the contents are warm, then wash and rinse.
As an exfoliator
It’s not the most pleasant part of grooming, but exfoliation is important if you want to reveal glowing, fresh skin. Aloe is a great base for a homemade scrub because it helps soften your skin and supply oxygen to your cells, strengthening the tissue to create vibrant skin, says Pekar. Mix 1/2 cup of aloe with just enough brown sugar or baking soda to get a gritty (but not sharp) texture. Then rub it on your elbows, heels, arms, or wherever else needs softening in the shower.
For bad breath
Come a little closer…no, actually—don’t. When bad breath hits, drink up to 1/4 cup pure aloe vera gel dissolved in a 1/2 cup of water or apple juice, suggests herbalist Letha Hadady, author of Healthy Beauty. Aloe vera contains an anti-inflammatory compound called B-sitosterol that soothes acid indigestion, a common cause of bad breath. But resist the urge to chug; in large doses, aloe vera can work like a laxative.
As a night treatment
In a literal twist on getting your beauty sleep, Tammie Umbel, founder of Shea Terra Organics, likes to blend pure aloe juice with three inches of cucumber and half an egg white for a hydrating mask you can wear to bed.
As an eyebrow gel
We love a strong brow (step away from those tweezers!) but tidiness is key. Dip a clean mascara wand in some aloe vera gel and sweep over stray brows for serious stay-put power without getting hard or sticky.
And if you did go overboard with the tweezing, Hejl swears by this recipe: “Mix one part aloe gel with one part castor oil. It seems to help over-plucked eyebrows grow in faster.”
For dry, cracked feet
Petra Strand, creator of Pixi Beauty, incorporates this ultimate green beauty ingredient into a foot mask that makes dry, cracked feet baby soft. Mix together 1/2 cup oatmeal, 1/2 cup corn meal, 4 Tbsp aloe vera gel, and 1/2 cup unscented body lotion and rub all over tired feet until well exfoliated. Sit for 10 minutes, then rinse with warm water.
As a personal hand sanitizer
Sick of your hand sanitizer drying out your hands? Mix 1/2 cup aloe vera gel, 1/4 cup alcohol, and 20 drops of your favorite essential oil and pour into a spritz bottle. “The alcohol fights germs while the aloe soothes your skin,” says Katz. To use, spritz once and rub between hands.
