The Uses of Aloe Vera for the Face

Natural cosmetics are experiencing a resurgence, as we increasingly value traditional methods -but with proven effectiveness!- that are environmentally friendly as well as being kind to our bodies. This is the case with aloe vera.

Aloe is a plant that has finally reached its status as indispensable for skin care. And it’s no wonder, as it has a multitude of healing properties that are beneficial for maintaining healthy skin.

Moreover, it doesn’t matter if you have oily tendencies or suffer from dryness issues, because there is surely a perfect method for your problem, as these green leaves also conceal great therapeutic skills.

If you still don’t know all of its uses or want to discover how you can apply this gel to take care of your face, in this article I will explain what are the best uses of aloe vera when treating the face.

Basic concepts: everything you need to know about aloe

Before we look at how we can benefit from aloe vera, it’s important to know what makes this subspecies so special among the 250 varieties of Aloe that exist around the world.

Interestingly, its place of origin is not known for sure, although it does come from desert climates, so if you want to have one inside your house, you will need plenty of sun and a stable temperature (between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius) for it to grow properly.

Otherwise, it’s a very resilient plant that, on top of that, helps your skin to be resilient as well.

The key lies in its thick and elongated leaves, which store a large amount of water, resulting in the viscous and colorless gel that is used in cosmetics.

The primary components useful for the skin are found in this gel, among which we find a mix of active ingredients beneficial for the skin. Among others, we can find:

• Vitamins: They help regenerate skin, protect against premature photoaging, and improve circulation and detoxification since they are necessary for hemoglobin formation.
• Minerals and Trace Elements: Essential for proper functioning, in aloe we find iron (improves the immune and circulatory systems), magnesium (prevents overexcitation of the nerves), and selenium (reduces premature aging).
• Enzymes: They eliminate toxins that accumulate in the body while helping the correct chemical processes to take place.
• Essential Amino Acids: They are essential for the body to perform synthesis, and therefore it’s necessary to include them in our daily diet, as the body does not produce them by itself.
• Non-essential Amino Acids: On the other hand, non-essential amino acids are produced by the body itself, although they are equally useful as they are the raw material of proteins.

Beyond all this, aloe has more interesting components, such as different saccharides (i.e., carbohydrates, among which we find cellulose and glucose) and anthraquinone laxatives (such as Barbaloin, Anthranol, or Aloetic Acid, which prevent constipation).

The benefits it brings to your skin

With this in mind, let’s talk about how these ingredients relate to the effect they produce on our skin and also mention in which cases this plant is especially useful.

For starters, it is widely used in cosmetics that aim to prevent or avoid issues like wrinkles or cellulite, as it prevents the appearance of more by softening the dermis, preventing infections, increasing collagen levels, and improving overall elasticity.

Similarly, as it repairs skin tissue and has high healing capabilities -useful also against sunburn or wounds of any kind-, it helps you reduce any type of mark that appears on your face, even those caused by eczema or dermatitis.

Additionally, it allows you to thoroughly clean all the layers of the dermis thanks to its amino acid content. This makes it a very effective treatment against acne or pimples, as it also absorbs the excess oil that the face secretes and has an antibacterial effect.

And, if your skin easily becomes irritated after shaving or waxing, applying aloe vera afterward can refresh your face and prevent the classic redness or rashes.

Furthermore, this plant has many other applications, from helping to prevent baldness when applied to the scalp to improving breathing if you inhale the steam from its leaves, not to mention benefits derived from other uses, such as reducing dental plaque or reducing pain caused by osteoarthritis.

How you can make use of these properties

There are different ways to apply aloe vera to your face. All of them are interesting, as you will notice its pleasant soothing effect from the first moment.

But let’s look at the different forms in which you find it:

Naturally.

This is known as pure aloe vera. If you grow your own plant, you just need to cut one of its thick leaves and extract the gel that accumulates inside it with a knife, or cut it into squares. And if not, you can also find pure aloe vera gel in supermarkets like Mercadona.

Then, apply it to the affected area for about 15 minutes, before washing off the excess with a stream of warm or cool water.

In case you have wounds or want deeper hydration, instead of rinsing, wait until it is completely absorbed.

You can also mix it with other beneficial ingredients to make a homemade cream.

Facial masks.

Whether purchased or homemade, they are ideal for exfoliating the dermis and protecting it from external factors.

If you dare to make it yourself, you can make different mixes, depending on your skin type.

• If you have oily skin, mix one tablespoon of aloe juice with one of lemon juice, one of honey, and a touch of boiled lavender or calendula.
• If you suffer from dryness, opt for an egg yolk, one tablespoon of yogurt, one of sunflower oil, and a last one of aloe vera.
• If it is very sensitive, with four tablespoons of pure aloe gel, six of fresh cucumber juice, and two of unsweetened natural yogurt, you will disinfect and soothe.
• If you want to eliminate scars, the key is to mix aloe vera gel with rose water.

In all cases, you will have to mix the ingredients until you have a homogeneous mass and then let them act for about 20 minutes.

Next, remove the remains using plenty of cold or warm water, but never hot.

Moisturizing creams with aloe vera: the key lies in the formula

Despite everything seen, my favorite method will always be specialized creams.

In addition to being dermatologically proven to be effective, they are simple to use, do not require much time, and are generally very affordable.

But, of course, there is such a wide variety of moisturizers with aloe on the market that it is difficult to decide on one product over another. So, what should you look for? In its ingredients, of course.

The first thing you should not lose sight of is that, the more natural its components, the better. An example of this is the facial cream from Nezeni Cosmetics.

Also, avoid cosmetics that include parabens or irritants, as well as petroleum derivatives, such as mineral oils.

Also stay away from those creams that abuse preservatives, as this promotes the combined effect (i.e., the accumulation of toxins derived from the prolonged use of different products).

And what ingredients are recommended? Essential oils -of almond, coconut, avocado, rosehip, etc.-, vitamins -especially E-, butters -like cocoa or shea-, plant extracts, and hyaluronic acid, very interesting for its high moisturizing properties and its ability to fill wrinkles and stretch marks.

After this, there are other factors you can consider, which are especially important if you have a particular skin type.

Thus, if you suffer from dryness, opt for emollient textures. On the other hand, if excess sebum is your problem, look for light products that are easily absorbed.

Don’t know where to start? Here’s a ranking with the best options.

Method of use

Although it may not seem like it, it is perhaps the most important aspect, as improper use of any cosmetic can result in not appreciating its effects. Fortunately, in the case of aloe vera creams, their use is as simple as you might imagine.

As usual, the first thing you should do is tie back your hair so that it does not cover your face and proceed to cleanse the complexion with a gentle product, like micellar water (my favorite is this one from Nezeni Cosmetics).

Once it has dried, apply the cream with the tips of your fingers. The best way is through a gentle circular massage, but exerting a slight pressure, so that you reactivate circulation and promote rapid absorption.

Regarding frequency, it will depend on the needs of your skin, although the average is usually twice a day, once in the morning before putting on makeup and another at night.

Beware, because you must be consistent to get good results.

In case your skin has suffered a severe problem -such as a burn or a strong acne outbreak- you can apply the product more times, to relieve the face and accelerate the healing process.

Possible contraindications

Do not be alarmed, as, in general, aloe vera has few negative effects. However, it is important to talk about them and keep them in mind, just in case.

The most common is the least harmful: its smell. Sensitive noses may be uncomfortable with its penetrating aroma. To solve this, opt for a cream that masks it by using other fragrances that you like more.

Then there are other symptoms that may occur on your skin after applying it, such as cramps, redness, or mild irritation. They are so infrequent that they are usually not a problem, but if you notice any discomfort, go immediately to a specialist.

Of course, always avoid it when you are taking corticosteroids, as it can cause adverse reactions.

In the same way, remember that it is not an appropriate treatment for serious conditions, such as severe burns or open wounds.

But, if you have used products with aloe before and have not had problems, you should not worry, as it is most likely that you will not suffer any mishaps.

With all these guidelines in mind, I hope the wonderful properties of aloe and the effects that this gel can have on your skin are clear to you, as long as you apply it consistently.

Try until you find the method that best suits you and take good care of your face with the help of aloe vera.