Aloe vera is not only a pretty and undemanding potted plant that can be a nice decoration of your home, but also a valuable ingredient of many cosmetics available on the market. You don’t have to buy them, many of their equivalents you can make yourself. Below we present several home ways to use aloe vera leaves to take care of our body.
Aloe vera consists of over 90% water, and in addition to it contains a wealth of vitamins A, C, E, B vitamins, amino acids, as well as macro and microelements useful for the proper and healthy functioning of our body.
How to prepare aloe vera for further processing?
To use aloe vera, cut off the outer leaves as close as possible to the roots of the plant. Cut off their upper and lower ends, and then cut them lengthwise. Use a teaspoon to scoop out all the pulp and put it in a bowl. Mash it with a fork or whisk it with a blender, adding a bit of water until smooth and lump-free.
Burn remedy
Aloe vera has great moisturizing properties and works well on burns, both sunburn and other types. It is worth to have a jar of aloe vera gel with you on holiday (but remember that it is a natural remedy and the time for its use is quite short) or after too long and intense sunbathing make a compress of raw, halved leaves of the plant. Aloe vera will perfectly soothe and moisturize redness and give a cooling sensation. It is also a great remedy for irritated skin after depilation.
Hair care
The aloe vera pulp can be used on its own, making the so-called rubs or rinses, or added to ready-made cosmetics, such as shampoos and masks. Aloe Vera strengthens hair, makes it easier to comb, reduces frizz, protects hair from damage and splitting, and accelerates its growth.
Aloe scrub
Mix a tablespoon of aloe vera mousse, a tablespoon of olive or coconut oil and a few tablespoons of brown sugar and you will get a homemade moisturizing scrub for lips or the whole face.
Homemade mask
In a very similar way, you can prepare a mask using this plant. Mix 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel, half a tablespoon of coconut or almond oil and a tablespoon of honey. You can also use aloe vera mousse on your face alone as a mask, makeup base, moisturizer substitute. It also works great for dark circles under the eyes and acne-prone skin and any skin irritations.
Nourishing cocktail
Aloe vera can and should also be consumed. There are several aloe vera drinks on the market, but you can also prepare simple aloe vera-based cocktails at home. Put a peeled and sliced banana into the blender container, add two tablespoons of aloe vera mousse, honey, a pinch of cinnamon and the juice squeezed from one grapefruit. Blend all the ingredients and enjoy a nourishing smoothie.
Read also Avocado for beauty. We suggest how to create cosmetics with its help yourself
Main photo: Daria Shevtsova/ pexels.com
