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You must have heard of the Aloe Vera plant (lat. Aloe Barbadensis). This unpretentious plant is not just a decoration in the home, but has been used for thousands of years thanks to its wide range of health and cosmetic benefits. It contains more than 70 different active ingredients such as vitamins, enzymes, minerals, antioxidants and more. It is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, helps with certain skin conditions (acne, psoriasis, eczema), relieves skin irritation, speeds up tissue regeneration and thus helps heal minor wounds and injuries1. There are even studies showing the positive effect of Aloe Vera on the treatment of burns and radiation burns2.
Aloe is great for skin care in the summer when the skin is more stressed and exposed to the sun. It is possible to use the pulp of the plant directly, but in this case it is advisable to perform a skin sensitivity test and to work carefully with the transparent, pulpy part of the leaf, as direct use may also bring the skin into contact with the yellow, latex part of the pulp containing anthraquinones (aloin, barbaloin), which irritate the skin and can cause contact dermatitis2,3.
Nowadays it is very easy to incorporate Aloe Vera into your skincare routine, there are many safe, cosmetic quality Aloe Vera products available on the market. When creating your own cosmetics, depending on what product you are going to create and also on your own preferences, you can choose Aloe Vera gel, Aloe Vera powder or juice as a starting ingredient. We can also prepare a juice gel by adding 2-4 g of xanthan gum to 100 ml of Aloe Vera juice4. In case we are preparing a thicker cream for the whole body, we can use butter containing Aloe Vera and coconut oil. Aloe Vera gel can be applied directly to the skin, but it can also be incorporated into cosmetic products very easily. A simple recipe for an Aloe Vera gel cream suitable for sun-stressed skin, especially after sunbathing, is given below. As it is not a classic cream, which is created by mixing a water and oil phase and an emulsifier, this recipe is ideal for complete beginners in the preparation of homemade cosmetics. Thanks to its Aloe Vera and Oat Silk content, it is also suitable for soothing the skin after shaving and preventing ingrown hairs. If you suffer from wheat allergy or intolerance, oat silk can be omitted from the recipe. Allergies to Aloe itself are not common, but caution should definitely be exercised when using it for the first time, especially if you are allergic to tulips, onions, or other plants in the Liliceae family.
40 g Aloe vera gel
6 g Jojoba oil
4 g Argan oil
2.5 g Oat silk
8 drops of liquid Vitamin E
A few drops of Lime essential oil
Mix the oat silk in a mixture of jojoba and argan oil. A milky-white smooth suspension is formed, which is stirred into a weighed amount of Aloe Vera gel, vitamin E and lime essential oil are added (alternatively, another essential (fragrance) oil can be substituted). Stir evenly until a smooth, even consistency is achieved. Handymade's Aloe vera gel already contains preservatives, and since we are not adding another aqueous ingredient, we don't need to add additional preservatives to the cream. The beneficial effects of oat silk have already been addressed on the Handymade blog, adding it to the above recipe will give us a smooth consistency and promote the anti-inflammatory and regenerative effect of the product. In case we use essential oil of lime or other citrus fruits (orange, grapefruit...) it is advisable to avoid immediate exposure of the skin to sunlight, as these essential oils can cause photosensitivity.
Get inspired by the tutorial on creating a healing gel with Aloe Vera and Oat Silk and make it at home. It will help you as a first aid for treating sunburnt skin. Thank you to our customer and creator Erika Samolova for the article she prepared for you.
1. Surjushe, A., Vasani R., Saple, D. G. Aloe Vera: A Short Review. Indian J Dermatol. 2008, 53(4), p 163-166. doi: 10.4103/0019-5154.44785
2. Shelton, R. M. (1991). Aloe Vera. Its Chemical and Therapeutic Properties. International Journal of Dermatology, 30(10), 679-683. doi:10.1111/j.1365-4362.1991.tb02607.x
3. Ferreira, M. et al. Allergic Contact Dermatitis to Aloe Vera. Contact Dermatitis, 2007, doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0536.2007.01118.x
4. Klimentová, J. (2018). Cosmetic play. 2018. Albatros Media. ISBN 978-80-566-0735-0
