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You have certainly already heard of the plant Aloe Vera (lat. Aloe Barbadensis). This undemanding plant is not only a decoration in the home, but has been used for thousands of years thanks to its wide range of health and cosmetic effects. It contains more than 70 different active components such as vitamins, enzymes, minerals, antioxidants and others. It has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, helps with some skin diseases (acne, psoriasis, eczema), soothes skin irritation, accelerates tissue regeneration and thus helps to heal minor wounds and injuries1. There are even studies that demonstrate the positive effect of Aloe Vera on the treatment of burns and radiation burns2.
Aloe is excellent for summer skincare when the skin is more heavily stressed and exposed to the sun. It is possible to use the pulp from the plant directly, but in this case it is recommended to carry out a skin sensitivity test and work carefully with the transparent, fleshy part of the leaf, since with direct use there may also be contact of the skin 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, as there is a large number of safe Aloe Vera products of cosmetic grade available on the market. When creating our own cosmetics, depending on what kind of product we are going to create and also according to our own preferences, we can choose as a starting material Aloe Vera gel, Aloe Vera powder or juice. We can also prepare a gel from the juice by adding 2–4 g of xanthan gum to 100 ml of Aloe Vera juice4. In case we are preparing a richer cream for the whole body, we can use a butter containing Aloe Vera and coconut oil. We can apply Aloe Vera gel directly to the skin, but we can also very easily incorporate it into cosmetic formulations. A simple recipe for a gel cream with Aloe Vera suitable for skin stressed by the sun, especially after sunbathing, is given below. Since this is not a classic cream created by mixing a water and oil phase and an emulsifier, this recipe is ideal for complete beginners in DIY cosmetic preparation. Thanks to the content of Aloe Vera and oat silk, it is also suitable for soothing the skin after shaving and for preventing ingrown hairs. If you suffer from a wheat allergy or intolerance, it is possible to omit oat silk from the recipe. An allergy to Aloe itself is not common, but it is definitely necessary to remain cautious when using it for the first time, especially if you suffer from an allergy to tulips, onions or other plants of the genus Liliceae.
40 g of Aloe Vera gel
6 g of jojoba oil
4 g of argan oil
2.5 g of oat silk
8 drops of liquid Vitamin E
A few drops of Lime essential oil
We disperse the oat silk in the mixture of jojoba and argan oil. A milky white smooth suspension is formed, which we pour with continuous stirring into the weighed amount of Aloe Vera gel, then add Vitamin E and lime essential oil (we can possibly replace it with another essential (fragrance) oil). We mix evenly until we achieve a smooth, uniform consistency. The Aloe Vera gel from Handymade already contains preservatives, and since we are not adding another water phase, we do not need to add further preservatives to the cream. The beneficial effects of oat silk have already received attention on the Handymade blog; by adding it to the above recipe, we obtain a velvety texture and support the anti-inflammatory and regenerative effect of the product. If we use essential oil from 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.
Be inspired by the guide to creating the healing gel with Aloe Vera and Oat Silk and make it at home. It will help you as first aid in treating sunburned skin. We thank our customer and creator Erika Samoľová 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). Kozmetika hrou. 2018. Albatros Media. ISBN 978‑80‑566‑0735‑0
