By Liah – Roxas Magundayao
You’ve probably heard of what this magical plant can do – or at least name one beauty benefit it has to offer. Aloe Vera is rich in vitamins and antioxidants. Thanks to Carl Linnaeus who first described the species in 1973. The versatile plant can be used to soften the hair, soothe sunburn, prevent wrinkles and fine lines, hydrate the skin and treat acne. And before you even plan on chopping some stalks on your mother’s potted Aloe Vera in your garden, we gathered some tried-and-tested beauty hacks with the famous Aloe Vera plant for you to try out.
Soothe tired eyes & Depuff eye bags
Put your favorite Aloe Vera Gel in the fridge, apply it generously under the eyes, relax and leave it overnight. Its anti-inflammatory properties will help depuff your eye bags. Some users say that it is much more effective than their expensive eye creams.
Makeup Remover
We know how stubborn some of our makeups can be. Take a dollop of your Aloe Vera gel on your palm then massage it onto your face. Let it sit for a minute or two and use your reusable cloth or cotton pads to wipe off the gel and see the makeup, dirt and even grime completely removed leaving a fresh feeling on your clean face.
Exfoliate
Make your own body scrub and exfoliate those stubborn dead skin cells by mixing Aloe Vera gel and brown sugar. It will help make the skin more radiant, smooth and at the same time, leave it moisturized unlike body scrubs that contain chemicals that may further dry the skin out!
Help treat Acne
Aloe Vera contains Auxin and Gibberellins that promote healing in wounds and it’s anti-inflammatory properties reduce redness and skin inflammation. Some studies and users who have religiously applied Aloe Vera alongside their acne medication provided promising results and even left them with smoother skin.
Anti-Bacterial Face Mask
Aloe vera contains strong antibacterial properties that can help control and reduce acne and other skin problems. Mix 1 tablespoon of Aloe Vera with 2 tablespoons of pure honey. Mix it well and right before you start to apply it to your face, add ground cinnamon, mix everything well and leave it on your face for no longer than 10 minutes.
Sunburn Treatment
Sure you have heard someone suggesting Aloe Vera to their friend who enjoyed their beach trip more than they should have and got sunburnt. But does this trick work? YES! Aloe Vera soothes the pain and aids in faster relief and treatment of sunburn. A few studies suggested that the anti-inflammatory properties of the plant help in soothing and treating the pain. Apply chilled Aloe Vera Gel directly to sunburn except for second and third degree burns.
Glowing Skin
Aloe Vera works well as a natural beauty product and remedy to prevent wrinkles and give a younger-looking skin. It is beneficial in moisturizing and making the skin supple as it removes dead skin cells so that vibrant cells can resurface. Studies have proven that Aloe Vera promotes the elasticity in skin making the skin glow naturally from within and minimizes pores, too!
