I’m really excited to share this post because I will be sharing a #BeautyDIYsecret that I learned from my nani. She is the ultimate hipster because she totally used aloe vera before it was cool. Remember when we told you about this amazing face mask? Well, brace yourselves because now we show you how you can cultivate your own aloe vera gel. Aloe vera was aptly dubbed the “plant of immortality” by the Egyptians. The benefits are endless from tan removal, moisturizing, hair loss prevention, cooling, fighting cold sores and chapped lips to alleviating skin symptoms caused by eczema, psoriasis and even acne. Bet you didn’t know that aloe vera gel can also help reduce stretch marks and can help firm up your skin. How about that?! Whether you want to give your skin a treat after a day out in the sun, or even after a laser hair removal appointment, aloe vera should be your go to aid. I recommend taking before pictures so you can compare them to pictures of the NEW you after using aloe vera for 3-4 weeks. Can’t wait to get started, can you?
First, get your hands on an aloe vera plant and follow the quick steps below:
Steps:
- Slice off the prickly edges of your Aloe leaf
- Then slice off the outer covering revealing a gelatinous layer.
- Scoop out the gel into a bowl
- Using a piece of the outer layer (a smooth one) dip it into your gel and use that to apply your gel to the desired area. You can also use a slice of cucumber, or even a cotton pad instead.
- Store your remaining gel in the refrigerator. It usually lasts me 5 days.
Ways to use your gel:
- Moisturizer for your face
- Base for your make-up
- Spot treatment to prevent hair loss
- Soothing lotion after shaving
- Rub it on your nails to make them stronger
- Rub on puffy eyes to decrease swelling
- Spot treatment for hyperpigmentation and acne spots
- Apply on burns to help them cool
If you don’t like the gel like consistency, you can always add a little bit of water and blend it. This will reveal a thinner consistency which you can use more as a cleanser. 🙂 For those of you that enjoy juicing and found our recipes helpful, you can actually put your gel into your juicer and drink it! It contains over 75 different nutrients. Cool, huh?! Do you think the Egyptians got it right? Tell us in the comments and while you are at it share your #BeautyDIYsecrets with us! Happy aloe vera-ing 🙂