If you have been with me on my whole food health & beauty journey for even a minute, you would have guessed by now that I love the aloe vera plant! The gel (harvested from inside the leaf) is one of my all time favourite natural skincare ingredients because it is so versatile.
Aloe vera gel is made up almost completely of water (96%). It also contains around 18 amino acids as well as vitamins A, B, C and E. I incorporate aloe vera gel often into my skincare and haircare routines when I want to soften and moisturise my skin, scalp and even hair.
Aloe vera gel is also a great stand alone skin cleanser. If my skin has a build up of dead skin cells, is feeling a bit greasy or has broken out in spots, I apply a thin layer of pure aloe vera gel to it for about 20 minutes. It soothes the skin and and cleanses it without the need to scrub or rub!
One of the great things about aloe vera is that the pulp can be harvested fresh. Straight from the leaves of the aloe vera plant whenever you want to use it. It also freezes extremely well.
If you do not have an aloe vera plant at home, you can buy single aloe leaves from the market. If you do buy single aloe vera leaves, stand them in a jar of water to preserve their freshness and extend their life.
The inside of the aloe vera leaf is soft and gel like, with a few fibrous pieces in between. For this recipe it's important to blend the mixture well so that the gel pieces break up. Breaking up the gel pieces makes the mixture easier to apply to the skin, scalp and hair. You can do this manually with a spoon, fork or whisk, or use a blender. I've made a short video to show you how.
I hope you enjoy making your own aloe vera gel!
If you decide to give this recipe a go, please share your thoughts, pictures and recipe tweaks. Good luck!
Method
Step 1.
Cut open the aloe vera leaf and extract the gel like pulp inside.
Step 2.
Add the pulp to a blender and mix for at least one minute. The mixture will turn into a white foam.
Step 3.
The mixture should gain a whipped cream consistency.
Step 4.
Transfer to a clean jar & store in the refrigerator (up to 2-3 days).
Disclaimer
I'm very passionate about the management of autoimmune conditions in a healthy way.
I speak with medical professionals, read journals, try and test new recipes to share with you and diligently undertake research online. That being said, as you know, each autoimmune disease, as well as any set of symptoms you may be experiencing are unique.
All information provided is in no way intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor or healthcare provider to ensure the appropriateness of any information in relation to your own situation.
And finally, please comment and share so we as a community better cope with our conditions by through growth and learning.