Ingredient Spotlight: Aloe Vera

A very well known moisturising ingredient, aloe vera is rich in polysaccharides and has become synonymous with after-sun treatments. Although its ability to heal burns is still debated by the scientific community, many people find it effective, and its history of medicinal use dates back at least to 2200 BCE, when it was detailed on clay tablets from Mesopotamia. The Ancient Eygptians were also fond of their aloe vera, using it as a standard treatment for burns and skin irritation. 

Aloe vera grows wild in tropical and subtropical climates, but can also be grown on a windowsill in more temperate climates, such as here in the UK, if you fancy harvesting your own fresh. 

To obtain aloe vera gel, you simply break off a leaf and essentially 'fillet' it, to scrape out the gel inside. If you ever find yourself with sunburn in the Caribbean, for example, this is well worth remembering! The gel is full of beneficial compounds, and can be applied neat to the skin as often as needed. 

The gel is rarely actually sold in this form, however. In fact the aloe vera 'gel' sold by cosmetics ingredients suppliers isn't actually a gel at all, as it is diluted with water to form a thin liquid. Of course, water plus plant matter equals a very high risk of microbial growth, so it's very important to preserve this liquid properly if you're planning to make your own. If you're purchasing aloe vera gel from retail shops, be very careful to check the ingredients, as aloe vera is often used in the title of products as a marketing ploy to attract customers, when the product itself contains a whole host of additives and sometimes very little actual aloe vera. 

When purchasing aloe vera gel as a cosmetic ingredient, it's available in various different strengths, depending on the ratio of aloe vera gel to water in the product. As mentioned, if you purchase aloe vera from a pharmacy or similar shop, you'll need to check how much actual aloe vera is in the product and what else might have been added. 

One problem I encountered with sourcing aloe vera for my products, is that the gel has to be preserved for sale, due to the high potential for microbial contamination mentioned above. That would be fine if suppliers only used plant-based preservatives, like I do, but unfortunately that's not the case. In fact most suppliers plump for phenoxyethanol as their preservative of choice, and I wasn't happy with that. Therefore, I now use aloe vera powder, which I can rehydrate using distilled water and preserve naturally. 

Which Natur products contain aloe vera? You'll find it in several of my Luxury range cleansers and toners.