It’s in every beach bag, bathroom cabinet and emergency sunburn kit from June through August. Aloe Vera: everyone has heard of it, used it, and recommended it to friends and family who spend a little too much time in the sun. But how does this ingredient actually work? What characteristics and properties make it such a cult classic soothing ingredient? Let’s dive deeper into how and why aloe vera is a summer time staple…
ALOE VERA FACTS
What is aloe vera? Before it becomes the cooling, clear gel that we all recognize, it starts as a succulent plant species of the genus Aloe. It is native to the Arabian Peninsula but it grows around the world in tropical climates. Average folk can find success in growing aloe vera as a potted plant, and many do so specifically for its use in skin care and wound healing.
Aloe vera is a stem-less plant that can reach between 24 to 39 inches tall. Its thick, green leaves are serrated with small, sharp teeth. The aloe vera plant does grow a flower, which is yellow and cone shaped.
The thick, mucilaginous gel used for topical skin conditions and has a digestive aid is harvested by cutting open the aloe vera leaf and draining the gel. The gel is simply torn from the flesh of the spikes leaves or left to drain vertically.
Les Nouvelles Esthétiques & Spa
CONTINUE READING YOUR ARTICLE WITH A LNE MEMBERSHIP
