Aloe vera face mask

It is Sunday and if I’m at home I usually dedicate some time to my home spa and some beauty treatments ahead of the busy week. Today is a super plant day!

Aloe vera is a succulent plant with large fleshy leaves with spikes around them. I have never seen aloe vera flowers but they come in different colours from red, orange, yellow to pink. The clear gel stored in those plump leaves is used medicinally and in the beauty treatments. It soothes the skin, heals the wounds and treat sunburns. Helpful in treating allergy rashes, insect bites, fungal infections, ulcers. It works as a great skin moisturiser and thanks to the antioxidants fights ageing. Rich in vitamins and minerals aloe vera juice treats indigestion and soothes any stomach complaints.  Aloe vera is a very popular ingredient in many beauty products so why not to incorporate it in your own DIY beauty projects.

Wikipedia

To make aloe vera face mask you will need

2 tbs of aloe vera gel

1 tbs of green clay

1 ts of vitamin E oil

2 tbs rose petals infusion

5 drops of rose essential oil

It is actually my first time using fresh aloe which I got from a little shop selling mangoes, coriander and the whole aloe vera plants. Plant has to mature though to be ready to use so I just bought one massive leaf called Aloe King. On the supplier’s website www.aloeking.com it says that aloe vera is “considered one of the most versatile and effective natural healers”. I have also read an interesting and controversial book “Cancer can be cured” featuring the aloe vera as the main ingredient of a recipe to treat cancer.

Start by making rose petals infusion by covering 1 tbs of petals with hot water and leaving it to steep under the cover for about 10 minutes. Scrape aloe vera gel out of the leaf and blend it for the smooth gel, add green clay and rose infusion to make a paste. Add vitamin E oil and the essential oil. Mix everything up and apply to your clean face with a brush. Leave it on for about 10 minutes then rinse with tepid water. Enjoy the benefits of nourished smooth skin!

I also loved the stripy pattern inside the aloe leaf. Nature never stop to amaze and inspire me!

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Aloe vera in skincare

I remember, we used to have aloe vera plant in a pot at home and my mum would chop a bit and use it to heal scars, wounds or burns. Indeed, aloe vera, a little magic plant is very beneficial when it come to skincare and any skin emergencies. It is soothing, moisturizing and restoring. It has got anti-flammatory, anti-fungal and cooling properties. It is also a rich source of vitamin A, C, B. It is helpful with acne thanks to its anti-bacterial properties. Aloe vera also reduces redness as it cools and calms the skin down. It promotes skin cells restoring activity and helps to reduce pigmentation problems. Finally,  it brightens your skin and makes it look healthy.

Even, if you don’t have aloe vera plant, you can still use aloe vera gel or juice and incorporate them into your face masks or cleansers. And how about this aloe vera face scrub.

Use dry chamomile flowers or chamomile teabags. Mix the herbs with 2 spoons of aloe vera juice or gel, add some plain yogurt and mix it all for a nice paste. Apply to your face and exfoliate by gently massaging the paste onto your skin in small circular movements. Rinse it off and follow with a toner and a cream.