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Aloe vera is a cactus plant native to parts of Africa and India. And when the leaves break, it secretes a clear gel that can be applied directly to the skin. Most of us think of aloe as just a burn treatment, but it’s so much more than that. The Egyptians actually coined the phrase ‘the plant of immortality’ so it’s clearly an ingredient we should consider in our beauty products. Because of its many uses, aloe is the perfect all purpose plan to keep on hand. They’re super easy to care for (trust me!), and they add a little greenery to your room.

12 Aloe Beauty Recipes

Besides treating wounds and burns, aloe is a fabulous moisturizer, acne fighter and anti-aging tool. Aloe is filled with vitamins C and E, along with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. It’s great for all types of skin, too. Whether you have dry, oily, or combination skin, aloe is an amazing choice to incorporate in your creams, masks and serums.

Check out these 12 aloe recipes – there’s truly something for everyone, and these recipes couldn’t be more simple.

This face pack combines aloe, lemon juice, and honey. Aloe vera gel and lemon juice are both full of vitamin-rich ingredients for the skin, making for a fantastic face pack. Lemon has excellent exfoliant properties that gently remove dead skin cells, while the aloe soothes and cools. It can also help fade pigmentation and acne scars.

If you’re suffering from a dry or itchy scalp, aloe’s soothing properties are sure to help you. It’s also a great mask to soothe irritation if you routinely dye your hair. Best of all, it only takes 1/2 cup of aloe vera gel and 1 tablespoon of coconut milk!

Not only is aloe great for skin, it’s also beneficial for your lashes. Commercial serums are great, but they’re often very pricey. Eyelash conditioner gives the impression of fuller lashes, which is perfect for the summer when you want to wear a little less makeup. All this recipe takes is two ingredients, aloe vera and castor oil, and you’ll be on your way to fuller, longer lashes.

Some makeup removers are too gentle, leaving you rubbing your eyes too much (which can in fact lead to more wrinkles), while others are too harsh. But it’s important for your remover to be simple, right? After all, you’re essentially removing chemicals from your face after a long day. This remover keeps it simple and only contains aloe vera, witch hazel, jojoba oil, and lemon essential oil.

Face masks are great for maintaining healthy and clear skin, but it’s equally important to treat each area of your face with specific ingredients. Carrots are great for our eye health and skin, and aloe makes for an excellent ingredient for around your eyes, given its soothing properties.

Face oils are great for nighttime, but what about the day? That’s where serums come in, and aloe is a perfect serum base. Underneath your makeup, it works to soothe skin, remove blemishes, and plump up the skin to remove wrinkles. The awesome part of this serum recipe is that you can use just about any carrier oil with it, as well as any essential oil, depending on your skin type.

Shaving creams with moisturizing ingredients is essential since shaving can be harsh on your skin causing irritation and bumps. This shaving cream recipe combines aloe vera, coconut oil, and essential oil for fragrance. It’s sure to soothe your legs, or your man’s face!

Did you know aloe is even good for your hair? Its polysaccharides actually restore moisture to hair to seal out humidity and add shine. Our hair gets especially frizzy in the hot, muggy heat, and this spray has all the right ingredients to keep hair smooth and silky.

These face wipes are excellent after a good work out. Exercising is great for working up a sweat and removing toxins, but the chemicals in sweat can build up causing acne if you don’t wash your face afterwards. Keeping these wipes on hand is sure to keep your skin healthy and glowing. You’ll even smell fresh thanks to the dried roses!

Aloe is not only calming to irritated skin, it’s a great acne fighter. And combined with tea tree oil, it’s one powerful mask. It also includes cucumber to soothe your skin while providing it with plenty of vitamin E and potassium, which can reduce blemishes.

Cooling lotion sounds perfect and light for the summer, doesn’t it? Not only does the coconut oil give your skin the moisture it needs, the aloe provides a great cooling effect during the hot summer months. And, the coconut oil is actually whipped so the lotion doesn’t weight you down too much.

Given aloe’s gentle, soothing properties, it naturally makes for an amazing soap. It’s not as hard to make as you may think, either. You can spice up the recipe however you want using different oils, but aloe gives your hands a great refreshing feel for the upcoming summer months.

Photos by Ana Stanciu

Not in the mood to DIY it? Here are some of our favorite aloe beauty products:

