Around 2,000 years ago, the ancient Greeks saw aloe vera as a panacea, while the Egyptians dubbed it “Plant of Immortality” and Cleopatra attributed her silky-soft skin partly to the plant. Even Alexander the Great and Christopher Columbus used aloe vera to heal their soldiers’ wounds.
Today it is used in many areas of dermatology to support wound healing and burns or to prevent inflammation. It is also a popular ingredient in cosmetics. You can find out why in the following.
Aloe Vera has been used for its regenerative properties for hundreds of years
Thanks to its nutritious juice, it has moisturizing, skin-soothing and antibacterial properties as well as anti-aging effects. No wonder that it remains a popular ingredient for serums, creams and after-sun lotions.
What makes aloe vera so special?
Aloe Vera grows mainly in arid regions of Africa, Asia, Europe and America and can be recognized by its thick, prickly leaves. Each of these leaves consists of 3 layers:
- The inside layer is the “plant sap”, a clear gel with around 99% water and 1% starch-like carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids and vitamins.
- The vitamins include the antioxidants vitamin A, C and E. The plant sap is also one of the few natural sources of vitamin B12.
- The minerals (e.g. calcium, magnesium, copper, selenium and zinc) support the enzyme systems and the plants’ metabolism.
- Aloe Vera also contains 20 of the 22 amino acids required by the human body. Including salicylic acid with an anti-inflammatory effect.
- The middle layer is a liquid rubber with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.
- In the outermost layer, the bark, carbohydrates and proteins are synthesized. It also protects the inside of the aloe vera.
What does aloe vera do for the skin?
In order to help maintain the skin’s moisture balance, a moisturizer (cream, lotion, fluid) should consist of watery and oily parts. This is because the skin’s moisture content depends on both, the level of hydration in the inner layers of the skin, as well as the level of evaporation, which is affected by the skin barrier.
Cold, heat, wind, and sun all affect the skin’s moisture levels. Aloe Vera not only provides very nutrient-rich hydration, it also helps to strengthen the skin barrier through its anti-inflammatory properties and helps the moisture to be stored in the skin.
Due to its skin-soothing properties, it is also often used in after-sun lotions.
How does aloe vera work in antiaging and wrinkle reduction?
Polysaccharides contained in the plant, such as hyaluronic acid, help to bind moisture in the skin.
In addition, aloe vera is said to help stimulate the production of collagen fibers, which in turn make the skin firm and elastic.
Amino acids soften hardened cells, improve skin smoothness and radiance. In addition, they can help counteract pigmentation (“age spots”) to a certain extent.
Minerals such as calcium, magnesium or selenium are important for the healthy growth of skin cells. Zinc has an astringent effect, so it refines the pores.
Because of these numerous skin-loving properties, Aloe Vera is a large part of our GREEN series.