Aloe vera - Aloe Barbadensis

You will have heard great things about this botanical ingredient and we want to reveal to you what it is for and why it is considered “the plant of immortality.”

CONSULT PRODUCTS WITH ALOE VERA

CONSULT PROPERTIES DICTIONARY

1. What is aloe vera?

Aloe vera or aloe vera is a succulent plant from the Liliaceae family, which is grown in hot and dry climates and is native to Africa.

There are more than 400 different species, but the best known and most used is Aloe Barbadensis Miller . It was used for centuries for its medicinal and therapeutic properties and is currently used in the pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic industries.

What is its composition?

- The sap or acibar is the brown and bitter juice found beneath the bark of the leaves and is composed of aloin (anthraquinones) and glycosides. This part is usually used in pharmacy to develop products with a laxative effect and its use must be supervised by a doctor or pharmacist.

- The gel is the sticky pulp that we find inside the leaves and is made up of 95-98% water and 5-2% mucilage, which gives it that characteristic sticky texture. In addition, it contains carbohydrates, organic acids and salts, enzymes, saponins, tannins, sterols, amino acids, vitamins and some minerals, among other components.

2. What kind of ingredient is it?

Aloe Barbadensis can be found in numerous cosmetic products , such as sunscreens, tonic lotions, lipsticks, shampoos, gels, creams and in countless products to soothe, regenerate and keep the skin in optimal conditions. And it can function as an active ingredient, an excipient or both options:

• Active ingredient with soothing, anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, regenerating and healing function. You will usually find it as an extract - aloe barbadensis leaf extract - as juice - aloe barbadensis leaf juice - or in powder - aloe barbadensis leaf powder / aloe barbadensis leaf juice powder. For it to have these effects, the aloe must be at least 10%.
• Excipient has the function of acting as a vehicle in which the other ingredients of the cosmetic formula go. It appears in the INCI as aloe water - aloe barbadensis leaf water - as aloe oil - aloe barbadensis leaf oil (aloe juice + vegetable oil) - or as juice - aloe barbadensis leaf juice - this being much more interesting and rich in properties. last.
• Excipient and active ingredient at the same time : aloe vera itself can also be a cosmetic in itself. It also has a very skin-friendly and skin-friendly pH of 4.5, so it would only be necessary for this product to include some preservative and/or stabilizer so that it remains in good condition and is safe to use.

You could also find aloe vera in gel, but you should keep in mind that this form of active ingredient is obtained by crushing the pulp of the leaf and may contain aloin. It could be a drawback if you have delicate skin or suffer from a skin disease* because this substance can cause redness, itching or other unwanted skin reactions. *skin diseases such as rosacea, acne, psoriasis, couperose, seborrheic dermatitis, atopic dermatitis...

3. How do I identify it in the list of ingredients ( INCI ) ?

You will find it in the INCI as juice - aloe barbadensis leaf juice.

4. What properties does aloe vera have?

• Moisturizing moisturizer : captures water, stimulates the formation of collagen and the skin's natural hyaluronic acid thanks to mucilage.
• Film-forming moisturizer : mucilage also creates a film-forming layer on the skin surface, preventing transepidermal water loss and keeping the skin soft.
• Antioxidant : counteracts the action of free radicals* thanks to vitamins C and E that provide extra luminosity to the complexion. (*unstable molecules that in excess produce oxidative stress and signs of aging such as wrinkles, sagging, spots...).
• Anti-inflammatory thanks to vitamin B7, several enzymes and salicylic acid.
• Antibacterial and analgesic due to anthroquinones.
• Antiseptic : keeps the skin clean by containing a small concentration of saponins. Regenerating , it improves skin texture, flexibility and the appearance of fine wrinkles due to vitamins A and B9.
• Blocks up to 30% of UV solar radiation thanks to aloin. (It does not replace the use of sunscreen).

5. For what type of skin do we recommend this ingredient ?

• Sensitive oily or dry skin.
• Oily or dry dehydrated skin.
• Acne-prone, rosacea and pimple-prone skin.
• Skin with signs of aging.
• Areas with minor wounds and burns.
• Solar erythema and irritations in general (after shaving/shaving).

How to use aloe vera:

If you have an aloe vera plant at home, you can prepare your own aloe gel and benefit from its properties. For example, if at some point you get a small wound or a slight burn , applying “fresh” aloe juice (freshly made) to the affected area will help you regenerate, calm and heal. Keep in mind that we are referring to a small condition and we advise you to pay special attention to hygiene measures as much as possible to avoid infections and/or skin alterations.

6. Contraindications:

Avoid aloe gel if you are allergic to anthraquinones and use caution if you are allergic to latex.

7. A very easy recipe...

What do you need?

• 2-3 aloe vera leaves, depending on the size of the plant
• 70º C alcohol to disinfect all utensils
• Knife
• Spoon
• Blender
• Glass or mixing bowl
• Container with airtight lid

Preparation:

• Cut the leaves and leave them in water for 24 hours. We recommend changing the water at least every 6 hours to eliminate the aloin because it could cause a reaction on the skin. And since we are making a product at home, we must be as cautious as possible.
• Disinfect all utensils with 70º C alcohol
• Remove the leaves from the water and dry them with a cloth.
• Cut the sides of the leaves to remove the spikes.
• Make a cut along the leaf until it is divided into 2 parts.
• Scrape up the juice that is inside with the help of the spoon.
• Place the juice in a jug or glass.
• Beat for a few seconds
• Add the mixture to a previously disinfected glass with a tightly closing lid and store in the refrigerator for 3 days. (after 3 days it loses properties and its use is not safe)

Application

Directly on clean skin and reapply as many times as necessary.

Sources:

http://www.scielo.org.mx/pdf/rmiq/v11n1/v11n1a3.pdf

http://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1665-27382012000100003

https://www.elsevier.es/es-revista-offarm-4-articulo-aloe-vera-13067351

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/266794505_Los_polisacaridos_mucilaginosos_de_Aloe_vera_AVMP_estibilidad

http://scielo.isciii.es/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1139-76322013000400007

http://cosmeticareal.blogspot.com/2015/09/cosmeceuticos-aloe-vera.html

http://scielo.sld.cu/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0864-03192006000300004

https://elcomidista.elpais.com/elcomidista/2020/01/15/articulo/1579118846_969862.html

https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/aloe-vera

https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD008762.pub2/full/es