Aloe Vera

HOW DOES ALOE VERA BENEFIT YOUR SKIN AND HAIR?

Aloe Vera helps soothe dry, uncomfortable-feeling skin while replenishing lightweight moisture for a softer, calmer-looking complexion. In haircare, it helps condition the scalp and strands, leaving hair feeling smoother, refreshed and more manageable.

Known for: Soothing

Also supports: Hydrating

About

Aloe Vera is the clear, water-rich gel found inside the fleshy leaves of the Aloe vera plant. In skincare and haircare, it is valued for its refreshing feel, moisture-supporting polysaccharides and ability to comfort dryness without creating a heavy finish.

Science

Aloe Vera gel is naturally rich in water and contains long-chain polysaccharides, including acemannan and glucomannans. These moisture-binding sugars attract and hold water at the skin's surface, helping increase hydration within the outermost layer and soften the feel of dry, rough texture. Their light film-forming action also helps condition the hair fiber, leaving strands feeling softer and smoother. Human testing of cosmetic formulas containing Aloe Vera extract has shown increased moisture levels in the skin's outer layer.

History

Aloe Vera has been used for centuries across cultures in Africa, the Mediterranean, the Middle East and Asia. As cosmetic science developed, its clear inner-leaf gel became one of beauty's most recognizable botanicals for soothing, refreshing and hydrating care.

Origin

Aloe Vera is a drought-adapted succulent whose wild origins have been traced to the Arabian Peninsula. Today, it is cultivated throughout warm, dry regions worldwide. The cosmetic ingredient is prepared from the clear gel inside its thick, water-storing leaves and may appear as Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Leaf Water or Leaf Extract on an ingredient list.

Did You Know?

The clear Aloe Vera gel used in skincare is not the same substance as aloe latex. The soothing gel comes from the center of the leaf, while the bitter yellow latex lies beneath the outer rind and is removed during the preparation of cosmetic-grade aloe ingredients.