How to Make Aloe Vera Gel

Making aloe vera gel at home is very simple and easy! And it’s a wonderful topical remedy for the entire family. Known as Cleopatra’s beauty secret, the aloe vera plant is mystically healing and famously known for its capability to soothe sunburns, but it also boosts immunity, is an anti-inflammatory and has many other health promoting properties.

Aloe vera has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. It is a part of the Aloaceae, or lily, family, which is known for its diverse perennials with short stems and thick, crowded leaves.

Originally from North Africa, today aloe vera is grown in tropical climates and can even be grown indoors worldwide as a potted plant. You can find your own little plant in most nurseries. An aloe vera plant can add a lovely touch of green to any office or home.

Here at Beyond Vitality Nature Camp, where we reside in the Caribbean, we have aloe vera growing all over our land so everyone can freely use it and benefit from the nourishing and medicinal properties of this powerful healing plant.

[pevideo id="4453"]

How to Make Aloe Vera Gel

Ingredients:

1-2 fresh aloe vera leaves

1 tbsp. virgin coconut oil (optional)

2-4 drops pure essential oil (tea tree, lavender or rosemary)

Note: Coconut oil is a very effective moisturizer especially for dry skin. Like aloe vera, coconut has healing and nourishing properties for the skin. It is an optional addition. Also, adding a few drops of essential oil helps to preserve your gel for a longer period of time. Vitamin E oil or vitamin C powder are other alternatives. If you plan to use your freshly made gel within a few days, these can be omitted.

Directions:

Clean your hands and workspace thoroughly - you don’t want to contaminate your homemade aloe vera gel.

Choose one or two large succulent leaves from the base of your mother aloe vera plant and cut them off. You are cutting off the leaves that are closest to the ground and on the outside not to irritate your plant so it continues to thrive.

Place your aloe leaves in a glass with the cut side facing down in order to let the dark yellowish resin (latex) drain out. This part is important because the resin can be a bit irritating on the skin if it finds its way into the gel you’re making.

After the resin has drained, wash your leaves and start peeling off their thick skin with a knife, leaving you with the transparent gel. Cut in a few pieces.

Put the transparent gel pieces along with the coconut oil (if using) and your essential oil of choice in a blender. Blend for 5-10 seconds or until smooth – the key is to blend enough to ensure no aloe chunks remain, but not so much for your gel to become too liquid.

Store in a glass jar for daily use. For optimal results and freshness, use within a week, or a month if being stored in the fridge. Aloe vera gel always feels better cool on hot skin! Voila. Fresh skin food!