The Many Wonders Of Aloe
You know aloe is great for treating sunburn, but did you know about these other uses? Aloe is used as an ingredient in countless products, but it's also quite useful on its own. Mister and I keep the house stocked at all times.
Here are some of the ways aloe can be used, some you may be aware of already, but others might be new to you.
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Hair Gel - It makes a great defrizzing gel. Mister has curly hair, and it takes away the frizz, leaving him with soft, touchable, yet texturized curls. I use it on my my straight/wavy hair too. So many hair gels can leave hair feeling greasy or crunchy, but not this stuff. Plus, it's good to know you're actually putting something good and natural in your hair. It repairs while you style!
Toner - Slather it on after washing your face to restore balance. Use it following a splash of apple cider vinegar for a double whammy.
Astringent/Moisturizer - This is magical to me. If I'm feeling icky, I'll put aloe on my face, and it dissolves oil while retaining moisture! It's great if you're in a position where you can't wash your face, like a long car trip. I often use it throughout the day, just because it's so refreshing!
Shaving Lotion - Really quite intuitive, right?
After Shave Lotion - But you knew that one already. ;]
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It doesn't matter what brand you get, as long as it's clear and pure aloe gel (don't get the green kind). You can use plants too, but we go through so much there's no way my little aloe plant would survive!
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Do you know of any other uses for Aloe? (PG uses, please thanks ;D)
Let me know!
26 Responses to “The Many Wonders Of Aloe”
Seems like a really good idea – very natural and I’m guessing it’s not too expensive. I only ever really used it for sunburn before but I might just get some now!
We have the world’s biggest aloe vera plant in our backyard (I’m sure there’s at least one picture of it on my blog somewhere) – we’ve often speculated about what uses we could put it too, so thank you for a few new ideas!
I heard about how great pure aloe is for skin from a friend, but my stupid walgreens doesn’t have it! they only have the non-pure. I guess I’ll just have to remember to get it when I’m out of the area. does it make your pores seem smaller?
I’m going to have to go track down some pure aloe vera gel, I’ve used it on sunburn but never for anything else and it seems like it’d be quite a versatile little product!
mspennylane – I think it’s something like $4.50 for a big bottle..
Skye – Did I mention it makes a great massage lotion?
Laura – No, but Acnomel does. http://tinyurl.com/554at9 Ugly name for a product I swear by! I wear it like foundation. It controls oil like you wouldn’t believe too…
lilacstevens – It really is!
How awesome! I’ve always suffered from really oily skin, and it’s so hot out where I live right now that it’s just about 300 times worse than normal. I’ll have to go pick up a big bottle….
(Also! I found out recently that aloe is a great candy flavor! At least in Japan…!)
There is a house around the corner from me that has a gazillion aloe plants in the front yard and i always see the lady out the front picking bits off… I think she uses it for NOT PG uses though….
I love it as a moisturiser – it actually moisturises, instead of just making me greasy like everything else does.
Great post!
I’ve never used it in my hair – note to self…
Aloe is a magical plant, you can also buy aloe vera juice, it’s incredibly good for you!
It boosts your immune system, aides digestion, has detoxifying properties, it’s loaded with vitamins, minerals, & it’s good for you teeth!
Go Aloe!
once again, great post!
I didn’t know any of this!
Who knew? I just used it post-sunburn prior to this read – thanks Annie S!
xoxox,
CC
I have a lip balm with Aloe Vera extracts, and it does miracles to my lips. Weird, but I had no idea it soothed sunburns *lol*
I wish we’d had some of this in the house last night. I’ve been trying that new Neutrogena Wave thing, and I think it may have chemically burnt my skin! I look like a freaking leper with big red blotches in some places and skin flaking off in others. Serves me right for trying to go cheap. I was spraying my face with this thermal spring water stuff all last night to calm it down but aloe would have been perfect. Back to the more expensive natural skin care – better to be poor than look like I’ve just had a chemical peel. Slather my face with Trilogy Everything Balm this morning and pop on foundation so I don’t scare small children when I venture outside
Alice – You should try the Acnomel that I mention in the previous comment too. And aloe candy? Ooo, I want to try it!
Song – LOL!
Bonnie Rue – I’ve seen that but never tried it.. I’m afraid it tastes awful… Is it good? If they make candy from it, it can’t be that bad.
enc
Couture Carrie &
Ida – Cool! I wasn’t sure if this was common knowledge or not.
Scribbles – Whoh! What is that? Yikes! Skincare is one area where I don’t mind shelling out dough for a good product, even though I’m a total thrift.
Interesting. This has gotten me through many a painful sunburn…
you know what’s REALLY weird?!
here in Israel they have an aloe infused lemonade
not kidding
and people drink it
and like it.
um, it’s an acquired taste… I think that if you don’t regularly eat a lot of processed sugars and junk food you will enjoy the natural flavor.
I mean – I like it well enough, it’s no mango juice or anything, but it’s a super food… just give it a shot.
Aloe – my sunburn saviour! Oh the joys of red hair and pale pale skin. I am surprised to know how many uses it has though!
Oh damn I had a whole bottle of this stuff that I bought when I got badly sunburnt. I threw it away because I couldn’t think of any other uses
Won’t be making that mistake again that’s for sure!
I’m going to remember that massage lotion tip…
PS. I’ve tagged you with one of those pesky blog award tag things over on my blog…
Aloe is the shit!
The Clothes Horse – Me too…
Dana – Really? I’d like to try it.
Bonnie Rue – I’m not into drinking sweet things (despite my participation in pina coladas), so I might actually like it. Maybe I’ll pick some up.
Becca – I was too! Mister told me about the hair gel use.
Miss Karen – Oops!
Skye – Thank you! (((big hugs)))
Tina – For sure!
Oohhhh… that Astringent/Moisturizer is a GREAT idea! The faux beau & I use it to relieve itch on bug bites.
I have been using a skin care product for four years now and the FIRST ingredient is aloe (the pure kind) and I must tell you my skin is radiant. It is a really good product for sensitive skin. Oh yeah, my husband used to drink it to help with some stomach thing (ewwww…it tasted really gross)
I have the same large bottle and then got some from Trader Joes for my sons burn from the beach over the summer.
Re the blue ball post below, there is actually a chair that has the ball, they use this at the place my son used to get therapy at and I took some pics of him on it, will have to find those soon and scan them. The chair is good for those with ADHD and to help with posture.
Ahh great post Annie! I am totally a huuuuge fan of aloe as well, I use it as hair gel and lotion all the time lol.
I was a complete ignorant when it comes to Aloe. And there’s one thing that turns my world upside down – you can use it as hair softener? I have impossibly dry curly hair (due to my post-pregnancy hormones madness) and I can’t make anything work on it! It’s dry like a broom
so if you say it really works, I’ll get myself loaded with Aloe!