— SKINCARE
Aloe Vera’s Powerful Anti-Aging Skin Benefits
Last weekend I had to improvise with my skincare. I was in a pinch, so I “stole” from the resort we were staying at. Let me explain…
My husband and I went down to San Diego to have a little weekend getaway.
We stayed at a beautiful Spanish-style resort where we practiced yoga, hung out by the pool, and read. In the evenings we went out to dinner and enjoyed a nice glass of red wine by the fire pit.
We were only there for two days, yet I felt completely rejuvenated.
But because it was such a short trip, I only packed a weekender bag — and I completely forgot to bring my favorite moisturizer!
I was pretty upset when realized I didn’t bring it. I went down to the spa to buy a replacement… but their formulas included parabens. No thanks!
I needed something to hold me over, so I had an idea…
There were plenty of lush aloe vera plants all over the resort grounds… so I sneaked a leaf to make a quick DIY face mask (don’t tell on me).
Why aloe vera is so good for your skin
Aloe vera is an amazing succulent that goes well beyond soothing sunburn. It contains some of the most important skin-nourishing compounds, so it’s excellent to use for age-preventative benefits.
It’s packed full of enzymes, antioxidants, vitamins, and fatty acids.
Fresh aloe gel contains vitamins A, B, and C — key antioxidants in keeping a bright, hydrated complexion.
It also stimulates fibroblasts (cells that produce collagen and elastin), so it helps the skin stay firmer and more elastic.
And the hormones auxin and gibberellin in aloe stimulate collagen and hyaluronic acid production (which helps decrease the look of wrinkles).
In short, aloe is a powerhouse when it comes to plumping your skin, helping it retain moisture, and making it look overall refreshed.
Not to mention, it’s compatible with all skin types. Because aloe in non-greasy, it’s a great natural moisturizer for people with oily skin (and the salicylic acid in it helps with acne prone skin too).
Plus, it’s gentle enough for sensitive skin.
You can see why I was thankful to have some on hand last weekend, but you can just as easily buy fresh aloe leaves at the grocery store.
Here’s how to make a quick aloe vera face mask
This mask is so quick and easy to make… simply cut a small piece of aloe about an inch wide. Butterfly cut this small piece to expose the inside of the leaf.
Then, rub the leaf — slimy side down — on your clean face. Rinse off with warm water after 20-30 minutes.
When the gel begins to dry, it turns a white color and may flake a little.
Aloe cleanses, tones, hydrates and moisturizes, so your skin should feel balanced afterwards.
You can also prepare the gel ahead of time. Simply cut an aloe leaf in half and use a spoon to scrape the gel into an airtight container. Aloe gel will stay fresh in the fridge for up to a week.
Either way you slice it, fresh aloe vera is perhaps the easiest DIY face mask ever.
You’ll love all the skin-nourishing benefits aloe provides. But if you’re looking for a succulent that’s even more potent to help fight fine lines and wrinkles, look no further than the Cell Young® Ice Plant in Line-Smoothing HydroMask.
HydroMask is a bio-cellulose microfiber sheet mask made with extracts from the rare African Cell Young®Ice Plant succulent. The Ice Plant helps restore damaged collagen for firm, supple skin.
Its extract is a lot more powerful than the plant in whole form, because it’s concentrated. Because of this potency, it helps smooth the look of wrinkles and fine lines dramatically. Find out what recent customers had to say about HydroMask here.
Now that you know how easy it is, are you going to try fresh aloe leaf on your skin? Let me know in the comments below, and please share this post with your friends!
