Skin Concerns? 5 DIY Aloe Vera Treatments To Do At Home
It's no secret that aloe vera, the original natural sunburn soother, has a variety of health benefits for your skin: You can use it as a primer before applying foundation, a makeup remover, moisturizer, even as a scalp treatment for irritated follicles. It only makes sense that aloe vera is the ultimate DIY face mask, both potent enough to target whatever skin issue you've got (be it irritated, discolored, or sun-damaged skin) and gentle enough to prevent dryness.
The only question that remains: Is there anything this plant can't do?
5 DIY Aloe Face Masks for Glowing Skin
While there's no shortage of ingredients that you can include and go great with aloe, there are a few add-ins of note to target specific skin concerns. These five recipes can target just about any skin issue you've got, from run-of-the-mill dryness, eczema, inflamed skin to oxidative stress.
- Aloe vera and manuka honey mask for skin-soothing.
While regular honey is a good option, manuka honey offers remarkable calming benefits (and much more), making it a perfect addition to an aloe vera face mask. You may be familiar with the antibacterial effects of manuka honey and adding it to your aloe mix can calm redness, treat acne, reduce scarring, and moisturize the skin. You’ll be shocked to see how glowing and plump your skin will be too! Just be sure to add less honey than aloe (a 1:2 honey-to-aloe ratio might be best) or the mixture will be rather sticky.
- Aloe vera and apple cider vinegar mask for gentle exfoliation.
Aloe is already naturally exfoliating (it contains beta-hydroxy acid and salicylic acid, which will help to gently exfoliate the skin). ACV is also naturally exfoliating, but it might be helpful to pair it with a soothing agent like aloe. It's great to pair apple cider vinegar with an anti-inflammatory such as aloe vera to help lessen potential skin irritation.
If you don't have ACV on hand, another great option is adding a physical exfoliator, like some sugar or coffee grounds, as these granules can gently remove debris and pair wonderfully with soothing aloe.
- Aloe and turmeric mask for skin-brightening.
To target skin discoloration, you'll want to have this brightening turmeric mask at the ready. Curcumin, the main ingredient of turmeric, has a slew of skin benefits, from neutralizing free radicals to reducing hyperpigmentation. Because aloe is a dark spot remedy in and of itself, adding turmeric to the mix can give this mask quite the skin-brightening boost.
Don't have turmeric? Citrus fruits can do the trick! Lemons or oranges with their high vitamin C content might help to even skin tone.
- Aloe and coconut oil mask for moisturizing.
For dry, flaking skin, coconut oil (or olive oil, if that's all you've got) is your go-to add. Coconut oil is a great natural moisturizer for the skin, especially for those who suffer from eczema. When paired with aloe, it's a hydrating powerhouse of a mask. But proceed with caution if you're experiencing breakouts - coconut oil can sometimes lead to breakouts, so be careful if you have acne-prone skin.
- Aloe vera and yogurt mask for even skin tone.
Got probiotics? While we've just only scratched the surface in terms of skin microbiome research, the science behind it looks promising for reducing acne and evening skin tone. For more of a hydrating boost, combine aloe with this common kitchen ingredient for some external health benefits for your skin, not just your gut!
How to Make an Aloe Vera Face Mask
While we’ve all been stuck indoors and so many ingredients becoming harder to find and keep in stock, a DIY face mask is your best bet to utilize what you already have in your cupboards. First things first: Find your aloe. If you can harvest your own aloe vera, that's stellar—you'll have your own supply of magic gel to use at your disposal. If you don't have an aloe plant in your home, try your best to find it fresh: this is the best type of aloe vera for at-home face masks, as the medicinal properties deteriorate over time. Many commercial aloe vera gels and juices contain other ingredients such as preservatives and lessen the potency of its benefits.
To make the mask, you'll, of course, need some aloe, plus whatever additional ingredients you choose from the list above. The steps are fairly simple from there:
- Mix aloe and other ingredients together in a bowl until you get a spreadable consistency (make sure it's not too runny!)
- Apply the mask to your face and let sit for a few minutes. Five to 10 usually does the trick. Just don't let it sit for longer than 20 minutes, as it can lose its moisturizing effect and potentially cause irritation when sitting on the skin for too long.
- Rinse your face thoroughly and pat dry.
- Apply an occlusive cream or oil to keep all the moisture in.
The great thing about an all-natural aloe mask is that you can play around with the ratios and quantity pretty easily; if it feels tacky or sticky on your fingers, you can always add more aloe to thin it out and keep that jelly consistency.
The Takeaway of Aloe in Skin Care
If you're interested in trying out an aloe vera face mask, you'll likely have all the ingredients you need in your kitchen. You should always do a patch test before trying it out on your face; if you notice any signs of irritation, stop immediately and wash it off. Other than that, you're golden! Slather on the gel, and let it work its magic.
If you are a big fan of aloe vera, keeping it as a regular skin care ingredient is easier than you might think! Wild Naturals first ingredient in every product is aloe vera! Shop our full face, body, and hair care products at our online store here. We know the spectacular benefits of aloe vera and now you do too!
