The aloe vera plant is a succulent that stores water in its leaves in the form of gel.
This gel is very moisturizing and excellent for sunburns, insect bites, cuts, or minor wounds and other skin issues.
However, many store-bought aloe vera products contain potentially harmful additives, such as colorants.
This article explains how to make fresh aloe vera gel using fresh aloe vera leaves.
Here’s what you need
Aloe vera gel is easy to make using either leaves from an aloe plant you have at home or those you bought from a grocery store.
To make aloe vera gel, you will need:
one aloe vera leaf
a knife or a vegetable peeler
a small spoon
a blender
an airtight container for storage
vitamin C and/or vitamin E powder (optional)
It’s best to use only one or two leaves at a time, as the gel lasts only about a week without additional preservatives.
If you intend to store it for a longer time, you should freeze it or add a preservative in the form of vitamin C or E powder.
Preparation Method
Once you have gathered all the materials you need, it takes about 30 minutes to make the aloe vera gel.
1. Prepare the aloe leaves
To use a fresh aloe leaf from a plant, first, cut one of the outer leaves from the base of the plant.
You can also use a leaf purchased from the store.
Wash it well, removing any dirt, and then let it stand upright in a bowl or dish for 10-15 minutes. This allows the yellow sap to drain from the leaf.
The sap contains latex, which can irritate your skin, so completing this step is important.
After the sap has completely drained, wash the residue off the leaves and remove the thick skin using a small knife or vegetable peeler.
2. Make the gel
Once the leaf has been peeled, you will see the natural aloe vera gel.
Using a small spoon, scoop out the gel and place it in the blender. Be careful not to include any pieces of aloe vera skin.
Blend the gel until it becomes frothy and liquefied, which should only take a few seconds.
At this point, your gel is ready to use. However, if you intend to store it for more than a week, you should add preservatives.
3. Add preservatives (optional)
Vitamins C and E are excellent preservatives that can significantly extend the shelf life of your aloe vera gel.
Although the gel naturally contains some of these vitamins, it is not enough to keep the gel for more than a week.
However, you can add more of one or both vitamins to extend the shelf life of the gel.
Additionally, both contain antioxidant and anti-aging properties, so these additions can help enhance the protective power of your aloe vera gel.
For every 1/4 cup (60 ml) of aloe vera gel you make, add 500 mg of vitamin C in powder form or 400 international units (IU) of vitamin E in powder form, or both.
Simply add the vitamins in powder form directly to the blender and blend the gel again until the additives are fully incorporated.
Storage Instructions
Prepared aloe vera gel without added vitamin C or E can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to a week.
However, adding one or both vitamins significantly increases the shelf life to up to 2 months in the refrigerator.
Moreover, you can freeze the aloe gel in small batches, for example, in an ice cube tray, to have small quantities available as needed. Frozen aloe gel can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months.
How to Use Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe vera gel can be applied directly to the skin to address immediate skincare needs, such as sunburns, minor cuts, and skin irritation.
It is an excellent moisturizer for the face and can provide a protective antibacterial barrier for minor wounds.
Additionally, it has antioxidant properties that can help protect your skin from the harmful effects of excessive sun exposure. Therefore, it is commonly used to provide relief for sunburns.
Aloe vera gel is rich in unique polysaccharides, which are long chains of natural sugars that researchers believe give aloe its numerous skin healing properties.
Furthermore, it is rich in various vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, C, and E, which can contribute to promoting wound healing and healthy skin.
