🌼 Quick Look: Antibacterial & Anti-Inflammatory
💟 Benefits: Aloe vera may reduce the appearance of acne and prevent acne breakouts because it's a natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. It is especially suitable for people who get dry skin since it contains a lot of water and is an excellent moisturizer.
✅ Moisturizes and speeds up healing of skin.
✅ Fights skin aging, infection and acne.
✅ Lighten blemishes on skin.
💜 In a 2014 study, researchers gave people with mild to moderate acne aloe vera gel and a common prescription acne remedy, tretinoin, to use for 8 weeks. The participants who used aloe vera gel reported a significant improvement in both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne compared to people who used just tretinoin gel.
🌿 Treatments: anti-aging, oily or dry skin, acne-prone skin, sensitive skin, blackheads
🌻 Best used as: Cleanser, serum, toner, balm, moisturizer
💐 Best combined with: WItch Hazel or Comedogenic oil rating of 0 of your choice.
⚠️ Caution: Not Applicable.
💲 Approximate cost: $20.00 - $25.00 CAD
Aloe Vera Treatment for Acne & Blackheads
Yields: Enough for one application Prep time: 5 minutes Cost: $20 - $25 CAD (depending on the source of aloe vera)
Ingredients:
2-3 tablespoons fresh aloe vera gel (extracted from an aloe vera leaf) or pure aloe vera gel (store-bought, make sure it's 100% aloe)
Optional: 1 teaspoon witch hazel (for added astringent properties) or a few drops of a non-comedogenic oil (like sunflower oil)
Equipment:
Knife (if using a fresh aloe vera leaf)
Spoon or small spatula
Small bowl (if mixing with other ingredients)
Instructions:
Extract Aloe Vera Gel (if using a leaf):
Carefully cut off a mature leaf from an aloe vera plant.
Slice off the spiky edges of the leaf.
Slice the leaf lengthwise and use a spoon to scoop out the clear gel.
Prepare the Treatment:
If using store-bought aloe vera gel, measure out 2-3 tablespoons.
If using witch hazel or a non-comedogenic oil, add it to the aloe vera gel in the bowl and stir gently.
Apply the Treatment:
Apply the aloe vera gel evenly to clean, dry skin, focusing on areas with acne and blackheads.
Allow the gel to sit on your skin for 15-20 minutes.
Rinse or Leave On:
You can either rinse the aloe vera gel off with cool water or leave it on your skin as a moisturizer.
If you leave it on, allow it to fully absorb into the skin.
Moisturize (Optional):
If your skin feels like it needs additional moisture, apply a light, non-comedogenic moisturizer.
Tips and Notes:
Fresh vs. Store-Bought: Fresh aloe vera gel is generally considered more potent, but store-bought pure aloe vera gel is a convenient alternative.
Patch Test: If you have sensitive skin, perform a patch test on a small area of skin before applying the treatment to your entire face.
Frequency: This treatment can be used daily or as needed.
Storage: If you extract fresh aloe vera gel, store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Cooling Effect: Aloe vera has a natural cooling effect, which can be soothing for irritated skin.
Witch Hazel: Witch hazel can be drying, so use it sparingly and avoid it if you have very dry skin.
Oil Addition: Adding a non-comedogenic oil can enhance the moisturizing properties of the aloe vera.
