Growing up in the 80s, most things came out of bottles, tubes and cans – so when I got a cut at a friend’s house, I was surprised to see her mother bring an Aloe Vera plant over to where I was sitting. On the wound (which had been washed with soap and water) she put a gooey, clear-ish substance that oozed out of leaf. It soothed the sting immediately, and it was definitely a new experience for me on what nature can provide.
Aloe Vera is actually a desert succulent plant (of the genus Aloe) and grows in warmer climates all over the world. (By the way, succulents are my favorite hardy house plants, because not only do they look like chic desert roses, I have managed to keep them alive for extended periods of time – unlike orchids.) The properties of Aloe Vera have been valued for over 2,500 years (how’s that for a Yelp review!) to improve and heal the skin. Some also strongly believe in its medicinal properties, and drink prepared Aloe Vera juice to balance the body’s pH or improve digestive health.
Most of us have noticed Aloe Vera as a prevalent ingredient in various creams, ointments and lotions – especially post-sun products. You may have seen it listed as Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (which is how it appears in the full ingredient lists on Care Skincare). This plant-based ingredient is not only super soothing, but also helps prevent trans-epidermal water loss, and hydrates and moisturizes. It’s used for all skin types, helping to rebalance dryness and calm irritated skin. Although there aren’t many medical studies to back this up, Aloe Vera is nonetheless reported to have high wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties.
According to the modern girl’s guide to beauty – Byrdie, “Aloe is rich in vitamins, amino acids, polysaccharides, and phytosterols, so it has all these calming, great properties,” says Dermatologist Marnie Nussbaum. “Additionally, it has vitamins A, C, D, and E, and it also has minerals, like zinc, potassium, and magnesium, so it really is this rich gel or extract that can be used for a variety of things,” Nussbaum says.
Don’t forget, a product can have good ingredients, but it is only effective if its formulation is top notch. Creating a skincare formula is both a science and an art. Per Debbie D’Aquino, Head of Care Skincare Innovation: “Strength, purity of the ingredients, stability of the formula, the method of delivery, and even the packaging of the product – all of these factors play an important role.” Three Care Skincare products: Soft Sweep Micellar Toner + Cleanser, Eye + Lip Nourishing Cream, and Deep Moisture Fix are formulated with Aloe Vera to be in harmony with and build upon the effectiveness of the other clean, safe ingredients they contain.
Take Care,
Michelle
Photos by Alex Holyoake, Stanislav Remnev
Once an Estée Lauder Marketing Executive, Michelle is now a Care Skincare Staff Writer and a big fan of their simple approach to skincare. She lives with her husband and two small children, who keep her busy 23/7.