Great as an after-sun skin soother or for calming irritations, Aloe Vera is one of our favourite Summer skincare ingredients. This week our resident cosmetologist, pharmacist and botany expert Pedro Catala from Twelve Beauty enlightens us on the benefits, history and therapeutics of this super #skinfood plant.
“As a formulator, I always get excited when I find out about new and exotic ingredients. However, I always keep in mind how great and beneficial some of the more traditional ingredients are. Today, we will focus on Aloe Vera, known as the prodigy of nature”.
The Origins
Originally from Africa, the Aloe Vera plant is also found widely throughout Central America and Southern Europe. It doesn’t like much water nor temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius which is why it grows most prevalently within these warmer climates.
The Extraction
Both the juice and gel can be extracted from any part of the plant. It is hard to resist walking past one on a hot summers day and breaking open a leaf to make the most of the cooling aloe gel.
The Green Chemistry
Aloe Vera juice is mainly based on multi-tasking sugars, especially D-glucose and D-mannose. The other substances it contains in smaller quantities that together form its skin-restoring properties include phytosterols (campesterol and 3-sitosterol), vitamins, enzymes, oligoelements and essential amino acids.
The History
Aloe Vera has been used for thousands of years by ancient civilizations. Cleopatra, the first documented natural beauty lover in history, couldn’t get enough of Aloe Vera in her milk baths. Also other Egyptians believed that Aloe Vera located near the pharaohs tomb would help preserve the mummies. Romans used the gel as a scar healing balm for the wounds that soldiers suffered after combat whilst the Mayans used it to remedy headaches. Even in the Kama Sutra there is a mention of its aphrodisiac properties.
The Therapeutics
Aloe Vera has many therapeutic properties for skin:
- Soothes and calms irritated and sensitive skin
- Moisturising
- Anti-redness
- Scar reducing
- Stimulates production of collagen and elastin (youthful proteins)
Where to find it.
- Intelligent Nutrients Plant Stem Cell Nourishing Tonic,
- Dr Jacksons 05 Face and Eye Essence,
- Dr Alkaitis Organic Skincare
- W3LL People’s Organic Make-Up
ABO
UT PEDRO
Pedro Catalá is a pharmacist, cosmetologist and the founder of TWELVE BEAUTY. Inspired by the concept of using plants as medicine, especially in skincare, during his 4 years studying a postgraduate diploma in the department of botany at the University of Valencia, Catalá went on to complete his Masters Degree in the Science and Technology of Cosmetics, providing him with the knowledge to create his own revolutionary range of products that form the TWELVE BEAUTY brand.
