Meet the Bioactives: Aloe

You might have noticed what a prominent role Aloe plays in our ingredient line-up. This amazing succulent is native to the arid regions of Southern Africa and Madagascar and is now commonly cultivated in the arid parts of all continents except Antarctica… it will also grow quite well in sunny, dry parts of your home!

Most known for its ability to treat sunburns, Aloe offers a myriad of benefits to skin and hair. Thanks to the abundant, non-greasy moisture Aloe provides, dermatologists recommend it due to the well-studied vitamins and minerals in Aloe that help plump, hydrate, and balance the skin on both face and body without causing breakouts.

Below are 10 amazing Aloe facts that will give you a good idea why we love to use this powerful bioactive ingredient in our formulations.

1. Aloe contains Vitamins A, C, and E, which are antioxidants that neutralize free radicals. It also contains Vitamin B12 (folic acid), and choline.

2. Aloe contains the enzyme bradykinase, which helps to reduce excessive inflammation when applied topically.

3. Aloe stimulates fibroblasts, the most common type of cell found in connective tissue, which produce collagen and elastin fibers, making skin appear more youthful and less wrinkled.

4. Aloe provides 20 of the 22 human required amino acids and seven of the eight essential amino acids, which soften hardened skin cells.

5. Astringent Aloe acts as a pore-tightening superstar.

6. Aloe is loaded with bio-available calcium, chromium, copper, selenium, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium, and zinc.

7. When ingested in smaller amounts, Aloe is known to soothe inflammation within the digestive system. Taken in larger quantities, Aloe can also be an aggressive laxative. (Never take Aloe during pregnancy!)

8. Aloe provides four anti-inflammatory plant steroids: cholesterol, campesterol, β-sisosterol, and lupeol, making it ideal for the external treatment of bug bites.

9. Aloe can be used topically on dogs, but is extremely toxic to cats.

10. There are over 500 species of Aloe, though not all are medicinal, and many have been cultivated for ornamental purposes only.

The Aloe we use in our formulations is Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, which is another name for Aloe Vera. This ingredient comes from the sap inside Aloe leaves, and it works synergistically with our other active ingredients to give you the softest, most hydrated and balanced skin ever. You can find this bioactive superhero in our bestselling skincare collection – including our De-Stress Foaming Cleanser, Pore Purifying Peptide Toner, and Ultra Rich Nourishing Moisturizer.

If you buy pure Aloe Vera on its own, make sure it's free of fillers and preservatives. Better yet, keep an Aloe Barbadensis plant in a sunny part of your home and harvest its leaves when you want to soothe a burn or add more oil-free hydration to your skin cream.