Aloe vera is an oily, water-logged plant. It has been used for thousands of years for its many benefits. Aloe gel is an excellent moisturizer, softening and smoothing the epidermis. It is also used in certain hair care products to cleanse and soothe the scalp over the long term.
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Everything You Need To Know About Aloe Vera.
Summary
- What Is Aloe Vera?
- Composition of Aloe Vera Leaves: Gel and Latex
- Extracting Aloe Gel
- Aloe Benefits for Skin
- Aloe Vera for Hair Care
- Typology’s Aloe Plant Care Products
- Sources
Published March 12, 2024,
by
Maylis, Chemical Engineer
—
8 min read
Topics:
What Is Aloe Vera?
Aloe vera has been cultivated and used for over 5,000 years by various great civilizations, notably for cosmetic purposes. Ancient traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, followed by Greek, Egyptian and African medicine, have all used this plant to treat and protect the skin. According to historians, Aristotle persuaded Alexander the Great to conquer the island of Socotra in Africa in order to gather sufficient quantities of aloe vera as a restorative agent for his soldiers. It is even said that Cleopatra secretly used aloe vera juice in her beauty bath.
A member of the Liliaceae family, aloe vera or Aloe barbadensis has prickly, leathery leaves. These contain a transparent, gelatinous pulp, which is edible once the aloin-rich latex surrounding it has been removed. Pressing this pulp yields the famous aloe vera gel, rich in polysaccharides, vitamins, trace elements, enzymes and amino acids. In cosmetics, aloe gel is an excellent multifunctional active ingredient known for its moisturizing, repairing and soothing properties.
Composition of Aloe Vera Leaves: Gel and Latex.
Aloe vera leaves contain two main substances: latex, also known as sap, and gel:
The sap contains mainly aloin molecules, a substance with digestive properties recognized by Western medicine at the time. However, when used topically, aloin has allergenic properties and can cause contact dermatitis. Aloe vera latex is therefore not used in cosmetics.
The aloe gel, on the other hand, is authorized for cosmetic use. It contains many chemical substances - over 200 - making it difficult to determine its exact composition. Its exact composition depends on the plant's environment. It is made up of 98.5% to 99.5% water, with a pH between 4 and 5, and 1.5% to 0.5% solid matter. This solid fraction contains various substances, such as saccharides, glycoproteins and low-molecular-weight chemical species (amino acids, lipids, vitamins, etc.). The aloe benefits for skin and hair are partly attributed to polysaccharides, but the hypothesis that these biological activities are due to a synergistic action of the numerous compounds is also supported.
Extracting Aloe Gel.
First, the fresh leaves are harvested and cut by hand. They are then thoroughly cleaned to remove all latex, before passing through a specially designed extractor to extract the fresh pulp by simple mechanical pressure. The fresh pulp collected is then immediately stabilized by homogenizing it with certain substances that neutralize the action of the enzymes (responsible for the rapid oxidation of the gel on contact with air) without destroying them. As a result, the enzymes are still present in the gel, which retains all the aloe benefits. Harvested and stabilized in this way, fresh aloe vera pulp is perfectly preserved and can then be incorporated on demand, without any problem, into specialized products, which are still, more often than not, stabilized for greater safety and efficacy.
Aloe Benefits for Skin.
When applied to the skin, aloe vera has several virtues:
Moisturizing: Aloe vera gel acts as a humectant, retaining water in the skin's surface layers. This character is linked to its biochemical composition rich in hygroscopic species and amino acids (histidine, serine, arginine, threonine, glycine), which improve water retention in the epidermis.
Soothing: Aloe vera is an ideal ally for soothing skin redness caused by overexposure to the sun. It also soothes skin prone to itching and irritation of all kinds.
Tightening: Aloe vera gel, whether applied topically or ingested, effectively combats the signs of skin aging. Researchers attribute this property to the presence of acemannan in the gel, a molecule capable of stimulating collagen production.
Aloe Vera for Hair Care.
Aloe vera is also used in many hair care products for the properties described below:
It moisturizes and strengthens the hair fiber.
Composed mainly of water and hygroscopic substances, aloe vera gel and its humectant action keep hair moisturized, preventing the appearance of split ends.
It cleanses the scalp.
Thanks to its soothing action, it relieves irritation and itching, and purifies the scalp.
Typology’s Aloe Plant Care Products.
We have developed several skin care products containing this multifunctional active ingredient:
The moisturizing gel with aloe vera and orange blossom soothes the skin and deeply moisturizes it. It brings a fresh effect to the face and body, ideal for calming skin after sun exposure.
The moisturizing toner with hyaluronic acid and aloe vera is concentrated in active ingredients to regulate skin pH, moisturize and soothe. Use morning and night as part of your beauty routine.
The exfoliating gel cleanser with 5% PHA and aloe vera offers progressive micro-exfoliation of the skin to unclog pores, smooth skin texture and reveal a radiant, even complexion.
The SPF30 facial sunscreen prevents photoaging thanks to a combination of mineral and organic filters offering broad-spectrum UVA-UVB protection.
The tinted serum provides light coverage. It is enriched with vitamin C for a radiant complexion, and with aloe vera and hyaluronic acid to deeply moisturize the skin.
The purifying toner with salicylic acid is concentrated in antibacterial active ingredients to combat pimples and imperfections.
Sources
CAMPOS M. & al. Moisturizing effect of cosmetic formulations containing Aloe vera extract in different concentrations assessed by skin bioengineering techniques. Skin Research and Technology (2006).
HAMMAN J. H. Composition and applications of aloe vera leaf gel. Molecules (2008).
CHUNG J. H. & al. Dietary Aloe Vera supplementation improves facial wrinkles and elasticity and it increases the type I procollagen gene expression in human skin in vivo. Annals of Dermatology (2009).
LOIS C. & al. Formulation of Aloe juice (Aloe vera(L) Burm.f.) sheet maskas anti-aging. Pharmaceutical Technology (2016).
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