The aloe vera plant is a succulent that stores water in its leaves in the form of a gel. This gel is highly moisturizing and great for sunburns, bug bites, minor cuts or wounds, and other skin problems.
Here’s what you need to make Aloe Gel
Aloe vera gel is easy to make using the leaves of an aloe plant.
To make aloe vera gel, you need:
- an aloe vera leaf
- a knife or vegetable peeler
- a small spoon
- a blender
- an airtight container for storage
- powdered vitamin C and/or vitamin E (optional)
It’s best to only use one or two leaves at a time, as the gel only lasts about 1 week without additional preservatives.
If you plan to keep it longer, you need to freeze it or add a preservative in the form of powdered vitamin C or E.
Directions
Once you have gathered all of the materials you need, it only takes about 30 minutes to make your aloe vera gel
Prepare the aloe leaves
To use a fresh aloe leaf from a plant, first cut off one of the outer leaves from the base of the plant. Wash it well and then stand it upright in a cup or bowl for 10–15 minutes. After the resin has drained completely, wash off any remains on the leaf and peel off the thick skin using a small knife or vegetable peeler.
Make the gel
Using a small spoon, scoop it into your blender. Be careful not to include any pieces of the aloe vera skin. Blend the gel until it’s frothy and liquefied, which should only take a few seconds.
At this point, your gel is ready to use. However, if you plan on keeping it for more than 1 week, you should add preservatives.
