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For all us water sports enthusiasts and for all people who enjoy spending a lot of time at the beach, aloe vera gel is truly a gift from nature. Not only is it the best natural product to treat sun-exposed skin, but it will even prevent peeling and help reverse the effects of sun damage.
Aloe vera gel can be used to prevent sunburn if applied in the evening, after washing off the remains of your suncream. If you’re a fan of anti-aging skin care products, then you are probably already aware of the added value of aloe vera gel as an intensive dry skin treatment. Applied constantly, it will help minimize cell damage and promote a more youthful appearance.
Last, but not least, it does wonders against rashes and irritated skin. If you spend a lot of time wetsuits or life jackets, your skin will become sore and irritated quite often. The good news is that aloe vera gel will take great care of chaffed or itching skin, bringing more comfort to the regular use of wetsuits.
With so many options available, it’s hard to know which product to choose. This is where we step in to help. After reading our guide to the best aloe vera gels on the market in 2023, you will know exactly what to look for!
OUR TOP PICK
Seven Minerals (no Xanthan) Organic Aloe Vera Gel
- What Makes This Gel Stand Out
- Seaweed extract instead of Xanthan for better absorption
- Free e-book with ideas on how to use the gel
- Completely alcohol-free with no water or unnecessary ingredients
- Powerful at relieving irritation and aching sunburns
- Reduces wrinkles, stretch marks, and other blemishes
Aloe percentage: 99%
Bottle volume: 12 ounces
Other ingredients: Seaweed extract, Citric acid, Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), Potassium sorbate
Scent: No
EDITORS CHOICE
NaturSense Organic Sunburn and Psoriasis Aloe Vera Gel
- What Makes This Gel Stand Out
- Great for all kinds of skin problems (from acne to eczema and psoriasis)
- Certified organic with cold-pressed Aloe Vera
- Silky feeling without sticky residue
- Naturally efficient against bacteria, viruses, and fungi
- Suitable for making a hand sanitizer
Aloe percentage: 99.75%
Bottle volume: 12 ounces
Other ingredients: Potassium sorbate, Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), Citric acid, Xanthan
Scent: No
- What Makes This Gel Stand Out
- Made in the U.S. from organic aloe vera
- No harmful chemicals, additional water, or fragrances
- Vegan and organic formula was not tested on animals
- Instantly soothes rashes, burns and bug bites
- Works great for pet skin too
Aloe percentage: 99%
Bottle volume: 16 ounces
Other ingredients: Potassium sorbate, Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), Citric acid, Xanthan
Scent: No
- What Makes This Gel Stand Out
- Gentle formula eliminates rashes and irritated skin
- Denser than most products for easier application
- Absorbs impressively fast with no sticky feeling
- Blend of extra ingredients gives a pleasant smell
- Great to use on the whole body (including hair)
Aloe percentage: 92%
Pack volume: 10.56 ounces (300ml)
Other ingredients: Calendula extract, Lemon balm extract, Spearmint extract, others
Scent: Yes
- What Makes This Gel Stand Out
- Almost entirely made of pure cold-pressed Aloe Vera
- No added alcohol, fragrances, or artificial color
- Fantastic as an aftershave or for post-waxing skincare
- Safe formula for adults, kids, babies, and even pets
- No-questions-asked refund guarantee if you’re not satisfied
- Can be used for skin rashes, and for babies and pets
Aloe percentage: 99.75%
Bottle volume: 8 ounces
Other ingredients: Potassium sorbate, Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), Citric acid, Xanthan
Scent: No
- What Makes This Gel Stand Out
- Convenient and user-friendly spray bottle
- Excellent for sunburns, irritations, rashes, and razor burns
- Impressive skin moisturization if used regularly
- Free e-book on how to get the most out of this gel
- Certified organic, no alcohol and additives
- Full satisfaction guarantee with the purchase (no questions asked)
Aloe percentage: 99.75%
Bottle volume: 12 ounces
Other ingredients: Potassium sorbate, Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), Citric acid, Xanthan
Scent: No
- What Makes This Gel Stand Out
- Two large 12-ounce bottles for the whole family
- Absorbs quickly with no oils or stickiness on the skin
- Efficient relief for sunburn, dry skin, bites, and minor burns
- Free from alcohol and other potential irritants
- Excellent value for your money
Aloe percentage: 99%
Bottle volume: 12 ounces (2-pack)
Other ingredients: Triethanolamine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer, Tetrasodium EDTA, DMDM hydantoin, Diazolidinyl urea
Scent: No
- What Makes This Gel Stand Out
- Mild formula works great on highly sensitive skin
- Instant cooling and soothing effect on sunburns
- Potent at reducing dandruff and itchy scalps
- Perfect as a base for soaps, sanitizers, and lotions
- Completely organic ingredients for maximum skin benefit
Aloe percentage: 99.75%
Bottle volume: 8 ounces
Other ingredients: Potassium sorbate, Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), Citric acid, Xanthan
Scent: No
- What Makes This Aloe Vera Gel Stand Out
- Made from freshly-cut organic Aloe Vera plants
- Cold-pressed and charcoal-filtered to retain all plant benefits
- Thinner consistency makes rubbing it in easier
- Small amount of Xanthan for a perfect texture
- Good for skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, dandruff, or acne
Aloe percentage: 99.75%
Bottle volume: 8 ounces
Other ingredients: Potassium sorbate, Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), Citric acid, Xanthan
Scent: No
- What Makes This Gel Stand Out
- Superb cooling effect after long hours in the sun
- Heals sun-damaged skin quickly and effectively
- Reaches deeper skin layers (3 epidermal layers)
- Small tube package makes carrying and use easier
- No added water, parabens, or harmful ingredients
Aloe percentage: 99%
Tube volume: 4 ounces
Other ingredients: Bamboo extract, Vitamins A, C, and E, Polysaccharides, others
Scent: No
How To Choose The Best Aloe Vera Gel – Buying Guide
Too many options and still not sure which is the best aloe vera moisturizer gel for you? Here is what you need to look at before you make a decision.
The Buyer’s Guide to Finding Pure Aloe Vera Gel
The main factors you should consider before deciding on one aloe gel or another are the ingredients, ease of use, and price.
Ingredients: Since aloe vera is usually sought after as a moisturizer and treatment for irritated or sunburnt skin, you should make sure that there isn’t anything in it that can damage your skin if it’s already fragile or wounded. Avoid alcohol, fragrances, and any other ingredients besides the pure aloe and maybe 1-2 natural oils.
Ease of use: Ideally, you’re looking for something that you can spread on your skin easily and that gets absorbed fast. Natural aloe can be a bit lumpy and will leave a sticky residue on your skin unless you’re very patient in applying it.
Therefore, the excellent aloe vera gel for face should mention that it’s easy to spread and gets absorbed into the skin quickly. But, at the same time, this convenience shouldn’t come at the expense of ingredients, so make sure you monitor the ingredient list as well.
Price: Aloe gel is a relatively inexpensive product, especially considering that it’s an almost medical-grade ointment and such an effective moisturizer. However, you should realize that the cheaper products probably come with some strings attached (as does anything else you can buy).
So, to stay on the safe side and be sure you’re getting pure aloe vera gel for skin, it’s better to avoid a really cheap product and go for a middle to upper-priced one.
Benefits of Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe is considered a wonder of nature and a natural beauty remedy. It’s been in use for centuries and, as soon as you try it out for yourself, you’ll understand why. It’s like nature consciously struggled to create the perfect skincare cream and anti-rash ointment, and succeeded in combining them in this succulent juice.
The perfect balance of water and enzymes in organic aloe can drive moisture deep into the dry skin, replenishing its levels of hydration. Also, because of the plant’s natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, the skin enjoys a similar level of protection when applying aloe gel.
Simply put, any small wound (burns, rashes, minor cuts, or bug bites) will heal faster in the antiseptic environment that the layer of gel creates. Not only bacteria but also fungi particles will be removed by the action of aloe. Since some skin rashes and eczema patches have a fungal cause, this double effect will help heal them even faster.
Besides the hydrating action and the healing effect, natural aloe also nourishes the skin with important enzymes, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. This helps the skin become fortified and more capable of protecting itself from the free radicals that are responsible for aging.
FAQs
Q: Where does Aloe Vera Come from?
Aloe is a succulent that thrives amid arid conditions. Its capacity to retain water and store it is actually what makes it such a great moisturizer.
It is believed that the aloe plant originated in Sudan, but it grows in a wide area around the Equator, covering parts of India, Africa, and South America.
Related Review: Aloe Vera SeedsQ: What Ingredients Do You Usually See in Aloe Vera?
Besides aloe barbadensis, which is the actual plant ingredient, you will be able to see some other ingredients mentioned on the label of any organic aloe on the market. Some of these ingredients are safe, some are less so.
The harmless ingredients you can see in aloe gel: citric acid (relatively harmless preservative), water, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), sunflower or grapeseed oil (extra emolliating ingredients), xanthan gum (sometimes debated as an ingredient, it’s a natural compound that helps the gel spread easier on the skin).
The potentially irritating ingredients: triethanolamine, iodopropynyl butylcarbamate, any chemical name that ends in EDTA or MEA (like cocamide MEA or sodium EDTA), and fragrance.
Q: Is Aloe Vera Good for Skin?
Yes. Aloe vera for skin is a great moisturizer as it contains the perfect balance of water and enzymes that penetrates deeply, moisturizing at the lower levels of the skin and nourishes it with natural enzymes and amino acids. Perfect even for those with oily, combined, or sensitive skin.
It also has great healing components that can be used to reduce skin irritation and inflammations such as acne and eczema. Its cooling properties can also be soothing for skin that has been exposed to the sun for a long period of time. Aloe also helps unclog pores and slows down the aging process, consequently reducing wrinkles.
Related Review: Aloe Vera Benefits For MenQ: Is Aloe Vera Good for Acne?
Yes, Aloe gel is a natural anti-bacterial. That means it can be directly applied to the skin, kill acne-causing bacteria, and help lessen the associated redness that follows. Aloe Vera for acne also contains a significant dose of magnesium lactate which helps reduce the urge to scratch and making the acne worse.
Aloe is also a well-known natural astringent. The gel’s astringent power can pull dirt and other impurities (like oil) out of the skin, thus helping to avoid a breakout. Pimples that are already inflamed, as well as cysts that sometimes come with an acne breakout, can be significantly reduced by the astringent properties of aloe.
Related Reviews: Benefits Of Aloe Vera On Face Overnight & Aloe Vera For Acne ScarsQ: What is Aloe Vera Gel Good for?
The benefits of aloe vera gel are numerous. As we have already covered in this article, you can use it on your skin, aloe vera gel for face, your hair and even as part of your diet. Consuming aloe may benefit your digestive tract and help to soothe and cure stomach ailments, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Because of its antibacterial properties, aloe can also be used to treat and relieve inflammation related to gum disease and other oral issues. It also helps maintain overall oral hygiene. Be sure to consult your doctor before use.
Q: Is Aloe Vera a Herb?
In a botanical sense, aloe is an herbaceous plant (or herb). Herbs are any seed-bearing plants that do not have a woody stem and die down to the ground after flowering. A herb can also mean a plant used for flavoring food, like rosemary, or for medicinal purposes, like aloe vera.
Related Review: Can You Eat Aloe VeraQ: What does Aloe Vera gel do?
To skin – Aloe vera gel helps soothe sunburns and irritated skin, clears breakouts, reduces wrinkles, removes stretch marks and leaves the skin moisturized.
- To hair – Applying aloe to your hair helps to soothe and calm a damaged scalp, creating a healthy environment for your hair cells to grow. It also acts as a great conditioner and leaves your hair all smooth and shiny.
Aloe has a chemical make up similar to that of keratin which rejuvenates the hair with its own nutrients, giving it more elasticity and preventing breakage.
- To Digestive system– The outer portion of the aloe plant contains compounds that have a laxative effect. However, it’s best to see your doctor if your constipation lasts longer than 2 weeks or you experience more serious symptoms.
The anti-inflammatory properties of Aloe may help to reduce gastrointestinal inflammation, which can contribute towards IBS symptoms.
Related Review: Aloe Vera For ConstipationQ: Can Aloe Vera Remove Pimples?
Yes. The antibacterial qualities of aloe are what makes it effective for topical use to treat pimples. By purchasing pure aloe (or getting the gel from an organic aloe plant) and applying it generously to your face in place of a cleanser, you’ll be boosting the blood flow in your skin and kill off harmful bacteria. You can also spot-treat your pimples – leave the aloe on overnight, and wash it off in the morning to reduce redness and irritation.
Q: Does Aloe Vera Clog Pores?
Because of its astringent power to pull dirt and other impurities, aloe gel does not clog pores. This is only when the gel is taken directly from the plant, but the gel found in grocery stores could. Aloe from the store often contains fillers and add-ins that could clog your pores or irritate your skin.
Related Review: Aloe Vera For EczemaQ: Can Aloe Vera Remove Stretch Marks?
Yes. Aloe vera boosts the production of collagen which in turn smoothens the skin and minimizes the appearance of stretch marks. The antioxidants present in aloe vera also play a big role in stretch marks treatment. They help in repairing the damaged skin cells as well as promoting new cell growth, which gradually helps in lightening the appearance of stretch marks. Regular use of aloe will not only heal the stretch marks, but it will also improve your skin’s natural elasticity and prevent recurrence of the same.
Q: Is Aloe Vera Good For Wrinkles?
Yes. Aloe has been shown to increase collagen production in the skin, which helps with reducing wrinkles and leaving a youthful-looking, radiant skin. Collagen is a prolific protein in our bodies that provides the skin with elasticity and also replaces dead skin cells.
As we get older, our bodies tend to produce less and less collagen, which is why the elderly have sagging and wrinkled skin. The additional collagen produced by using aloe can significantly improve your skin’s elasticity, and thereby remove and reverse wrinkles and the appearance of old age.
Related Review: Aloe Vera For WrinklesQ: Can Aloe Vera Darken the Skin?
No. Aloe vera has skin whitening substances called aloin and aloesin. These may reduce the dark spots on your skin by destroying existing melanin cells and preventing further formation of melanin in the skin.
To achieve that, apply Aloe on your skin before you go to sleep and rinse it in the morning with warm water. Repeat this every night until you get your desired result.
Related Review: Aloe Vera For Skin WhiteningQ: Can Aloe Vera Regrow Lost Hair?
Aloe properties help to soothe and calm a damaged scalp, creating a healthy environment for hair cells to replenish and flourish. Aloe also helps clean up sebum, an oil that clogs follicles and prevents hair from growing back. For effective use of this natural hair loss treatment, simply massage pure aloe directly on your scalp, or find an aloe vera-based shampoo.
Related Review: Aloe Vera For HairGlobo Surf Overview
The only thing that can put a damper on how fun summer can be is the assortment of skin problems that can accompany life outdoors. Wind and sun rashes, bug bites, jellyfish stings, minor cuts, and burns, you name it. Luckily, the best aloe vera soothing gel on the market will make you forget all about these minor inconveniences.
We hope our guide helped you figure out how to use aloe vera gel and what the best option for you is. Have fun and enjoy your summer!
More Aloe Vera Reviews:
- Aloe Vera Plant
- Aloe Vera Uses
- Aloe Vera Hair Mask
- Aloe Vera For Sunburn
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Do you usually use aloe after sun exposure or to soothe skin rashes you might have after wearing a water sports suit for a long time? What’s the best organic aloe vera you ever used? Share your thoughts with the Globo Surf community below and help us all learn from each other.