Hello! Today we’re talking about aloe vera. Aloe vera is an ingredient that can not miss in our DIY recipes. For cosmetic use is often sold as a gel and sold at a price ranging from $ 10-20 for 3-4 Oz. It has incredible uses and benefits some of which you can find by clicking here. In this post we will find out how to make this gel at home, while also saving some money. Read on to find out the aloe vera gel making formula.
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Aloe Vera Benefits
Aloe Vera contains many nutrients including minerals, sugars, fatty acids, and amino acids showing anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and even anti-oxidant properties. It also has healing properties and is often used to soothe burns or to accelerate wound healing. In cosmetic creams it plays an anti-aging and moisturizing role making the skin more elastic and reducing the appearance of wrinkles. For these reasons, aloe vera is a fundamental ingredient to always have at home.
How to make Aloe Vera Gel
Two methods can be used to prepare aloe vera gel at home. The first method is to get it from the aloe plant, while the second requires the use of aloe extract in powder.
I have tested both methods and here you will find all my opinions on both of them.
1. Aloe Vera Gel from plant
The first method I tested was to get it directly from the aloe vera leaf. At my parents’ home in Italy, aloe vera is a very lush plant thanks to the warm climate that allows it to grow. So I cut off one of the outer leaves of the plant and used it to prepare the gel. Be careful not to cut many leaves otherwise the plant will be affected.
For this recipe, I decided to add to aloe vera also some honey for its moisturizing and antimicrobial properties.
What you will need
Procedure
The procedure is very simple. Before you start, you have to clean the leaves very well with water. Leave them for about ten minutes in a glass so that the yellow resin contained in them comes out. Now cut off the ends of the leaf (1) and then peel off the skin (2). Carefully remove the pulp from the leaf (3) and cut it into pieces (4).
Now blend the pieces of aloe with the hand blender (5) for a few minutes and filter everything to remove lumps (6). Add a teaspoon of honey and mix (7). The gel is now ready to use. Not having used preservatives, it is always better to keep the gel in the fridge for a maximum of one week.
Pros: To be sure to use something natural as it is extracted directly from the leaf.
Cons: duration limited to a few days. In addition, the color changes from green to red. I’m not sure but probably for the oxidation of some component, something to investigate. Given my doubts about this, I immediately threw the product away when the color changed.
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Aloe vera gel making formula
2. How to make aloe vera gel from powder
The second method involves the use of lyophilized aloe vera powder. This extract is obtained from the juice of aloe and then through a process of lyophilization transformed into powder. During the process, the constituents are not degraded and the final product is very concentrated, hence the code 200:1. This code indicates that 200g of pure aloe gel can be obtained from one gram of powder. Aloe vera extract is easily available online on sites selling raw materials. I bought from Dragonspice, here is the link if you want to buy it.
What you will need
To make 100g of aloe gel it is necessary to use 0.5% of aloe vera extract, i.e. 0.5g.
- 1g (0.03oz) Xanthan gum (find it Amazon or Dragonspice)
- 3g (0.1oz) Glycerin (find it Amazon or Dragonspice)
- 0.5g (0.017oz) Aloe vera powder (find it in Dragonspice)
- 94.9g (33.5oz) deionized water (find it Amazon)
- 0.6g (0.02oz) Cosgard (find it Amazon or Dragonspice)
- container for storage
- pH indicator (find it here)
Procedure
To make aloe vera gel, weigh Xanthan gum and glycerine in a glass mix well the two ingredients. Then add water and mix again. After a few minutes, the water will become a gel and it is at this point that the aloe vera extract and the preservative will be added. Check quickly the pH which should be around 5.5 and cover the container with plastic wrap or better my favorite Beeswax wraps. They store the gel for 24 hours. After this time the gel is ready and should be placed in an old container. The gel can, unlike the first method, be stored for almost 6 months.
Pros: easy and cheap. It can be stored for a long time.
Cons: for those who are against the use of preservatives, this method requires the use.
Between the two methods, the second is what I will do again. It’s simple, fast and I can keep it for longer. Which one do you prefer?
Now that you know how to create your own aloe vera gel why not take a look at how to use it for hair and skin?
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Gabi
I was just looking at my aloe plant yesterday thinking that I needed to harvest some before I bring it in for the winter. I have a soap recipe that calls for fresh aloe, so thank you for this handy how-to!
I’ve always wondered about this! Great info and now I’ll have to try it.
you are welcome!;)
Yes, give it a try! It’s amazing and doesn’t require so much effort 🙂
I just lost my aloe, but looking forward to trying this when I get another. I love the idea of adding the honey, would make it potent, for sure. I wish aloe could grow outdoors around here. Have you ever tried using pure aloe juice? That’s what is most readily available around here and just wondering how it would compare.
This is brilliant advice! Thanks so much x
Great post and super informative! I use aloe a couple times a week as a moisturizer – now you’ve inspired me to get a plant so I can make my own! 😀
I have never considered making my own aloe. What a creative idea! Thanks for sharing.
So helpful!! I’m totally going to try and grow my aloe and make aloe gel!
I didn’t know it is so easy to make aloe gel… the addition of honey sounds great, too! Thank you for sharing!
Great information. I had no idea how good Aloe Vera was for skin.
I love that it is so simple, it’s natural and the benefits are huge!
I love these! I have an aloe plant that I’ve always wanted to use for medicinal purposes, now I can!
Plenty of aloe on my side, need to make something. I was lucky to find your post. Thanks for your valuable tips.
I love aloe! I’ve never tried making it with honey .
TBH I’ve always wondered how to make aloe vera gel – I thought it was a hard process but it does seem like it’s not that bad!
Wow! I love Aloe! I am absolutely going to try this!
This is a super helpful tutorial! My parents back in Florida grow aloe, funny story.
Oh! great, thank you!
Amazing!!!
yes, it’s amazing!
you are welcome 🙂
thank you! 🙂
interesting! I will give it a try to it as well! thanks for the hint 🙂
I would have to try the last method .
So informative! Aloe is extremely helpful. I use it at least once a week to avoid puffy eyes! Thanks for sharing!
OH my I absolutely love this tutorial. I have some aloe Vera plants. This is just brilliant!!!thanks
Saving this for later because I always need aloe Vera for many things.
yes! Aloe Vera is amazing!!! 🙂
This is so awesome! I always wondered how it was done and I love aloe vera!
Interesting. When we lived in Florida as kids my mom would peel an aloe leaf apart and just rub it on our skin. I do love all the healing properties aloe possesses!
This is perfect timing! I have a big aloe plant and was wanting to harvest some for making some skin care products. Thanks for sharing!
We did this a lot growing up. My brother has a HORRIBLE reaction to poison ivy, and it’s the only way that he can control it.
Thank you so much for this great information which I was looking for long time.. Can i use this second method for making aloe Vera gel for business to sell product.
Hi! I’m glad it was helpful. For selling products, you must follow the directives imposed by your country. For example, here in Europe, every cosmetic on the market must comply with specific criteria (Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009 on cosmetic products)…laboratory tests, labels, packaging, and much more to avoid and exclude any risk to consumers. I would not sell DIY beauty products because it is difficult to comply with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) criteria at home. Each batch could be different and there could even be cross-contamination… Personally, I would avoid it but try to ask a lab that definitely will help you. 🙂