The Best Aloe Vera Products for Your Skin

Aloe vera is a plant well-known for the benefits it adds to topical skincare products, from lotions to oils and more. It contains many useful nutrients, from antioxidants to vitamins to enzymes. Perhaps most famously, aloe vera is known for its ability to relieve, soothe, and help heal minor burns, including sunburns. (Though it’s worth noting that aloe vera is not an effective sunscreen; it can treat sunburns, not prevent them.) Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, aloe vera works on other minor abrasions like small cuts, cold sores, psoriasis, and eczema. It’s also cooling and hydrating, which makes it a great moisturizer for dry skin, and it may even reduce inflammatory forms of acne when applied directly. If you have oily skin, never fear. Aloe vera absorbs quickly, which means it won’t weigh down your skin or make it feel greasy. If you want to add an aloe vera skincare product to your routine, here are a few we recommend.

Choosing Aloe Vera Skincare Products

Here are some things to think about before buying an aloe vera skincare product:

• Type: Most aloe vera skincare products will be available as a gel, oil, or lotion/cream. While all of these items will provide the benefits of aloe vera, the best format will depend on how you plan to use it. Gels are generally best for treating burns. Oil may be the optimal choice if you want to add aloe vera to your daily skincare routine, blend it with essential oils, or use it for massages. Lotions or creams are the way to go if you plan to use aloe vera mainly as a moisturizer. However, these different forms can be somewhat interchangeable, so your decision may be economical and simply personal preference as much as anything. There are also aloe vera face masks and mists out there if you only want to use aloe vera occasionally or want a product that feels lighter.
• Alcohol-Free: No matter which format of aloe vera skincare product(s) you decide to use, be sure to pick one that is alcohol-free. Alcohol cancels out some of the natural, beneficial effects of aloe vera. Therefore, the aloe vera in the skincare product won’t do you any good as a moisturizer or sunburn soother if it’s mixed with alcohol. If possible, look for aloe vera products that don’t have chemical exfoliants either, as this may irritate your skin or cause pain on any cuts, burns, or abrasions. Overall, you’re better off looking for aloe vera skincare products that contain as few ingredients as possible.
• Extra Uses: As useful and soothing as aloe vera can be for your skin, it’s not necessarily limited to skin alone. Some aloe vera skincare products can actually be used on other parts of your body as well. They can be used as an aftershave, conditioner, shampoo, scalp hydrater, and/or dandruff fighter. Not all aloe vera skincare products are interchangeable, so be sure to check the item’s listed uses before you buy to ensure that it can be utilized in whichever ways you want.

Top Choice: Seven Minerals Organic Aloe Vera Gel

This high-quality aloe vera gel is grown and harvested from real, freshly cut aloe vera leaves rather than powder. The gel is clear in appearance and thinner than most, so it won’t feel greasy or heavy on your skin. And it’ll absorb quickly without leaving any sticky residue or film behind due to the 100% carrageenan-free seaweed extract that serves as a thickener. This aloe vera gel is suitable for your face and body on oily, combination, dry, and normal skin types. (It’s recommended that you patch test this product on a less sensitive area before applying it to your face to ensure there are no adverse reactions.) You can add this gel to your regular skincare routine for glowing, softer, and silkier skin or to soothe sunburns, cuts and bug bites, shaving burns, and rashes. Some people have found it an effective treatment for reducing cellulite. This aloe vera gel is also safe to use on your scalp and hair, especially useful for anyone suffering from scalp itchiness and dandruff. It has a two-year shelf life, and you can buy it in 2-, 12-, and 128-fluid ounce containers depending on your needs.

Best for Sunburns: Australian Gold Aloe Vera Freeze Gel with Lidocaine

One of aloe vera’s most well-known properties is its ability to relieve and treat sunburns. This aloe vera gel is specially designed to help soothe, moisturize, and repair sunburnt skin and have it feeling back to normal that much faster. The formula is free of parabens, dyes, PABA, gluten, alcohol, and fragrances to reduce the risk of irritating or drying out even the most sensitive skin types. The aloe vera is naturally soothing and hydrating, which will leave dry skin and sunburns feeling more nourished and moisturized after application. The aloe vera has also been mixed with spearmint, comfrey, and lidocaine to provide an additional cooling and soothing sensation when applied to your skin for extra pain relief. This formula is also effective on other types of mild burns and hot, itchy skin in general.

Best Oil: Aloe Vera Oil by Aromatika

Facial oils have become a key part of many people’s regular skincare regimes. If you want to add an aloe vera oil to yours, this product is a great choice. This natural carrier oil is made from 100% pure aloe vera leaf extract mixed with premium soybean oil to moisturize and bring matte shine to your skin. It has vitamins, amino acids, and minerals and is free of alcohol, additives, and colorants. It’s also cruelty-free and 100% vegan, never tested on any animals. This aloe vera oil will hydrate, clean, and bring a matte shine to your facial skin, and it’s safe to use on most skin types. You can also use it as an agent to get rid of acne or apply it after sunburn spray to help speed the healing process. This oil can be used on its own or mixed in with your homemade face mask, face wash, body lotion, soap, cream, or massage oil. It’s also safe to use on your hair and may even stimulate hair growth if mixed in with your shampoo, condition, or hair gel, making this a multipurpose aloe vera oil. This brown glass bottle has a capacity of 3.4 ounces and is anti-UV so that you can safely store this oil in sunlight.

Best for All Skin Types: NTRSNS Organic Aloe Vera Gel

Finding the right skincare products can be a tricky task if you have acne-prone or sensitive skin. Common drugstore products can make you break out, dry out your skin, or cause redness and irritation. If you want to incorporate aloe vera into your skincare routine but are worried about how your skin might react to it, consider this gel. It’s suitable for all skin types: normal, dry, combination, sensitive, and oily. It doesn’t have any thickeners or compounds that are harsh on your skin and is made from cold-pressed, filtered, organic aloe vera loaded with essential vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and proteins. The gel is fluid with a silky smooth consistency that will feel super light and refreshing against your skin without leaving any sticky, uncomfortable residue behind. It will also absorb quickly, provide your skin with a thin protective layer against environmental agents, and may help stimulate your collagen and elastin production for softer, suppler skin. Rubbing it into your skin after applying moisturizing lotion or cream will help prolong hydration. You can also use it to soothe minor cuts, scrapes, and scratches, sunburns, insect bites, and chapped skin. This gel is also great for your hair and scalp and for making your own DIY skincare products or hand sanitizer. It can be used to fight scalp flakiness, as an after-shampoo conditioner, or even as a light hairstyling gel for a more lustrous-looking mane. If you want to use it to make homemade products, feel free to mix it in a blender for the smoothest possible consistency. Each bottle has a capacity of 12 fluid ounces.