We recently got a new grocery store in a town near me. I was checking it out one day and came across an array of fun and unusual foods uncommon to most average grocery stores. While there I saw several long beautiful aloe vera leaves and decided to purchase some.
As I continued shopping, a woman stopped me and said, “Excuse me for asking, but what IS that?” I smiled and briefly explained to her that it is the leaves from the aloe plant and how to use it for burns and cuts. She left with a smile on her face and I was happy to teach her something new.
I know sometimes I sound like a broken record but aloe vera gel is one of those things I grew up believing could only be bought in a store, processed, and in a fancy package. But just like so many other things, it is incredibly easy and inexpensive to make at home.
What Is Aloe Vera Good For
Most people are aware of the benefits of aloe vera gel on sunburns. It is wonderful for soothing pain and reducing inflammation caused by minor burns, but in addition to that, it has a wide application of uses.
Several other over-the-counter first aid products can easily be replaced with homemade, natural versions. Aloe vera is anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and has antioxidant properties that aid in healing.
I use aloe vera gel in several of my beauty care recipes. It is very hydrating to the skin but does not leave an oily feel so it is good for most skin types. These qualities also make it great for the hair and scalp, especially if you struggle with dry, itchy scalp and dandruff.
- DIY Hair Growth Serum
- Homemade Baby Wipes
- Natural Liquid Foundation
- Natural Creme Blush
- Natural Homemade Mascara
- Essential Oil Cooling Spray
- DIY Beach Waves Spray
- Foaming Shave Soap
Many people also take aloe vera internally to aid in digestion and to help relieve stomach ulcers. Aloe vera gel contains numerous vitamins and minerals that help replenish the body. These remedies should be practiced under the advice of your health care provider.
Where Can You Get It
Aloe vera makes a wonderful houseplant. Not only will it help filter the air in your home, but you will always have it on hand for all of its wonderful uses. A small aloe vera plant shouldn’t be too hard to find at a nursery.
The aloe plant is similar to a cactus in care requirements. It requires well draining, sandy soil and does not tolerate frost, but will do very well indoors. Water it thoroughly but then allow the soil to dry about 2 inches down before watering again. (Be sure to check the care instructions for your particular plant.)
As I mentioned, I was able to get cut aloe vera leaves locally in the produce section at a grocery store, but they are probably going to be more readily available at organic stores or markets that cater to healthful living. You could also try a smaller grocery store that specializes in Indian food if you have one in your area.
How To Harvest The Gel from Aloe Vera
Aloe vera leaves are long and slightly curved with serrated edges. The gel is the thick fleshy part that is between the skin of the leaf.
Supplies:
- aloe vera leaf
- sharp knife
- clean airtight container for storing
- blender or immersion blender
- clean bowl (if you are using an immersion blender)
Directions:
- Cut the leaf into sections about 8″ long. This makes it a little more manageable.
- Cut off the serrated edge. Try to get just the edge because it is difficult to get the gel out of those pieces.
- Cut the 8″ lengths into 2 or 3 long strips.
- Turn your blade to its side and slide it in just under the skin on the end of one of the strips.
- Carefully slide the knife along the bottom edge of the skin down the whole length of the leaf. Try to stay close to the skin so you get as much gel as you can.
- Once you get the whole piece of skin off, flip the section over and repeat with the other side.
- Cut the flesh into 2 or 3 pieces and place in a clean bowl (if you are using an immersion blender) or your blender pitcher.
- Repeat steps 4-7 until all sections have been skinned and gathered into your blender pitcher.
- Blend until smooth. It will almost immediately froth when you start your blender. This is normal. If you are using an immersion blender just blend it in the bowl until smooth.
- The froth will eventually go down. You can wait or you can just go ahead and pour the gel into the clean storage container and refrigerate.
- It will keep in the refrigerator for about a week.
Preserving The Gel
Fresh aloe vera gel will only be good for about a week in the refrigerator. This may not be a problem if you are using a smaller leaf from your own houseplant, but if you buy a large leaf you will likely end up with more gel than you can use in a week. There are other ways you can preserve it so that none of it goes to waste.
Freeze It
After you store the aloe vera gel you will use in the coming week, pour the extra gel into ice cube trays and freeze until solid. Then transfer the aloe cubes into a freezer safe container or bag. Pull out an aloe cube as needed for burns or to use in one of the above recipes. This is a great way to keep it on hand if having your own plant is not an option.
Alternately, before you blend the flesh, cut it into cubes and lay it on a parchment lined baking sheet and freeze until solid. Once the pieces are solid, transfer to a freezer safe container or bag. Pull a piece out as needed.
Add Natural Preservatives
When I get one of the large leaves I usually end up with about 1.5 cups. I place 1 cup into a clean pint mason jar. The remaining gel gets frozen as I instructed above. I waited for the froth to go down before I did this so I knew exactly how much I had.
To the 1 cup I add 2000 mg of Vitamin C and 1600 IU (1 tablespoon or 4 400 IU capsules) of Vitamin E. Powdered Vitamin C works well or you can crush the appropriate amount of tablets. Stir well until the vitamins are well incorporated. I stirred for a bit and then let it sit. When I came back to stir it again the Vitamin C was much easier to stir in.
You could also blend this with your immersion blender. This should increase the life of your gel to about 8 months if it is stored in the refrigerator.
Do you have an aloe vera plant? How do you use the gel?
Thank you for the excellent article. But if I want to make e.g. hand sanitizer byvmy osn hand made aloe vera gel, how can I keep it safe outside refrigerator? I wonder… how to preserve it for practical use outside refrigerators? Many thanks Katty!
Hi ..
Should I store the gel in refrigerator even after using vitamin C & E ? If not, What is the shelf life of the naturally preserved aloe gel ?
Thanks
I use aloe for burns . First I ice the affected site for 2-3 min. then rub fresh aloe on to it. The burn is gone the next day.
Do you use the gel/vitamin c/e as an evening moisturizer for the face?
Any brand of store bought aloe Vera you would recommend for homemade hand sanitizer? Thanks!
I like this kind.
I use aloe with Vitamin C & E on my face and body everyday. I use a little less Vitamin E than what is listed above. My skin is so much more rejuvenated. I would say using the aloe non my skin + collagen in my coffee everyday have been the best additions to my skin care routine! I have also found that aloe also helps tremendously with my Eczema.
Hi, if I blend the gel with some coconut/olive oil or add oil after blending the flesh, how long would it keep in the fridge? I guess there’s no question of having even a little shelf life if I were to add fresh hibiscus paste to the mix too? Thank you!
It would be about the same.
Why the boron? Simply for the added nutrition?
An easier way to get at the flesh is to slice the leaf right down the centre then use a butter curling tool to get the fresh from each half.. I put he flesh from two large leaves into a water jug and then top up with normal water. I place it in the fridge and next day mix half a glass of the juice with half a glass of water and drink it every morning. The juce you remove from the water jug should be topped up with normal water to the top and placed back in the fridge. I can be used this way and replenished for 7 days. I also add to the juice 5ml of Boron or commercially available Borax. (Same thing)
Hi
I am looking for ways to use the Ctual leaf of the aloe plant the parts left after harvesting the gel. Any ideas?
Hello, i have been reading several of your posts. I find them amazing -I have rosacea and decided to stop using commercial products. Anyways, i want to thank you for your recipes. But i must warn you! This one is not good, you need to rinse the leaves (after taking the spiky edges off) so the toxine they contain (i know it as Aloina, in english may be Aloin o Aloine). To rinse then, leave the leaves in a bowl for 24hrs, change the water every 3hrs. And after that is ready to use, take off the skin and blend.
Hi wellness mama,
I have been using fresh aloe for my home products. I always keep the products made with fresh aloe in the fridge. But for things like hand sanitizer which I would want to bring out with me, it cannot constantly be refrigerated.
With the preservatives vitamin c and vitamin e added, would mixed products keep at all outside of the fridge?
Thanks for writing this article! I am excited to try adding vitamins to the aloe.
Can i drink aloe vera juice fresh from the garden?
I clicked the link for the Vitamin E in your suggestion for preserving the gel, but the link goes to a bottle of Sundown Vitamin E with 70,000 IU. You recommend 1600 IU to a cup of gel. I’ve been searching for a good d-alpha (not synthetic) but haven’t yet found a good brand with 400 IU. Do you actually use the Sundown product?
Hi 🙂 thanx so much for that information! I have many many Aloe Vera plants in my new home and i would like to start making products…starting with a Gel for sunburns.
The store bought Aloe gel for sunburns doesn’t need to stay in the fridge….. what natural preservatives can i use to allow that, if any?
Thanx!
Can you use Vitamin E oil instead of the powder as a preservative? If so, what would be a good ratio?
I have so many aloe Vera plants in my garden, so love the above ideas on how to make a gel, especially freezing it into blocks, how wonderful and soothing for burns. I want to add fresh aloe Vera gel to a body butter recipe, but not sure how to do it so it doesn’t go off. Keeping it in the fridge isn’t viable, as it will be too hard to use (plus I will soon be living on a boat, so fridge space will be limited). Adding vitamin C will be so beneficial for the skin, but without refrigeration it probably isn’t enough. Do you have any ideas on how to make this recipe stable at room temperature please?
Ingredients:
3 tbsp of Raw Shea Butter
¼ cup of coconut oil
2 tbsp of almond oil
2 tsp to 1 tbsp of beeswax
1 tbsp of pure aloe vera gel
10 drops of lavender essential oil
Much love
Yvette xxxx
I like to try using the juice on the face.
But I found after defrost from frozen the flesh becomes watery, I wonder if this way reduces the natural goodness of the plant.
Also I wonder if it is a good idea to liquidise the fresh flesh as it would destroy the natural fibre within the flesh and resulting the juice loses the binding quality?
Thank you this was easy to follow. Love all your recipes so far.
I absolutely love using Aloe Vera products. I feel my skin hydrating once I’ve applied it and never feel like I’m damaging myself with chemicals.