How I Improved My Dry Skin With Pure Aloe Vera

I’ve struggled with dry skin for a little over a year now. Mainly due to a vitamin deficiency (which is currently healing) but I also blame Mother Nature since she refuses to let winter go. Like really, it’s April and it snowed outside. Geez!

We all know it’s difficult to keep our skin moisturized during the winter. The dry air, the fluctuating temperature and use of central heat while we sleep, all contribute to suffering from dry skin.

To help keep my skin hydrated, I do two things: I wash with Pure Castile Lavender Soap (Dr. Bronner’s) and moisturize with Coconut Oil (Dr. Bronner’s, organic, virgin) or Shea Butter (grade A, unrefined, organic) on a daily basis. During the winter months, I combine both the coconut oil and shea butter to seal in as much moisture as I can. I’ve also made it a point to drink at least 4-5 bottles of water to help hydrate my body. Okay, so, that’s three things. But it’s nothing too complicated or exceptionally different. The simple routine worked and my skin would stay relatively soft (for the better part of a day).

A few months ago, I’ve noticed that certain parts of my body would be completely dry and tight after a couple of hours. My little two-step process wasn’t enough. It was time to try something new. Not sure what that something new would be, I did know that I didn’t want to add another natural oil or butter just yet.

Then it dawned on me. Aloe Vera! How could I forget? I mean, Aloe Vera is known as the plant that heals and soothes the skin.

ALOE VERA AT HOME

Growing up, I could always find a thick piece of Aloe plant sitting in our kitchen. My mother used Aloe for just about everything: to wash our hair, heal cuts and take the gel internally to “Clean our blood” as she would say.

My mother would force me to take things like Aloe “because it was good for us.” I would constantly roll my eyes (without her knowing of course) because like most teenagers, I didn’t think my parents knew much about anything. But I listened to them anyway. Little did I know, years later, the world would live by all things natural and plant-based.

USING ALOE VERA

Later that day I bought a small piece of the plant to use after my shower,

I cut the Aloe in half, scraped out the gel from the insides of the plant and put it in my blender for a few seconds.
I took a small amount and applied it lightly over the driest parts of my body and let it sit for a minute. I put the rest in the fridge to stay fresh and didn’t keep a batch more than a few days.
I applied the coconut oil and shea butter mixture as I did before and waited.
I repeated the same steps for a few weeks; Aloe Vera, then coconut oil and shea butter mixture every day and night.

There was a difference! My skin was softer for a longer period of time during the day. I noticed my problem areas weren’t as dry even from the night before. Applying the Aloe Vera allowed my skin to hold in the moisture much longer.

REASONS WHY ALOE VERA WORKS

Aloe Vera gel is light and non-greasy. It won’t clog up your pores.
Aloe Vera is made up of large quantities of water. This is what helps to hydrate your skin.
Aloe Vera has approximately 75 nutrients, minerals and vitamins (combined) which all help to heal and moisturize your skin.
Aloe Vera, natural oils, and butter all have healing properties. When you combine them together it can act as a healing agent.

Now, if I can only get back to eating the Aloe Vera gel raw. I’m sure it would do wonders. Ugh!

How about you, have you used Aloe to heal your skin?