\n<\/p>\n
If there\u2019s a place to go for dubious skincare advice, it\u2019s social media. From DIY skin acid cocktails to at-home teeth bleaching, the list of things to avoid runs long. (To be crystal clear, both of these can leave long-term damage to your skin, health and mouth. Avoid at all costs.)<\/p>\n
Recently, I stumbled on something that seemed, on the surface, to be harmless \u2013 if a little odd. There, on my screen, two content creators cracked open the leaf of an aloe vera plant and slathered the entire, gooey innards on their faces. Slick and wet-looking, the pair rubbed it into their skin, even taking it up into their hairlines.<\/p>\n
Searching \u201caloe vera skincare\u201d on the app, I was met with a deluge of other videos purporting the benefits of using raw aloe vera on their skin. Could I be missing a trick?<\/p>\n
To clear up whether raw aloe vera is good for your skin, I reached out to Dr Anjali Mahto, founder of Self London<\/a>, and nutritional therapist Farzanah Nasser<\/a>. Here\u2019s what they want you to know before you start.<\/p>\n Aloe vera<\/a> is a succulent plant and not a type of cactus, as is commonly believed. It\u2019s been used for centuries across Asia, the Americas, and North Africa for medicinal purposes \u2013 both applied topically and ingested. Now, you\u2019re likely to find traces of the plant in your favourite hydrating lip balms and moisturisers<\/a>, as well as cooling after-sun treatments and burn remedies.<\/p>\n Used in moderation, aloe vera can be extremely effective. However, this recent craze for aloe vera \u201cslugging\u201d is something else entirely, especially as the aloe vera being used is in its raw, unprocessed form.<\/p>\n According to Mahto, the cyclical nature of social media means that \u201craw ingredient\u201d trends resurface regularly. \u201cWhile aloe vera has been used as a traditional remedy for minor sunburns, this specific trend of using raw plant chunks as a daily facial mask is relatively new,\u201d she describes.<\/p>\n Other viral raw food trends include yoghurt-based face masks, rice water skin and hair rinses and brightening turmeric skin treatments.<\/p>\n Mahto explains that aloe vera can be fantastic when used in \u201cprofessionally formulated skincare,\u201d due to its anti-inflammatory, lightweight, soothing properties. Aloe vera can help calm mild inflammation caused by scrapes, small cuts, burns and irritation.<\/p>\n It does this thanks to its antioxidant profile (a potent mix of vitamins C and E) and anti-inflammatory properties that can help soothe stressed-out skin. The high water content can help hydrate thirsty skin, a large part of why it\u2019s found in so many post-sun skincare products.<\/p>\n In cosmetic formulations, however, \u201cthe active compounds are carefully extracted, stabilised, and preserved to ensure they are both reliably effective and completely safe for topical use,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nWhat is aloe vera?<\/h2>\n
Why is raw aloe vera trending?<\/h2>\n
When can aloe vera be beneficial?<\/h2>\n