How to Make Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe vera gel is one of the best natural products for healing wounds. It can be used to treat sunburns, soften the skin, and calm irritations. To make it yourself, all you need is a healthy aloe vera plant. You can mix aloe vera gel with other ingredients to preserve it for several days.

Wash your hands. The first important step is to ensure that both your hands and the utensils are clean to prevent contamination of the gel.

Cut the outer leaves of the aloe plant. The outer leaves are usually older and contain more fresh gel, which is great for health. Look for the leaves growing on the outer part of the plant, where the stems are closest to the ground. Use a sharp knife to cut them near the base.

• Aloe gel spoils quickly, so it's best not to cut too many leaves at once unless you're planning to share some with others. If the leaves are large, you can cut just one or two to yield about 1/2 to 1 cup of gel.
• Be careful not to cut too many leaves at once if your aloe plant is young. Removing all the outer leaves can harm the plant.

Allow the sap to drain for 10 minutes. Stand the leaves upright in a cup to let the dark yellow sap drip out. This sap contains latex, which may cause mild skin irritation. It's best to let the sap drain so it doesn't mix with the gel.

Peel the leaves. Use a vegetable peeler to carefully remove the green outer layer. Make sure to peel down to the white inner layer, which holds the gel. Peel one side of the leaf completely, leaving half of the leaf with the hollow side still filled with gel.

• If you have large leaves, it might be easier to cut them into smaller sections before peeling.
• Dispose of the peeled parts to prevent contamination of the gel.

Scoop the gel out with a spoon. The gel is soft, clear, and easy to scoop. Transfer all the gel into a clean bowl.

Consider mixing the gel with a natural preservative. If you have a large amount of gel and want to store it for one or two months, mix about 1/4 cup of gel with 500mg of powdered Vitamin C or 400 IU of Vitamin E. Add the ingredients into a blender and blend well. The gel will initially appear fluffy.

Transfer the gel into a clean, sterilized glass jar. If you're using a preservative, the gel can last for a few months in the fridge. Without one, its shelf life will be one or two weeks.

Apply the gel. Rub the gel onto sunburns or mild burns on the skin. Aloe can also be used as a skin moisturizer or as an ingredient in homemade body care products.

• Never apply aloe to deep cuts or blisters. It should only be used for skin irritations as it may slow down the healing of deeper wounds.
• Try mixing 1/2 cup of aloe with 1/4 cup of liquid coconut oil to create a soothing cream that moisturizes and promotes healing.
• Learn how to grow aloe plants to make your own gel whenever you need it.