Aloe Vera is a medicinal plant that is full of secrets and superpowers. Because we have integrated it into the formula of our cleansing hand gels, we thought we were going to tell you a little more about this cosmetic ingredient with supple thorns and soft sap, which our chemist loves (yes , we are still talking about you Jean-Michel).

A little history, it does not hurt

If natural Aloe Vera is particularly popular in cosmetic products today, it has actually been used since antiquity in both herbal medicine and dermatology. Its real name is Aloe Des Barbares but the pharaohs also called it "the plant of immortality" or "the elixir of long life". Slightly pompous pseudonyms that highlight its antioxidant and healing qualities. Anti-aging powers similar to those of Benjamin Button or those of a certain Captain Marvel. We say that we say nothing.

First cousin of the cactus , this globetrotter is a variety that grows mainly in arid regions such as East Africa, the Mediterranean rim or the tropics. Because it constantly builds up reserves to withstand harsh winters, its pulp contains more than 99% water, which makes it an excellent moisturizer for thirsty skin. This species can also boast of its 12 vitamins (A, B3, B9, B12...) and its 75 nutrients (and yes, we did not choose it at random).

A plant that crosses borders

Over time, Aloe Vera's popularity soared, spreading word of mouth from country to country. A notoriety such as the prestigious University of Hoshi in Japan wanted to look into the complete study of this plant with a thousand secrets. After several tests extended over many years, scientists have shown that it has a powerful antioxidant that effectively fights free radicals caused by nuclear radiation. A new discovery that adds to an extensive list of its many other properties.

The benefits of Aloe Vera on the skin

Let it be said, Aloe Vera aka Aloes Des Barbares aka the plant of immortality , is a Swiss army knife to draw faster than your shadow in many situations where the skin is expensive (in winter for example or just after taking the pill from noon to 4 p.m. in the middle of a dodger). Which ones? Well it's simple, almost all of them!

1 - It regulates excess sebum

Whether it's raining, windy or blazing, oily and combination skin often struggles to find balance. Result ? The sebaceous glands overproduce sebum and there, it is the drama. The shine is out, mainly on the T-zone and the chin. Don't panic, take out your tube of Aloe Vera gel and apply a hazelnut to the entire face after removing make-up. With its astringent and purifying properties , it tightens pores, gets rid of dead skin and improves the matte appearance of the skin. A kind of ultra-gentle peeling which, when applied daily, achieves very good results.

2 - It fights against your first wrinkles

Aloe Vera gel helps reach the deepest layers of the skin, providing it with all the nutrients and vitamins it needs. How ? Thanks to a formula mainly based on water, absorbed by the epidermis in less time than it takes to say "phew". Its antioxidant, protective and nourishing components act against free radicals, the main causes of skin aging. And because it is full of resources, it is involved in the growth of fibroblasts (the main connective tissue cells of the skin), which produce collagen and accelerate the renewal of the epidermis . Basically: with frequent application, the first wrinkles flatten and eventually sink. Are you still there or have we lost you?

3 - It corrects skin imperfections (that normally, you already knew that)

Pimples, blackheads, redness, cystic acne and whatnot spoil the life of more than one of us, even after adolescence (hello adult acne). If many elements are the cause, fortunately, Aloe Vera is one of the natural solutions available to you to correct them. With its antiseptic and antibacterial properties, Aloe pulp helps the skin to regenerate more quickly, in particular thanks to the presence of vitamins A, B, C, E and salicylic acid. This last component makes it possible to separate the cells stuck to each other to make the epidermis clean and healthy. But enough of boring scientific explanations, let's move on to the next step.

4 - It calms the fire of sunburn when you fell asleep in the middle of a heat wave

If you say it never happened, you're lying. Because in summer, lounging in a deckchair in the sun is the best thing that can happen to you, it often happens that the feeling of well-being leads to letting yourself go in the arms of Morpheus. In these moments, the 5O + index cream is good, but against the sun of 3 p.m. and an hour of nap, it unfortunately does not measure up (sorry SPF). And there, hell is the sunburn. The only one, the only one, the one who burns as soon as we wear a t-shirt, or that a super funny friend has the misfortune to pat us on the back to force us to laugh at his lame joke. Neither one nor two, no time to blame him, it's time to take advantage of his guilt to ask him for a favor listed since the dawn of time in the "bro code" (the book of friends for those who don't have haven't seen the How I Met Your Mother series yet): we pass Aloe gel on the back. Thanks to its haemostatic, anti-inflammatory, healing and antiseptic active ingredients, this plant represents a natural and effective solution that soothes and treats superficial burns of the 1st and 2nd degree of the epidermis.

5 - It relieves itching and tightness due to atopy (no matter how hard we looked, we're not kidding, because eczema isn't very funny in real life)

Aloe Vera gel has haemostatic, anesthetic, healing and anti-inflammatory properties. It is therefore recommended to treat all skin conditions in general and eczema in particular. It's simple, no other ingredient is able to do the job better than it . For what ? Because it allows both to prevent the itching associated with this type of problem, to reduce redness thanks to salicylic acid but also to hydrate the area to be treated, which is often very dry due to atopy. We told you, it's a real Swiss army knife.

6 - It leaves your hands very soft

Often considered astringent, conventional hydro-alcoholic gels sometimes dry out the epidermis, making it prone to atopy problems such as eczema. Fortunately, our talented chemist has looked into this thorny question and has integrated into his formulas a magic ingredient that makes all the difference: Aloe Vera. Because it's a killer when it comes to hydration and healing , Jean-Michel had delusions of grandeur and literally included it in every INCI list of home hand cleansing gels. A not so absurd idea, since thanks to this miracle seasoning, our products leave behind a soft and soothed skin. BAM!

The benefits of Aloe Vera on the hair

Surprising no? And yet! Aloe Vera is an excellent natural ingredient for your hair. Particularly moisturizing, it allows the hair to soften, to become stronger but also to be easier to comb . All this while respecting the natural Ph of the skin of your skull, which is particularly sensitive to certain chemical elements present in shampoos. Applied to wet hair, Aloe Vera gel retains water within the hair fiber and gently purifies the scalp. Rather greasy, dry, straight, curly, wavy... All types of hair will find what they are looking for. That's it for us! Drop the mic.