Why Should You Choose a Moisturizer With Aloe?

Aloe is a common ingredient in many different brands of moisturizer. Choosing a moisturizer with aloe has its benefits, though you should chose one that best fits your skin type and lifestyle.

Aloe moisturizers have numerous beneficial ingredients, including zinc and vitamin E. These natural nutrients can help in keeping skin hydrated and in reducing the appearance of scars or stretch marks. Lighter aloe moisturizers are known for protecting the skin from harmful ultraviolet sun rays and are used frequently during the summer. Due to its natural healing properties, a light aloe face lotion can also be used to treat skin inflammations such as acne. Different aloe moisturizers are designed for use on the face, feet, or body, so be sure to select them accordingly.

The concentration of aloe within a moisturizer affects its consistency. Products such as Jason Aloe Vera are thinner, more gel-like moisturizers that contain 98% aloe. While these types can have the good effects of soothing dry and irritated skin, they may need to be applied more frequently throughout the day if you have a physically active lifestyle.

Other aloe moisturizers are thicker due to the smaller percentage of pure aloe mixed in. Products such as Surgeon’s Skin Secret Moisturizer have 60% aloe, along with other ingredients such as beeswax that help lock moisture into the skin. These aloe moisturizers are usually better choices for use during the winter months in drier climates.

Some brands of aloe moisturizer are labeled organic, due to their manufacturing processes that do not heat or dilute any of the ingredients at any point. An example is the Herbal Aloe Force brand. This moisturizer advertises no additives such as water to the aloe. It also includes herbs that are reported to strengthen the aloe’s effectiveness. Whether the aloe in this product is truly stronger often depends on a test comparison with another aloe moisturizer that is not designated organic.

While an aloe moisturizer can do a good deal to improve your skin’s health, alternatives are also available. A small number of people even have skin allergies or sensitivities to large concentrations of aloe; in this case, another type of moisturizer is the better choice. A moisturizer without aloe as an added ingredient needs to use other components in order to have the same benefits. These moisturizer ingredients can include oils derived from avocado, coconut, peppermint, or tea tree. Some tests of coconut oil moisturizers show they can also help quickly heal minor sunburns. Moisturizers with tea tree oil can soothe acne inflammation as long as the product has been tested to be noncomedogenic, or not to clog pores.

Moisturizers with humectants are beneficial if you have dry skin and live in a climate with a moderate amount of humidity. A humectant is a substance that has the ability to attract and hold water molecules. Here are some of the benefits of having humectants in your moisturizer:

• Humectants increase the pliability and flexibility of skin to prevent cracking.
• They naturally draw moisture up from the lower layers of skin to the upper layers where the dryness occurs.
• They also act as magnets for moisture in the surrounding air, drawing it into the skin.
• They promote consistent shedding of the outer layer of skin.
• They reduce skin irritation caused by dry skin.
• They prevent outside chemicals from contacting the skin.

Moisturizers such as the Tend Skin product line use chemical compounds known as ceramides that naturally create a moisture barrier protecting dry skin from further environmental damage.

Peppermint oil moisturizers are another choice for aloe alternatives. These moisturizers have been shown to reduce excessive skin oil in cases of acne breakouts. Due to its potency, peppermint oil is often mixed in smaller percentages with other moisturizer ingredients, so it is a good idea to check this number before trying a peppermint oil moisturizer as an acne treatment.

Moisturizers with avocado oil are effective for reducing the noticeable effects of aging on the skin, including sun damage, dark spots, and fine lines. These moisturizers have emollient properties that help in sloughing off dead skill cells from the top skin surface, revealing newer and smoother skin texture. An example of a good avocado moisturizing product is the Skin Original brand. This family of moisturizers showcases the high concentrations of natural nutrients that come from the use of avocado oil, including vitamins D, B2, A, and E.

Alternatives to aloe moisturizers can be good for some skin types, though a side-by-side comparison can lean in favor of aloe moisturizers for those without skin sensitivities to it. While moisturizers with other oils are beneficial, their exact balance of ingredients can vary. Some non-aloe moisturizers use larger amounts of fillers and chemicals that do little other than improve the consistency of the product.

Aloe is an ingredient found in nature; it can not be successfully replicated in a laboratory or manufacturing facility. The best healing results for various skin troubles come from those products with the higher concentrations of pure aloe that have not been thiined out with added water. If you don’t feel well equipped to care for an aloe plant of your own, a well-made aloe moisturizer is usually the next best product.