Sunshine has so many healing effects. But every so often, we need to heal from the effects of the sun. This natural, soothing gel will heal your tender skin in no time.
Why Aloe Vera Jelly/Gelly
An aloe very jelly (the brand I use spells it "gelly") is a thickened and concentrated aloe vera that is different from pure aloe vera gel. Aloe vera jellies are typically 99% pure aloe vera and 1% thickening agents, which allows the gel to mix seamlessly with both oil and water.
You may be wondering, "Wouldn't a 100% pure aloe vera gel be preferred?" Unfortunately, no. Pure aloe vera gel, which is much thinner in consistency, does not contain anything that would allow oil to completely and properly mix with its water-loving nature. It will not disperse essential oils well throughout the product nor keep them adequately blended into the product - they'll remain separate. A concentrated aloe vera jelly is a much safer choice for your skin because it actually dilutes the essential oils, similar to the way a carrier oil would.
Aloe vera jelly/gelly is unique from carrier oils in that it can penetrate the skin very deeply, hydrating the top three layers of the dermis (skin) and possibly beyond. If that's not enough good news, essential oils blended with an aloe vera jelly are most likely more readily absorbed into the skin. This is due to their lipophilic (oil-loving) nature - they are drawn to and bond with the oils in our skin. This makes aromatherapy gels an excellent choice when you want to see fast results: muscular aches and pains, burns, wounds, bugs bites, inflamed skin conditions, etc.
After-Sun Skincare Gel
Gather your tools:
- a small, glass jar with a lid
- small glass or ceramic bowl for mixing
- a small, clean utensil for mixing
- a measuring teaspoon
- small spatula
Gather your ingredients:
- 4 tsp. aloe very "gelly"
- 1 tsp. carrier oil of choice: try sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, sesame oil (not the toasted kind), or olive oil
- 6 drops Lavender essential oil
- 3 drops Peppermint essential oil
- Optional additions: German Chamomile hydrosol, Peppermint hydrosol, German Chamomile essential oil, Sea Buckthorn carrier oil.
Let's make something beautiful.
- Measure the carrier oil into the small mixing bowl.
- Add lavender and peppermint essential oils to the carrier oil and mix thoroughly.
- Measure and add aloe vera gelly into the bowl and mix well to combine. The gelly should turn a cloudy/whiteish color after mixing.
- Add one to two teaspoons of hydrosol, if desired. This will make your product even more hydrating and add some beneficial, skin-healing properties. Mix until incorporated.
- Use your spatula to scrape the mixture into your glass jar, and screw the lid on tightly. Store in the refrigerator to avoid bacterial growth.
- Apply a small amount, as needed, to sunburn, up to four times a day.
Tip: The aloe vera gel to carrier oil ratio is four to one. If you want to convert this recipe into tablespoons to make a larger batch, increase the essential oil drops to 18 drops lavender and 9 drops peppermint.
Will you let me know in the comments if you try this recipe?
Reminder: If you see a recipe that you'd love to have in your home but do not want to buy all of the ingredients or make it yourself, I would love to make it for you! Read more about custom products here.