Soothe Stressed Skin with an Aloe Vera Gel

Dry, sunburnt skin calls for somethings seriously soothing. If you don’t have access to the fleshy green leaves of an aloe vera plant, don’t worry—the cooling goop inside has been bottled and mixed with other heavy-duty moisturizers, like manuka honey and cocoa butter.

Gel is lighter than lotion, which means it sinks in faster for lightweight, non-greasy hydration. Cocoa butter adds a light, comforting scent and is intensely moisturizing. And when you mix aloe vera with tea tree oil, you get a combo that soothes inflammation and may even help ward off insects.

Some aloe products are made from powder, rather than the gel that comes straight from the plant. Products with gel contain a higher concentration of aloe vera, which means they’re hydrating and better suited for comforting a sunburn.

Mix up a conditioning tonic for your scalp by combining a few drops of gel with water in a spray bottle, and spritzing it on whenever your hair needs a little extra moisture, or your scalp is feeling itchy. Aloe has long been applauded for its moisturizing benefits on natural hair.