Aloe vera gel is hands-down one of the best ingredients to have in your beauty regimen. Whether you need to soothe a burn, moisturize dry skin, fight ageing and acne, aloe vera gel can help you do it all. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, aloe vera gel is a must-have this summer. Need more convincing? Here are a couple of ways aloe vera gel can help you get through the summer.

Before we tell you how you can include aloe vera gel in your beauty regimen this summer, it’s important for you to know how to extract it. Sure, aloe vera gel can be found in stores, but store-bought aloe vera gel isn’t completely organic. For the best results, pure, organic aloe vera gel is your best bet. Here’s how you can acquire it:

how to incorporate aloe vera into your beauty regimen this summer

  1. Break a leaf from an aloe plant.
  2. Grab a knife and cut the leaf open.
  3. Squeeze the leaf and let the gel drip into a bowl.

Yes, it’s that simple! However, you need to make sure you don’t store the gel for too long, as, in order to reap all its benefits, it’s best to use it when it’s fresh.

Now that you know how to acquire aloe vera gel, here’s how you can incorporate it into your beauty routine this summer:

  1. Use it as a moisturizer

    When it’s extremely hot and humid outside, the last thing you want is a greasy moisturizer. Aloe vera gel can serve as a lightweight moisturizer that nourishes your skin and keeps it hydrated. It’s your best bet if you’re looking to keep things natural. Furthermore, aloe vera gel is able to absorb quickly into your skin, but is strong enough to smooth over every dry patch.
  2. It’s a great after-sun gel

    Only a couple of minutes in the sun can do an unimaginable amount of damage to your skin. You could use aloe vera gel wherever your skin is red or sunburnt. Thanks to aloe vera gel’s great anti-inflammatory properties, this gel will soothe any sort of discomfort your skin is suffering from due to the sun, and will replenish it. In addition to this, aloe vera gel can also prevent your skin from peeling.
  3. Use it as a shaving gel

    Summer’s the time for cute sundresses and shorts, which means you’ll probably have to shave your legs quite often. Shaving can really irritate your skin, and can also result in cuts if you aren’t careful. Apply aloe vera gel post-shave to soothe your skin and lock in moisture, so that you’re left skin that’s soft and smooth.
  4. Use it as a hair mask

    Lazing on a beautiful beach is great, but do you do enough to keep your hair from becoming dehydrated? Just like your skin, your hair also loses all its moisture due to heat. To keep your hair nourished, you could apply aloe vera gel to your hair about once a week. It’ll keep your scalp clean, moisturize your locks, as well as promote healthy hair growth.

If you wish to include aloe vera-based skin care products in your summer beauty routine, go with the Vaseline Intensive Care Aloe Soothe Body Lotion. This is a soothing lotion that keeps your body moisturised and doesn’t feel one bit greasy on the skin—something that’s crucial when fighting the sweltering heat.

Yet another way to incorporate aloe in your summer beauty routine is by way of the Rexona Aloe Vera Underarm Odour Protection Roll On that's completely safe to use on the skin. Along with soothing your skin, this roll on acts as a layer between sweat and bacteria thereby preventing your skin from smelling.