#BeautyBasics: Here's How You Can Tell If Your Aloe Vera Gel Is Pure Or Not
In the span of five years, almost every skincare brand in India has launched its own aloe vera gel product. Why is that so? Because it agrees with almost every skin type. Every scoop of aloe vera gel is loaded with enzymes, antioxidants and Vitamins A and C. Once applied, it instantly melts into the pores and soothes inflamed skin.
With the rising demand in aloe vera gel products, sometimes, the quality can take a dip. Assuming that an expensive product equals quality is a misconception. Move beyond the price tags and the glossy packaging, and keep an out for these minute details.
How To Tell If Your Aloe Gel Is Not Pure
It's time to make smarter shopping choices, what say?
The First Ingredient Is Not Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
The first thing you must do before buying the product is to take a quick look at its ingredient list. Look for 'Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract'. This should be the first and the main ingredient. If there are too many ingredients in the product, don't buy it. It does not contain pure aloe vera gel but a cocktail of other ingredients.
Pure Aloe Vera Gel Is Not Green In Colour
The colour is an important clue to find out whether the aloe gel is pure or not. Pure aloe vera gel is not bright green or completely transparent in colour. On the contrary, it's slightly yellow or translucent gold. The colour of the gel also varies during the time of harvest. If the aloe gel is clear in colour, it was harvested in the monsoon season. If it's yellow or golden, it was harvested in a warm and dry climate.
Note: When exposed to air, aloe gel is prone to oxidizing and changing its colour to brown. If you don't want this to happen, store it in your fridge and not outside in room temperature.
It Smells Sweet
If your aloe vera gel product smells sweet, it probably contains an artificial fragrance. Pure aloe vera gel smells earthy and garlicky. Some fake aloe vera gel products also give off a strong alcohol scent. Both artificial fragrance and alcohol can cause breakouts and dryness to the skin. It's best to stay away from both these ingredients.
Read More: Beauty Benefits of Aloe Vera Gel
It Contains Less Than 15% of Aloe Vera
Numbers never lie and if you can read them, even better. Commercial aloe vera gels should have 15-20% of aloe vera extract in the product. If it's lower, the product won't be effective. Many a time, brands laminate the word aloe vera gel on the packaging. However, if you read the ingredient list, it's either listed at the end or has a lower percentage. Always judge a product based on its ingredient list the next time you go shopping!
It's A Mass Produced Product
Mass-produced commercial products have a longer shelf life as they have preservatives and additional ingredients. If you don't add any vitamins to the gel, pure aloe gel will last only for a week. If you add Vitamin C or E, it can extend the shelf life to one to two months. Hence, it's better and safer to buy aloe vera gel from niche beauty brands that make them in small batches.
Do keep all these pointers in mind the next time you shop for aloe vera gel products. And brownie points for buying the ones in eco-friendly packaging and not plastic tubs.
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