Last year, I found myself in a tricky situation. I needed aloe vera to make this mask. I searched in 99% of the stores, flower shops, and plant shops in Chia Yi, Taiwan to buy the plant but to no avail. The irony was, as I walked along the streets of people’s homes, I could see that most people grew aloe vera plants. They were practically everywhere. Should I go in a random person’s home and ask if they could give me some? Would they think I was crazy? Should I just snip one out of their luscious plant at night? I was pretty sure they wouldn’t notice the missing clean cut an aloe vera leaf would leave. But the cameras. Oh the darn cameras… I mean I have a conscience guys. Come on.
I thought hard. I needed a solution. Lucky me, one of my friends tells me about the aloe vera product which is 99% organically made. I did my research read amaira review, and it convinces me legit. But still, I went to the only person I could think of who just may have some aloe vera to spare and compare both. Mr. V’s grandma. Yup. She gladly gave me a leaf. For the next couple of days, I went back to ask for more. After about the 10th time, she got pretty fed up of me and gave me a pot instead. Her extra aloe vera plant in a pot. But it was a baby aloe vera. A baby… I can’t harvest babies. They have no meat.
Trying my luck again, I went out in search for aloe vera plants. Stopping at one flower shop that I guess was the 1% I missed the first time I was searching, I inquired about the plants. Instead of nodding her head telling me the good news that she sells them, without a word, she suddenly went out back into the dark and then as quick as she left, she popped up again. In her hands was a mature aloe vera plant in a pot, roots and all. “How much?”, I asked. She said, “No need. It’s free. For you” and gave them to me.
And then there were two.
Seeing that I’m now an owner of two plants, one of which was still a baby, I thought I should read up even more on it. You know.. to be responsible, knowledgeable and all. You can never be too sure when an aloe vera officer would walk by your house, ask you questions and you’d have to show that you know everything about aloe vera.
How do you take care of it?
You don’t. Avoid it like the plague. The more I gave it water, the more it looked like I was killing it. Once I started to abandon and ignore it, it flourished. Fundamentally, it only needs watering once every week to two weeks.
What do you use it for? Mainly for skin, I loved how it felt after they used it to give me the Best facial Manhattan could offer.
Moisturizer: Aloe vera helps release the vitamins and enzymes on our skin to produce a deep moisturizing effect that helps to restore the natural pH balance. There are some great creams to help moisturizer your skin here are some full reviews of some of the best creams. It provides oxygen to the cells which strengthens our skin tissues and helps to keep our skin healthy.
Acne: With its two hormones, Auxin and Gibberellins, and its anti-inflammatory properties, aloe vera helps reduce skin inflammation, redness and blemishes. Its antimicrobial properties also helps kill bacteria. If you have pimples on your vagina or in other areas where skin is sensitive, it helps greatly.
Anti Aging: The beta carotene, vitamin C and E in aloe vera helps improve the firmness of our skin and keeps it hydrated. It also helps improve our skin elasticity, making it more flexible through collagen and elastin repair, therefore minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Complexion: It helps eliminate dead cells leaving our skin feeling soft and smooth. It promotes a glowing complexion devoid of dark patchy, dry and flaky skin.
Sunburn, cut or rash: Polysaccahrides in aloe vera helps stimulate growth of new cells and allows our skin to quickly heal with minimal scarring. It also helps to replenish the moisture in our skin. When our skin is hydrated, it can heal faster from sunburn.
Yeah, no kidding. All that good stuff we want for our beautiful skin in one single plant. I usually make this mask out of it. You could harvest one leaf at a time, divide them up in ice cubes, freeze and pop them out into freezer safe containers. Take one out when needed and use it directly on the skin or in other DIY recipes. You can consume aloe vera too. Yah! Crazy… I know.
Ready to own a plant or two?
