levate Your Skincare Routine With This Natural Face Mask
Since the shelter in place started, I thought this would be the perfect time for me to elevate my beauty routine. I’ve been looking for ways to experiment with new products. However, many companies are experiencing delays in shipment due to covid - 19. So I thought, why not research natural products that can also get the job done? It never crossed my mind that one single ingredient in particular can do wonders on your skin! And that amazing item is aloe vera.
For a few years now, I’ve seen so many beauty gurus on Youtube try the aloe vera face mask challenge.The goal is to use it for a week and you will see a complete difference in your skin. The results have always been pretty significant in my opinion.
Usually I have pretty clear skin and never really break out, but with a combination of stress and binge eating stuffed crust pizza, my face breakout was inevitable. So it was the perfect time to put this challenge to the test.
Aloe Vera Benefits
Before we get into the process and my results, let’s talk about some of the benefits of using aloe vera. According to the National Institute of Health, aloe vera has anti inflammatory, antiseptic, and analgesic properties that help the skin heal faster. Aloe vera is also packed with vitamin A, C and E along with B12. Meaning, it will have your skin looking refreshed and give you a natural, hydrated glow. Antioxidants are your best friends when it comes to skin care, and aloe vera has it all. Aloe vera also stimulates fibroblast which produces collagen and essentially makes your skin more elastic and less wrinkled. This means aloe vera is a perfect alternative for people looking for a natural pro aging product.
The Process
I went to my local market and found these massive aloe vera leaves for sale. They were about $2 each, which is amazing, due to the fact that I’ve seen tiny aloe vera plants at grocery stores go for $25 or more.
Every morning, I would take about a palm size piece of the aloe vera leaf and cut it open. Once the piece was cut, I would then scoop out the gel and place it into a bowl. From there, I would use a fork and whisk it until it had a sticky and thin consistency. At that point you just place it on your face and massage thoroughly. Some people use a jade roller, but I decided to just use the aloe vera peeling to massage it in. Once I was done massaging the aloe vera gel in, I’d let it sit for 20 minutes and then wash off.
Initial Reaction
Immediately after washing the mask off, I noticed how soft my skin felt. I honestly didn’t need to use a moisturizer. On day 1, I made the mistake of using my hydrating moisturizer from Philosophy, and even a product so lightweight made it feel over hydrated. The rest of the time I went sans moisturizer and still felt fabulous.
Results
From day 1-3 I really didn't see a significant difference, aside from feeling rejuvenated and having hydrated skin. However on day 4, I noticed that my breakout was already going away. By day 5, not only was my breakout almost non-existent, but my skin seemed to look a lot more
even and I had a natural glow. By day 7, my skin felt tighter, my breakout was completely gone, and I just looked so refreshed. I even did a fresh face beat without any foundation and my look still looked phenomenal.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I’m so happy I decided to give this challenge a try, especially since I had significant results in such a short amount of time. I’d highly recommend everyone to give aloe vera a try. I hope you found this useful and feel free to let me know if you have tried aloe vera masks along with your experience!
~ Renee [ @itsreneeangelique ]
