The ancient Egyptians called aloe vera “the plant of immortality” and it’s easy to see why they were so enamored with it. Famous for its antibacterial and soothing qualities, this gooey good stuff has been a beauty staple for centuries.
Want to transform your skin without spending a fortune? Here’s everything you need to know about making a super hydrating aloe vera overnight face mask.
Before you start slathering it on, let’s cover the basics. What is aloe vera exactly? Believe it or not, aloe vera is actually just one of a whopping 420 species of aloe. While they’ve made their way around the world, most of these aloes are found in Africa.
Aloe vera has become so popular because it features an amazing 75 potentially active components. We’re talking about stuff like vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, salicylic acids, and other ingredients for dream skin.
Best of all, aloe vera has 20 of the 22 amino acids and eight out of the essential eight amino acids that create flawless skin.
Now that we’ve covered a bit of the science behind aloe vera, let’s talk about what it can really do for you. You probably already know that it’s ideal for burns, but you might not know about all of the incredible proven benefits of this mean, green skin transformer.
With antibacterial and antifungal properties, aloe vera is amazing for deeply hydrating, moisturizing, and healing damaged skin. Not only does it soften skin and generally just feel good, it actually promotes skin renewal.
Its healing properties are what make aloe vera overnight face masks a dream come true for burns, acne, psoriasis, and cold cores. Of course, aloe vera masks are also great for preventative care to make your skin glow.
Why use an aloe vera overnight face mask rather than just slathering it on midday? There are actually a few reasons! Most importantly, your body (especially your skin!) is repairing and healing itself while you sleep. Aloe vera can speed up this process and help things along.
Using an aloe vera overnight face mask also gives that magic gel more time to work. By allowing the mask to deliver continuous benefits, you can maximize the potent ingredients.
Generally speaking, any facial mask that is beneficial for eight minutes is even more beneficial for eight hours. Just be sure to put a towel over your pillow!
Looking for a great DIY moisturizing aloe vera overnight face mask? There is something for anything or everything that you are dealing with. Here are a few of our faves.
Got dry skin? Heal it with oil and aloe vera! While there are a lot of recipes out there for aloe and oil blends, you’ve got to be careful with which ones you choose for your face.
When you’re choosing an overnight face mask, go with oils that are non-comedogenic (i.e. won’t clog your pores and cause breakouts). Below are a few popular facial oil options. Pick one and blend it up as ¾ aloe vera and ¼ oil.
Want to freshen up your skin and prevent premature aging? Enlist the anti-inflammatory qualities of cucumbers. These cheap, easy to find greens are amazing for your skin. They also work with aloe vera to create a nice consistency that will stay put on your skin overnight.
Want to make your own overnight anti-aging mask that will leave you glowing? Wash your cucumber well then toss it in your blender or food processor to break it down. Once you have it mashed down into a workable gel-like texture, make a 50-50 blend of cucumber and aloe vera.
For the perfect partnership to treat oily skin, prevent breakouts, and banish greasy skin, try honey and aloe vera! These antibacterial, anti-inflammatory powerhouses complement each other perfectly for treating acne and making your skin look perfectly dewy. To get on the path to clear AND hydrated skin, make a 50-50 blend of honey and aloe vera.
Forget about pricey eye creams! You can get unbelievable results at home with just a few low cost and easy to track down ingredients. Our fave is a simple trio of powerful natural foods. First up, grab either some extra virgin olive oil or pure vitamin E oil. Take two teaspoons of aloe vera, add four drops of olive oil/ vitamin E oil, then add one egg white. Use a fork or whisk to blend it all together well.
Ever wonder if facial masks really work? If you’ve gotten minimal results in the past, you might have missed some key tricks. Believe it or not, most of us actually don’t take all the steps necessary to really get a spa quality facial at home.
Fortunately, we’ve got a few tips that’ll give you a salon quality facial at home. Here’s how to make the most of your aloe vera overnight face mask.
Wash your face well with an exfoliator. Really slow down and take your time with this step. Let your exfoliating facial cleanser sit on your face for a minute so that it can really soak in. As you wait for the minute to be up, gently massage the cleanser on your face to really get it into your pores. Once you’re done, use lukewarm water to rinse it then gently pat your face with a clean towel.
To maximize the effect of your aloe vera overnight face mask, you will want to get your pores open. The easiest way prep your pores is by taking a warm shower. Alternatively, you can create a steam bath by filling a bowl with hot water then putting a towel over your head to a create a mini steam tent.
While a quick rinse will make your facial mask disappear, it’s not enough to really clean off all of the residue. To ensure that you don’t have any leftover goo on your face that could cause irritation or breakouts, it’s important to do a two-step process.
When you wake up in the morning, rinse off your mask then grab a washcloth (yep, we’re still talking about those face-only cloths). Use a gentle circular motion to slowly work your way around your entire face. Double check commonly overlooked spots like your hairline, under your nose, and under your chin to make sure you’re 100% clean.
So, ladies, which is your fave super hydrating aloe vera overnight face mask? Do you have a bedtime routine that leaves you waking up flawless?