iStockphoto/ThinkStock

Forget about relieving sunburns (which you better not have gotten over the summer!), aloe’s great all year ’round.

The plant’s rich in amino acids, vitamins A, C, F, B, niacin, and has traces of vitamin
B12, equaling awesome anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, healing, and soothing benefits for your skin, says Hyatt Regency Aruba Spa Director, Arianne van Esta Tjallingii.

Here are some of her favorite ways to incorporate aloe’s benefits in her beauty routine:

ALOE VERA SKIN SCRUB
Want to brighten your skin, tighten your pores, and remove acne? Then you definitely want to try this aloe scrub. Massage it gently in circular motions onto your skin for one to two minutes, depending on your skin’s sensitivity. Rinse with lukewarm water. Use once a week.

Ingredients
2 tbsp. aloe vera
2 tbsp. brown sugar
1 tsp. lemon juice

ALOE VERA FACIAL MASK
Make your skin look younger, clean, and refreshed with this gentle mask. The cucumber and yogurt cleanses your skin while the aloe vera gives it a healthy and soft feel. Apply to face and neck and leave for about 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse
with lukewarm water, then with cold water to close the pores. Use once a week.

Ingredients
4 tbsp. aloe vera
2 tbsp. plain yogurt
6 tbsp. fresh cucumber juice

ALOE VERA BODY SPRAY
Whenever your skin’s in need of some refreshing, spritz yourself with this soothing body spray. Mix it in a spray bottle and keep in the refrigerator.

Ingredients
2 parts aloe vera
1 part distilled water

While you can buy a plant (they
actually look pretty cool), pure aloe vera gel works great in any of these at-home skin treatments and can be bought in most drugstores and natural food stores.

WH Blogs