You Had Me At Aloe

Did you know that aloe vera products have been used for soothing minor burns and other skin problems for over 2000 years? The stuff is even mentioned in the Bible! Talk about a long history of pain relief. But I've only recently learned that there are a lot more natural aloe vera products on the market than just the standard-issue gel we use to help calm fierce sunburn.

All aloe vera products come from the well-known succulent plant that looks ever so slightly like a spiky ball of cactus. The gel from the leaves of this famous plant has all sorts of excellent properties that are used for both skin care and cosmetics. What I didn't know is that there's a whole new market for aloe vera products that you actually ingest. You can drink it as a juice or take it in tablet or capsule form, and some say that it's a real help for things like minor digestive problems or naturally boosting the immune system.

Whatever the scientific reasoning behind it, I'm a big believer in aloe vera products. I know there's nothing that feels more wonderful than pulling a big bottle of that wildly colored green gel out of the refrigerator and putting it on a raging sunburn. The cooling effect is instantaneous, and I know that applying it frequently seems to not only keep me from peeling, but helps the burn to fade more quickly. And it's nice to know that I'm using something on my skin that's free of chemicals, is all-natural, and has been around for centuries. It's a skin-care choice I feel good about.