Aloe vera has been celebrated for its medicinal and cosmetic properties since ancient times. Dating back to Egyptian civilization, it was revered as the “plant of immortality” and used in embalming rituals and beauty treatments by queens like Cleopatra. She regarded aloe vera plant as her beauty secret. Legend states that the Pharaoh kept the Aloe as a palace plant, assigning it a very high status. Drawings of the aloe plant have been found inscribed in the tombs of the pharaohs.

In ancient Greece and Rome, aloe vera was employed for its healing abilities, treating wounds, burns, and various skin ailments. Traditional Chinese and Indian Ayurvedic medicine also recognized aloe vera for its cooling and anti-inflammatory effects, utilizing it to soothe skin irritations and support digestive health.

Dr. Adhami understood Aloe vera to be one of the great skin healers, and a natural remedy for enhancing health and beauty across diverse cultures. He integrated aloe vera into many of the Vivoderm products, capitalizing on its moisturizing, soothing, anti-aging, and healing properties.

Aloe Vera as a Base Ingredient
Vivoderm uses aloe vera as a primary ingredient in many of its skincare formulations. Aloe vera’s natural hydrating and soothing properties make it an ideal base for our moisturizers and masks, ensuring that each product delivers maximum hydration and healing to the skin. Aloe’s ability to penetrate the water-retaining layer of skin allows the enzymes within the gel to slough off dead cells, which aids in restoring the complexion. Aloe nourishes the skin, increasing the formation of collagen and elastin, and stimulating the regeneration of damaged tissue.

Hydrating Moisturizers
Vivoderm’s Intense Moisturizer features aloe vera to provide deep hydration for up to 12 hours. This moisturizer is perfect for those with extremely dry, chapped or rough skin – keeping the skin soft, supple, and well-nourished throughout the day. Dr. A has also infused our decadent Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream with a base of Aloe vera and Beta Carotene for soothing wrinkle reduction without irritation.

Soothing and Healing Creams
For those with sensitive or irritated skin, our Anti-Aging Daily Moisturizer is a lighter, water-based cream enriched with aloe vera to help to calm redness, reduce inflammation, and promote faster healing of minor skin irritations, such as sunburn, rashes, or insect bites.

The anti-aging benefits of aloe vera are also numerous! The vitamins and antioxidants in aloe vera help to boost collagen production, improve skin elasticity, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. These formulas aim to give users a more youthful and radiant complexion.

Acne Treatment Solutions
Aloe vera’s antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties make it a key ingredient in our Anti-Acne Herbal Mask. It’s great to help fight acne-causing bacteria, soothe inflamed skin, and prevent future breakouts, all while being gentle and non-irritating. Salicylic acid is a well-documented acne treatment, and is naturally occurring in aloe vera. Using aloe to treat acne is also an excellent choice for people with sensitive skin.

Brightening and Even-Tone 
Aloe vera helps to brighten even skin tone and reduce the appearance of dark spots and blemishes, giving the skin a more uniform and glowing appearance.

Cleansing and Toning
The Vivoderm rosemary and chamomile cleanser and green tea facial toner includes aloe vera to provide a gentle yet effective cleanse. Using Aloe vera in the formula, helps to remove impurities and excess oil from the skin while maintaining its natural moisture balance, leaving the skin clean and hydrated.

Herbal Facial Masks
Vivoderm’s 100% herbal masks also feature dehydrated aloe vera extract to provide a soothing and hydrating experience. As the herbal masks can be custom-blended, one of Dr. Adhami’s recommendations is to use Aloe vera gel to mix the mask powder to apply to skin as a paste.  Aloe vera gel can super-boost the mask healing properties with acne-fighting salicylic acid and help reduce the signs of aging by naturally boosting collagen – leaving the skin revitalized and rejuvenated.

You can see just how multi-functional in miraculous Aloe Vera is!

Aloe Vera Plant

Benefits of Aloe Vera for Skin Care Bullet Points:

• Moisturizing: Hydrates skin without making it greasy, suitable for all skin types.
• Soothing and Healing: Calms irritated or sunburned skin, reduces inflammation.
• Anti-Aging: Improves skin elasticity, promotes collagen production, reduces fine lines and wrinkles.
• Acne Treatment: Antimicrobial properties help treat acne, reduce redness and swelling, prevent acne scars.
• Skin Brightening: Lightens blemishes and dark spots, evens skin tone, enhances natural glow.
• Wound Healing: Speeds up the healing process for minor cuts, burns, and abrasions.
• Rich in Nutrients: Contains vitamins (A, C, E, B12), minerals (calcium, magnesium, zinc), and antioxidants.
• Non-irritating: Safe for sensitive skin, relieves conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
• Anti-inflammatory: Soothes skin conditions, reduces itchiness and irritation.

How to Use the Aloe Vera Plant for Skin Care

As well as being an attractive plant for your home or garden, Aloe Vera is a powerful medicinal herb to have on hand for DIY skincare, mild sunburns and cuts or scraps, etc.

To use aloe plant leaves, cut off a small leaf of the aloe vera plant about as long as your index finger. Make a slice length-wise down the leaf to expose the aloe and apply to the skin. If you are using the aloe for a wound you can cover the wound with gauze and tape. NOTE: There are two schools of thought out there currently that using the leaf directly on the skin can be more irritating or harmful than extracting the gel and using a dilution. Always do a patch test first.

How To Harvest Aloe Vera Gel
Harvesting aloe vera gel is a pretty easy task. You’ll want to take aloe from a well-established plant that is at least a few years old. Choose large thick leaves that are growing at the base of the plant.

Cutting Tips:
When cutting a leaf from the aloe vera plant pick one that is closer to the base of the plant. This will help with the yield of the plant and the aloe is much better from the mature part of the plant. You’ll get the most bang for your nutrient buck if you take your cuttings as close to the central stalk as possible.

Cut your leaves using a clean knife or scissors.
Tearing the leaves off can damage the plant, and using a dirty pair of scissors or knife can contaminate and infect your lovely aloe. This little precaution will leave you with a healthy aloe plant to harvest from for years to come. A small paring knife, or even better, a filet knife works well to remove the skin from your aloe. You’ll want your knife to be good and sharp for a clean cut. After you have cut your leaves, you’ll need to put them in a jar or glass, cut side down to drain.

CAUTION! Aloe contains a yellow-ish latex substance called aloin, which can cause severe gastric distress if you ingest it. Let the aloe drain for about 10-15 minutes and then rinse your leaves off with cold water and pat dry.

If you are planning on using the aloe on your skin, you can squeeze it out of the leaf and apply it directly. To get at the aloe vera gel, you’ll want to cut the skin away.

You’ll notice one side of the leaf is more rounded, and the other side is flatter. Put the flat side down and use your knife to trim away the spines, keeping as close to the edge as possible. You don’t want to lose any of that aloe-y goodness!

Flip your leaf over and trim the flat outer skin from your stalk, again keeping your cut as close to the skin as possible. It’s just like filleting a piece of chicken or fish.

Now you can trim the skin away from the other side. Be careful as it gets a little trickier to do at this point. The aloe vera gel is very slippery. You will have a pretty substantial chunk of aloe gel. You’ll need to rinse it again to remove any remaining aloin.

You must use aloe vera right away… do not cut a leaf off until you need it!

If you want to save a piece simply wrap it in plastic wrap and put it in the refrigerator; it will keep for a few days. You can also freeze the gel into ice cube trays for single-use applications like sunburns or insect bites. (For serious burns and wounds always seek professional help first).

And that’s it! There are so many wonderful and diverse ways to use Aloe vera! We hope you try them all.

By incorporating aloe vera, Vivoderm ensures that our skincare treatments not only treat specific skin concerns but also promote overall skin health and beauty, provide natural hydration, anti-aging solutions, acne treatment and offer a natural and effective approach to achieving radiant and healthy skin.

When determining skin type, two different conversations quickly surface. There is the more beauty-focused skin type discussion that refers to how our skin feels, how much oil it produces and how it reacts to products (think: normal, dry, oily, etc.) and then there is the skin type discussion that focuses on how our skin reacts to the sun and its susceptibility to skin cancer symptoms (think: fair, medium, dark, etc.) Both branches of the skin type conversation root back to our genetics.

We are born with the skin we have and cannot do much to change its natural properties. That’s why understanding the nature of our skin — in all its forms — is important for keeping it healthy and looking good.

Below, we take a look at the two kinds of skin type and explain how you can determine and care for your individual type. For our purposes, we are going to refer to the two branches as “sun exposure skin type” and “beauty skin type.” But even though we are dividing them, it’s important to remember that every feature of our skin is intimately connected, and the way our skin reacts to beauty products may be closely related to how it responds to the sun.

Fitzpatrick Skin Type (Sun Exposure Skin Type)

The most widely used system for determining skin type and how it will react to the sun is the Fitzpatrick scale. Created by Harvard dermatologist, Thomas B. Fitzpatrick, in 1975, the scale was developed to determine the response of skin types to ultraviolet light. Dermatologists realized that looking at hair and eye color alone as a way to predict skin sensitivity to the sun was ineffective. They made this scale inclusive by looking at how patients’ skin reacted to the sun and cataloguing responses into a general scale.

The scale is divided into six different skin types. Check out the different indicators for each type to determine which category your skin falls into.

Once you know where you fall on the scale, it’s important to know how to care for your skin type:

Type 1: Type 1 skin types need to be the most careful in the sun. With the least amount of melanin in your skin, you are the most vulnerable to skin cancer. Try to use a sunscreen with a SPF of 30+ and seek shade whenever you are out in the sun. Be sure to check your skin head-to-toe each month for suspicious spots or moles.

Type 2: Type 2 skin types are also very susceptible to skin cancer and should practice precaution in the sun. While your fair skin will tan occasionally, it is good to wear a SPF of 30+ when in the sun and avoid being in direct sunlight for extended periods. Be sure to conduct regular, head-to-toe skin checks each month as well.

Type 3: As a type 3, you may burn at the beginning of the summer but tan easily afterwards. Your medium to olive skin tone is more protected than types 1 & 2 but it still requires a strong SPF of at least 30+ to stay safe. Try to check your skin for moles and spots every month, or at least every three months, to prevent skin cancer.

Type 4: Your medium-brown skin tans easily and rarely burns. You are less likely to get skin cancer, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Use an SPF of at least 15+ every day and avoid direct sun exposure.

Type 5: Type 5 skin tans very easily and seldom burns. Skin cancer is more rare for your skin type, but when skin cancer does occur it is usually detected at a later and higher-risk stage, usually on areas not directly exposed to the sun such as the palms of the hands. Use an SPF of 15+ while outside, and perform skin checks at least every three months to ensure that nothing goes undetected.

Type 6: As the darkest skin type, you almost never burn and tan very easily. But just because you never burn, doesn’t mean you are free of skin cancer risk. Still practice caution and use an SPF of 15+ to prevent damage to skin cells. Like Type 5, you are also more at risk for skin cancer in less exposed skin areas. Check your skin often for any changes or suspicious moles or spots.

Beauty Skin Type

Now that you know how your skin fairs in the sun, it’s time to identify the other factors that define your skin, specifically the skin on your face. While most skin exhibits features of multiple categories, having an idea of how your skin normally behaves will help you know how to care for it and which products to use.

To gain the best idea of which skin type you have, wash your face first and let it dry. Don’t put any products on it for an hour and see how it acts naturally. This will give you a good indication of its true nature.

Normal skin type

Normal skin is not too dry or oily; it falls in that desirable in-between place. Your skin normally has an even tone and a soft texture, with little flakiness. You may get an oily T-zone (the central area of your face including the chin, nose and the part of your forehead above your eyebrows) in hot weather, but generally, this area is oil-free. Lighter lotions and serums are ideal for your skin type because you don’t need much heavy product to keep your skin feeling great.

Dry skin type

Dry skin is characterized by small pores and an overall feeling of tightness. It often has more visible lines, less elasticity and a duller complexion. Moisture is key to caring for dry skin. Use lotions or creams to nourish your skin cells. If your skin feels dry but you still get breakouts, then you don’t have truly dry skin. Your skin may be feeling dry from the products you’re using.

Oily skin type

Oily skin tends to have larger pores, and a shiny, thicker feeling complexion. Blackheads and pimples are more common with this skin type. If you blot your face with a tissue and oil stays behind, then it’s likely that you have oily skin. Cleansing the face often and avoiding heavy creams and emollients is advised for minimizing the appearance of oil.

Combination skin type

While most of us have combination skin to some degree since there are more sebaceous glands around our nose, this skin type is marked by a consistently oily T-zone with dryness in other areas of the face. This is the most common skin type, and people with combination skin should consider using different products for different areas of the face to keep the skin balanced.

Additional Skin Type Factors

There are a few other features that contribute to skin type. It’s good to take these into account as well when figuring out what kind of skin you have.

Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin reacts easily to products and can breakout in rashes or become itchy. This is more likely in fair to medium skinned people but any skin type can have sensitivities. If you have sensitive skin, avoid harsh products and search for products that don’t clog or irritate the skin.

Acne-Prone

Skin can also be acne-prone. Acne of all kinds can occur at any age and on any area of the skin. Oily skin types are more likely to have acne but it can occur with all skin types. Consult a dermatologist to find an acne product and care routine that works for your unique skin problems.

Understanding all of the features of your skin may seem like a lot of work, but it is the best thing you can do to care for it properly. Once you understand how your skin responds to different elements, you can zero in on what products, treatments and safety precautions are ideal for you.

What kind of skin do you have? What are the best ways you’ve found to care for it? Let us know in the comments.