The gel found inside each aloe leaf is the plant's way to store water. It is naturally infused with soothing agents that aid in tissue regeneration. You can harvest leaves from a fully grown plant or make the gel from a single leaf you’ve purchased.
Use one leaf at a time, as this gel will only last up to 10 days in an airtight container in the fridge. You can also make a big batch and freeze it.
If you’re harvesting from your own plant, you can cut it once you see a light red hue at the base of the leaf. A freshly cut leaf will release a yellowish liquid from its opening. This is a mildly irritating substance that should not come into contact with skin, nor should it be ingested. To dispose of it safely, let the leaf rest with the cut side over a plate or a bowl for at least an hour.
For both homegrown and store-bought leaves, wash the leaf and dry it. Slice off the prickly parts on each side of the leaf first. Then peel off the skin on one side using either a small knife or a vegetable peeler. If you’re using a knife, your movement should be similar to filleting fish. You want to remove the skin only and leave as much of the gel as possible.
Once peeled on one side, you can easily scoop out the gel using a spoon. If you’d like, you can run the resulting gel through a sieve or a blender to make it liquid.
Place the gel in a sterilized container and use it to your heart's desire. You can put it directly over burnt skin, use it as a body moisturizer or a hair conditioner, or even use it to make drinks that soothe the digestive system.
Related: all the benefits and recipes for aloe vera
HealthLine offers a natural method to prolong the shelf life of your homemade gel. In our opinion, fresh is best, but we will share the method with you so you can choose for yourself. They claim it can lengthen shelf life to up to 2 months in the fridge:
"For every 1/4 cup (60 ml) of aloe vera gel you make, add 500 mg of powdered vitamin C or 400 International Units (IU) of powdered vitamin E — or both.
Simply add the powdered vitamins directly to the blender and mix the gel once more until the additives are fully incorporated."
H/T: MentalFloss
Ants Seem to Get Everywhere - But Here's How to Stop Them
Ants are amazing creatures, but what's more amazing is how they keep finding a way into your house! Here are some natural tips to help you get rid of them.
What an Amazing Laundry Whitening Solution This Is!
It's always hard to get stains from white fabrics, isn't it? Not any more! Check out this brilliant whitening solution for your laundry you can make at home!
10 Homemade Face Masks For All Skin Types and Problems
No matter what kind of skin you have; dry, oily, lifeless or burned, read this article and you'll learn how to make simple masks to nourish it!
This Amazing Ice-Cream Recipe Comes from the 1700s
This is how Ice-cream was made in the 18th century. It was surprisingly made with Italian Parmesan. You've got to try this savory dessert!
This Natural Cream Will Soothe Your Eczema in No Time!
Here we’ll show you how to make a simple and natural cream that will help soothe your eczema.
Banish Your Skin's Pimply Blemishes with These 8 Remedies
You thought and hoped you'd left those acne ridden days behind you. Well with these 8 home-remedies you may finally be able to enjoy pimple free skin.
Tutorial: How to Grow Roses Using the Stem Cuttings
This tutorial is only a few minutes long, but it gives you a very simple, straight-forward and practical way of growing your own rose bush from stem cuttings.
How to Clean Your Jewels at Home for Free
Enjoying clean jewels used to be a tedious chore, or an expensive visit to the jeweler's, but this way you can do it at home, for free!
These Fun Games Will Help Boost Your Memory
Seniors will benefit greatly by playing these memory-enhancing games. Oh, and they are fun!
Never Put Your Phone in These 8 Common Places!
If you care about your cell phone and your health, then make sure you never leave your device in any of these places.
15 Easy Ways to Repurpose Household Waste in the GARDEN
Learn how to reuse waste and old or broken items to give your garden a real upgrade!
WAIT! Don't Throw Out Your Old Food Just Yet...
Whether you're a penny-pincher or just don't like wasting food, these 16 tips will show you what you can do with food you used to throw away.
20 Incredibly Useful Matchbox Tips from a Century Ago
Did you know that matchboxes used to contain a bit of handy advice? Here are 20 tips from our ancestors.
The Secret to Folding a Fitted Sheet!
A fitted sheet seems to be designed NOT to be folded. However, this video will tell you the truth and teach you how to fold it with ease.
I've Used these Tips to Save Hundreds on My Groceries
Take a look at the following tips that I have used in recent months, to help me save hundreds of dollars on my groceries.
Cola Has Many Surprising Uses Other Than Drinking It
Cola may be a popular drink, but here are 19 other ways you can use it.
These Cool Charts Will Make Your Christmas So Much Better
These cool charts will make your Christmas so much better.
Banish Your Skin's Pimply Blemishes with These 8 Remedies
You thought and hoped you'd left those acne ridden days behind you. Well with these 8 home-remedies you may finally be able to enjoy pimple free skin.
Knowing These 12 Warning Signs Could Save Your Pet's Life!
If your pets exhibit any of these 12 symptoms, you should take them to the vet immediately!
Which Meat Cuts Offer the Best Return on Investment?
Buying every cut of meat, this video will compare them all and their return on investment.
9 Ways to Keep Your House Clean Using Just a Simple Lime
Limes are just as good as lemons when it comes to cleaning. Here are 9 great ways to clean with them.
The BEST Plants to Display in the Living Room
An abundance of plants is an evergreen trend in interior design. See which plants are best suited for a living room setting and learn to style them.
7 Fantastic Ways to Use Tea Bags in Your Garden
Before you dump your tea bags you should be aware that they can come in handy in the garden. Here are 7 great ways you can use tea bags in your garden.
Guide: How to Use Rising Interest Rates to Your Benefit
Consider these tips to meet your investment goals when rates are rising.
10 Great Money Tips from the World's Most Successful People
People rarely find success by accident. So why don’t you set yourself up for financial success by listening to the following pieces of advice.
If You Value Your Health, Wash These 9 Foods Well
Are you washing these 9 foods correctly? Probably not!
14 Creative Uses for Magnets Around the House
Here are some creative and practical ideas to make use of those unwanted magnets, which will benefit both you and the kids.
Whoa! I Never Knew an Empty Plastic Bottle was So Useful
When you've finished with the contents of a plastic bottle, don't throw the bottle away as it can be used for so many different things.
15 Smart Alternative Uses for Bubble Wrap No One Told You
Bubble wrap can do much more than help you move!
Guide: How to Make a Tasty Fruit Salad In No Time at All...
This video will show you how to quickly chop fruit for those delicious and fresh fruit salads.
All My Life I've Been Opening Bananas Wrong. Shocked.
I Never Knew How to Really Open a Banana...
We Bet You Don't Know Just How Useful Your Microwave Is
3 great additional uses for microwaves you never knew about.
Wow! Check Out These 12 Unexpected Uses of Home Appliances
From steaming towels in a rice cooker to cooking salmon in a dishwasher, these alternative functions are bound to amaze you!
Guide: How to Reduce the Risk of Accidents at Home
As you age you will find yourself spending more time at home. This guide gives you tips and ideas for making your home safe, comfortable and easy to navigate.
11 DIY Lamp Shades That’ll Brighten Up Every Home!
Lighting makes all the difference in a house's atmosphere but is usually super expensive. now you can make your own lampshades at a fraction of the cost!
Lemons in the Oven? Read This Article to Find Out Why
Sick of mosquitoes and flies visiting your house? This surprising method will help you get rid of them effortlessly using lemons and an oven!
This Is Why You Should Never Throw Out Silica Gel Packets
Have you ever thrown away these bags of silica gel? Of course you have. But here are some reasons why you SHOULD keep hold of them...
6 Harmful Types of Mold That Could Be Growing in Your Home
It’s important to identify and prevent these dangerous types of mold in the house.
Fake Olive Oil: Here's How You Can Spot It!
If you want to know whether the olive oil you have bought is real or an imposter, here's how you can tell!
10 Foods that Naturally Whiten Your Teeth
There's nothing like a pearly white smile and healthy teeth, and with these 10 wonderful foods, you can achieve these without the need for harsh chemicals!
Ten Golden Mantras for Growing Old with Grace
Ten golden mantras for those who wish to grow older with style and dignity to make life after retirement more pleasant, to enjoy and treasure the elder years of wisdom and intelligence..
WATCH: Grow Your Very Own Tomatoes Using This Method
Watch this video to learn how to grow your very own luscious and juicy tomatoes from the comfort of your own home.
The Genius Ways to Wrap Awkwardly Shaped Gifts
To save yourself a little money, and to help you get a tad more creative this festive season, we've got the perfect solution for you.
How to Make Hand Sanitizer at Home With Just 2 Ingredients
None of these 3 DIY hand sanitizer recipes use more than 3 ingredients, some of which you likely already have in the medicine cabinet
Suits You, Sir! How to Dress Like a Real Gentleman
It might not seem hard, but wearing a suit well is not a skill most men are born with. Here's our guide to dressing like a real dapper gentleman.
Know Your Kitchen Tools - the Uses for Every Type of Paper
Learn when to use (and when to avoid) each type of kitchen paper, aluminum foil, cling film, and all other wrapping mediums.
Who Knew Mustard Had So Many Helpful Uses?
10 uses you may have never known you can put mustard to.