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You’ve probably already heard about the health benefits of aloe vera or coconut oil when used separately to treat skin problems.
Their use is most often mentioned for eczema, psoriasis, rashes, irritated or dry skin, pigment spots, acne and even scars.
Combination of aloe vera and coconut oil
Because of their exceptional regenerative properties, these two substances are also used by many manufacturers of commercial facial creams.
They can be used on their own, but have you ever wondered what their effect would be if applied together?
Aloe vera is a succulent plant, which means its leaves hold a large amount of water.
Coconut oil is, on the other hand, a pure oil derived from the fruit of the palm (coconuts).
As we all know, water and oil don’t mix very well.
However, instead of water one can use the gel from aloe vera and whip the coconut oil so their mixture holds together better.
A detailed recipe for making the cream is given a little further down. First, though, let’s say a little more about the health benefits of its two main ingredients.
Health benefits of aloe vera
Aloe vera has the following effects on the skin:
- <li+treats small burns and pain from sunburn
<li+soothes irritated skin and rashes
<li+reduces stretch marks, pigment spots, acne and scars
<li+hydrates and rejuvenates the skin
Health benefits of coconut oil
Coconut oil has the following effects on the skin:
- <li+moisturizes the skin and slows down its aging
<li+softens the skin, especially dry skin
<li+has antifungal and antibacterial properties – excellent for eczema, psoriasis, sunburns, rashes and irritated skin
<li+makeup removal
<li+great for oil massages
<li+usable not only on the skin but also on the hair
Making cream from aloe vera and coconut oil
For making the cream it is important to use 100% pure aloe vera gel (preferably fresh, directly from a cut leaf) and high-quality coconut oil, ideally organic.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (1 dcl) organic coconut oil
- 1/3 cup (0.6 dcl) pure aloe vera gel
- a few drops of your favorite essential oil (for example lavender, jasmine, rose or vanilla)
Preparation method
When making the cream follow these steps:
1) Mix the solid coconut oil and the aloe vera gel in a bowl.
Do not melt the coconut oil (temperature above 23 ° C), because it can only be whipped when solid. The ideal temperature is around 20˚C – at lower temperatures it is too hard and would mix poorly with the aloe vera.
2) Whip the mixture using an electric or hand whisk.
Whip for approximately 5 to 10 minutes until it has a light, fluffy and airy consistency.
A blender or food processor is not very suitable for this, as they tend to heat the coconut oil too much and then it won’t whip.
3) If you decide to add an essential oil to the mixture, do so during the whipping.
4) Transfer the whipped cream into a glass container.
Do not use plastic containers, because essential oils can react with some types of plastic.
Store the cream at room temperature, but not above 22C, because then the coconut oil would start to melt. During hot summer days you can keep it in the refrigerator.
It should last several weeks.
