What is Aloe vera extract?
Aloe vera extract is a colorless and transparent to brown, slightly viscous liquid. After drying, it becomes a yellow fine powder. No smell or slightly peculiar smell. It is usually used to make facial masks and is loved by women. It has a strong hydrating performance.
Plant source of Aloe vera extract
Aloe vera is a perennial evergreen succulent herb of the genus Aloe of the Liliaceae family, native to the Mediterranean and Africa. At present, there are only 6 types of aloe vera that are confirmed to be used in cosmetics. They are Aloe vera L., Aloe barbadensis, Aloe ferox, Aloe arborescens, Aloe andongensis, and Aloe perryi. The rest are mostly ornamental aloes.
Aloe vera extract has been widely used in the cosmetics industry. It is a natural plant ingredient with multiple functions such as anti-acne, moisturizing, sun protection, soothing and anti-itching, repairing after sun and relieving burns. Cosmetics mainly use fresh stems and leaves of aloe.
Aloe vera is rich in juice. The main ingredients are anthraquinone compounds, polysaccharides, organic acids, amino acids, minerals, vitamins, plant hormones, plant sterolase and related ingredients. Among them, polysaccharides are the main carbohydrate compounds of aloe vera and the main physiologically active substance of aloe vera.
It plays the role of anti-aging, anti-wrinkle and increasing skin elasticity in cosmetics. Organic acids have certain cosmetic effects on the skin. The organic acid in aloe vera is actually the popular fruit acid in cosmetic additives. It has a significant effect on whitening and curing acne.
Common aloe raw material forms
- Water-based raw materials
The water-based aloe raw materials are wide range of use and strong convenience. It is widely used in general liquid cosmetics or added to creams and emulsion cosmetics as functional ingredients. There are two main sources. One is directly squeezed and filtered from aloe vera leaves, usually named after “original juice” or “original liquid”. The second is prepared after aqueous phase extraction and purification, usually named after “extract”. The common ones are aloe, anthraquinones and polysaccharides.
- Gelatinous raw materials
The gelatinous aloe raw material is usually prepared from the leaves of perennial plants. Compared with water-based materials, gel-type materials are mostly obtained by mixing and grinding the mesophyll and juice, and then purifying them. Its main ingredients are anthrones, polysaccharides, enzymes, organic acids, amino acids, etc. It is yellowish green liquid. The relative density is 0.98 – 1.02, and the pH value is 4 – 6. Since the gel-type raw material has a certain viscosity, it can be applied to products in the form of essence, gel, and mask infusion.
- Powdered raw materials
Powdered raw materials are prepared on the basis of whole plants or water-based raw materials through further processes such as peeling, mixing, filtering, concentration, drying, and purification. Single-component powdered raw materials generally have good purity and stable properties. In the process of product development and formulation design, if it is necessary to strengthen the role of a certain type or type of active ingredient, focus on such raw materials.
Common aloe vera extract cosmetics
- Aloe cleaning products
The application object of clean cosmetics is human skin. Due to the physiological effects of human skin, such products should take into account that while removing harmful substances from the skin, they should not affect beneficial substances and tissues, and provide beneficial substances to the skin. This requires cleansing products not only to have a certain cleaning ability, but also to ensure the mildness and safety of the product. In addition, attention should be paid to dermatological issues. Such as peeling, pH changes, changes in skin microbial flora, dehydration, changes in the stratum corneum, irritation and sensitization, etc. Aloe vera has the characteristics of high water content, mild nature, and moderate pH. It is a high-quality raw material suitable for cleaning products. It has been widely used in cleansing products, bath lotions and shampoos.
Aloe facial cleanser: Adding aloe vera to the facial cleanser can not only moisturize the skin, but also relieve the dry itching of the skin caused by lack of moisture. It can also improve acne.
Aloe bath lotion: bath lotion is a cosmetic commonly used by people in bathing. It changes the tightness that traditional soap products bring to the skin due to the strong alkalinity. While gently cleansing the skin, it nourishes and moisturizes the skin. The polysaccharides in aloe vera can improve the skin’s moisturizing ability and make the skin soft, moisturized and not dry. The rich amino acids and minerals can provide necessary nutrition for the skin. At the same time, aloe has a certain effect of slowing down the growth of microorganisms and can prevent the growth of microorganisms on the body surface.
Aloe Shampoo: Shampoo is a cleansing product for hair. The purpose of shampooing is to remove perspiration, dust, microorganisms, dandruff and other impurities and bad odors attached to the scalp, and to keep the scalp and hair clean and beautiful. Aloe shampoo should have the characteristics of ordinary shampoo, such as fine and rich foam. Even in the presence of scalp and dirt, it can produce dense, rich foam. It has good detergency and does not cause excessive degreasing of the hair to cause dry hair. Easy to rinse, the hair is clean, soft and shiny after washing. it does not carry static electricity, has low wet combing resistance and good dry combing. Gentle performance, no irritation to skin and eyes. In addition, because aloe shampoo contains a lot of aloe vera gel juice. It has many advantages. For example, the aloe polysaccharides, multiple vitamins and minerals in the aloe vera gel can nourish dry hair and improve hair quality. It can also act on the scalp to regulate sebum secretion and inhibit the growth of microorganisms, so that the product has effects of anti-dandruff, anti-itch and preventing seborrheic alopecia.
- Aloe skin care products
Aloe cream: The most basic function of aloe cream is to form a skin care film on the surface of the skin. It can protect or alleviate the skin irritation caused by factors such as climate change and environmental impact, and directly provide or appropriately supplement the skin with nutrients.
Its characteristic：
- maintain the balance of skin moisture,
- moisturize the skin,
- replenish important oily ingredients, hydrophilic moisturizing ingredients and moisture,
- can be used as a carrier of active ingredients to be absorbed by the skin to achieve the purpose of conditioning and nourishing the skin,
- can prevent the occurrence of certain skin diseases and improve the beauty and health of the appearance and complexion.
Aloe cream can be divided into solid cream and lotion according to the form of its product. The solid cream product is in a semi-solid state and cannot flow. The emulsion product is in a liquid state and can flow.
Aloe Emulsion: Emulsion is another form of emulsion. Because the ratio of water to oil contained is different from that of cream, its appearance is fluid. Emulsion products have a good user experience, are more comfortable, smooth, non-greasy, and can replenish moisture in the stratum corneum. Aloe lotion can improve the skin feel of lotion by moisturizing effect of aloe vera, and achieve water-oil balance.
Aloe gel: A gel is a dispersion system with a certain consistency formed by liquid molecules scattered in the pores of the polymer structure. Its appearance is fresh & tender, colorful and transparent. It feels smooth and non-greasy.
Aloe vera gel is an aqueous gel. Because it has a physical state similar to that of aloe leaf flesh, it is widely used in aloe cosmetics. It is a product type that has always been recognized by consumers. Aloe gel can be directly added with aloe ingredients, so that these products not only have the general functions of ordinary cosmetics such as moisturizing and moisturizing, but also have many excellent properties, such as mosquito bites, burns, and acne. In order to highlight its naturalness, such products generally do not add flavors and colors. In addition to adding aloe vera to the aloe gel, the necessary additives for the gel product, such as thickeners, neutralizers, solvents, preservatives, etc., are also added.
Aloe Lotion: Lotion is a liquid skin care product with low viscosity and good fluidity. Such products have cleansing, emollient, soft and astringent effects. The lotion contains a lot of nutrients, which can provide rich nutrition to the skin. It can adjust the moisture and oil content of the skin, moisturize the skin, make it softer, more shiny, and restore youthful vitality. The nutrients are dissolved in water, making it easier for the skin to absorb. The surfactant in the lotion can remove the dirt on the skin, clean the skin, and maintain the normal physiological activities of the skin. In addition to moisturizing the skin, the moisturizer in the make-up water can also adjust the moisture in the skin to prevent it from drying out. In addition, the lotion also has the effect of constricting pores, making the skin look smooth and delicate.
Aloe vera lotion has the characteristics of moisturizing and nourishing of other ordinary lotion, but also has a good effect of balancing sebum. It can reduce the oil secretion of oily skin and increase the oil secretion of dry skin.
Aloe Facial Mask: Facial mask is one of the products favored by consumers in recent years. Its function is to apply to facial skin, and after a certain period of drying, it forms a layer of membrane on the skin. After peeling off or washing off the film, multiple effects of cleansing, skin care and beauty can be achieved. Due to the adsorption effect of the mask, the secretion activity of the skin is vigorous. When the mask is peeled off or washed off, the secretions, dander, dirt of the skin can be removed with the mask. The skin appears to be extremely clean, achieving a satisfactory cleansing effect.
And because the mask covers the surface of the skin, it inhibits the evaporation of water, so as to soften the cuticle of the epidermis, expand the pores and sweat glands, increase the surface temperature of the skin, and promote blood circulation. So that the skin can effectively absorb the active nutrients in the mask and play a good skin care effect.
Aloe facial masks are generally ointment and gel. When using the mask, apply it to the face and remove it after it dries. The dirt and dander on the face will be removed from the mask, achieving the purpose of cleansing the skin.
- Functional aloe cosmetics
Aloe sunscreen/whitening cosmetics: The main purpose of sunscreen products is to prevent ultraviolet rays from causing irritation or damage to the skin. In the sunscreen formula, physical sunscreen and chemical sunscreen are combined with aloe vera extract, which can not only make the product have better UV protection, but also reduce the greasy feeling of the product through the moist texture of aloe. At the same time, it has certain whitening and hydrating effects.
Aloe anti-aging cosmetics: In recent years, anti-aging products have received widespread attention, and the people who use the products are also becoming younger. Aloe vera is an excellent ingredient that can be used in anti-aging cosmetics, and its main functions are reflected in the following aspects:
- Nourish the skin and promote metabolism. Skin nutrition not only comes from the internal metabolism of the human body, but also needs to be continuously replenished directly outside the skin. Aloe polysaccharides, vitamins and minerals contained in aloe vera can provide nutrients needed for skin metabolism, accelerate skin metabolism, make skin full of vitality, delay aging, and reduce wrinkles.
- Prevent dry lines and fine lines by moisturizing and hydrating. Moisture is a very important part of the skin. It constitutes the environment for cell survival. When the human body ages, the skin cannot maintain effective humidity, which leads to cell aging and death. It can be seen that the aging of the skin and the appearance of wrinkles are closely related to the drop in the water content of the stratum corneum in a certain sense. Preventing aging, supplementing enough moisture and keeping it in the skin are necessary conditions for maintaining skin elasticity and luster. As mentioned above, aloe vera has a strong moisturizing effect on human skin, can speed up skin metabolism, slow down skin aging, increase skin elasticity, and make it shiny and plump.
- Prevent skin photoaging. Sunlight is an important reason for accelerating skin aging. Ultraviolet rays make skin age much faster than human skin’s own aging process. Uncomfortable sun exposure is the main cause of keratosis, freckles, wrinkles and elastic tissue degeneration. Therefore, protection from the sun and ultraviolet rays are essential functions of anti-aging cosmetics. Aloe vera has excellent sun protection properties and can effectively relieve skin photoaging.
Aloe anti-acne cosmetics: Excessive sebum and the influence of microorganisms are the main causes of skin acne. Aloe vera can effectively control the secretion of skin oil and inhibit the growth of bacteria to a certain extent, so it has a good anti-acne effect. But in order to make aloe anti-acne cosmetics better, it is usually used in conjunction with some ingredients that soften keratin and soothe the skin.
Conclusion
With the in-depth research on aloe vera extract in recent years, aloe vera and related ingredients have been widely used as natural plant ingredients for anti-acne, moisturizing, relieving itching and relieving burns in medicine and daily chemical industries. Not only that, the market prospect of aloe vera for food supplement is also very broad. Combining oral and topical application, the effect is better.
