Aloe Vera is a succulent plant recognized by its thick, fleshy leaves packed with a clear, cooling gel. Native to warm and arid climates, it’s prized for the inner gel, a water-rich substance rich in nutrients.

Beyond the gel, Aloe leaves contain latex, a more bitter layer just beneath the skin. While the inner gel is widely used in skincare and health products, the latex is more controversial and is typically not used without careful regulation.

Aloe Vera’s story goes back millennia. Ancient Egyptians called it the “plant of immortality”, offering it as before pharaohs and using it to care for both skin and wounds. Greek physician Dioscorides and traditional Ayurvedic practitioners in India also used Aloe regularly.

Whether it was applied to sun-burnt skin or included in herbal remedies, cultures across the world tapped into Aloe’s soothing properties long before modern science arrived.