Aloe vera is a succulent that grows wild in tropical climates around the world, and is mainly cultivated for its medicinal uses. Although they are used as decorative plants, they have immense benefits for your skin and hair. Aloe vera has been around since the time of the ancient Egyptians, and they called it ‘the plant of immortality,’ because it’s a powerhouse of healing and soothing properties, both of which are essential for your skin.
Whether you drink it or apply the fresh gel on your skin, the benefits of aloe vera are unparalleled. Being rich in vitamins A, B, C, and E, along with minerals like calcium, iron, and potassium, aloe vera is a boon for your skin. In addition, aloe vera also contains compounds like lectins, polysaccharides, and mannans, all of which make it a magical plant indeed.
Suggested read: Impressive benefits of aloe vera for your skin and health
Aloe vera face mask recipes
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Aloe vera is effective against oily skin, dry skin, acne, pimples, brown spots on your face, sun tan, sun burn, and pigmentation. It is also highly effective in giving your skin a natural glow and fairness. Plus, it’s so soothing that it suits all skin types. It also contains natural exfoliating, moisturizing, and anti-aging properties, making it the best natural product for your skin.
Now that you know how beneficial aloe vera is for your skin, let’s take a look at some of the most effective aloe vera face mask recipes.
1. Basil and aloe vera mask – for pimples and acne
By itself, aloe vera contains antiseptic and antibacterial properties, and when combined with the medicinal properties of holy basil, this mask kills germs, bacteria, and any other harmful organisms, helping prevent pimple and acne eruptions.
Face mask
- Grind a handful of neem leaves along with a handful of holy basil leaves with a bit of water to form a smooth paste. To this, add 2 teaspoons of fresh aloe vera gel and blend well. Now, apply this to your face and neck, giving special care to the affected areas. Let it dry for about 10-15 minutes, before rinsing it off with lukewarm water.
2. Yogurt, cucumber, and aloe vera mask – for sunburn and freckles
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Yogurt and cucumber juice have a soothing effect on sunburn, thereby helping cool off the irritated and inflamed skin.
Face mask
- Add 6 tablespoons of cucumber juice and 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt to 4 tablespoons of freshly scooped out aloe vera gel, and mix well. You can even gently blend to get a smoother paste. Apply this on your face and neck and any other sunburnt areas, leaving it on for 20-25 minutes. Rinse off with cool water.
3. Essential oil and aloe vera mask – for revitalizing dry skin
An essential oil helps add moisture to dry skin, thereby keeping it hydrated for longer periods of time.
Face masks
- Scoop out 3 tablespoons worth of aloe vera gel into a clean bowl. To this, add 1 tablespoon of rose essential oil and mix well. Apply this on your face and neck uniformly, leaving it on for 10-15 minutes. Wash it off with lukewarm water.
- Add 1 teaspoon each of almond oil and rose water to 2 teaspoons of fresh aloe vera gel and mix well. Apply this on your face and neck, and let it dry for 15-20 minutes, before rinsing it off with cool water. Pat dry with a soft towel and apply a mild moisturizer to seal in the moisture.
Pro tip: You can use lavender essential oil instead of rose oil too.
4. Dates, cottage cheese, and aloe vera mask – for dry skin
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Aloe vera and cottage cheese are both excellent to naturally hydrate and moisturize your dry, dull skin. The dates nourish your skin to make it soft, smooth, and supple.
Face mask
- De-seed 8 soaked dates and put them in a blender with 2 tablespoons each of aloe vera gel and cottage cheese, along with 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Blend them all into a purée and refrigerate it for half an hour. Now, apply this paste on your face and neck, leaving out the sensitive under-eye areas. Let it sit for 20 minutes, before rinsing it off with dool water. Pat dry and apply a mild moisturizer to help keep the moisture in.
5. Lemon juice and aloe vera mask – for blemishes and dark spots
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Lemon juice is a known natural bleaching agent, and aloe vera soothes. Combined together, this face mask helps reduce the blemishes and dark spots on your face, making way for a clearer, lighter-toned skin.
Face mask
- Scoop out 3 tablespoons worth of fresh aloe vera gel into a clean bowl. To this, add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and blend them together to form a runny fluid. Apply this on your face and neck, letting it sit for 15 minutes before rinsing it off with cool water.
6. Brown sugar and aloe vera mask – for whiteheads and blackheads
The granular texture of the brown sugar helps penetrate the skin to remove dirt, grime, excess oil, and dead cells, making way for your natural skin to shine and glow.
Face mask
- Add 1 tablespoons of brown sugar to 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel, and mix well. Massage this on to your face and neck, focusing on chin, nose and surrounding areas, using circular motions with your fingertips. Continue massaging for at least sixty seconds. Let it sit for 10 minutes, before washing it off with cool water.
7. Papaya and aloe vera mask – for skin radiance
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Papaya is known to lighten your skin tone naturally, while aloe vera helps rejuvenate it from the inside out, making it glow.
Face mask
- Blend together a few pieces of raw papaya and 2 tablespoons of fresh aloe vera gel to form a smooth paste. Massage this paste on to your face and neck using upward strokes. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes, before rinsing it off with cool water.
8. Cucumber and aloe vera mask – for oily skin
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Cucumber helps cool and cleanse your skin, making it supple and soft, while aloe vera soothes and hydrates. This mask is especially soothing for skin that is inflamed and irritated by acne and other oily skin problems.
Face mask
- Peel and de-seed half a cucumber and cut it into pieces. Blend these cucumber pieces along with 2 tablespoons of fresh aloe vera gel to form a smooth purée. Apply this gently and uniformly over your face and neck, except the sensitive under-eye areas. Leave the mask on for half an hour, and rinse off with cool water.
9. Aloe vera fruit mask – for deep nourishment
While aloe vera helps hydrate dry skin, fruits like kiwi, banana, orange, and avocado help nourish and moisturize dry skin from within.
Face mask
- In a blender, blend together chunks of kiwi fruit, ripe avocado and banana, and orange pulp, along with 1 teaspoon of fresh aloe vera gel. Make a purée of it and apply it on your face and neck, leaving it on for 15-20 minutes and then rinsing it off with cool water.
10. Tomato and aloe vera mask – to remove acne scars
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Tomato contains excellent antioxidants along with vitamins A and C, which when combined with aloe vera help reduce acne scars and its resulting blemishes, along with pigmentation.
Face mask
- Mix 1 tablespoon of freshly scooped out aloe vera gel with 2 tablespoons of tomato juice. Apply this on your face and neck, gently massaging it in for two minutes. Let it dry for 15-20 minutes and then rinse it off with cool water.
Pro tip: Use this face mask at least twice a week for best results.
11. Egg and aloe vera mask – to get rid of wrinkles
Wrinkles and fine lines are early signs of skin aging, and they are best kept at bay with this excellent aloe vera face mask. Not only does it firm up your skin, it also helps restore its elasticity while also moisturizing and nourishing your skin.
Face mask
- Roughly blend together 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel and 1 egg to form a runny, sort of fluffy paste. Apply this paste on your face and neck, dabbing extra on problem areas. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes, before rinsing it off with cold water.
12. Milk, honey, and aloe vera mask – for skin lightening
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While milk and honey combined together help lighten your skin tone and moisturize it, aloe vera rejuvenates it from within.
Face mask
- To 2 tablespoons of milk cream, add 1 tablespoon aloe vera gel, 1 teaspoon of organic honey, a few drops of rose water, and a pinch of turmeric. Mix well to form a smooth paste. Apply this on your face and neck, leaving it on for half an hour before rinsing it off with cool water.
Pro tip: Use this face mask at least twice a week for best results.
13. Cucumber, oatmeal, and aloe vera mask – for exfoliation
While cucumber and aloe vera soothe and cleanse your skin, oatmeal acts a natural scrub and exfoliator, helping get rid of grime, dust, and excess oil.
Face mask
- Blend half a de-seeded cucumber to form a purée. To this, add 2 tablespoons each of aloe vera gel and oatmeal, and mix well. Next, add 1 egg white and whisk till it’s a frothy, fluffy paste. Apply this on your face and neck, spreading evenly. Let it sit for 15-20 minutes, before rinsing it off with cool water.
Suggested read: 12 of the best home remedies for brown spots on your skin
14. Shea butter, olive oil, and aloe vera mask – for dry and combination skin
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Shea butter and olive oil moisturize your skin from deep within, while aloe vera helps soothe and cleanse your skin.
Face mask
- Mix together 1 tablespoon each of shea butter, extra virgin olive oil, and aloe vera gel to form a smooth paste. Spread this paste on to your face and neck, keeping the eye area clear. Let it sit for 15 minutes, before washing it off with cold water. Pat dry and apply a gentle moisturizer to seal in the moisture.
These are all the amazing aloe vera face mask recipes you need – regardless of the skin type you possess. Try them, and you won’t ever want to try anything else!
Featured image source: Pixabay, under Creative Commons License