You’ve probably noticed the mountain of health and beauty products on the market containing Aloe Vera and wondered why cosmetics manufacturers make so many fantastic claims about its benefits.

Aloe Vera is part of the lily family. It’s a spiky looking plant that oozes a thick gel when the leaves are split. This gel was used in Ancient Egypt to heal and rejuvenate the body and is said to have a hundred active ingredients, three quarters of which contain compounds with healing properties. Scientists have confirmed it contains anti-inflammatory agents, amino acids and a variety of beneficial minerals.

Consequently, Aloe Vera based products are often recommended to soothe and abate painful skin conditions, including acne and psoriasis, to moisturise dry, or even burnt, skin. Aloe Vera also has additional antibacterial and antifungal properties, which make it ideal to apply to the skin after shaving or waxing.

What’s more, it is often suggested Aloe Vera juice or gel can be taken internally, as a beauty supplement that works from the inside out.

Manufacturers of Aloe Vera juice and gel products claim that it is a natural detoxifier, cleansing the blood and improving circulation, which contributes to healthy, glowing skin.

As with many herbal or plant based products, however, there are guidelines that should be followed with regard to dosage amounts and frequency and there are some side effects and contraindications that are worth noting to ensure you’re not putting yourself at risk.

If you don’t fancy taking Aloe Vera internally, why not try one of the pure gel type products available for topical application. The results should be pleasing and will certainly give some of the chemical infused moisturisation products on the shelves a run for their money.

At some stage every teenager gets a spotty face. Sometimes the condition lingers on into later life, or just reappears occasionally.

How then do you deal with a sudden outbreak of spots or pimples? Here’s a sideways method.

1. Grind up five aspirin tablets in a small bowl — aspirin is anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory.
2. Add a spoonful of honey — honey is a powerful germ killer.
3, Wash the face and spread the mixture over it .
4. Leave for 10–12 minutes. It should now have dried.
5. Rinse off the mask and pat dry with a clean towel.

Repeat as necessary.