Aloe Vera

While the cosmetic industry is relatively young compared to the history of man, the basic principle of cosmetics is ageless. Man throughout history has endeavored to find ways and means to maintain a beautiful appearance. In today’s world, any product that claims to make men and women appear more youthful finds a ready market. Unfortunately, on a few of these products have been able to live up to their claims.

With the rediscovery of aloe vera and advances in technology that render it properly stabilized, the cosmetic industry may have found the answer. No wonder aloe vera companies offer extensive product lines: from skin cleanser to “face lifts,” from moisture creams to night creams: there are shampoos available as well as hair rinses, pain-reducing lotions, mouth-washes, toothpastes, and sunburn lotion.

The skin is the largest excretory organ of the human body and serves as a reflection of our age and health.

The skin is a complex organ. The nature of its function varies from the interior to the exterior in several layers. Besides holding the body together and protecting it from environmental factors, the skin serves as the main organ of the body for respiration and excretion. The respiratory function enables the boy to absorb oxygen and excrete carbon dioxide. It does this at two levels: on the surface (epidermis) and in depth (dermis and lower layers).

Water is the vehicle by which exchanges are made between different layers of the dermis and epidermis. This is true of plants as well. Water is the basis for exchange, promoting growth and the precious irreplaceable properties indigenous to plants. Since plants produce more compounds than science can possibly synthesize, it makes sense to take advantage of the essentials oils, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, salts, enzymes, etc… that plants offer.

Aloe vera comes closer than any other known plant to duplicating life’s essential substances in the biochemistry of the human body.

This may help to explain its beneficial effects. The active agents in aloe vera act on the different layer of the skin. While many products offered on the market can reach only the surface layer of the skin, aloe vera has penetrating power that takes moisture and water to the deeper levels.

Skin layers are divided into two categories. The outer layer provides a protective covering that cohesively holds the body together, protecting it from the external environment. This layer is composed of dead cells. Since the body is constantly replacing this dead tissue every 27 days, if it is not removed, it builds up resulting in dull, dry, flaky skin. The deeper layers process the nutrients offered to it both internally and externally. Included here are sweat glands, which carry moisture and rid the body of toxins, and oil (sebaceous) glands which provide protective oils to the skin. The deepest skin layers process the nutrients.

In order for the first layer to function properly, the nourishment provided to the deeper layers must be complete and well balanced. The proper nourishment in this layer is affected by internal environment (diet) as well as the external environment. Since the external environment contains innumerable pollutants and harmful agents, proper skin care is just as important a factor in health care as is the diet.

A person has two approaches for healthy skin: from without and from within. Both avenues are followed if the try results of good health are expected.

Aloe vera has a protein complex in the form of mucopolysaccharides and polysaccharides which contain the necessary vitamins and minerals in ionic state and act synergistically producing an enzyme-like action. Because of this property, aloe vera contains the (1) ideal penetrating property, as well as the (2) ideal nourishment for cell growth and reproduction.

If the body is deprived of its ability to eliminate toxins and dead tissues, it hastens the aging process.

As we age, it becomes more difficult for the body to reject harmful agents and so, any product that aids this elimination process will help retain a more youthful appearance.

Because of the aloe vera enzymatic action, it is able to penetrate the level of dead cells by dissolving and removing them. Thus, the pores are free of debris and enable the body to take in oxygen that is so vital to cell regeneration. At the same time, the nutrients enable the muscles of the skin to maintain their elasticity thereby producing clear, supple skin, free of wrinkles. The more supple the skin quality, the better protection it can offer to the delicate organs beneath.

Nourishing aloe vera provides a successful skin program because it will cleanser, tone, stimulate, protect and moisturize.

As a cleanser, aloe vera will remove dead cells on the protective layer of the skin through the enzymatic action, dissolving and removing dead tissue.

Because of the astringent properties found in aloe vera, the skin will firm and tighten, sealing in moisture, balancing the pH and creating better texture.

Aloe vera stimulates the pores, penetrating to the lower levels, and drawing out impurities. By deep cleaning the pores it opens the passage for moisture penetration to the cells and allows natural removal of toxins. Aloe vera stimulates blood circulation, bringing oxygen to the cells to keep them alive longer. This produces better skin tone and color. Used to protect, aloe vera will seal the skin with a protective coating to prevent infection from harmful bacteria and large molecule pollutants. Aloe vera seals in water necessary for tissue respiration. 

Aloe vera will moisturize the skin through its penetrating action, bringing the precious nutrients to the deeper layers to keep the skin smooth and supple, refreshed and nourished.

Only aloe, as a vegetable plant, has the unique properties that provide all these benefits in a single application.

pH Factor

The normal pH factor of the skin is between 6.2 and 7.0 (on a scale of 1 to 14) except around the eye area where it is 7.2. This measures the acidity or alkalinity of the skin. The acid/alkaline balance reflects the waste products which are produced through bodily activity. The normal pH of aloe vera ranges from 5.7 to 6.6 depending on the age of the plant, the soil and climactic conditions. In short, both the pH of the skin and the http://getzonedup.com aloe vera inner leaf gel are slightly acidic.

Any solution with a lower pH than the skin has an astringent effect. A high pH has an emollient effect. Aloe vera, in its natural form, has both astringent and emollient properties within a range acceptable to the skin and its needs. The enzyme-action of Aloe Vera produces a natural ability in the gel that balances the skin’s pH. No matter what age a person may be, the skin cells are constantly dying. Aloe vera can penetrate deeply to carry nourishment to all layers.

Properly nourished skin cells live longer and the body’s ageing process is slowed down.

Written by Jan Heinrich, Managing Director of Set-N-Me-Free Aloe Vera Co. in Portland, Oregon.