Ingredient Spotlight: Organic Aloe Vera

Ingredient Spotlight · Plant Active

Organic Aloe Vera

The plant of immortality. Soothing, hydrating and softening, aloe vera gel has calmed skin since antiquity and has never left the skincare ritual.

The portrait of a succulent with more than one trick up its leaves.

SoothingHydratingSofteningRepairingOrganic
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Common name
Aloe vera, Barbados aloe.
INCI name
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder (from organic farming in our formulas).
Family, type
Succulent plant (Asphodelaceae); soothing and hydrating active.
Found in nature
Native to the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa, now grown in Mexico, Spain and the Canary Islands. The gel is found at the heart of the fleshy leaves.
How it's obtained
The leaves are filleted, the inner gel is collected, filtered and then freeze-dried into a concentrated powder (up to 200 times fresh juice).
Typical concentration
0.1% to 1% powder, the equivalent of 10% to 100% fresh juice.
Organoleptic properties
Appearance: beige powder; in solution, a translucent gel; Scent: lightly plant-like.
Physical characteristics
Water-soluble; over 99% water, rich in polysaccharides (acemannan), vitamins, minerals and amino acids1; Comedogenic rating: 0.
Benefits
Soothing, hydrating, softening, refreshing, repairing, antioxidant.
Cosmetic indications
Dehydrated or sensitive skin, skin irritated by sun or shaving. Suitable for all skin types.

Did you know?A little history

Legend has it that Alexander the Great conquered the island of Socotra on Aristotle's advice, to secure a supply of aloe vera for his wounded armies.

The Egyptians called it the plant of immortality and offered it to the pharaohs; the Ebers Papyrus, dating from 1550 BC, already mentions it. The Greeks, the Romans, then Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine adopted it for burns and wounds.

Modern science has studied it since the 1930s, when physicians observed its effect on skin lesions caused by X-rays1.

General useAloe vera in everyday life

Aloe vera gel is a plant cocktail: water, polysaccharides (including acemannan, its signature molecule), vitamins A, C, E and B, enzymes, minerals and amino acids1. Applied to the skin, it's known for calming sunburn and supporting the healing of minor wounds2.

Gel or latex? The clear gel from the heart of the leaf is the one used in skincare. The yellow latex just under the skin of the leaf, rich in aloin, is irritating: it's systematically removed during extraction.

Cosmetic useIts properties on skin

  • SoothingIts polysaccharides and anti-inflammatory compounds calm redness, heat and discomfort1,2.
  • HydratingRich in mucopolysaccharides, it holds water at the skin's surface and helps it stay supple.
  • SofteningIt leaves skin soft and comfortable with no greasy film: ideal for combination skin.
  • RepairingIt supports epidermal cell renewal and the repair of stressed skin2.
  • RefreshingOn skin heated by shaving or sun, it brings an instant feeling of freshness.
  • AntioxidantIts vitamins and enzymes help protect skin against oxidative stress.

FormulationAloe vera at Yon-Ka

A single form, always certified organic: leaf juice powder, the most concentrated and stable form. That's the asterisk (*) you see in our ingredient lists.

Soothing, hydrating active

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder*

In the Hydra N°1 line, aloe vera complements hyaluronic acid and imperata cylindrica by bringing softness. In Phyto-Contour, it soothes the eye area; in Men's Barber Shave, it helps prevent razor burn.

Key active in: Hydra N°1 Masque · Hydra N°1 Creme · Hydra N°1 Fluid · Hydra N°1 Serum · Phyto-Contour · Men's Barber Shave
Also found in: Alpha-Peel · Phyto 52 · Phyto 152

In cosmeticsUses

  • Hydrating creams, fluids and serums;
  • Soothing, thirst-quenching masks;
  • Eye contours;
  • Shaving and after-shave care;
  • After-sun care.

The Yon-Ka approach

Aloe vera is our "softener": we pair it with more technical actives to make the treatment comfortable from the very first application. In Alpha-Peel, it accompanies fruit acids; in Hydra N°1, it complements hyaluronic acid. Always organic, always from the heart of the leaf.

The science of the active, the sensoriality of the plant.

How to useAdding it to your ritual

  1. Every morning
    Hydra N°1 Creme or Fluid after Lotion Yon-Ka, over the face and neck.
  2. Around shaving
    Men's Barber Shave during, then Men's Lotion YK and a soothing cream after.
  3. After sun
    Hydra N°1 Masque kept in the fridge, in a thick layer for 15 minutes, to calm and rehydrate.

Good to knowStorage and precautions

As a powder built into the formula, aloe vera is stable. Close your bottles and follow the period-after-opening guidance.

Very well tolerated, with no known contraindication for topical use, including during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Rare allergies affect people sensitive to plants in the lily family (garlic, onion, tulip): if in doubt, patch test behind the ear first.

Go furtherSources

  1. Surjushe A., Vasani R., Saple D.G. Aloe vera: a short review. Indian Journal of Dermatology, 2008; 53(4): 163-166. PubMed
  2. Hekmatpou D. et al. The Effect of Aloe Vera Clinical Trials on Prevention and Healing of Skin Wound: A Systematic Review. Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences, 2019; 44(1): 1-9. PubMed
  3. COSMILE Europe (Cosmetics Europe), cosmetic ingredient database, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder. cosmileeurope.eu
Selection

Our aloe vera treatments

The Yon-Ka formulas where organic aloe vera is a key ingredient.

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