Aloe vera in cosmetics: what it can and can't do – an honest assessment
Aloe vera in cosmetics is almost everywhere: in shower gel, shampoo, facial cleansers, hand and foot cream. On the packaging it sounds like a lot of plant and a lot of effect. But what can aloe vera really do on the skin, how much of it is in a typical product, and how can you tell? In this article we give an honest assessment of the ingredient – based on the evaluation by Stiftung Warentest and on the INCI lists of our own VEGAN FOX products.
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What actually is aloe vera?
Aloe vera (botanically Aloe barbadensis Miller) is a succulent with thick, fleshy leaves. It probably originates from the Arabian Peninsula; today it is grown on plantations in warm regions worldwide. Two very different raw materials can be obtained from the leaf:
- The gel from inside the leaf. It is clear, slightly slimy and consists of around 99 % water. The rest is mainly sugars (including the polysaccharide acemannan), plus amino acids, minerals and vitamins. This gel is the raw material for cosmetics.
- The yellowish sap directly beneath the leaf skin, also called aloe latex. It contains aloin and other anthraquinones, tastes bitter and has a strong laxative effect. It has no place in care products.
So when people talk about aloe vera cosmetics, they mean the leaf gel or raw materials made from it.
What aloe vera in cosmetics can do – and what it can't
Online, aloe is often described as a “miracle plant”. Stiftung Warentest commissioned an expert review and came to a sober conclusion: there are many studies, but hardly any meaningful studies in humans. According to the reviewers, the cooling and moisturising effects of the gel on the skin, for example in cosmetics, are plausible above all. For many further-reaching promises, however, the evidence is insufficient.
There is a second point: the Austrian consumer association VKI asked the suppliers of 25 cosmetics containing aloe vera. Often the concentration was so low that no noticeable effect can be expected. In addition, fresh gel was usually not used, but powder made from dried gel or a concentrate.
| Typical promise | Honest assessment |
|---|---|
| “moisturises” | plausible, especially with a higher gel content in creams or gels |
| “cools and refreshes” | plausible for gel products applied to the skin |
| “pleasant skin feel in the shower” | realistic, but the feel comes from the whole formula |
| “against skin diseases” | not a topic for cosmetics – consult a doctor |
| “anti-ageing”, “rejuvenates the skin” | not proven |
That does not mean aloe vera in cosmetics is pointless. It is a well-tolerated, plant-based care component that can contribute to how a product feels on the skin. Allergic reactions are considered rare. But don't expect effects that go beyond care. If you have skin problems or health questions, please seek medical advice.
Gel, extract, powder: how aloe gets into cosmetics
With aloe vera cosmetics, a look at the INCI list tells you in which form the plant was processed. The common names are:
- Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice: leaf juice or gel, often the base of pure aloe gels. If it is right at the front, a lot of it is contained.
- Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder: dried gel that is mixed with water again during production.
- Aloe Barbadensis Extract or Leaf Extract: an extract of the plant. It is usually used in smaller amounts as a care additive.
The order matters for the assessment. In the INCI list, ingredients are sorted by quantity. However, this only applies to substances from 1 %: anything below that may be listed in any order. If aloe is far back between preservatives and perfume, it is almost certainly a small amount. We explain step by step how to read such lists in our article on the INCI list.
How to recognise good aloe vera cosmetics
- Clarify your expectation: Do you want an aloe gel with a high content or an everyday product in which aloe is one component?
- Check the position: The further forward aloe is, the more it contains.
- Read the name: Juice, powder or extract tells you in which form the plant is included.
- Read advertising critically: A large aloe leaf on the packaging says nothing about the amount.
- Look at the rest of the formula: Surfactants, oils and humectants such as glycerin usually shape the skin feel more strongly.
Where aloe vera is in our VEGAN FOX products
We looked at the INCI lists of our own aloe vera cosmetics using the same standard. The result: aloe is in several products, but everywhere as an extract and a care additive – not as the main ingredient. All products are vegan.
| Product | Name in the INCI | Position | Contact time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower gel (all three scents) | Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Extract | 4th to 5th place, after water, surfactant and salt | short, rinsed off |
| Cleansing foam for dry skin | Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Extract | 4th place | short, rinsed off |
| Foot cream with aloe vera | Aloe Barbadensis Extract | after oils, emulsifiers and tea tree oil | long, stays on the skin |
| Hand cream shea butter & macadamia | Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Extract | after plant oils and shea butter | long, stays on the skin |
Shower gel: aloe as part of the skin feel
The VEGAN FOX shower gel (200 ml, linden blossom, grapefruit or red grape) contains aloe vera together with panthenol and betaine. The manufacturer describes this as contributing to a pleasant skin feel in the shower – and that is exactly how you should understand it. A shower gel stays on the skin only briefly and is rinsed off. The main work here is done by the surfactant, which cleanses.
Cleansing foam for dry skin
In the cleansing foam for dry skin (200 ml), the aloe extract is comparatively far forward, directly after water, a mild surfactant and a conditioning polymer. It also contains panthenol, lactic acid and niacinamide, among others. Here too: cleansing is brief; aloe is a component for a pleasant feel on dry skin, not an active ingredient with promises.
Foot cream with aloe vera
The foot cream with aloe vera (120 ml) carries the plant in its name. Honestly, though, castor oil shapes the formula more strongly: it comes directly after water, while the aloe extract only follows after emulsifiers and tea tree oil. Lavender and peppermint oil add to the fresh herbal scent. Because a cream stays on the skin, the contact time is longest here.
Aloe vera cosmetics in everyday life: short contact time or care that stays?
A simple distinction helps with the assessment. With products you rinse off (shower gel, cleanser, shampoo), the contact time is short. Here aloe mainly makes the product feel pleasant. With products that stay on the skin (cream, gel, lotion), an ingredient has more time. So if you specifically want to put aloe on your skin, you are better off with a gel with a high content than with a shower gel.
If you want to obtain aloe gel from your own plant, note the advice from Stiftung Warentest: after cutting, stand the leaf upright for a while so that the yellow sap with the anthraquinones drains off, and remove the skin carefully. In the fridge the gel only keeps for a few days.
Related reading: Reading an INCI list: how to understand the ingredients in your cosmetics · Vegan shower gel: ingredients, scents and what to look for when choosing · Foot care after the sauna: routine with schedule, calluses and cream
Conclusion
Aloe vera in cosmetics is a well-tolerated care component with plausible cooling and moisturising properties – but no more than that. According to Stiftung Warentest, big promises are not proven, and in many products the content is low. The INCI list shows you in which form and how far forward aloe appears. In our VEGAN FOX products it is included as an extract in the shower gel, the cleansing foam for dry skin, the foot cream and the hand cream – as part of the formula, not as the star.
Frequently asked questions
Does aloe vera in cosmetics work at all?
Cooling and moisturising effects are considered plausible, especially in products with a high gel content. Many further-reaching promises are not proven. In shower gel and cleansers, aloe mainly contributes to the skin feel.
How can I tell how much aloe vera is in a product?
Exact percentages are rarely on the packaging. The position in the INCI list gives a clue: far forward means a lot. However, ingredients below 1 % may appear in any order at the end.
Is aloe vera vegan?
Yes, aloe vera is a plant raw material. Whether a particular cosmetic as a whole is vegan depends on all its ingredients. Our VEGAN FOX products are vegan.
Can you be allergic to aloe vera?
Allergic reactions to the gel are considered rare but possible. If your skin turns red or itches after using a product, stop using it and have it checked by a doctor if necessary.
Is aloe vera gel from the supermarket better than fresh gel?
Not necessarily, but it is easier and keeps longer. Home-made gel spoils quickly, and the yellow sap under the skin should drain off completely first.
Personally written by Martin – founder of BeachAndSteam and sauna operator at Lake Kulkwitz for more than 18 years.