5 Benefits of Using Aloe Vera on Your Face (Overnight)

Aloe Vera is very well known for its scientifically proven skin benefits (including visible wrinkle reduction after 90 days – when taken internally)

But:

Is Aloe gel effective for anything more than sunburn relief – when used on your face?

Many people I know apply Aloe Vera on their faces overnight – every night.

After discovering the amazing benefits of using Aloe overnight for your skin complexion – I was convinced to try it myself.

After about a week – I was hooked.

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In this post, you’ll discover why I still do it every night (the awesome benefits), and whether it’s safe to use Aloe as an overnight facial mask – for all skin types.

Can I Leave Aloe Vera on My Face Overnight?

Aloe Vera is a medicinal plant and is widely used in the cosmetic industry as a base material for skincare products (such as facial and body cleansing, anti-aging creams, deodorants, scrubs, and more).

If you are not sensitive to Aloe Vera, leaving it on your face overnight is no problem.

Is It Safe for Sensitive Skin?

According to Mayo Clinic – “Aloe gel is generally considered safe when appropriately applied to the skin.”

Bottom line

To be on the safe side, I tried it first on a small patch of my skin (on my chin to be exact) – and when I woke up with no side effects – I knew I could use it safely on my face.

I have been using it for over 2 weeks with no problems – and I always wash it off in the morning with my organic facial cleanser.

I recommend allowing the gel to dry on your face before you hit the pillow – to avoid stains.

This only applies to the real, hand-extracted Aloe gel, or the best alternative – pure, organic, cold-pressed Aloe Vera gel, like this one.

5 Benefits of Aloe Vera on Your Face Overnight

Aloe Vera gel is proven to help with minor wounds and inflammatory skin conditions such as acne (pimples/spots).

It’s also proven to heal burns, bruises, and abrasions – faster (studies at the end of the post)

1. Acne Treatment

I wouldn’t say that I suffer from chronic adult acne, but pimples do pop up now and then.

I usually ignore them and try to hide them with some makeup, but after I started using the Aloe gel – I noticed they disappeared much faster.

One even disappeared overnight.

Last week I enjoyed clear skin, with no blemishes, redness, or irritation.

This probably happened due to Aloe’s ability to kill acne-causing bacteria – which causes the pimples in the first place.

If you have some acne scars you’d like to diminish – Aloe can be very helpful for that as well. I would also recommend combining it with red light therapy.

How to Use Aloe Vera for Acne – add 3 drops of Tea Tree Oil to your Aloe gel and gently apply to your face.

Why Tea Tree Oil? see the incredible benefits of Tea Tree Oil for acne and the skin!

2. Gentle Exfoliation

When I wash my face in the morning, I always notice how clean my skin looks.

The Aloe gel rubs off all the dead cells – but in a much gentler way than the average facial scrub.

It doesn’t leave the skin feeling bruised or dry in the morning.

How to use Aloe gel to Exfoliate your skin – if you want a little more “scrub effect” – add a small amount of baking soda to your Aloe gel. Apply on your face and leave overnight.

3. Moisturizer for Oily Skin

I stopped using the overhyped facial moisturizers on the market – years ago.

I usually use a small batch of Castor oil & coconut oil as my day cream – and I love what it’s done for my face.

And now I’ve found the perfect night cream/facial mask to improve skin firmness and elasticity– Aloe Vera Gel.

The aloe gel is especially fit for people with oily skin because it effectively cleared up the extra oil – without drying out your skin.

When I wash off my face in the morning my skin feels smooth, hydrated, and clean. Sometimes I skip my day cream altogether because of this.

How to use Aloe as a Moisturizer – add a few drops of pure, cold-pressed castor oil to your Aloe gel and apply it to your face. Leave overnight.

Don’t forget to learn how to use Aloe Vera for wrinkles and skin sagging!

4. Pigmentation Reduction and Skin Lightening

Since I started using aloe gel overnight, I noticed a healthier glow on my skin – in the morning.

I’ve heard about many people who managed to brighten their skin with Aloe, especially people with hyperpigmentation.

I could be imagining it, but it seems to me that my countless freckles are a bit less noticeable.

This makes sense because an active component inside the Aloe Vera plant – Aloesin – was proven to inhibit melanin in the skin cells.

So, if you have dark spots, hyperpigmentation, or melasma – Aloe could be very helpful.

5. Dark Circle Removal

Aloe Vera gel contains antioxidants, anti-inflammation components, pigmentation-preventing properties, and vitamin E.

All these work together to help reduce inflammation and swelling of the vessels under the eyes.

Also, they can reduce fluid retention under the eyes and reduce puffiness.

How to Use Aloe Vera Gel On Face Overnight 

The best option would be to use the actual plant.

Here’s how to use it:

1. Apply a generous layer of fresh Aloe Vera gel on your face (and neck) and wait a few minutes for it to dry.
2. Leave on your skin overnight.
3. Wash your face in the morning.

Don’t know how to extract the gel inside the Aloe leaf? here’s a short video demonstration:

What if you don’t have the plant?

First, it’s quite easy to get a real Aloe plant. You can even order it from Walmart.

The second option is to use a pure, organic Aloe Vera gel, without preservatives, like this one.

Or this one:

What About Using Aloe vera on Your Face Every Day?

Everything you’ve read in this post about applying Aloe overnight – applies to using it every day – during the day.

You can safely use Aloe every day as a daily moisturizer, skin brightener, acne spot and blemish treatment, sunburn treatment, soothing irritated skin, and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Does Aloe Vera Darken the Skin?

Aloe Vera can not darken the skin. If anything, there’s a chance Aloe can slightly lighten your skin.

Certain chemicals inside aloe vera (aloin and aloesin) can reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation by damaging existing melanin cells and preventing the further production of melanin.

To your health and happiness,

Meital

Studies

Jaclyn M. Forest and Naser Rafikhah, 2014. Aloe vera Juice and Acne Vulgaris: A Placebo-Controlled Study. Asian Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 6: 29-34. 10.3923/ajcn.2014.29.34

Hekmatpou D, Mehrabi F, Rahzani K, Aminiyan A. The Effect of Aloe Vera Clinical Trials on Prevention and Healing of Skin Wound: A Systematic Review. Iran J Med Sci. 2019;44(1):1–9.

Surjushe A, Vasani R, Saple DG. Aloe vera: a short review. Indian J Dermatol. 2008;53(4):163–166.

Ali SA, Galgut JM, Choudhary RK. On the novel action of melanolysis by a leaf extract of Aloe vera and its active ingredient aloin, potent skin depigmenting agents. Planta Med. 2012 May;78(8):767-71.  22495441.