1. The history of aloe vera includes
us all. Scrawled in the Rig
Veda and the Bible, on the
Papyrus Ebers, tombs of Egypt and the
clay tablets of Sumeria, the ancients
discovered the benefits of the ‘Plant of
Immortality’, and plied it from Persia
to Greece to Africa. As legend goes,
Aristotle persuaded Alexander the Great
to capture the Island of Socotra in the
Indian Ocean, so they could make use of
its aloe to treat their wounded soldiers.
The semi-tropical plant’s serrated
leaves obscure a fleshy innard whose gel
has been known to cure ailments from
A-Z. No, literally. From treating burns
to hepatitis, skin and liver disorders,
internal and external diseases, aloe vera’s
healing properties abound. In 1968, Dr
Bill Coates learned how to extract and
stabilise the gel for widespread medicinal
use. In 1985, an Indian doctor used it
to successfully treat 5,000 patients
with heart disease and diabetes. The rest
is history.
Today, aloe vera is used in medicine,
athletics, animal care, beauty and
cosmetics. Some of history’s most
beautiful muses (do Nefertiti and
Cleopatra ring a bell?) used it in their
daily beauty routines. Thanks to our
tropical climate, there is no shortage
of aloe for anyone looking for flawless,
Pharaoh-approved skin. What better
time then, than the hot, cruel summer
to embrace this power plant? Aloe
softens, moisturises and cleanses your
skin, banishes acne, spots and dead
skin, protects your face from pollution
and sunburn, and (phew!) renews your
skin cells.
Aside from its external application
through gels, scrubs, masks, etc, aloe can
also be ingested. It’s a rich source of B12,
and antioxidant vitamins. Largely water-
based, the plant also acts as a digestive,
and an anti-inflammatory that will help
your insides hydrate and heal through
the heat of summer.
We can rattle on for pages, but you
get the gist. After all, 6,000 years of
testimonials can’t be wrong.
APRIL 2015236
PhotographsKEEGANCRASTO,ArtDirectorDEEPTIPAREKH,WordsBRIONIEPEREIRA
BEAUTYAnniversary
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ALOEForget about Jack’s beanstalk
– it’s aloe vera that’s the stuff
of fairytales
All you need is
1 Blossom Kochhar Aroma Magic
Aloe Vera sunscreen gel SPF 20, ` 160
2 Ananda In The Himalayas Aloe gel and
Rose distillate hydrating mask, ` 850
3 Dr Jamuna Pai’s Blush
cleansing face wash, ` 300
4 Just Herbs Silksplash Neem,
Bitter Orange and Aloevera
Rehydrant face wash, ` 245
5 Kama Ayurveda Cold Pressed
Organic Aloe Vera Juice, ` 500
6 Forest Essentials Pure Aloe Vera Light
Hydrating Facial Gel, ` 1,175
028-beauty ingredient-Darshana-R1.indd 236 26/03/15 10:34 AM