This easy-to-find ingredient is Ananya Panday and Malaika Arora's trick to soothed, glowing skin

While DIY skincare elixirs are a great, simple and cost-effective way to get glowing, balanced skin at home, some common ingredients (like coconut oil and lemon juice) may be far too strong for those with sensitive skin. Cue, aloe vera, which is a soothing and hydrating ingredient that actually tamps down irritation. It is rich in vitamins, amino acids and phytosterols, so it is serves as an anti-inflammatory ingredient too. 

Ananya Panday is a fan of the easily-available ingredient, citing it as the secret behind her luminous skin and silky strands. “I have an aloe plant at home and I tried taking the juice out of it, letting it cool in the freezer for a bit, and then putting it in my hair and on my face for 30 minutes. It just gives you the most perfect glow, and makes your hair so much softer. I think aloe vera for the hair and skin is just such an underrated hack,” she shared with Vogue India. Malaika Arora, who has been sharing her favourite at-home quick fixes, shared her love for aloe vera too. “My skin is very sensitive, I have to be very careful,” shared Arora. “It is painfully sensitive.” To moisturise, she suggests cutting open the aloe vera leaf, slicing it open and scooping up the “gooey goodness from within" and applying it to the skin. “Rinse it with cold water after sometime and voila! Your skin will feel fresh and smooth all day long,” she confirmed. 

Aloe vera is best used for soothing itchiness or irritation, and it prevents transepidermal moisture loss. It is also a must-have to heal burns, as it creates a safe barrier for the skin while cooling it and hydrating it. Since it is non-comedogenic, it doesn't add oil or clog pores for those with oily skin, which means it works for all skin types, and accelerates wound healing at the same time. Plus, it has proteolytic enzymes which repair dead skin cells, while strengthening hair follicles when applied to the scalp, making it a true jack-of-all-trades when it comes to skincare and haircare benefits. While aloe vera might not be the easiest to use—"It's a little messy and gooey," confirms Arora—the benefits definitely outweigh the cons.

Also read:

Are you messing up your face in the pursuit of glowing skin?

5 ways to use aloe vera, Sonakshi Sinha's favourite natural skincare ingredient

5 DIY haircare and skincare masks you can make with aloe vera