Aloe Vera: Beyond the Burn Aisle
Share
Most people remember aloe vera as the green gel their parents kept in the medicine cabinet for summer. What gets lost in that memory is that aloe is one of the most well-studied botanical ingredients in the world, with a long history of daily skincare use that has nothing to do with summer at all. The clear gel inside an aloe leaf contains over 75 active compounds, including vitamins, enzymes, amino acids, and polysaccharides. On the skin, that combination delivers lightweight moisture and a calming feel that complements heavier ingredients like tallow and beeswax.
| Aloe Vera | By the Numbers |
|---|---|
| Active compounds in the gel | Over 75 identified |
| Water content of the gel | Approximately 99% |
| Documented years of skincare use | Over 3,500 |
What aloe brings to Reef Tallow is balance. Tallow, beeswax, and coconut oil are lipid-rich and luxurious, but skin also benefits from a water-based component that delivers hydration alongside the lipids. Aloe is that component. It's the reason our balm doesn't feel one-note on the skin and the reason it works as well in dry winter months as it does in humid summer ones. Three and a half thousand years of human use, summarized in one ingredient that earns its place daily.