I always associated aloe vera gel with sunburn. When I was a kid, my mom always kept a bottle on hand during summer vacations to the beach.
Little did I know though that aloe’s benefits go far beyond sunburn! In addition to soothing irritated skin, Aloe gel is an effective treatment for acne, psoriasis, and dandruff. It’s also great for insect bites and rashes.
This little wonder plant is an absolute must-have in any first aid kit and skincare routine.
Before we dive into how to choose the best aloe vera for you, let’s talk a little bit about the plant itself.
Quick NavigationWhat is Aloe Vera Gel?Things to Consider Before Purchasing a GelOur Favorite Aloe Vera BrandsAmara Organics Aloe Vera GelGreen Leaf Naturals Aloe Vera GelAubrey Organics Pure Aloe Vera GelLily of the Desert Aloe Vera GellyRadha Organic Aloe Vera GelThe Soothing Power of Aloe
What is Aloe Vera Gel?
Aloe is a cactus-like plant that grows in very hot climates. In the United States, it’s grown in places like Texas, Florida, and Arizona.
The succulent leaves of this plant produce a clear, jelly-like substance. That gel can be made into oral medications, or into a gel that you can rub into your skin. This gel, which usually comes in a pump-style bottle, is best for skin conditions and hair care.
The gel is extremely soothing, making it perfect for sunburns and irritation. It’s even powerful enough to combat tough conditions like psoriasis.
Things to Consider Before Purchasing a Gel
There are plenty of options out on the market for aloe vera gel. So how do you pick the product that is most effective, best for you, and in line with a vegan lifestyle?
It’s easy! With just a few things in mind, you’ll quickly be able to decipher packaging and ingredient lists and find the best option for you.
- Is it Really 100% Pure?
Marketing firms have a lot of leeway when it comes to the word “pure”. A bottle of aloe vera gel might proudly proclaim “100% Pure Aloe Vera” or “made with 100% pure aloe vera”.
However, these phrases are misleading. If an aloe gel contains a lot of water mixed with a little aloe vera, the manufacturer is allowed to print “made with pure aloe vera” on their packaging.
Like in many cases, marketing here can be deliberately confusing to make you think you’re buying a pure product. It may actually make you pay more for a lesser quality product if you aren’t careful!
To make sure you’re buying the purest aloe vera gel possible, look at the ingredient list. Aloe should be the very first ingredient – not water or other fillers. Make sure it’s free from unnecessary preservatives, thickeners, and colors.
- Organic & Natural Ingredients
Our skin is the largest organ in our body. It’s also porous, meaning it absorbs the materials we put on it. This includes things like lotions, makeup, and skincare creams.
Products that are not organic contain all kinds of pesticides and chemicals used to grow the plants. These carry over into the final product. Because your skin is like a big sponge, you wind up absorbing those chemicals and pesticides into your body.
This doesn’t just go for the growing process, either! Avoiding plants grown with pesticides is just one step. You also want to avoid any harsh ingredients added into the final product. Ultimately, these are all going directly onto your skin, so take care!
When considering your purchase, ask yourself “would I eat this product?”. If the answer is no, it’s not suitable to rub into your skin. Opt for gels that contain only natural, safe ingredients.
- Cruelty-Free Status
On the whole, aloe vera gel is compatible with a vegan lifestyle. Especially if you’re choosing a pure, organic product, the gel comes from the leaves of a plant.
The only thing that makes aloe vera gel unsuitable for vegans is if that product is tested on animals.
Some cosmetic companies conduct cruel testing on animals. They may run experiments with ingredients or the finished product to check for irritation or fatal dosing. This causes pain, suffering, and sometimes even death to the animals used for testing.
Companies that sell their products in China are required to conduct animal testing. If the company does sell in this country, you’ll want to be extra vigilant in your research.
To ensure you’re making a compassionate purchase, make sure the product is cruelty-free. Look for phrases on the product like “not tested on animals”.
Even easier? Look for the Leaping Bunny certification on the packaging, or on the website.
If there’s any question, don’t hesitate to call or email the company to find out about their stance. You’re not only doing thorough research, but you’re also telling the company that people want to know this information!
If all else fails, just skip that product and move on to another one that makes it’s stance on cruelty, crystal clear.
Our Favorite Aloe Vera Brands
With these guidelines in mind, you could certainly pick your own product. However, that can result in a lot of time, effort, and confusion. Who wants to spend hours in the drugstore poring over packaging?
To make things totally easy, we’ve compiled our five favorite aloe vera gels below. You can feel good about purchasing any of these products! Each one is pure, organic, and completely vegan-friendly.
Read on to find the aloe vera gel that’s perfect for you!
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Amara Organics Aloe Vera Gel
Best Overall Pick
If you’re looking for an all-purpose aloe to add to your routine, reach for Amara Organics. The product is 100% natural with no added fragrance, color, or alcohol.
This gel consists of 99.75% organic, cold-pressed aloe vera gel. The remaining .25% is natural preservatives that are necessary to keep the product safe and stable. It’s as close as you can get to breaking a leaf off an aloe plant!
This gel has a thin consistency, which means it’s absorbed quickly by the skin. You won’t have any tacky, sticky residue to deal with after application. That means you can use it before bed or in hot weather without dealing with any mess.
This gel can be used on a variety of issues and ailments. Reviewers note its effect on everything from acne to dandruff to bald spots on pets!
The gel comes in an eight-ounce bottle.
What We Love
The versatility of this gel is unparalleled! Reviewers noted this gel works great as a conditioner for hair, acne treatment, and hair growth treatment. The product is a great option for people who want a good all-around product with no one strong need.
We We Didn’t Like
Some reviewers with very sensitive skin and scalps noted this product caused some itching and reactions. If you struggle with sensitive skin, patch test this product before using it in large amounts.
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Green Leaf Naturals Aloe Vera Gel
Best for the DIYer
It’s no secret that aloe vera makes a great addition to all kinds of beauty products. The plant is often added to things like lotion and creams to soothe skin.
The aloe gel from Green Leaf is the perfect addition to your homemade soaps, lotions, and hair care products. It’s a thin consistency, so it spreads evenly and doesn’t leave any stickiness behind. Many reviewers note it is a perfect carrier oil for essential oils.
This product contains 99.75% organic, cold-pressed aloe (with the other .25% being natural preservatives). It is free of parabens, petrochemicals, dyes, and alcohol. It’s also kid- and pet-safe, cruelty-free, and made in the United States.
Purchasers have several options regarding the size of the bottle. The gel is available in an extra large 16-ounce bottle, all the way down to travel sizes.
What We Love
DIYers love this aloe gel! The thin consistency and purity of the product make it ideal for homemade toiletries. The aloe adds moisturizing qualities to homemade recipes. It also allows you to know exactly what’s going into your beauty products.
We We Didn’t Like
Some reviewers were disappointed by the texture of this product. While technically a “gel,” the aloe is very thin and watery. If you’re looking for a thick, gelatinous product, this is probably not the one for you.
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Aubrey Organics Pure Aloe Vera Gel
Best for Acne Sufferers
Fighting acne the natural way can be an uphill battle. Sometimes, natural remedies are ineffective, while the stuff that works is full of harsh ingredients.
Luckily, the aloe vera gel from Aubrey Organics makes it so you don’t have to choose one or the other!
The product is made from organic aloe leaf juice, grapefruit seed extract, and vitamin E. It has a more liquid texture than a gel, but it’s very effective when used on the face.
Reviewers of all ages swear by this formula to combat acne and irritation. After washing your face at night simply spread a thin layer of this aloe over your face. By morning, many users found their skin looking clearer and brighter.
The Aubrey Organics Aloe comes in a 4 ounce bottle, but a little goes a long way. It should last quite awhile, despite the somewhat small amount.
What We Love
This product is perfect for users across the age spectrum. Everyone from young children to the elderly can see benefits from this aloe. This makes it an especially good choice for families, who may all use the same product. If anything, it helps streamline your medicine cabinet!
We We Didn’t Like
While this is effective against acne, it is on the drying side. Some users found this to be a little too astringent, so be sure to patch test on a small area. You’ll also want to use a moisturizer as part of your routine.
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Lily of the Desert Aloe Vera Gelly
Best All-Over Soothing
One of aloe’s best benefits is its ability to soothe itchy and irritated skin. Lily of the Desert’s Aloe Gelly is great to have on hand when bug bites, sun damage, and irritation threaten to ruin the day.
The product consists of 99% organic aloe leaf and is free of parabens. The aloe has a light, barely noticeable scent, so those sensitive to fragrance can use it without worry.
The aloe provides instant relief on contact, hydrating the top three layers of skin. So, not only does it help the itching and irritation, but it actually repairs skin and keeps it healthy. Reviewers love that this moisturizes skin instead of drying it out.
Another huge benefit of this aloe is the price. It’s extremely affordable, especially considering it’s an organic, natural product.
The aloe gel comes in a 12-ounce bottle, which makes it perfect for large families. You can also use it as a single person or couple, to ensure you’re stocked up for a long time.
What We Love
The price of this aloe gel alone makes it worth it. Even the tightest, leanest budgets will be able to afford this gel. Add it to your beach bag for summer trips to the beach, or keep it on hand to combat shaving irritation.
We We Didn’t Like
The caveat of a very moisturizing aloe means it leaves a bit of a sticky residue. Some reviewers were disappointed that this didn’t evaporate quickly, which makes it hard to use before bed or on sandy beaches.
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Best for Sunburn
For me, aloe vera gel will always be the first thing I turn to for sunburn. My mom used it when I was a kid, and I continue to use it as an adult.
Radha Beauty’s aloe vera gel is my #1 pick for sunburn. It has only three ingredients – organic, cold-pressed aloe, carbomer (a thickener), and vitamin C. A completely natural product; it’s safe to use around children and pets.
The aloe provides an immediate cooling sensation and instant relief after prolonged sun explore, making it perfect for summertime use.
Reviewers love the convenient packaging this comes in. The pump-style bottle allows for easy dispensing so that you can get the product out with minimal mess.
The texture of this aloe is also a winner. It doesn’t leave any sticky residue and evaporates quickly. That means you can use it before bed without getting the product on your clothes.
The aloe comes in an 8-ounce bottle. You can use the pump dispenser, or leave the screw-cap top on.
What We Love
The texture of this aloe vera gel is everything you want sunburn relief to be – soothing, light, and cool. The texture evaporates quickly and doesn’t leave any greasy, sticky residue. Keep one in your beach bag!
We We Didn’t Like
Some users with very sensitive skin found this aloe vera gel irritating. If you have very sensitive skin that’s prone to rashes and irritation, be sure to spot check this on a small area first.
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The Soothing Power of Aloe
It’s amazing how many benefits come from the single aloe plant. Skin conditions like acne and psoriasis are no match for aloe! Itchy scalp? Dandruff? Put some aloe on it! Dry winter skin? Sunburn! Aloe, aloe, aloe!
Of course, like any natural product, it’s important to choose the best quality you can find. After all, you’re rubbing this into your skin! If you wouldn’t eat it, or you wouldn’t want to rub a chemical onto your skin, you shouldn’t use toiletries that include them.
By choosing a natural, organic aloe, you’re making good decisions for your health. An added benefit is that natural, organic products are safe to use on kids and pets.
It’s easy to find an aloe gel that’s well-suited to a healthy, vegan lifestyle by using the guidelines we’ve provided. However, we think you’ll love the products on our top 5 as much as we do!
Keep a bottle on hand for shaving irritation, sunburns, or just for some added moisture. Harness the power of plants!
I recently purchased Holland & barrett certified aloe Vera gel and it states 99.9% . Did you get to review this at all or was it not good enough to make the list? I would like to know whether to stop using it and get the amara organics brand instead if it’s indeed the best on the market? Thanks in advance
Hey Dela – we haven’t had a look at that brand. If the brand fits the criteria we’ve laid out on the page, then I’m sure it is good quality.
Amara, is merely 1 of 5 on our list that we like. Choosing any of the 5 would be a good purchase in our opinion.
Best of luck!
Thank you so much for making this list! It is such a headache trying to do my own research and figure out which brands actually sell good-quality aloe gel that isn’t full of artificial ingredients and preservatives and tested on animals. This list saved me so much time and energy. Thanks again!
Hello and thank you for your sharing your research.
Which one would you say has the thickest gel like consistency?
Many thanks
THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH for all this wonderful information & the various recommended products for various reasons! I’m so glad there are vegan, organic, cruelty-free products out there & so thankful for this website! I’m definitely coming on this website more often!