RELATED ARTICLE: 9 ways to use Aloe Vera for skin and hair

Tips for finding dermatologist-recommended

1. 100% purity is not possible

The most important thing you should look for while buying aloe vera gel is “the ingredient list”.

It should NOT read “100% pure aloe vera gel.”

100% pure aloe vera gel is NOT possible. Aloe vera gel extracted from the plant has a thin consistency and cannot stay without preservatives. Therefore, thickener and preservatives are necessary to make aloe vera gel that can withstand packing, storage and transportation wear and tear.

2. Natural thickeners like Xanthum gum or seaweed

Following thickeners are used for making aloe vera gel:

• Carbomer (safe, but synthetic): Carbomer is a synthetic thickener. It is used for making most of the aloe vera gels available in the market.
• Xanthan gum (safer, Natural): Xanthan gum is a naturally derived thickening agent. It works at a concentration of less than 1%. That is why pure aloe vera gel would mention “99%” on their pack rather than 100%.
• Seaweed (Safest, Natural and anti-aging): Seaweed not only thickens aloe vera juice but also has anti-aging and anti-inflammatory benefits.

3. Safe preservatives like potassium sorbate

Aloe vera will go stale without preservatives. Avoid preservatives like parabens and formaldehyde releasers. Go for safer preservatives like TLC, potassium sorbate, malic acid, etc.

4. Should be transparent

You should avoid color additives. If aloe vera gel is green and NOT transparent, do not buy it!

5. Fragrance-free

Avoid aloe vera gel that smells floral. That means it has added synthetic perfumes. Aloe vera gel has a mild fresh fragrance, despite the absence of fragrances.

6. Avoid open-jar packing

Aloe vera gel oxidises on exposure to the air. I prefer packing with the following specification:

• Air-tight packing: Flip-open bottles, tubes, or pump packing does not expose aloe vera to air. Avoid open jar packs because they expose Aloe vera to the air, and you must dig your finger into the aloe vera in an open jar. This increases the chances of contamination.
• Tinted or opaque bottles are better than transparent ones.
• Glass packing is better than plastic. Chemicals from plastic like BPA might enter aloe vera gel, especially when the gel gets heated during transport or storage.

DERMATOLOGISTS RECOMMENDED ALOE VERA GEL IN INDIA

•  99% pure aloe vera gel
• Xanthan gum is a safe thickening agent.
• Potassium sorbate is a safe preservative.
• Tinted flip-open bottle packing.

Available ON AMAZON.IN

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.IN 

•  99% pure aloe vera gel
• In addition, it has glycerine, Vitamin E, allantoin, and Sodium PCA as hydrating and soothing ingredients.
• Xanthan gum is a safe thickening agent.
• Potassium sorbate is a safe preservative.
• Pump packing
• Has IFRA-certified allergen-free fragrance

Mamaearth Aloe Turmeric Gel

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.IN

This is the second variant of Mama earth aloe vera gel. It has turmeric in addition to all the benefits listed in the above variant of this gel. This can be used for acne-prone skin.

DERMATOLOGISTS RECOMMENDED ALOE VERA GEL IN US, UK, AND CANADA

Interestingly, popular aloe vera gel brands contain carbomer as a thickener, formaldehyde releasers as preservatives, and chemical additives. We have listed only those brands that display the complete ingredient list and fulfil our criteria.

Seven Minerals aloe vera gel

Seven Minerals tops our list because it is the only brand with seaweed as a thickening agent. Seaweed has anti-ageing and anti-inflammatory benefits. All other brands use Xanthum gum as the thickening agent. Like other brands listed below, it is 99% pure aloe vera gel. Potassium sorbate is a preservative.  Tinted flip-open bottle packing preserves the potency of aloe vera.

INGREDIENT LIST: USA Grown Organic Aloe Vera, Agar (natural thickener), Citric acid (to stabilise pH), Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), Potassium sorbate (for 2-year shelf life). Does NOT contain CARRAGEENAN.

Available online in:

• United States: Amazon.com 
• United Kingdom: Amazon.co.uk