What is aloe vera in skincare?
Aloe vera is a succulent whose leaves hold a clear inner gel made up of around 99% water plus polysaccharides, amino acids, vitamins, enzymes and salicylates. That gel is what goes into skincare.
It has been used medicinally for thousands of years, and it remains one of the few traditional botanicals with a reasonable modern evidence base – particularly for wound healing and skin repair.
What skin concerns does aloe vera treat?
It is best known for soothing sunburn, minor burns, cuts and irritation, where its anti-inflammatory and cooling action gives immediate relief. Its polysaccharides act as humectants, so it also hydrates without any greasiness.
Studies support a role in accelerating cutaneous wound healing, and its mild antibacterial activity makes it a useful gentle option for inflamed, acne-prone skin that cannot tolerate stronger actives.
What ingredients are best paired with aloe vera?
It works as a lightweight hydrating base under almost anything: pair it with hyaluronic acid and glycerin for hydration, ceramides and squalane to seal it in, and niacinamide or centella asiatica for extra calming.
Because aloe is mostly water, it needs a moisturiser over the top or the hydration evaporates. A small number of people are allergic, so patch test first – and choose a formula high in aloe rather than one where it sits near the end of the list. Take our Skin Quiz.
What is hormonal acne?
Hormonal acne is acne whose timing and pattern track with hormonal activity rather than with cleansing habits or diet alone. It typically appears along the lower face – jawline, chin and upper neck – as deep, tender papules and cysts that flare on a predictable cycle.
It is most recognisable in adult women, where breakouts often arrive in the week before menstruation and settle again afterwards.
What causes hormonal acne?
Androgens – testosterone and DHT in particular – bind to receptors on the sebaceous gland and increase sebum production. When androgen activity rises or oestrogen falls, oil output climbs and follicles clog more readily.
Menstrual cycles, starting or stopping contraception, pregnancy, perimenopause and PCOS are the usual contexts. Stress raises cortisol, which amplifies the same pathway. Persistent hormonal acne with irregular cycles or excess hair growth is worth investigating medically.
What ingredients are best for hormonal acne?
Retinoids are the most effective topical, because they stop the plug forming regardless of how much oil is being produced. Azelaic acid reduces inflammation and the marks that follow, and niacinamide helps regulate sebum.
Salicylic acid keeps pores clear between flares, and benzoyl peroxide targets bacteria in inflamed lesions. Because hormonal acne is driven from the inside, topicals manage rather than cure it – consistency across the whole cycle beats spot-treating during a flare. Take our Skin Quiz.
