DIY: Aloe Vera & Alcohol Hand Sanitizer

Hey friends, it’s Rachael, excited to share one of my fave recipes for using the healing ALOE VERA plant and a recipe for you to make your very own hand sanitizer during this crazy time when hand sanitizer is pretty much liquid gold!

all about aloe vera

Aloe vera is a succulent – as are all species of Aloe – since they store water in their thickened leaves. Aloe vera likely originated in Sudan but is now found in warm to tropical climates around the world – like here in the Southeastern US, Mexico, Australia, South America, the Caribbean, China and even Southern Europe. It is believed that people brought these plants back to their native homes and cultivated them in part to their ease of growth, but also mainly due to the many medicinal benefits these plants provide.

This popular succulent is often called the “medicine plant” due to the powerful gel found within its leaves. It’s been used for hundreds of thousands of years - in fact Cleopatra was said to have used copious amounts of aloe vera in her beauty regimen.

Aloe Vera gel can be both applied topically as a remedy for skin irritations and burns, or ingested to promote health from the inside out. Aloe vera’s powerful gel contains over 75 antioxidants, vitamins and amino acids. When applied topically to burns and scrapes, pain subsides and healing is boosted. When ingested it can promote healthy skin and hair while also fighting inflammations, bacterial infections, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and even cancer. (SOURCE)

Personally I don’t drink the aloe vera gel. I don’t feel a need for it and really don’t like the way it tastes. But I do love using aloe vera for quick first aid - like burns and scrapes, rashes and even my dog’s hot spots! I also love making face and hair masks with the gel as the main ingredient.

Along with the medicinal benefits of the leaves, Aloe vera are great air purifiers, cleansing the air of many harmful indoor air toxins such as benzene and formaldehyde (which are often off-gassed by-products of common chemical based cleaners, paints and furniture materials). In fact, aloe vera are one of the plants identified as powerhouse air purifiers by NASA (SOURCE) . It is recommended to have 1 plant per 100 square feet of interior space for most effective air purification results. The larger the plants the more purification potential.

Aloe Vera & Alcohol Hand Sanitizer

WIth the world dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, I felt it a great time to post this quick and easy tutorial for making your own clean and effective hand sanitizer.

This recipe will make you about 10-12 ounces of hand sanitizer.

YOU WILL NEED:

12 Tbsps of Rubbing Alcohol (I prefer 70%)
6 Tbsps of Aloe Vera gel (equal to amount of gel within two large aloe vera leaves)
2-3 tsps of Vitamin E oil
20 drops of Lavender Essential Oils*
10 drops of Lemon or Tea Tree (Melaleuca) Essential oils*
any kind of blender
small glass spray bottles
a small funnel is really helpful
*Essential oils are not necessary but are highly recommended. They add pleasurable smells along with their own purifying and cleansing chemical components. If using lemon essential oils be careful in the sun, as lemon eo can cause reactions to the skin in the sun

In your blender combine all the above ingredients.

Blend into all is evenly blended through.

Pour into smaller vessels (a funnel is definitely useful here). For extended use store extra in fridge.

Be sure to shake well before each use, as ingredients will separate when not in use.

And remember friends, stay home, stay calm and clean your hands!!!