People today are concerned about having a youthful appearance. Most TV commercial actors are below the age of 50. Most of us visit the dermatologist for Botox injections, chemical peels, facial fillers, and facelifts to reduce wrinkles and skin damage in order to look younger. What if we could accomplish this in a more natural way without the risk of side effects. This encouraged me to visit the Aloe Factory and Museum in Aruba.
The tour of the Aloe Factory and Museum was in English and included an audiovisual presentation which highlighted the history of the brand and how the aloe is processed to make their skin care products. Aruba has the perfect climate to grow the aloe plant. The plant requires lots of sunshine and dry soil. Aloe Vera has been revered for its medicinal and beauty enhancing properties. Some know it as “The Plant of immortality”, “Lilly of the Desert” and “The Medicinal Plant.” In Aruba, the plant is knows has Aloe, but the original name, Aloe Vera, was given to the plant by Swedish botanist Carl Von Linne in 1720.
The thick leaves of the Aloe plant are 20-24 inches high. The leaves are pale green and have points along their leaves.. A shoot can be removed from the mother plant and will grow into a full plant within a year. The leaves are removed by hand and assisted by some machinery. The workers then remove the gel -like substance which is then soaked in water. The Gel is then centrifuged and mixed with other beauty enhancing extracts.There is testing to insure safety of the product (there is no animal testing). The company has a research and development department.
Aloe accelerates the healing of wounds and burns. It prevents scarring of the skin and is used after patients have undergone cancer radiation therapy. Aloe relieves muscle soreness, moisturizing the skin and has anti aging effects on the skin. It’s anti inflammatory properties relieve itching from allergies, rashes and mosquito bites. It can have a positive effect on the immune system. When taken orally, it can relieve digestive upset and constipation.
The Aruba Aloe Company has an online store where one can order their lotions, creams, soaps, body washes and bath salts (arubaaloe.com). They ship to 65 countries. Not only does this company offer a great quality product but is also environmentally friendly, using every part of the plant. The unused portions of the plant are grinding up to use a compost (plant fertilizer).