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( 13 customer reviews )
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7 of 7 found the following review helpful:
Multipurpose WonderOct 28, 2009
By S. A. Carpenter I use this gel for everything skin (it moisturizes and soothes) and hair (its all natural feels good on the scalp and gives it a healthy shine. I read in a book about its great effects on hair).
Also unlike with other brands Lily of the Valley is certified organic 99% Aloe Vera, while most other brands contain mostly water and only small traces of Aloe Vera. This is an absolutely great product.
6 of 6 found the following review helpful:
SoothingNov 18, 2007
By Angela Katsavavakis Aloe Vera has many uses. I mainly bought this gel for shaving. I know it sounds strange, but I am trying to go as natural as possible and I read that shaving with aloe vera gel works good. So I wanted to give it a try and it does work. I also have very sensitive skin. And with this gel I don't get irritated after shaving. You just need to apply plenty so that the blade slides smoothly. Now I have a product that serves different purposes and I like that. I don't like keeping an item just for one use.
18 of 24 found the following review helpful:
One of the Better I Have Tried... Buyer Beware NonethelessAug 04, 2010
By over and under Growing up on the beaches of Southern California with an Irish/English/German heritage wasn't the easiest thing when it came to skin care. That's why I was elated when in the 1980's lotion companies realized that aloe vera was the way to go when it came to saving one's skin.
When the market began to move in this direction, almost every lotion manafacturer took a stab at marketing their own aloe vera lotion. The results were, I'm sorry to say, hit and miss. One common mistake companies made (and still do) was the inclusion of artificial color in their gel. This was done to produce a green-colored lotion (the actual color of aloe vera gel is clear, sometimes almost translucent - anything but green). Maybe it tested well, who knows, but I can say the less artificial color in a product the better, especially if you're allergic to it.
But coloring was only the tip of the iceberg. It got much worse over time.
The biggest sin of modern aloe vera gels has been the inclusion of unneeded chemicals, some of which have been proven to be quite harmful to one's health. I was a big fan of Fruit of the Earth and its products until Japanese researchers released reports showing the carcinogenic qualities of Triethanolamine. Then there was "perservatives/antimicrobials DMDM Hydantoin and Diazolidinyl Urea; chemicals [that] work by releasing Formaldehyde into the product, which kills any microbes and is great for the product... but not so great for you, because Formaldehyde is a potent carcinogen as well as an irritant that can cause allergic reactions."
Ouch. All of which makes Fruit of the Earth one of the most ironically named companies around.
Lily of the Desert, on the other hand, produces some decent gel, but its past inclusion of Carrageenan in products is/was a cause for concern. Researchers have shown that this substance may play a role in the development of colon cancer and inflammatory bowel disorders. Of course, Carrageenan has been used in food since the 1930's and since most research has been directed at the ingestion of this substance, I'm not sure what the result of topical application might be. Whatever the case, I'm guessing it ain't good.
Recent products from Lily of the Desert would appear to exclude this substance, evidence perhaps that the company is responding to feedback. The more recent use of phenoxyethanol and lactoperoxidase as perservatives may have some raising their eyebrows, but a quick study on the pair assuages any fear you might have.
But the effects of aloe vera on one's skin cannot be disputed. It is, as many have said, a miracle substance, one of which we are only now beginning to learn the benefits. My advice is to look for the most natural gel you can find. I was going to suggest the brand that Trader Joe's produces, but having looked at its ingredients, I find that it too contains Diazolidinyl Urea. Not a good sign for a so-called "natural only" store.
There are always others out there. Keep looking!
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
All Natural AloeOct 02, 2010
By B. Baker This product was exactly what I was looking for: aloe vera without any cancer-causing preservatives (according to [...]). The gel consistency is adequate and the scent is pretty agreeable.
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
Fantastic, even on bug bites.Aug 06, 2010
By -a I got this product for dry skin areas and I have found that it even works great on mosquito bits, making the itch go away in minutes. I also love that a little of it goes such a long way. It works great on sunburn too, I'll have to try some in my hair as others have mentioned sometime.
based on 13 reviews
( 13 customer reviews )
