Making Your Own Aloe Gel: DIY Guide

How to Make Aloe Vera Gel at Home (Using Fresh Aloe or DIY Naturally Aloe Vera Gel Liquid)

Aloe vera gel is one of the most versatile ingredients in natural skincare. It can be used as a soothing after-sun treatment, a lightweight facial hydrator, a calming ingredient for irritated skin, and even as a simple hair-smoothing gel.

Making your own aloe gel at home is a rewarding DIY project because it allows you to control exactly what goes into the final product. Whether you’re harvesting fresh aloe from your garden or using the convenient Aloe Vera Gel available from DIY Naturally, you’ll end up with a simple, effective product that can become the foundation for many future formulations.

Why Make Your Own Aloe Gel?

Many commercial aloe gels contain multiple additives, synthetic thickeners, colourants, fragrances, and preservatives. While many of these ingredients are perfectly safe, some DIY makers prefer a simpler formulation with ingredients they fully understand.

By making your own aloe gel, you can:

• Control exactly what goes into the formula
• Avoid unnecessary additives
• Create a customised product for your skin’s needs
• Learn valuable formulation skills
• Build confidence as a DIY skincare maker

If you’re new to formulating, our beginner’s guide to skincare formulation is an excellent place to start.

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Option 1: Making Aloe Gel from a Fresh Aloe Vera Leaf

What You’ll Need

Ingredients

• 1 mature aloe vera leaf

Equipment

• Sharp knife
• Chopping board
• Spoon
• Blender
• Fine mesh strainer or muslin cloth
• Sterilised container

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Before You Start: Cleanliness Matters

Aloe vera gel contains a large amount of water, which makes it susceptible to bacterial, yeast, and mould growth.

Before beginning:

• Wash your hands thoroughly
• Clean your work surface
• Sterilise all equipment
• Allow containers and utensils to dry completely

Good manufacturing practices start with proper sanitation.

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Step 1: Prepare the Aloe Leaf

1. Rinse the leaf under cool running water.
2. Trim away the spined edges.
3. Remove the tip.
4. Stand the leaf upright in a container for 10 to 15 minutes.

This allows the yellow latex to drain away.

Why This Step Is Important

The yellow sap found beneath the outer skin contains aloin, which can cause irritation in some people. Removing as much of this material as possible helps produce a gentler final product.

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Step 2: Extract the Gel

1. Lay the leaf flat.
2. Carefully slice away one side of the outer skin.
3. Scoop out the clear inner gel with a spoon.
4. Avoid scraping too close to the green skin.

If any yellow latex remains visible, gently rinse the gel with purified or distilled water.

Careful filleting usually removes most of the aloin-containing material without requiring extensive washing.

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Step 3: Blend and Strain

1. Place the gel into a blender.
2. Blend for 10 to 20 seconds.
3. Avoid over-blending, as this introduces excess air.
4. Strain through muslin or a fine mesh sieve to remove any fibrous pieces.

Transfer immediately to a sanitised container.

At this stage, you have pure aloe vera gel, but it is not yet preserved.

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Why Preservation Is Essential

This is the most important section of the entire process.

Fresh aloe gel is highly perishable. Without a suitable broad-spectrum preservative, microbial contamination can develop rapidly.

An unpreserved aloe gel should generally be treated as a fresh product and kept refrigerated. Even then, its shelf life is extremely limited.

Common Preservatives

Choosing the right preservative is essential for any aloe vera gel or water-based skincare product. Aloe gel provides an ideal environment for bacteria, yeast, and mould growth, so a broad-spectrum preservative is strongly recommended. Products containing water or water-based ingredients should always be properly preserved for safety and stability.

DIY Naturally stocks several preservative options suitable for different formulation needs:

Euxyl K903

INCI: Benzyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Tocopherol

Euxyl K903 is a popular broad-spectrum preservative suitable for many natural and naturally inspired skincare formulations. It is commonly used in water-based products such as gels, lotions, creams, and serums.

Saliguard BDHA

INCI: Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid

Saliguard BDHA is a preservative system frequently used in natural skincare products. It offers broad-spectrum protection and is suitable for a variety of water-containing formulations.

Geogard Ultra™

INCI: Gluconolactone (and) Sodium Benzoate

Geogard Ultra™ is a widely used preservative accepted by many formulators seeking naturally derived preservation systems. In addition to preservation, gluconolactone can contribute mild moisturising and skin-conditioning benefits.

Euxyl K712

INCI: Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Aqua

Euxyl K712 is a preservative blend designed for water-based cosmetic products. Because sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate are pH-dependent preservatives, careful pH control is important when using this system.

Euxyl ECO 910

INCI: Benzyl Alcohol, Cymbopogon flexuosus Herb Oil, Tocopherol

Euxyl ECO 910 is a naturally derived preservation system that can be used in a range of natural skincare formulations and is especially popular among formulators seeking alternatives aligned with natural product positioning.

Preservative Boosters and Supporting Ingredients

DIY Naturally also stocks ingredients such as:

• Pentylene Glycol
• 1,3-Propanediol
• Potassium Sorbate
• Sodium Gluconate
• Sodium Citrate

These ingredients may help support formulation stability or preservation strategies but should not automatically be considered complete broad-spectrum preservative systems on their own. Always follow the supplier’s recommended usage rates, pH requirements, and compatibility guidelines for your chosen preservative.

Important: No single preservative is ideal for every formula. The effectiveness of a preservative depends on factors such as pH, ingredient selection, packaging, manufacturing hygiene, and finished product testing. Always follow the manufacturer’s usage recommendations and, for commercial products, consider professional stability and preservative efficacy testing.

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Vitamin E Is Not a Preservative

This is one of the most common formulation myths.

Vitamin E (tocopherol):

✅ Helps protect oils against oxidation

✅ Provides antioxidant benefits

❌ Does not prevent bacterial growth

❌ Does not prevent mould growth

❌ Cannot preserve water-based products

If your recipe contains water, aloe vera, hydrosols, extracts, or any other water-based ingredients, you need a proper preservative system.

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Option 2: Making Aloe Gel Using DIY Naturally Aloe Vera Gel

For many DIY makers, using a ready-made aloe gel base is simpler, cleaner, and more consistent than processing fresh leaves.

DIY Naturally’s Aloe Vera Gel provides a convenient starting point for creating customised aloe products.

Simple Soothing Aloe Gel Formula

Formula (100g Batch)

Phase A

• Aloe Vera Gel: 98.%
• Vitamin E Natural: 0.5%

Phase B

• Euxyl K903: 1.0%
• Lavender Essential Oil: 0.5%

Method

1. Sanitise all equipment.
2. Weigh the Aloe Vera Gel into a mixing container.
3. Add Vitamin E and stir thoroughly.
4. Add the preservative according to supplier instructions.
5. Mix until uniform.
6. Package into a sanitised pump bottle.
7. Label with manufacture date.

This creates a simple, beginner-friendly soothing aloe gel suitable for general skin use.

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Customising Your Aloe Gel

Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can personalise your formulation.

Essential Oils

Lavender and tea tree are popular additions.

For facial products:

• 0.25-0.5% is generally a sensible starting point for beginners.

Higher levels may increase the risk of irritation, especially for sensitive skin.

Vitamin E

A small amount can provide antioxidant support and improve skin feel.

Remember that it is not a preservative.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide is commonly incorporated into facial gels at 2-5%.

If working with active ingredients, ensure the final formula remains within the recommended pH range for the ingredient being used.

When starting out, keep formulations simple and only add one new active ingredient at a time.

Adding Oils

Jojoba oil is a popular choice.

However, there is an important formulation consideration:

Aloe vera gel is water-based.

Jojoba oil is oil-based.

Without a suitable solubiliser or emulsifier, the oil will separate from the gel.

For best results:

• Use an appropriate solubiliser when incorporating oils
• Or shake before each use if separation occurs

This is an excellent opportunity to learn about solubilisers and emulsification in skincare formulation.

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How to Store Aloe Vera Gel

Best Containers

• Pump bottles
• Airless bottles
• Sterilised jars with tight-fitting lids

Pump packaging is often preferred because it reduces contamination from repeated finger contact.

Storage Conditions

Store your product:

• In a cool, dry location
• Away from direct sunlight
• Away from excessive heat

During hot South African summers, refrigeration can provide a more refreshing application experience and help maintain product quality.

Always follow the recommended shelf-life guidance provided for your chosen preservative system.

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When to Discard Your Aloe Gel

Stop using the product immediately if you notice:

• Sour or unpleasant odour
• Colour changes
• Visible mould
• Excessive separation
• Swelling or pressure inside the container
• Unexpected skin irritation

When in doubt, throw it out.

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Patch Testing Is Important

Before applying any new product to larger areas of skin:

1. Apply a small amount to the inner forearm.
2. Leave for 24 hours.
3. Monitor for redness, itching, or irritation.

This is especially important when using essential oils or active ingredients.

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Ways to Use Aloe Vera Gel

After-Sun Relief

Apply generously to sun-exposed skin for a cooling sensation.

Lightweight Daily Moisturiser

Ideal for oily and combination skin types.

Hair Smoother

Apply a small amount to help tame frizz and flyaways.

DIY Skincare Base

Use as a starting point for:

• Facial gels
• After-sun products
• Hydrating serums
• Cooling body gels
• Sheet mask essences

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Ready to Make Your Own Aloe Gel?

Whether you’re harvesting aloe from your garden or starting with DIY Naturally’s convenient Aloe Vera Gel, creating your own soothing aloe products is an excellent way to develop your formulation skills.

Browse our range of Aloe Vera Gel, natural preservatives, Vitamin E oil, essential oils, solubilisers, and other DIY skincare ingredients to start creating formulations tailored to your needs.