Rowan & Thistle

PLATE No. 002

Ingredient Collection

Aloe Vera

Aloe barbadensis

Botanical plate of Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis): a mature rosette of thick, toothed gray-green leaves, a spike of yellow tubular flowers, unopened buds, a young plant, a leaf cut lengthwise and a slab of clear inner leaf gel.

Figure Key

  • Fig. 1 Mature plant
  • Fig. 2 Open flower spike (infloresense)
  • Fig. 3 Unopened flower bud
  • Fig. 4 Young plant
  • Fig. 5 Longitudinal leaf section
  • Fig. 6 Inner leaf tissue

The Ingredient

Aloe vera is built for survival. Its thick leaves store water in a clear inner gel, helping the plant endure hot, dry conditions. That same water-rich interior contains a complex mixture of naturally occurring sugars, amino acids, minerals, and other plant compounds that have made aloe a longtime favorite for soothing and conditioning skin and hair.

From Plant to Ingredient

  1. Aloe Vera, step 1 — Aloe Plant: an aloe rosette of thick, toothed gray-green leaves.

    1. Aloe Plant

    Thick succulent leaves store water to help the plant survive dry conditions.

  2. Aloe Vera, step 2 — Inner Leaf: an aloe leaf split lengthwise to show the clear gel inside.

    2. Inner Leaf

    Inside each leaf is the clear, water-rich portion used to make our aloe ingredient.

  3. Aloe Vera, step 3 — Aloe Juice: a smear of translucent pale green aloe juice.

    3. Aloe Juice

    The inner leaf provides the aloe juice from which the concentrated ingredient begins.

  4. Aloe Vera, step 4 — Aloe Powder: a small heap of fine off-white powder.

    4. Aloe Powder

    Removing the water leaves a fine, concentrated aloe powder.

Why We Chose It

Aloe brings together two things dry or stressed-feeling skin and hair need most: moisture and comfort. It helps attract and hold moisture while soothing dry, uncomfortable-feeling skin, and provides lightweight conditioning for dry hair without relying on a heavy oil or butter.

What You'll Notice

  • Moisture Support — Helps skin and hair attract and hold onto moisture.
  • Soothing Comfort — Helps calm the feel of dry, stressed skin.
  • Lightweight Conditioning — Adds moisture support without a heavy or greasy feel.

Botanical Profile

Scientific Name
Aloe barbadensis
INCI Name
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Plant Part Used
Inner leaf
Final Ingredient
Concentrated Powder
Origin
Mexico, China

A Closer Look

Aloe doesn’t always arrive looking like aloe. The clear, water-rich inner leaf can be processed into juice and concentrated into a fine powder by removing the water. What remains is a remarkably compact form of a plant famous for being full of water.

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