The first known uses of the aloe vera plant date back almost six thousand years to ancient Egypt. Ancient Egyptians considered nourishing aloe juice a sacred element. It was known as the plant of eternity, lauded for its anti-inflammatory effects, and beloved by queens like Cleopatra and Nefertiti.
The aloe vera plant originated in the Arabian desert, where conditions are hot and dry. As a succulent, aloe vera holds onto water, and can survive for up to seven years without rain. The gel inside aloe’s juicy, green limbs is used in supplements, beverages, and of course, beauty products.