Aloe Vera

The aloe vera plant is succulent, so it stores water in its leaves, and can stay hydrated in dry weather by closing its pores to prevent moisture loss. The ancient Egyptians called it the “plant of immortality.” It was featured in stone carvings and was among the numerous gifts presented to deceased pharaohs to accompany them on their journey to the underworld. A simple way to extract pure, cooling aloe vera gel is by pulling the leaf of an aloe vera plant from the base, slitting it lengthwise along the edge, then scraping the gel with a spoon.