no time to write - too much going on - have also contracted writers block in my spare time - be back...
no time to write - too much going on - have also contracted writers block in my spare time - be back when i can...
Member since:16.09.2002
Reviews:65
Members who trust:60
I first bought this as a friend recommended keeping some in the house – ‘it’s like vaseline’ she said, ‘vital.’ It didn’t take too much to convince me, I’ve heard that it has a variety of uses and decided to give it a go.
I bought my bottle from Boots - £5.99 for 450ml may sound like a bit more costly than necessary but a little does go a long way and I’ve had my bottle for quite a while and still not really made a big dent on the contents.
The bottle itself is tall and clear so you can see the bright green gel inside which is full of little air bubbles. The colour itself reminds me of swarfega or luminescent pine bath foam! The only slight complaint I have about the design, is that whilst the top is a pump action dispenser and this works very well – it’s easy to use and you can control the amount you dispense easily – the top cannot be turned or adjusted in any way to stop it being able to be dispensed and therefore the bottle itself is not good for transporting.
I have managed to get round this little problem though –
I have an old shampoo sample bottle which I fill when I want to take some anywhere with me – job done!
Quite a bit of info can be found out about the gel just from reading the bottle. It claims to be able to help soothe and soften sunburned and irritated skin and be the same as having an aloe leaf in a bottle. This product is recommended for all skin types and can be used all year round to help relieve all sorts of things, including – sunburned/windburned skin, dry, rough or weathered skin, skin irritation and sensitive skin problems.
I personally have also used it on insect bites, burns and heat rashes and have seen people slather it on after spending too long in the sun and burning with great results as it seems to settle the condition and whilst being soothing and cooling it helps to stop peeling and redness.
The gel itself has a surprisingly thin consistency with lots of little air bubbles locked into it and the gel naturally feels cooling on application to the skin (guaranteed to help soothe straight away). A little of this stuff goes a long way and it spreads well.
It does smell slightly ‘medical’ though, a bit like germoline. It rubs into the skin quite well but I tend to leave a thin layer on top of the skin and allow it to finish absorbing naturally to help cool and soothe.
Apply applying in this manner, the skin is left with a slight shine and is very slightly sticky to touch. The smell does linger quite noticeably for about 5 minutes but fades almost completely after 10 so you’re not left smelling like the walking wounded either and it could be applied before going out after showering as once its fully absorbed the shine and the stickiness are both gone too.
This product is also the winner of the 2001 and 2002 Boots Health and Beauty Award in the aftersun category for calming and soothing.
The directions for use on the bottle suggest applying daily and at bedtime to the face, throat and body and reapplying as required. I just generally use it as and when, but it does make a great aftersun product.
It’s also pretty much just aloe vera gel in a bottle, apart from the necessary stabilisers and required preservatives – that’s all there is to it. The best before date is over 15 years away so there’s no chance that I won’t get round to finishing the bottle before it spoils either!
I thought that I would have a nosey to check out any other uses for aloe vera to get the most out of my bottle and found that is really is versatile and has quite a history.
The aloe vera gel comes from the plant of the same name (picture below), which is made up from huge slightly spikey looking leaves. There are no stalks or woody parts to this plant and it is apparently kept upright by the water pressure of the gel. When a leaf is slashed across with a sharp knife the gel can be found within, The plant itself will film over the wound and coat itself to avoid losing moisture before healing itself completely.
It is thought that aloe vera has been used for its medicinal values for over 3,500 years! The earliest documented use was by King Solomon and the ancient Egyptians who grew and valued it highly. Apparently even Alexander the Great conquered the island of Socotra in order to have aloe for his army. Marco Polo was also a fan of this stuff as well as the Aztecs – surely so many people can’t be wrong?
But enough of the history lesson, aloe vera has been used in many forms for many different things over the years, including pain relief for haemorrhoids, controlling female yeast infections and reducing scarring. It is also said to aid new tissue growth and alleviate the advance of skin cancer and help treat ringworm, boils, inflamed joints, scalds, itchy allergic reactions, insect stings and bites.
No wonder my friend thought it was essential!
It should be pointed out at this stage that the research mentioned above was not done in complete accordance to the product from Banana Boat on which this review is based. Therefore I would suggest consulting a doctor for any initial complaints you may have and not using this gel in those circumstances which could be deemed serious unless advised to by your GP.
Got brutally burnt on hol last year (all my own fault, refused to swim with a t-shirt on) and this stuff saved my life! good review :)
debsjeans 04.10.2004 22:30
Sounds like great stuff I have a rash ( could be heat rash) on my legs and arm I might give it a go.
Deborah
Liney_1973 04.10.2004 16:56
I had an aloe vera plant until recently, I don't know why but it went all droopy on me. seem to have that effect quite often on things!!! lol
Very interesting review I have some in my cupboard which I usually use as after sun on holidays.
Liney x
Banana Boat Aloe Vera Gel Barrel 230ml: The powerful Banana Boat Aftersuns contain pure ... more
Aloe vera leaf juice perfect for soothing and moisturising sundrenched skin. Easy to apply with different formats, they absorb quickly, replenish lost moisture and ...
Postage & Packaging: GBP0.00 Availability: refer to website
Advantages: Great for sunburn, reasonably priced if you shop around, leaves skin feeling soft and smooth, feels cool to the touch, spreads easily, lasts forever! Disadvantages: Can be expensive if you do not shop around, the kids keep pinching it!
Advantages: Great for sunburn, reasonably priced if you shop around, leaves skin feeling soft and smooth, feels cool to the touch, spreads easily, lasts forever! Disadvantages: Can be expensive if you do not shop around, the kids keep pinching it!
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