Composition: Aloe vera belongs to the Ashpodelaceae family (Reference one [R1], Aloe vera, n.d.), though gaining this status only recently being technically considered family Liliaceae previously. (Reference two [R2], The genus aloe, 2009) The aloe vera plant has roots and a stem-like base (caudex) which the thick leaves grow from on a central rosette. The aloe vera plant also grows flowers on tall stalks. (R1) (Reference three [R3], MD Irfan and Devi, 2024) The leaves of the aloe vera plant house the gel within its three layers: a rind, a middle layer often referred to as latex, and an inner pulp, or fillet, which contains the gel. (Reference four [R4], Surjushe et al., 2008) (Reference five [R5], Maylis, 2021) (Reference six [R6], Advantages of aloe vera gel: inner fillet vs whole leaf explained, 2025) The rind and the latex are often removed from the leaves to isolate the gel from the pulp when manufacturing aloe vera gel used for topical applications. (R5) The latex, also called sap, contains anthraquinones and glycosides which can be poisonous for human ingestion and dermatitis. (R4, R1) Aloe vera pulp or gel can be made of 98.5 to 99.5% water, respectively. (Reference seven [R7], Hammond, 2008) The remaining 0.5 to 1 percent is solids consisting of polysaccharides, lipids, sterols, vitamins, enzymes, amino acids, and minerals. (R4, R5, R6)

To produce aloe vera gel, the succulent leaves are cut and cleaned. The rind and latex are removed, especially for "inner fillet only" aloe vera gel. (R5, R6) Gel is extracted from an aloe leaf's inner fillet through mechanical pressure. The gel is then stabilized to preserve the gel's contents that are susceptible to rapid oxidization. (R5)​​​

 

Other common names: Aloe africana, aloe arborescens, aloe barbadensis​

 

Function: Humectant, emollient

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​EWG Skin Deep rating: 1 data-fair

PubChem GHS classification: primary hazards-none

EPA Safer Chemical rating: green circle

CIR Expert Panel report: safe

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Date created: May 26, 2026

Date updated: