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For many of us, aloe vera was one of our first introductions to skincare. Long before we battled teen acne or chased a dewy glow, we knew aloe vera gel.
I was born in Bermuda where it’s super hot and high UV. So whether it was a sunburn or a rash, aloe vera gel seemed to be the go-to in my childhood. Its cooling, anti-inflammatory healing properties make it one of the best natural solutions to many temporary skin flare-ups.
However, aloe vera gel is also great for lightweight moisturising, delivering grease-free hydration that feels fresh on the skin. But here’s the question: does aloe vera gel clog pores?
If you’re thinking about adding aloe vera to your adult skincare routine, it’s important to know whether it might be comedogenic for you.
Does aloe vera gel clog pores?
The truth is, no skincare ingredient is guaranteed to clog (or not clog) pores, but some are more likely to than others. (You can read more in my post “What if My Products Contain Pore-Clogging Ingredients?”).
To figure out where aloe vera gel lands on that scale, I’ll start by breaking down what aloe is and what it’s good for. Then, I’ll dive into its comedogenic rating and how you can potentially consider adding it to your skincare lineup.
What is aloe vera gel?
Aloe vera gel is a naturally occurring jelly-like substance that’s found inside the leaves of the aloe vera plant. It’s 99% water, but it’s also full of beneficial vitamins, enzymes, amino acids and antioxidants.
Here are all the nutrients in aloe that give it its healing benefits:
- Vitamin A: Supports skin cell turnover and healing
- Vitamin C: Brightens skin, boosts collagen, and provides antioxidant protection
- Vitamin E: Moisturises and protects against free radical damage
- B Vitamins: Support overall skin health and repair
- Zinc: Helps soothe irritation and reduce acne
- Calcium: Supports skin cell regeneration and barrier function
- Magnesium: Helps calm irritation and regulate oil production
- Potassium: Maintains moisture balance and hydration in the skin
- Selenium: Offers antioxidant protection and supports skin elasticity
- Bradykinase: Helps reduce inflammation
- Other enzymes: Gentle exfoliation and skin repair
- Polysaccharides: Help with hydration and skin barrier repair
- Saponins: Provide natural cleansing and antimicrobial benefits
- Amino acids: Support tissue regeneration and skin healing
- Salicylic acid: Gently exfoliates and helps unclog pores
- Sulfur compounds: Provide antibacterial, anti-inflammatory benefits and support detox and keratin production.
What is aloe vera gel good for?
- Soothes irritation and sunburn
- Hydrates without making your skin greasy
- Speeds up wound healing
- Reduces inflammation
- Provides antioxidant protection
- Prevents infection with antibacterial properties
- Helps calm and prevent acne
- Smooths and softens skin
Does aloe vera gel clog your pores?
Ultimately, everybody’s skin is different, which is why you won’t find me using the term “non-comedogenic” in my content. What may make my skin glowy and dewy could clog your pores and visa versa. And even then, pore-clogging could mean something entirely different for two different people.
I know I’m getting technical here, but when you’re trying to find out what works for your skin, it’s important to know these things. To cut a long story short, I would guesstimate that aloe vera generally doesn’t clog pores.
Lastly, it’s a common myth that aloe vera is a natural exfoliant because it contains enzymes. Whilst it doesn’t exfoliate, it can provide lightweight hydration to keep your skin supple.
How to use aloe vera gel without clogging your pores
Try 100% pure aloe vera gel (or very close to 100%)
Aloe vera gel is effective enough on its own. It doesn’t need additional fragrances, alcohols, colourants or potentially comedogenic oils.
It’s more likely that an aloe vera gel product will clog your pores if it is combined in a formula with other hydrating ingredients – it may not be the aloe that clogs your pores at all!
Just use 100% pure aloe vera gel or very close to 100%. It can be hard to get 100% because that usually means it has no preservatives, and preservatives are quite important to stop it going mouldy, for example.
Always do a patch test first
Any time you try a new skincare product, you need to test it before use. Here’s the full guide on how to patch test new skincare products, but it’s pretty simple.
Apply a small amount of the product to a dedicated patch of skin, such as your left cheek. Then, just keep an eye out for any redness, itching, hives, or other signs of irritation. Follow the guide for a complete step by step.
Start with a double cleanse
To help your aloe vera gel absorb fully and deliver maximum benefits, start with a double cleanse. Begin with an oil-based cleanser followed by a water-based cleanser for the cleanest skin possible.
Here’s exactly how to double cleanse your face, if you’re new to it.
Apply only a thin layer
With aloe, a little goes a long way. In fact, a thinner layer will soak in more effectively, giving you more benefits.
And while aloe vera is unlikely doesn’t clog pores, no product is 100% guaranteed to be clog-free without proper application. Applying too much can still block hair follicles and potentially trigger breakouts—especially if you have acne-prone skin.
The point is, keep it thin for the best results, don’t sit there with a huge thick layer that’ll never sink in. Unless you have pretty bad sunburn and it’s on your body – in which case repeated applications throughout the day is best.
Layer it under your moisturiser
Aloe vera does hydrate your skin some, but most of its benefits come from skin healing and soothing. So for best results, apply aloe after water products like toners (if you use one), but before your usual moisturiser.
For sebum control and/or acne reduction you’ll want to use something like a proper exfoliant or retinoid. It’s very unlikely that aloe will help with acne reduction especially.
As I mentioned in my “How to get rid of comedonal acne” post, you don’t need a heavy moisturiser. (Or heavy layers, at that). You just need something with a high water content, making aloe an ideal candidate.
That said, if you have dry skin you can choose a lightweight moisturiser that will layer well on top of aloe. Here are some of the best moisturisers for clog-prone skin or oily skin.
Layering aloe vera and a moisturiser can work well because moisturisers contain occlusives and humectants that aloe vera doesn’t. But if you have oily skin and find aloe hydrating enough, you don’t *have* to use another product after it (except for SPF of course).
Use it after sun exposure
You should use high-quality sunscreen daily to protect your skin from UV rays. However, if you do get any irritation from sun damage, aloe vera is still one of the best products for minor burns.
Its anti-inflammatory and cooling powers soothe irritated skin, while its healing properties speed up recovery.
Even if you’re just experiencing minor irritation, apply a layer of aloe vera to keep on top of it.
Aloe vera can be a great addition to your skincare routine, even if you struggle with clogged pores.
There are a lot of expensive, sophisticated skincare product formulations out there. But sometimes the affordable option is genuinely a great choice.
Aloe vera gel can help you reach a lot of your beauty goals without clogging your pores or triggering breakouts, but be sure to always patch test to see if it’s compatible with your skin.
If you liked this, here are some other guides you’ll find useful:
