Aloe vera has long been known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Anyone who has had a sunburn knows that aloe vera is a must-have beauty staple. I've begun to notice that lately aloe vera is in everything from beauty products to juices and supplements - I've even seen it frozen in ice cube trays, which makes complete sense since the benefits of aloe vera seem never-ending. Some of the many advantages to incorporating aloe into your beauty routine are:

• When taken in a supplement or drink, it helps to support a healthy digestive system, a healthy immune system and normal muscle and joint functions
• It reduces toxins in the body, aids in digestion and has an alkalizing effect on the body
• It is high in amino and fatty acids as well as vitamins and minerals
• It'ss great for applying topically to burns, abrasions, psoriasis, bug bites and sunburnt skin
• Since aloe is has a high water content, it is a great way to hydrate, moisturize and rejuvenate skin
• Aloe increases skin elasticity by making it more flexible through collagen and elastin repair
• Aloe is also an emollient, helping to soften and soothe the skin
• It helps supply oxygen to the skin cells, increasing the strength and synthesis of skin tissue and induces improved blood flow to the skin

With all of these amazing benefits, it's no wonder we're finding it in more skin care products. Below are some of my favorite aloe vera beauty products: 1. Sustainable Youth Ultra Creamy Cleansing Lotion, Elasticity Cream & Revitalizing Serum: These products are amazing when used together or on their own.  They all contain alasta, which is the most potent immunostimulatory ingredient derived from Aloe.  The Ultra Creamy Cleansing Lotion is extremely luxurious.  It thoroughly cleanses my skin, but leaves it feeling soft and moisturized and not stripped like a lot of facial cleansers.  It also has a beautiful calming, but fresh scent that I absolutely cannot get enough of.  The Firming & Revitalizing Serum is a really lightweight serum that is immediately absorbed into my skin leaving it baby soft, smooth and glowing.  The Elasticity Cream is also fast absorbing and lightweight, but leaves my skin hydrated, refreshed, soothed and feeling firmer. 2. Farmaesthetics Cool Aloe Mist This cooling, hydrating mist offers immediate relief to inflamed skin. It's also a great makeup setting spray, an amazing refreshing facial and body toner and a purifying mist for skin. 3. Alothera Moisturizing Shampoo and Keratin Conditioner In addition to smelling amazing, these products together leave my hair soft, shiny and silky.  The conditioner works like a deep conditioning treatment on my hair.  I left it in my hair for just 2 minutes and I could feel the improvement in my hair immediately. 4. Biorepublic Aloe Rescue Revitalizing Sheet Mask This eco-conscious sheet mask is very soothing, hydrating and easy to use.   I can see and feel the difference in my skin right away.  I would highly recommend using this mask after a day at the beach, after a long flight or anytime your skin fees dry and irritated. 5. 365 Everyday Value Whole Leaf Aloe Vera Juice On its own this juice is a bit tough for me to swallow, but I love adding it to my favorite healthy juices and smoothies, after all beauty does literally begin from the inside out! This juice is available at Whole Foods. 6. A Girl's Gotta Spa! Energizing Citrus Body Wash: I'd be remiss if I left out this amazing natural and organic body wash. With aloe as the main ingredient, this body wash soothes and hydrates skin as it cleanses. The mix of citrus essential oils creates an invigorating shower experience. 7. InviCible Scars: Scars need to be mositurized in order to heal properly. And since skin is inflammed during the healing process, it only makes sense to use a scar treatment that contains aloe. While aloe won't fade your scar (InviCible uses Vitamin C and licorice root extract to handle that part), it helps to strengthen the collagen structure in your scar to minimize its appearance. Do you have a favorite aloe beauty product not on this list? Share it in the comments! Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram and G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!

I'm always on the lookout for a BB or CC cream that not only matches my skin tone but also has SPF 20 and over, covers without feeling heavy or oily, helps to reduce the size of my pores and gives me a little glow. My skin could be described as medium to dark with green undertones and most BB or CC creams ends up making my face look slightly ashy or like I went crazy with a really dark bronzer. I find that mixing two of the several variations of medium colors that I have sometimes gives me the look I'm going for, but honestly with my busy schedule most days I don't have the time for mixing as I need something that simplifies my morning routine. I've never heard of nor used any products by nyakio, so I was excited when I received their ABC African Beauty Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen in Cinnamon. The founder, Nyakio, uses "naturally effective African ingredients", and combines them "with modern, result-driven formulas to deliver superb multi-tasking products." The best part? Her products are formulated without parabens or sulfates. The nyakio African Beauty Cream states that it provides a sheer coverage and natural radiance, wears for eight hours, reduces the look of fine lines and leaves skin smooth and hydrated. The following morning I smoothed the Beauty Cream onto my face after cleansing and applying a serum. As I still have a bit of my summer tan, Cinnamon wasn't too dark for me. The consistency is creamy but on my face it feels light and sheer; I felt like it melted into my skin to provide the coverage I'm looking for giving me a natural glow. Not only did it hide my imperfections, but it also moisturized my skin without feeling greasy. Even with the SPF 20 in there, my face did not have that ashy tinge. As I wanted to see how it would hold up for a day at the office, I didn't use any other make-up besides lip gloss. Throughout the day and until I cleansed my face before bed, my face still looked smooth and radiant and although it felt hydrated, I didn't feel like it was greasy or heavy. At the moment Cinnamon is working for me,  but I believe once my tan fades, I'll probably have to switch to a lighter color. I love that a little goes a long way and I know this will be a staple for me! If you're looking for a product to help simplify your daily beauty routine and one that "protects, perfects and primes skin while helping to prevent skin from showing the signs of premature aging and staying color-true throughout the day", this is it! akio ABC African Beauty Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen comes in five shades and is cruelty free: Macadamia (light) Honey (light-medium) Almond (medium) Cinnamon (medium-deep) Coffee (deep) It sells for $39.00 and will be available this month at HSN, HSN.com and nyakio.com. Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram and G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! *Disclosure: Press Sample

This past summer I had the opportunity of traveling to the city of Cebu in the Philippines to shoot a show for Fashion One Television. While there I was fortunate enough to work with an amazing makeup artist by the name of Beatriz Lopez.  Beatriz is a  London based freelancer, who provides makeup and hair styling for a broad range of clients from fashion and advertising to private commissions. Fully certified in all aspects of makeup, including special effects and body painting, she is also experienced in styling natural and synthetic hair.  Bea is just downright super talented and I absolutely loved my hair and makeup whenever she worked on me on set, so I was readily accepting of any beauty suggestions/tips she was kind enough to offer.  The instructions for creating Beatriz Lopez's DIY Face Spritzer/makeup refresher are as follows: Combine the following ingredients in a small spray bottle that is bag size (100ml)

• 95ml of spring water
• 1tbsp of pure aloe vera gel
• 6 drops of lavender pure essential oil or 6 drops of sweet orange/orange/mandarin pure essential oil
• 1-4 drops of virgin olive oil (or coconut oil) - depending on how dry or oily your skin is (if very oily-leave out)

Give it a good shake and you have your very own face spritzer. Beatriz suggests throwing it  in your bag and spritzing whenever you feel like you need a quick pep-me-up, some hydration when you need cooling off... or you can even use it to freshen your makeup. One word of caution: she does suggest that if the spritzer is going to be used on sensitive or very fair skin which will directly exposed to sun - it may be best to only use one drop of the orange oil or completely eliminate from the ingredients as it may cause photo-toxicity. You can find out more about Beatriz Lopez by visiting her page at www.beatrizlopez.co.uk. Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! for more beauty reviews! Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!