In the heat of summer, your skin is warm and toasty, and you’re basking in the glow of one too many beach trips. You try and convince yourself that it was the sun’s healthy rays that you were under—a necessary dose of vitamin D—and that the SPF you had on was enough to save you from getting burned.

But deep inside you know something’s wrong: Your skin is dry, your scalp is flaking, and your face more wrinkled than it was three months ago.

The most miserable part isn’t even the influx of breakouts and blemishes, or your suddenly too-sensitive skin; it’s the chemicals you start to pile on to try and fix the problem.

Aloe is the answer.

The ultimate cure to your complicated complexion comes straight from a pot—not in a tube, or bottle, or department store paper bag. Admittedly it’s been overshadowed by fancy cosmetics and formulas that have popped up in the market over the years.

Lost in an abundance of dangerous additives, parabens and preservatives is a little spiky plant called aloe, a natural ingredient that has been regarded for thousands of years as a miracle worker when it comes to various skincare-related blunders. Even Cleopatra swore by it!

Packed with vitamins, minerals and healing properties, aloe is known for its ability to soothe, cure, disinfect, and moisturize. Given its anti-aging, antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory abilities, it has rightly earned its reputation as a super plant, vital for any health regimen.

Less is more

Even without the bells and whistles, simple aloe vera without the extra frills is the most effective way to take the product. In fact, a common traditional sunburn remedy is simply cutting the tip off an aloe plant and squeezing its contents straight onto the irritation.

But thankfully, while it may be hard to find someone with an actual aloe plant lying around the living room, dermatological companies around the world have heeded its demand and made aloe-based products easily available.

The higher the concentration of aloe is always the better choice, and it can’t get any higher than this.

Aloe Derma brand manager Bea Osmeña puts emphasis on products that are pure and undiluted. “A product,” she explains, “can promote itself as an aloe product even if it contains even less than 1 percent aloe.”

This gel is all-organic, natural and works wonders for anything and everything. Put it on your sunburn for immediate relief, apply it on minor wounds or blemishes, or simply use it as a daily hydrating mask or moisturizer for super supple skin.

Kiehl’s Aloe Vera Biodegradable Liquid Body Cleanser, meanwhile, will leave you feeling refreshed, clean and hydrated without anyone or anything suffering from chemical residue and waste.

It boasts 100-percent biodegradable ingredients, which means it will leave less harmful traces to our already-damaged earth.

Healthy scalp

Rejuvenating and renewing your skin cells and hair will not only make your locks healthy and shiny, but also keep your scalp nourished.

“Instantly moisturizing and nourishing skin at the cellular level promotes the growth of healthy skin,” says Bing Bing Quiros, co-founder and VP of Aloe Derma.

The brand’s haircare range includes a shampoo, conditioner and hair tonic treatment.

The scalp is a part of the skin that one shouldn’t overlook. Unless you make the effort to wear a hat every day, your scalp remains vulnerable to damage from the sun even just as you walk down the street.

Lip treatment

Personally, I can’t be without this lip treatment; I have jars of it lying around everywhere I go. For chapped lips due to heat, and even from extreme cold while traveling, it solves the problem.

It also has SPF to further protect my lips from everyday damage. I recommend Vaseline Lip Therapy with Aloe.

Chemical-free choices may be a hard thing to come by nowadays, but take some useful advice from Osmeña: “When reading a product label, whatever is on the top line is what the product contains the most. So if you can’t pronounce the first line, beware!”