Aloe Vera and Marigold Frozen Gel Cubes for Burns

Aloe vera is without doubt the ultimate instant skin soother. You can simply snap off one of its squidgy gel-packed leaves, which work like living first-aid sachets, and apply it directly to the skin – no fuss necessary. But nature can be improved upon. These ice-cold aloe and marigold gel cubes are especially cooling for sunburned skin, helping to prevent scarring, inflammation and infection and to promote healing – though they can be used on any kind of burn.

 2 mature fresh aloe vera leaves

 4 fresh marigold flower heads (Calendula officinalis)

 16 drops lavender essential oil (1 drop per ice cube)

1 Peel the fresh aloe leaves (see Tip) to give you a gooey mass of gel.

2 Put into a blender with the marigold flowers and whizz until smooth.

3 Pour the gel into ice-cube trays, adding a drop of lavender essential oil into each individual cube. Freeze until solid.

USE Apply a cube directly to the affected area as needed. The ice cubes melt quickly to produce masses of fragrant soothing gel. Don’t forget to have a paper towel or cloth handy to mop up the melted gel; the goo has a habit of going everywhere!

STORAGE Will keep in the freezer for up to 6 months.

james’s tip To peel an aloe leaf: cut a mature leaf from the outside of the plant, as close to the base as you can (you can store these leaves in the refrigerator for 2 weeks; amazingly, they ‘seal’ themselves at the cut edges). Slice off the ends, trimming the spikes off the sides with a sharp knife. Then place the aloe flat on the chopping board and run the knife inside the skin, slicing it off as you would skin a fish – be careful, the gel is very slippery and your knife can slide all over the place. Turn and repeat, taking off the skin on the other side. You’re left with a gooey mass of slippery gel, and you can pop this straight into the blender.

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