This Aloe Vera Gel is one of the best products I have ever come across.

I have personally used it as a cleanser, moisturiser, anti-acne treatment, scar reducing treatment, skin soothing treatment, and an after sun.

When you first see this product in the shop window of Holland and Barrett, it's hard to imagine this being anything beyond a health gimmick, but trust me it really does work. It's usually featured in the shop's special offers, and I got my last tube of this stuff for £2.99.

Yes the packaging is boring. No it doesn't come from Clinique or Clarins or any of the luxurious beauty houses (which I absolutely adore by the way). But it's really cheap, and really natural. It can be used by men, women, children, even your cat or dog!

The fact is, Aloe Vera has incredible healing properties which are renowned throughout the world. You can even buy Aloe Vera juice, which is said to heal you from the inside.

This powerful stuff is used as the main ingredient in many expensive lotions and potions. In this format, it's very versatile and all natural, containing the highest concentration (99.9%) of Aloe Vera that I've ever found on the high street or the internet.

Personally, I couldn't justify spending £45+ on small pots of so-called "miracle creams" that contained Aloe Vera, some questionable chemicals and not much else. Why bother when you can have this for £4.99 or cheaper? I would also recommend this above any Aftersun product on the market, and many cleansers if you have problem skin. It's absolutely ideal for anybody suffering from a skin irritation or other complaint and it really calms inflammation.

This Aloe Vera Gel lasts ages and I like the smell which is very earthy. I know that some people aren't too keen on this smell, but what's the point in pumping synthetic fragrance into a natural product?

So... what did this product do for me, apart from cost very little and seriously compete against the big players of the beauty industry?

First off, I used it every night to calm my very inflammed, acne-ridden skin. I'd tried loads of other products, antibiotic gels, antibiotic tablets, vitamin and herbal tablets etc. Nothing had worked. After just a week, the difference was incredible. My spots had gone down and people couldn't help commenting.

All I did was apply it liberally at night (it stung a little while my skin was getting used to it but it wasn't too bad), let it dry like a mask and wash it off in the morning. My skin also felt really hydrated once it was washed off. I noticed that it acted like a cleanser too.

I tried wearing it under foundation, but this made my make-up look blotchy so I wouldn't advise doing this.

I've also noticed that as it rejuvinates the skin, this product also helps to fade scars without leaving the skin greasy or oily. In addition, I've read that Aloe Vera has anti-aging properties too.

In summary, this IS an amazingly good, natural product. I've read that it may take a while to work for some people but it is really worth sticking with.