Okay, so the other day I was staring at this big ol’ bottle of aloe vera gel in my bathroom, and it got me thinking: Does this stuff actually expire? I mean, I’ve had it for… well, let’s just say a while. So, I decided to do some digging and, you know, actually use the gel to see what would happen.
My Little Aloe Vera Experiment
First, I grabbed a small, clean container. I wanted to see what happens to aloe vera gel when it’s left out, kind of like if you accidentally leave the lid off. I scooped some out of my big bottle and put it in the small container.
Then, I set a timer. I checked on the gel every few hours. Honestly, within the first day, I started to see a change. The gel in the open container started to look a little… off. It wasn’t as clear, and it seemed a bit thicker.
- At 24 hours: It was definitely different. The color was a little darker, and the consistency had changed. It felt kinda slimy.
Then, the refrige. I put some into the refrige.
- After a week in the fridge: It still looks pretty good! The color change is minimal, and it still feels like aloe vera gel should.
Store-bought vs. My Experiment
The stuff I learned online said that store-bought aloe vera gel, like the kind I have, usually has preservatives. That’s why it can last so long, even years if you keep it in a cool, dark place. My little experiment showed me that the stuff without preservatives goes bad way faster.
So, the big takeaway? Yeah, aloe vera gel definitely goes bad. If you make your own or leave it out, use it up quick! If it’s store-bought, check the expiration date, and don’t keep it forever, even if it looks okay. Better safe than sorry, especially when it comes to putting stuff on your skin!
