Does Aloe Vera Gel Expire? How to Store It Properly (And Tell If It’s Bad)

Aloe vera gel is a natural substance used around the world for a variety of applications, including treating sunburns, enhancing skincare face masks, and as a dietary supplement. These benefits are most abundant when the gel is harvested directly from the plant, but storage after harvesting can get a bit tricky. Here are the three main methods used to increase the shelf life of your freshly harvested gel, including expert advice from licensed acupuncturist and healer, Karina Menali, and master beautician, Shun Pittman.

Storing Aloe Vera: Overview

Store raw aloe vera gel in the fridge for up to 1 week. To extend the shelf life of your aloe vera gel, blend it with a vitamin C tablet and keep it in the fridge for up to 1 month. Blend it with honey and keep it in the fridge for up to 8 months. Freezing your aloe vera gel can preserve it for up to 1 year.

Section 1 of 7:

Can aloe vera gel go bad?

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Yes, raw aloe can go bad and store bought gel can expire. Aloe vera gel is an organic product, meaning it’s perishable after a certain point. This can mean changes in color and texture, mold growth, and loss of potency. Typically, store bought aloe vera gel has a longer shelf life than the raw aloe vera gel you may have harvested yourself, although it depends on myriad factors. ^{[1]
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- Raw aloe vera gel lasts 1 day at room temperature, 1 week in the refrigerator, and up to 2 weeks in the freezer.
- Store-bought aloe vera gel (with preservatives) may last 2-5 years at room temperature or 5+ years in the refrigerator.
  - Without preservatives, ale lasts 2-3 months at room temperature and up to 1 year in the refrigerator.
- Aloe vera juice/extract lasts 2-3 years (unopened) and about 2-4 weeks after opening in the refrigerator.
  - Raw aloe vera juice lasts up to 2 days in the fridge.
- Aloe vera capsules usually last 2+ years, but check the expiration date.

Section 2 of 7:

Freezing Raw Aloe vera Gel

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Get an ice cube tray to store your aloe vera gel in. Freezing the gel in an ice cube tray rather than one large block means that you can just take out individual pieces whenever you need them. Fill the tray with the aloe vera gel and place it in the freezer. Once your tray is filled, the gel is ready to be frozen. Make sure the tray is flat in the freezer to avoid any of the gel seeping out. ^{[2]
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- Using a silicone tray works best as you can turn the tray inside out. ^{[3]
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- Small plastic containers also work fine if you do not have an ice cube tray.
Leaving the cubes overnight will give them plenty of time to freeze. The cubes need to be totally frozen to be preserved so make sure you give them enough time in the freezer before removing.
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Transfer the cubes to a sealable plastic bag and label with the date. Store the cubes of aloe vera gel in your freezer for up to a year. Keeping them in a bag will enable you to have easy access when you decide to use them. To thaw, switch the container of frozen gel from the freezer to the refrigerator and let it to thaw slowly. Don’t apply any form of heat as it can impact the healing properties of the gel. You can use your aloe cubes for things like: ^{[4]
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- Treating sunburn
- Making homemade soap
- Making smoothies
- Making a refreshing hair gel ^{[5]
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Note that freezing the aloe gel can reduce its potency. Menali states that while freezing your aloe vera gel is a good technique to help extend its shelf life, it could reduce the potency and healing effects of the gel. Instead of freezing, she suggests storing it in an airtight glass jar in the fridge, which can help preserve it for months.

Section 3 of 7:

Mixing Raw Gel with Honey for Storage

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Pour your aloe vera gel into an airtight container with room for honey. This container needs to be large enough that you can mix the honey in. Mix honey in with the gel at a 1:1 ratio. Honey has such a low water content versus a high natural sugar content that it helps preserve the gel for a much longer time than the gel would have naturally. ^{[6]
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- Feel free to use smaller containers if it is more convenient for your storage set up.
  - The container should also have a lid to keep contaminants out.
- This process is similar to the way fruit is often stored in syrup or as a preserve. ^{[7]
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- Using a high-quality honey that is free from preservatives will ensure that the gel lasts as long as possible.
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Store the gel in the fridge or at room temperature for up to 8 months. Be sure to keep the gel away from direct sunlight. Because the aloe vera is now in a gel solution with the honey, it mixes really well into other products. ^{[8]
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- Facial scrubs
- Body wash
- Hair products
EXPERT TIP

Shun Pittman
Master Cosmetologist, Global Salon Educator & Author
Shun Pittman is a Master Cosmetologist, Author, Owner, and Founder of Corps d’Elite Salon and Corps d’Elite Beauty. With over 25 years of international experience, she is dedicated to and specializes in providing luxury salon services to all hair types and textures and every skin tone and shade. Her services include hair conditioning treatments, cutting, coloring, styling, extensions, and makeup application. Shun has experience working with, coaching, training, and mentoring beauty professionals from multiple companies including L'Oréal, Wella, Matrix, Paul Mitchell, Redken, Big Sexy Hair, and Toni & Guy. She is also a host for national and local media outlets and her work has been featured in The Washingtonian, The Cheddar Network, and WJLA Good Morning Washington's Beauty and Fashion Police segments. Shun is the author of “50 Things Your Hairdresser Wants YOU to Know (and a few things we don’t...)".

Shun Pittman
Master Cosmetologist, Global Salon Educator & Author

Apply aloe vera to the scalp for its anti-inflammatory properties. It's also a natural cleanser that can strip off that extra sebum, or oil, on the scalp. Aloe has vitamins A, C, and E, which are antioxidants and really incredible for the fortification of hair.

Section 4 of 7:

Blending Raw Gel with Vitamin C for Storage

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Put your aloe vera gel into a blender with a Vitamin C tablet. The gel has a very gelatinous texture in its raw state and this can make it difficult to work with when using the gel for some purposes. Add your crushed vitamin C tablet. For every ¼ cup (60ml) of gel, add in 500 milligrams (0.018 oz) of vitamin C to the mixture. This combination will help preserve the gel for up to 8 months in the refrigerator once it has been mixed in. ^{[9]
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- Putting the gel through the blender allows it to become separated and liquified. This makes it much easier to work with.
- You can buy vitamin C from your local pharmacy or grocery store.
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Blend your gel on high for a few seconds. This will ensure that the vitamin C is mixed in with the aloe vera and that the texture becomes liquefied and broken down. You should be left with an aloe vera juice. ^{[10]
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- The juice should be much more runny and less gelatinous than it was before.
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Transfer the juice to a covered plastic container. There will be a foamy layer on the top of the liquid but this will go away after a few days so there’s no need to worry about it. Move your juice to the refrigerator for storage. The juice is now ready to be used or stored for up to a month. ^{[11]
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- Although you can drink this aloe juice by itself, it combines well with other juices, smoothies, and teas. ^{[12]
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- You can also use this juice as a moisturizer, body wash, and hydrating wash for your hair.

Section 5 of 7:

Storing Aloe Products

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Store-bought aloe vera gel Keep processed aloe vera gel in a cool, dry place away from sunlight (like in a closet or cabinet). You don’t have to refrigerate it, but do make sure the lid is on tight to keep bacteria out and maintain maximum potency. Look to the label’s storage instructions for additional directions. ^{[13]
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Aloe vera juice or extract If you’re buying aloe vera juice from the refrigerated section of a grocery store, refrigerate as soon as you get home. If it’s not sold in the refrigerated section, the label will provide guidance as to how to store it. However, once you’ve opened the bottle, all juice should be refrigerated and should last for a few days to a few weeks, depending on its ingredients. ^{[14]
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Aloe vera capsules Store aloe capsules in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight. Do not refrigerate or expose them to heat, as extreme temperatures can mitigate the healing properties of the aloe powder inside the capsules.

Section 6 of 7:

How to tell if Aloe Has Gone Bad

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Changes in color Freshly harvested, raw aloe vera gel ranges in color from clear to a light yellow. If it turns brown, green, or any other color, oxidation has set in and it may be past its prime. ^{[15]
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- Store-bought aloe vera gel is usually green as a result of chemical dyes. It may have gone bad if it turns from green to brown.
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Change in texture Freshly harvested aloe vera gel has a smooth and thick consistency. If the gel has become watery, gritty, overly slimy, or tacky, it may be due to degrading ingredients. ^{[16]
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- Store bought aloe vera gel may develop a film, indicating it's past its prime.
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Change in smell Freshly harvested aloe vera gel has a mild and relatively pleasant smell. Sniff around for signs of a sour smell, indicating that the ingredients have spoiled. ^{[17]
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- Store-bought aloe vera gel also has a spoiled, sour, or fermented smell if it's gone bad.
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Visible mold or bacteria Freshly harvested aloe vera gel should have no visible spots or lumps in it. If you do notice any fuzz, white spots, brown spots, black spots, or streaks of green, it likely contains mold or other bacteria.
- Store bought aloe vera gel typically also has visible spots of mold when it's bad.
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Can you use bad or expired aloe vera? You should avoid using expired aloe vera. Applying expired aloe vera to the scalp or skin can lead to adverse reactions like skin irritation, allergic reactions, and in some extreme cases, infection. Symptoms of infection include redness, itching, swelling, and pus. ^{[18]
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Section 7 of 7:

Harvesting Vs. Buying Aloe Vera

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Harvesting aloe vera results in a pure, fresh product. While harvesting aloe vera from your plant can seem like a labor intensive process, the end product might be worth it. DIY-ing your aloe vera gel allows you to take full control, without conceding yourself with questionable additives, and results in a natural and fresh substance that’s ready to use across many applications, including hair, face, and skin. ^{[19]
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- Cons of harvesting your own aloe vera gel include: having to grow and care for the aloe vera plant, purchasing all required tools, dealing with the pungent aroma of the plant when harvesting, potential stains, and a shorter shelf life since the product is free of preservatives.
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Buying aloe vera is convenient and has a longer shelf life. Although a purchased product isn’t as pure as the freshly harvested stuff, there are certainly benefits to buying aloe vera gel. For one, it’s affordable, starting as low as $4 a bottle. There’s also virtually no labor involved or tools required, making it a very convenient buy, especially considering that it comes with a much longer shelf life of multiple years.
- Cons of purchasing aloe vera gel include: a non-pure product with additives and preservatives and less fresh, lesser quality aloe which could dilute its potency.

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Warnings

If you are harvesting the aloe vera gel straight from the plant you will need to make sure you let the plant sit vertically in some water after slicing a small portion off the end to allow the aloin to drain out.

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Helpful 17 Not Helpful 1
Aloin is a highly potent laxative and if it isn’t removed it can have some unwanted effects on those who consume aloe vera products.

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Helpful 10 Not Helpful 0

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Does Aloe Vera Gel Expire? How to Store It Properly (And Tell If It’s Bad)

Storing Aloe Vera: Overview

Steps

Can aloe vera gel go bad?

Freezing Raw Aloe vera Gel

Mixing Raw Gel with Honey for Storage

Blending Raw Gel with Vitamin C for Storage

Storing Aloe Products

How to tell if Aloe Has Gone Bad

Harvesting Vs. Buying Aloe Vera

Expert Q&A

Video

Tips

Warnings

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References

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