Did you catch too many rays? Is your skin chapped after a windy day? If you’ve got irritated or sensitive skin, it can be tempting to just slather on the creams and hope for the best.

But, if you’re looking for a natural, soothing alternative, give aloe vera a try. We don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Though you’ve probably seen aloe vera plants on a windowsill here or there, you might not know exactly what it is or why it’s good for you.

Aloe vera is a perennial, succulent plant. A succulent is a type of plant that holds a lot of water in their stems and leaves, like a cactus. Aloe vera can grow up to four feet tall, and can be identified by its tough, fleshy, pointy leaves.

However, it’s what lies inside those prickly leaves that does so many awesome things for your skin. When you break an aloe vera leaf open, you’ll find a clear, thick gel comes out. That gel is made from mostly water, but it also contains substances called glycoproteins and polysaccharides. This combination has soothing, skin-loving qualities that you’ll be using time and time again.

People have been using aloe vera for thousands of years. Seriously. We can trace the use of aloe vera back to ancient Egypt, about 6,000 years ago. Egyptians knew aloe vera as the “plant of immortality.” It was so valuable that it was presented as a funeral gift to pharaohs and depicted on stone carvings.

Although we won’t make any claims that aloe vera will help you live forever, its uses have truly stood the test of time. You can apply aloe vera topically, where it is commonly used for minor cuts and burns.