Drew Barrymore has gone from being everyone's favourite rom com star to something of a beauty guru over the past few years. The Never Been Kissed actress has launched her own makeup range, Flower, which is focused on luxurious but affordable products, and regularly shares beauty tips and tricks – plus the occasional bare-faced selfie – on her Instagram page. Last week she used the social media platform to host #beautyjunkieweek, sharing her favourite products and hacks with her followers. And one post in particular has caught peoples' attention – the 43-year-old has claimed she cured skin discolouration using meat from an aloe vera plant.
Drew showed off her new-look skin in this barefaced pic
"I know this looks weird, but I had a giant bite or reaction on my face," she wrote in a post. "Anyway, I tried the age old myth of aloe vera. Nothing. Then figuring I had nothing to loose, I dug out the meat of the live plant stalk, which I cut off a plant in my yard and then kept in the refrigerator to reuse, the juice you can squeeze out simply did nothing. So placed a small chunk of it right on my skin."
She went on to explain that she left the meat on her skin for three to four hours, during which the plant meat turned red and the mark on her face faded. "It was actually suctioning out the red from my face," she wrote. "In two day it's [sic] was gone. I had even tried bleaching creams, and noting was getting the red spot off my face until this natural remedy. Aloe Vera live plant meat worked to extract the red."
American beauty bible Allure put Drew's claims to Dendy Engelman, dermatologic surgeon at New York City's Medical Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery centre, who confirmed that the plant meat probably did help ease the irritation – but not quite in the way Drew believes.
READ MORE: Chrissy Teigen swears by THIS product for keeping stretch marks at bay
"I wouldn't use the words 'suctioned out' to describe what happened to the irritation on her face. Aloe vera does tend to turn red and wrinkle under the sun or in dry conditions, which is what happened here," she told the publication, before adding: "Aloe vera has long been established as an excellent remedy for a myriad of conditions, including bug bites."
READ MORE: Drew Barrymore shares her parenting tricks for being a working mum
She also explained that aloe vera boasts antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal properties, and is a great natural remedy for many skin complaints. However, it's best to steer clear if you have very sensitive skin or are using products that make your skin sensitive.
