1. You have to learn to always check the ingredients.
GiphyI constantly have to look for that good ole Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice on the labels. I would search even on products that I was definitely sure would not have it. More often than not, that dreaded phrase would pop up and disappoint me.
2. Shopping for any beauty products can be highkey difficult.
GiphyAs a teenage girl, I tend to buy a lot of products such as lotions, shampoos, perfumes, and tons of other items. Nine times out of ten, they most likely have aloe coursing through them. Also it is super annoying to find a good face mask that will smooth your skin without having any aloe.
3. Majority of sunscreens are a hard pass.
GiphyIf your skin is super pale (as mine is most of the time), you will definitely need to use sunscreen. Prepare to be struggling to find any brands because they are few and far between. Chances are if it has no aloe, it will not have a good SPF level anyway.
4. With no sunscreen comes that awful sunburn pain, and you get nothing to relieve it.
GiphyI am almost always super burnt in some sort of way, and people just tell me to put some aloe cream on it. Well, guess what, I wish I could. In the meantime, I will just be sitting here feeling all that amazing sunburn pain.
5. You learn to bring your own hand soap and sanitizer everywhere you go.
GiphyYou have to wash your hands somehow to stay healthy, so sometimes you just have to bring your own. My dorm will be the only soap I can really rely on to be free of that terrible aloe.
6. Some cactus plants have aloe, so good luck at any greenhouses.
GiphyThis is especially rough when you are someone like me who loves succulents so much. I have multiple plants and none of them have poisoned me through the air so far, so they must be aloe-free.
7. Most people do not believe you when you tell them the truth about being allergic, so you learn to just roll with the punches.
GiphyWhenever people ask me what I am allergic to, they are always surprised at my answer. Yes, it is quite hard to believe. Yes, that is part of my difficult life. Woe is me and all that.
8. Bath and Body Works is like playing with fire to aloe allergies everywhere.
GiphyI walk in that store and immediately want to just buy everything in there. Whoops! I guess it all has aloe. There are some items that do not such as bath bombs (I have many) and some kinds of body sprays. I stock up on all those things and just walk away from all the rest. Sorry to any salespeople out there who have asked me to look at certain products; I did not mean to offend!
9. Soooo what happens if I actually use that aloe?
GiphyYou know, the usual things. I get those awful tacky red hives that burn and tend to multiply like my paychecks. It is not a great feeling, but it could be worse.
10. The most important thing: sometimes you just should go for it anyway.
GiphyIf you want to use that lotion, make your legs shine. If your friend bought you a sentimental gift full of deadly shampoos, use them! If for some reason you want to buy aloe-infused fuzzy socks, then it will be a rough winter with some awesome cozy socks.
At the end of it all, sometimes your allergy should not define you. Now you know to not judge someone by what could kill them. If you see me at Bath and Body Works anytime soon, hit me up with those bath bombs.
