Aloe vera: You probably most hear the stuff after you get back from the beach with a painful, red sunburn. While aloe is most commonly used to help relieve a long day in the sun, there are actually a ton of other surprising uses for it.

But first, a quick lesson on aloe: Aloe vera is a plant that has three layers of leaves, the main one which is made up of 99 percent water plus a host of beneficial nutrients, which are especially useful on your skin. That’s why you’ll commonly see aloe as an ingredient in skin creams, lotions, etc.

For such a powerful plant, you better believe there are more ways to use it than to just treat a sunburn. From studies to dermatologists alike, here are the nine best, most unique ways to use aloe vera in your daily life:

1. Treat acne

   Aloe vera contains salicylic acid, which can help unclog pores on light acne. When more intense acne, you can try a combination of aloe and a dermatologist-recommended skincare product.

2. Take makeup off

   Just squeeze a little bit of the gel onto a cotton round and wipe away our makeup like you would use a makeup wipe. Just make sure you test it first on your arm or other hidden spot first before putting it on your face.

3. Make a shaving cream

   No shaving cream? The slippery texture and hydrating powers of aloe makes it a great alternative. You can also make a homemade natural shaving cream with ingredients like soap, water and vitamin E oil.

4. Use as a hair mask

   Apply aloe to your hair before a shower to create a hair mask that’ll leave your hair shiny and nourished. And if you have greasy hair, combined 1-2 teaspoons of aloe vera gel and one tablespoon of lemon juice to one cup of water and then rinse your hair with the solution after shampooing. Boom: Oil reduced!

5. Fix your eyebrows

   After using aloe as a hair mask, you might notice it gets hard when it’s in hair. That’s why it also works so well as an eyebrow gel. You can use a clean mascara brush in the aloe and then apply right on the brows for a clean look.

6. Relieve bug bites

   Sometimes bug bite cream just doesn’t cut it—apply aloe vera to the itchy spots instead, which has anti-inflammatory properties and can provide itch relief.

7. Moisturize your skin

   For a softer, smoother complexion, use the gel on your face. The nourishing vitamin E and skin-brightening vitamin C in the gel can help to strengthen and protect the skin’s barrier.

8. Exfoliate dry feet

   Dry, cracked feet? Mix four tablespoons aloe vera gel together with a half cup oatmeal, half cup corn meal, and half cup unscented body lotion. Apply to your feet, wait 10 minutes, and rinse off.

9. Soothe sunburn

   You didn’t think this wouldn’t make the list, did you? Like we said, aloe is most commonly used for helping ease a bad sunburn, and that’s still a very good expert-recommended way to use it.

Did you know aloe vera had so many benefits for your face and body? Which one will you try first?