water availability. Thick waxy cuticles: reduces water loss due to the lipids and fats being hydrophobic to water, this prevents evaporation crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM photosynthesis) the stomata in the leaves remain shut during the day to reduce evapotranspiration, but open at night to collect carbon dioxide The Aloe Vera gel (extracted for cosmetology products and medical purposes) are succulent, they store water in their leaf pulp - succulence allows a low surface to volume ratio to reduce water loss and allows water storage inside the leaves of the plant.