Ouuuuch!!! Oooo no! You knew you shouldn´t have stayed out in the sun quite that long, but you did and now your skin is angry looking and sore…

Sunburn is perhaps one of summers most dangerous ailments — and the one with that happens the most!!

Whilst we all know that prevention is the most effective cure for sunburn, if you do get caught out then you can use any number of these safe and effective homemade natural sunburn remedies to soothe and heal the burnt skin:

• Aloe Vera. When it comes to sunburn, most people reach for aloe vera. It’s the most common natural remedy for burned skin and not to mention…a super easy to maintain house plant.
• Lavender essential oil. Lavender is a great essential cooling oil to heal skin and cool burns. This oil has anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties that alleviate sunburn quickly. With its antibacterial properties, it can also protect sunburned skin from infection.
• Yoghurt. Apply cold yogurt on your burn for 10 minutes to help your sunburned skin heal. Pick up a cold plain yogurt, one which contains a lot of probiotics that will help restore your skin’s natural barrier, and spread a thin layer over your sunburn. Greek organic yoghurt would be a good option because thanks to its lactic acid, Greek yogurt is considered an anti-inflammatory.
• Vinegar. Use white distilled vinegar or apple cider vinegar. There are several options to apply it to your skin: Filling a spray bottle with vinegar and water to spray on your skin. Dipping a washcloth in vinegar, wringing the cloth out, and patting it gently on the affected areas. Or by taking a cool bath with diluted vinegar. Is there anything vinegar can’t do!?!
• Tea. Fill a jug with warm water and drop in three bags of BLACK TEA. The tannic acid and theobromine in black tea helps remove heat from sunburn.  Other compounds in tea, called catechins, help prevent and repair skin damage. You could also make a tea bath and soak in the tub.
• Potato peels. A vintage remedy for sunburns mentioned in tons of old writings is potato peels. They provide much needed moisture…additionally, they carry natural anti-bacterial properties that aid in healing.
• Cucumber. To help restore your skin to cucumber cool, use your blender. Blend a chilled cucumber to a smooth consistency and then apply it to the burned areas liberally. You could also put shredded or sliced cucumbers on sunburned eyelids and skin for some topical relief, too.

Nonetheless, the most effective remedy I’ve found thus far has been a DIY after-sun lotion according to the Garden Therapy recipe.

Even if you don’t have sunburn, this after-sun recipe is a summer necessity to re-hydrate and soothe sun-kissed skin. Apply it after a good scrub in the shower to remove sunscreen residue. Slather on this balm and your skin will soak up the oils and butters, healing sun-damaged skin while you sleep.

Ingredients:

Makes 2 oz

• 3 tablespoons olive oil infused with calendula
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon cocoa butter
• 1 teaspoon Shea butter
• 1 tablespoon grated beeswax
• 15 drops lavender essential oil
• 3 tablespoons aloe vera gel

Make it!

Melt the oils, butters, and beeswax in a double boiler or Turkish coffee pot. Use a medium heat and stir as the oils melt. Remove from heat just as all ingredients are liquid. Stir in essential oil. Allow to cool slightly and then add the aloe gel. Mix the gel in well with the rest and pour into a 2 oz container.

Apply the aftersun lotion generously to sunburned skin and rub it in as well as you can (which I know can be difficult with a sunburn!) Apply again after waking in the morning or showering, until the sunburn has settled down. If you don’t have a sunburn but have spent a day in the sun, this lotion works well to keep exposed skin soft. Shower to remove any sunscreen and use the lotion each evening after a day of sun exposure.

Enjoy the summer!