A day in the sun doesn’t have to end in sunburn… but sometimes it does. Even if you don’t come home as red as a lobster, you may still feel sticky, grimy, hot, and tired. Some of these post-sun remedies can help refresh your skin and hair after a day at the beach, pool, or park.
- Aloe vera — my favorite post-sun remedy. It feels cool going on and relieves some of the heat. Aloe has a long history of being a healing plant — you’ll find lots of products that contain aloe on the shelves these days. Personally, I like to keep a bottle of aloe vera gel in the fridge for an extra-cool feeling.
- Witch hazel — another cooling agent for soothing skin and wiping away sticky sunscreen residue. Soak a cotton ball or cloth in witch hazel and wipe the day away.
- Cucumber is another great cooler and cleanser. If your face is feeling over-exposed to the sun, a few slices of cucumber can relieve heat and redness. Feeling adventurous? You can juice your cucumber and mix the liquid with aloe for a homemade after-sun rub.
- Chamomile extract or essential oil is very gentle on skin and hair. Mix a drop or two of chamomile essential oil into your aloe vera gel for a healing rubdown.
- Even if you don’t have time for a full shower, make time to rinse. Whether you’ve been at the pool (chlorine) or at the beach (salt), you’ll want to get harsh stuff off your skin and out of your hair.
Some sun can be good for your skin — it encourages your body to produce vitamin D, which is essential for all kinds of processes. But you should wear sunscreen if you’re going to be out in the sun for more than ten minutes at a time. The damage from a burn can be far worse than the benefits you’ll get from vitamin D production!