Natural Sunburn Relief

We all need Vitamin D, but too much sun exposure can leave you with a nasty burn. The beach is my happy place and with boys that surf and a husband from New Zealand, we're no strangers to spending too much time in the sun and ending up with some pretty painful sunburns. I'm here to share with you some of my favorite natural sunburn remedies using carriers like aloe and coconut oil along with some of my favorite essential oils for sunburns.

Essential Oils for Sunburn

When it comes to treating a sunburn, or any burn, my go-to remedy for relief is a combination of peppermint and lavender essential oils. Peppermint draws out the heat left from the sun and has been known to be an excellent pain reliever, while lavender is nourishing to the skin and encourages healing with its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. When I spend too much time in the sun and need relief from a painful burn, I apply a mixture of peppermint oil, lavender oil, coconut oil, and aloe vera to the burned areas as needed. You can add the mixture to a spray bottle and spritz it onto the area throughout the day.

Preparing Oils for Application

When applying essential oils to the skin, it's important to dilute them with a carrier like aloe, or coconut oil. Most essential oils are too potent to apply directly to the skin and can cause irritation unless blended with a carrier. Here are some of our favorite carriers to use for sunburns.

Aloe

You are most likely very familiar with aloe as a method of relief from dry, painful skin. Aloe is a natural, old-age remedy for sunburns. Due to its antimicrobial properties, it speeds up healing, and can help you recover quicker. It cools the area and reduces the amount of time you have to suffer from the pain of a sunburn.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has hydrating properties and is a life saver when it comes to treating a sunburn. You can apply it alone, or use it as a carrier oil with lavender or peppermint essential oils (or a combination of both!) Not only is it great after sun exposure, but you can also use it to prevent getting burnt in the first place. Coconut oil has natural SPF qualities that protect the skin from UV rays.

Check Out Why Coconut Oil is One of My Favorite Carriers

• Prevents peeling

• Recuperates the damages to skin caused by UV rays

• Has natural antioxidants that prevent inflammation caused by sunburns

• Has antibacterial properties

• Is easily absorbed in to the skin, retaining moisture hours later

The next time you find yourself with a sunburn I hope you'll try one or all of these natural remedies! Let us know on social media what your favorite is and what worked best for you.