Even if you don’t have a sunburn, this after-sun salve 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 drink in the oils and butters, dealing with sun-damaged skin while you sleep.
Related: treat a sunburn with natural aloe vera
The sun just keeps getting hotter, doesn’t it? A few weeks ago my nephews were caught out at an event longer than they expected to be and as a result of embracing the fun outdoor activities they brought home an unwelcome souvenir: sunburns. The heat radiated off their pink cheeks, shoulders, and noses and I could see how it was taking a toll on their energy. The next day they were heading off on vacation so I whipped up a batch of the after-sun salve that I use on my own skin all summer long.
Related: Sunscreen Lip Balm Recipe
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 after sun-salve 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.
See even more ways to beat the heat:
- Protect Your Lips with an All-Natural Sunscreen Lip Balm Recipe
- Healing After-Sun Lip Balm Recipe
- How to Use Aloe Vera as a Sunburn Remedy
And don’t forget to keep the garden safe in the summer sun as well!
I’ve played around with this recipe and absolutely love it. We live in Florida and do weekly beach trips, I use this constantly and usually triple the batch. It’ll last maybe 2 weeks before I have to make more.
Do you mix the fresh aloe so it’s not so clumpy? I’ve never used aloe from the plant and not sure how the gel should be when adding it in.
you can blend it with a hand blender or blender and that makes it smooth. It’s more liquidy than a gel when you do that.