Beauty Mantra: Easy and effective remedies for sunburns

A sunburn, like any kind of burn, can be drying to the skin and often the time spent in the sun getting the sunburn causes dehydration. Just as diet is important in avoiding sunburn in the first place, hydration is important to help the recovery process. Drink lots of water and herbal teas to keep yourself hydrated.

Aloe vera is an age-old remedy for sunburn. It can be very cooling, but the paste from the original plant works better than a gel or lotion. If you use a gel, look for a high quality one without preservatives.

Apple cider vinegar (diluted) is considered an effective remedy for sunburn. It is more effective when combined with a strong tea of soothing herbs. Boil one cup of water and add two tablespoons of dried mint leaf, lavender flowers, and dried plantain leaf. Remove from heat and let cool. Once cool, strain out the herbs. Add an equal amount of apple cider vinegar to the cooled tea mixture and pour into a spray bottle. Spray on burn as often as needed to cool and soothe the pain. Repeat at least for three days. 

Essential oils like lavender, chamomile and helichrysum can also help soothe the burn and speed up recovery. Mix them in a water bottle and spritz on the skin as needed. 

Coconut oil acts as healing oil that gently relieves your skin from painful sunburn, cracking, blistering and peeling. Castor oil repairs and rejuvenates the skin from the damage of overexposure to sun. Mix equal amounts of both and apply twice a day for best results. You can also apply coconut butter if you don’t have oily skin.