After Sun Skincare Using Essential Oils
Summertime is full of sunshine, laughter, camping, BBQs and beach trips. Unfortunately, it also can mean sunburns...ouch!
It’s healthy to spend some time in the sun, so our skin can absorb the rays and create vitamin D, which is vital for muscle and bone health. But UV rays can also cause damage when we are exposed to sunlight for too long, by passing through to deeper layers of skin and harming the cells. This can cause signs of aging, burning, and even cancer. Yikes! Too much sun causes our skin’s barrier role to weaken, which provokes the leaking of moisture. So the more tan or burned our skin gets from the sun, the more hydration we lose.
Applying products to help soothe pain and supply moisture is important to keep our skin cells healthy after spending time in the sun. Using SPF products before we are exposed helps a considerable amount, but even then our skin can be injured. Damage from the sun can even take place HOURS after exposure! Which means when we’re finally home after a long day at the beach our skin is still battling the effects caused by the sun. This is why caring for our skin after sun exposure is important, even if we don’t get a sunburn.
Creating our own DIY after sun care products is really easy and provides us with another level of protection, knowing we are using natural, chemical-free products. The last thing our tender, vulnerable skin needs is more damage caused by mysterious ingredients from store-bought products.
Below is a list of oils that help heal and hydrate our skin after being out in the sun:
Often found as an ingredient in many after sun care products, Jojoba oil can help relieve the pain and dryness that comes with a sunburn. This oil contains high levels of liquid wax esters, vitamin E, and antioxidants, making it a powerful ally against sun damaged skin. It speeds up wound healing by stimulating collagen synthesis and its moisturizing properties will leave our skin nourished and healthy.
Almond oil is great to use before or after sun exposure. It has been found to protect our skin from harmful rays and studies show that almond oil can actually reverse the damage of sun! This oil absorbs into our skin rather quickly and contains large amounts of vitamin E.
Aloe vera is hands down the most popular suncare product out there. It is usually bought in the form of a gel, but using the oil extracted from the aloe plant is equally as beneficial and can sometimes be easier to use for DIY products. Our Aloe Vera oil is extracted from the succulent leaves of the aloe vera plant and then combined with sunflower oil and vitamin e oil to create a hydrating and healing combination. It has a powerful ability to heal as it passes through three layers of skin, deeply hydrating, disinfecting, and relieving inflammation. Containing a large amount of vitamins A & C, L-Lysine, and enzymes, aloe vera regenerates and repairs tissue, while also activating the creation of collagen.
The following essential oils are the most beneficial for healing sun damaged skin. It is important that we dilute essential oils when applying them to the skin. When creating a product for sunburns, highly diluting the essential oils can help avoid skin irritation, since the skin is more sensitive than usual.
Peppermint essential oil contains a large amount of menthol. Menthol is commonly found in suncare products and creates the cooling sensation felt when applied. It can also soothe pain and inflammation.
Lavender essential oil is well known for its relaxing qualities. And those calming properties work on our skin too! It’s antiseptic and can help heal our damaged skin while relieving pain & inflammation. Lavender essential oil is also very safe to use on our whole family.
In ancient Egypt chamomile essential oil was seen as a symbol of the sun. It has been used throughout history for its ability to heal and soothe the skin. It’s anti-inflammatory properties can help relieve pain, while the calming effects of chamomile on our minds can ease stress from a long hot day.
Tea tree essential oil is anti-inflammatory and antiseptic allowing it to heal and comfort our damaged skin. It can relieve feelings of itchiness associated with sunburns and aid with moisturizing while our skin heals. It’s antibacterial powers will keep our skin safe in it’s vulnerable state.
Geranium essential oil has been known to help remove dead skin cells and aid in the regenerations of newer ones. This can help our dry and sun damaged skin heal faster. Geranium can help protect our skin from toxins and infections while it heals. It’s also anti inflammatory and can aid in pain relief.
Here are a few easy DIY recipes we've put together to take care of our skin after sun exposure:
After Sun Soothing Balm
Ingredients
- ¼ cup of Aloe Vera Gel
- 1 tablespoon of Shea Butter
- 2 tablespoons of Coconut Oil
- 1 tablespoon of grated beeswax or beeswax pastilles
- 10 drops of Lavender Essential Oil
Instructions
- Add beeswax, shea butter, and coconut oil to a heat-safe bowl. Place the bowl on top of a pot with a few inches of water in it. (A double boiler may be used here instead)
- Bring the water to a boil and slowly melt the wax and oils, stirring intermittently.
- Remove the mixture from the heat and add aloe vera gel and lavender essential oil. Stir thoroughly until fully combined.
- Pour mixture into tins or jars and allow them to cool completely before using. Store your After Sun Soothing Balm in the refrigerator for added cooling effect.
Sunny Day Lip Balm
This easy recipe will provide your lips with amazing moisturizing and healing benefits before and after exposure to the sun.
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons of Coconut oil
- 5 Tablespoons of beeswax
- 6 drops of Geranium essential oil
- 5 drops of Lavender essential oil
- 2 drops of Chamomile essential oil
Directions
- Heat coconut oil and beeswax together in a microwave or double broiler until melted
- Remove mixture from heat and add in the essential oils
- Stir the mixture until everything is thoroughly combined
- Pour mixture into small tins or lip balm tubes and let them cool for 24hrs before using
Sunburn Relief Spray
Easy to use spray to apply on sore and sunburned skin. This spray will moisturize and cool our skin as it heals from being sun-kissed a little too much
Ingredients
- ½ cups of Witch Hazel extract
- 2 tablespoons of Aloe Vera oil
- 8 drops of Peppermint essential oil
- 7 drops of Lavender essential oil
- 5 drops of Tea Tree essential oil
Directions
- Add all the ingredients to a 4oz amber glass bottle with a spray top
- Shake well until combined
- To use, spray liberally on sunburned skin
- Store in the fridge for an added cooling effect, shake before each use, separation is normal.
Soothing Face Mist
This cooling face mist will provide our hot flushed skin with moisture and protect from wrinkles and dryness caused by too much sun.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup of distilled water
- 1 tablespoon of Jojoba oil
- 1 teaspoon of Witch Hazel extract
- 1 teaspoon of Almond oil
- 5 drops of Peppermint essential oil
- 4 drops of Chamomile essential oil
- 2 drops of Tea Tree essential oil
Directions
- Combine all ingredients into a 4oz amber glass bottle with a fine mist spray top
- Shake well to combine thoroughly
- To use, lightly mist face
- Store in the fridge for an added cooling effect, shake before each use, separation is normal.