Homemade After Sun Spray

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Inside: This homemade after sun spray is the perfect way to soothe sunburned skin. It only takes 4 natural ingredients to provide instant sunburn relief.

Whether you are a religious sun screen user or not, sometimes, despite our best efforts even the most cautious of us can still get too much sun on a hot summer day. Whether from a long day at the beach, a day spent doing yard work, or a surprise event that was held outdoors, a sunburn isn’t fun.

The hot skin, painful burn, and itchiness that often accompanies sun burns can cause the best of us to be grumpy. When you’re in pain, it’s hard to be happy.

So I set out on a quest to find some relief for sunburned skin. After doing some research, I came across multiple recipes for after-sun spray. My family tried out several, and I modified them to suit our needs. Many recipes call for large quantities of aloe vera gel.

And while I love aloe vera, none of us enjoys the stickiness that often comes with it. So I kept the amount small in this recipe. You may increase it to 2 Tablespoons if the stickiness doesn’t bother you.

Please note that we are talking about aloe gel here, not aloe vera juice.

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Our Experience with the After Sun Spray

I was really surprised at how well this homemade after sun cooling spray works. My oldest son doesn’t like to use sunscreen. (I know. He should wear it all the time, but he is old enough to make those decisions now.)

Recently, on a day at the beach, he definitely got too much sun. By evening, his face was beet red. He sprayed it on his face (with his eyes closed) and it provided immediate relief.

Several times, over the course of the evening, he misted his face with this spray. By the next morning, all the pain was gone, and he was noticeably less red.

Ingredients for Homemade After Sun Spray

This after sun spray only takes 4 key ingredients, most of which you can find on Amazon or your local drugstore.

• witch hazel
• aloe vera gel
• lavender essential oil-Plant Therapy is my favorite brand.
• peppermint essential oil
• 4 oz. glass or plastic spray bottle

Witch hazel is a natural anti-inflammatory and is used to calm irritated skin and reduce redness. It also helps relieve the itching as the sunburn heals. An alcohol-free version is best but you can use regular witch hazel if it is more in line with your budget. (Most only contain about 14% alcohol.)

The aloe vera gel is used to soothe the sunburn and provide moisture to dry, itchy skin. Lavender essential oil has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties while the peppermint essential oil provides an extra cooling effect to the heat of a burn.

Both essential oils have been shown to reduce pain. As always, if you are severely sunburned, you should consult your doctor before using this or any other product, as I am not a medical professional.

This recipe is great even if you don’t have sunburned skin. When you come in hot and sweaty from an outdoor adventure, this spray provides cooling relief to your hot skin instantly.

How to Make After Sun Spray

You can get a printable copy of this easy DIY recipe at the end of this post.

Disclaimers: This spray should not take the place of first aid for a severe burn. This homemade spray is for external use only. This is not a substitute for proper skin care while in the sun. You should always limit sun exposure during the hottest part of the day. Always store your homemade personal care products out of reach of children. If you have sensitive skin, test this on a small area before using over large areas of the body.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup witch hazel
• 1 Tablespoon aloe vera gel
• 15 drops lavender essential oil
• 15 drops peppermint essential oil

Directions

Mix witch hazel and aloe vera gel in a small container with a pour spout. It is OK if the aloe vera gel isn’t totally dissolved.

Pour the mixture into a spray bottle.

Add lavender and peppermint essential oils.

Shake well to ensure aloe vera gel mixes thoroughly with the witch hazel.

Spray on dry, sunburned skin for instant relief.

With this homemade after sun spray on hand, you can be reassured that even if you do get too much sun, you can quickly ease the pain and redness and feel better much sooner.

Other Easy DIY Projects

• This homemade hand salve is perfect for hardworking hands.
• This easy sugar scrub is so much cheaper than store-bought kinds and will remove all kinds of dirt and grime from your hands while leaving them soft and smooth.
• This simple lip balm will keep your lips from drying out on those hot summer days.
• Before you go outdoors, spray this homemade insect repellent on your skin and clothes to keep the bugs away.

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