Best Sunburn Lotions and Gels

a mom applies sunburn lotion to her daughter's back

You stayed out in the sun too long and now you have a sunburn. It’s red, dry, and painful, and you just want it to go away. Using the right products can relieve some of the discomfort you’re experiencing and speed up the healing process. In this article we’ll take a look at what some of those products are.

Why lotion and gel for a sunburn?

Using lotions and gels for treating your sunburn is a great idea because they can provide soothing, calming relief and keep your skin hydrated. Keep in mind that you want to avoid petroleum jelly products, like Vaseline, because these products can trap the heat instead of reducing it, making your burn worse.

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera gel comes from the inside of a plant by the same name. The gel is one of the best products for relieving discomfort, soothing skin, and speeding up healing.  While there are a lot of Aloe Vera gels to choose from, you should try to find one that is pure. If you own the plant, even better—split open a leaf and apply the sap directly to the sunburn.

Herbivore’s After Sun Mist

Not only will Herbivore’s After Sun Mist help with healing, but it also prevents peeling by utilizing the pH-balancing effect of witch hazel. The mist leaves your skin feeling cool because of the combination of mint and Aloe Vera.

Clinique’s After Sun Rescue Balm

This balm is an oil-free, refreshing remedy that will help repair your skin. Its rich hydrating moisturizer can be applied all over your body. You’ll notice that the balm not only minimizes peeling, but also relieves irritation and discomfort.

Korres Yoghurt Cooling Gel

This cooling gel can be applied to your face and body. The yogurt and sweet almond oil provides relief for a sensitive and painful sunburn—and promotes healing.

Badger After Sun Balm

This is a great conditioning cream to help heal dry, sunburned skin. As an added bonus, the balm has a tropical scent thanks to ingredients like shea butter, olive, and jojoba.

Osmia Organics Honey-Myrrh Lip Repair

Some of us have learned the hard way that even our lips are not immune to a bad sunburn. If you find yourself in this situation, try this honey, myrrh and lanolin healing balm.

Hydrocortisone Cream

Try using 1% hydrocortisone cream, a topical steroid cream, for fast healing. In addition to healing, the cream can also help relieve a sunburns itch and pain. Warning: this shouldn’t be used on children under the age of 2.

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