It’s that wonderful time of the year where the sun is shining extra bright and the heat index reaches its peak. I personally love this time of the year. I love the sunshine! I love the warm air! I also love that the sun stays out longer. But, there is one thing that I don’t love: getting sunburnt. Yes, there are ways to prevent a sunburn, but if you’re anything like me, you may forget to use the sunscreen from time to time.
On my most recent trip to the beach for a babymoon, I tried to spend as much time as possible out by the water. I thought if I just went for an hour or so, I would be fine…I was definitely wrong. This happened the summer before as well, and I used regular aloe for the sunburn, but that just leaves you feeling sticky and not very moisturized. For a daily moisturizer, I use coconut oil on my body. When I decided to look up a sunburn relief online, I noticed that both the oil and aloe mixed together were highly suggested!
Aloe gives you that cool feeling your skin needs when it’s nice and toasty, while coconut oil keeps it moisturized and brings back some hydration so you’re less likely to itch and peel. Not only does coconut oil moisturize, but it is full of antioxidants and vitamin E which can help heal your skin and fight free radicals from sun damage, which prevents aging and skin cancer.
Hopefully none of you get too burned this summer, but if you do, here is an all-natural relief that will be beneficial to your skin as well!
Ingredients:
1 Cup Coconut Oil
½ Cup Aloe Gel
10 drops of Lavender Essential Oil
Directions:
To make this cooling cream light and airy, put the 1 cup of coconut oil (I like to use organic, unrefined) and ½ cup of aloe gel (either store bought or squeezed out of an aloe plant) into a mixer and mix it for around 5 minutes, or until it starts forming peaks. Then, add the lavender oil which is a natural calming agent, and it has a wonderful smell! Stir it, and you’re done! I like to keep the finished product in a glass mason jar, like the one used in the cover photo. But, it’s up to you!
Note: If your skin is really hot like mine was when I applied it, it may feel like its melting onto you. But believe me, it will feel so nice and be worth it!
– Bethany Replogle
Featured image by Bronze2U Indianapolis
