DIY After Sun Lotion (Quick & Easy)

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This 15-minute DIY after sun lotion with shea butter, coconut oil and aloe vera gel is a simple and moisturizing sunburn cream for hot summer days.

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Quick and Easy DIY After Sun Lotion Recipe

The last few months have been incredibly intense, busy…and tiring. Which is why I’ve love being able to rely on super quick, simple, fuss-free, yet summer recipes like waterproof sunscreen, sunscreen spray, and this hearty and healthy homemade after sun lotion recipe.

As its most basic, after-sun lotion can be made with just a few ingredients such as nourishing butters and oils, aloe vera gel and essential oils. However, at the same time, this natural sunburn relief works perfectly for soothing that sun-kissed skin. 

The combination of affordable and all-natural ingredients makes the best soothing and cooling DIY after sun lotion for sunburnt skin.  All you need to do is melt ingredients in a double boiler; you can make your own by placing a glass bowl over a pot of boiling water, letting it cool and then whipping it up with a hand mixer. 

Want more easy ideas for your summer skincare routine? Make your own homemade waterproof sunscreen, tanning oil, sunscreen spray, and more. 

The Ingredients

Aloe vera is a tropical medicinal plant used for thousands of years to treat skin conditions such as wounds and burns. Aloe vera is so effective at soothing burns that it’s sometimes called the “burn plant.”

Because of its strong antioxidant properties, aloe vera gel is one of the best natural sunburn treatments. However, you cannot use aloe vera alone because it’s mostly water. When applied topically, it evaporates quickly from the skin, and you won’t absorb most of the medicinal properties.

You need to mix it with something that will provide a barrier to keep in moisture. I use shea butter for this recipe because it’s nourishing and provides mild UV protection.

Shea butter has more beautiful uses than you might think. 

Shea butter has been a go-to in many DIY beauty recipes – especially for lotions and butters. That’s because, besides being super moisturizing, while also provides many other noteworthy benefits.

Shea butter may become your new best friend if you have dry, dull skin. It helps retain moisture by performing a protective barrier on the skin’s surface, reducing water loss and keeping the skin hydrated.

Some experts say that shea butter is even better for your skin than coconut oil (yes, really). Joshua Ross, the celebrity aesthetician of SkinLab, recommends opting for facial oils or other natural products made with seed-derived oil, such as shea butter. 

Coconut oil helps cool and soothe sunburned skin and relieves symptoms such as itching and peeling. Coconut oil is high in saturated fats, which moisturise your skin.

According to NYC-based board-certified dermatologist Dr. Michele Green, coconut oil is great for the skin because it aids in every aspect of a sunburn. It’s pretty much a godsend, from soothing the feel of the burn and lessening the appearance to deeply hydrating skin to repair crisped damage. Of course, it’s only so beneficial if applied with care. 

Rosehip Oil is high in Vitamin C and also contains vitamin E. Research shows us that when Vitamin C and E are combined, it can prevent sunburn from getting worse.

Lavender Essential Oil is great for calming down the sting of a sunburn and is gentle enough to be applied directly to damaged skin. Lavender is effective as a local anaesthetic due to being high in linalool and linalyl acetate, so it will help reduce the pain of a severe sunburn. (source)

The lavender essential oil’s antifungal, antibacterial, and carminative properties are extremely useful in healing sunburn and treating other skin problems. 

DIY After Sun Lotion Recipe

Gather up all your ingredients. You can find them at a local health food store, but I will link here to some reputable brands that I trust on Amazon.

• ½ cup (4 ounces) of my favourite Shea Butter (certified organic)
• 3 Tbsp Coconut Oil (certified organic)
• 3 Tbsp Aloe Vera Gel (certified organic)
• 1 Tbsp Rosehip Oil (certified organic)
• 30 drops of Lavender Essential Oil

1. You will need a stand mixer or hand mixer to make this recipe.
2. Break shea butter into chunks and place in the mixer. Whip on high for 20 seconds. It will stick to the sides.
3. Scrape the shea butter from the sides. Add coconut oil and whip for 20 seconds.
4. Scrape sides again and add aloe vera gel. Whip for 20 seconds.
5. Repeat this process for the rosehip and lavender essential oils, adding them one at a time and mixing them well.
6. The after-sun lotion should be creamy and easy to remove with a spatula.
7. Store in a mason jar with an airtight lid.

Store in a cool, dark place; this lotion should last for the summer. But I suggest storing it in the refrigerator because it will feel much better on scorched skin.

How to Use Your After-Sun Lotion

Even if you don’t have a sunburn, this after-sun lotion recipe is a summer necessity to rehydrate and soothe sun-kissed skin. Apply it after a good scrub in the shower to remove sunscreen residue. Slather on this DIY sunburn cream, and your skin will drink in the oils and butters, dealing with sun-damaged skin while you sleep.

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