ALOE-HA

photos: 16.media.tumblr.com/realsimple.com/hgtv post designed by kristin ess

I hope that everyone had a fun and safe holiday weekend! And if your weekend was anything like mine, then you spent plenty of time in the sunshine. While those early summer days are oh-so-enjoyable, they can sometime leave you with an unwanted souvenir… a sunburn! I was able to avoid the burn this time around (mostly because the majority of my time was spent hiding under a giant floppy hat + umbrella while reapplying sunscreen hourly), but for the less protected, I’ve provided some suggestions for after the damage has been done:

Here are a few tips on how to deal with those less than desirable sunburns…

• Take Vitamin E to reduce inflammation from your sunburn.
• Drink lots of water to stay hydrated.
• Eat foods high in vitamin c (citrus fruits, strawberries, spinach), beta-carotene (chili peppers, kale, carrots), vitamin E (nuts, olives) or flax seed oil.
• Sliced cucumbers or cold wet tea bags help soothe and extract the sting.
• Take a cool shower.
• Avoid using any harsh soaps + perfumes on sunburned area.
• Keep skin moisturized. Try using a lotion with shea butter or palm oils for extra moisture.

Here are my favorite “Kitchen Beautician” remedies for a mild sunburn…

• Mix lavender oil and water together in a small spray bottle and keep it in your refrigerator.  Mist your skin throughout the day to soothe the burn.
• Aloe vera can relive the pain of a sunburn.  Try filling an ice tray with aloe vera and freezing it.  Rub the frozen cubes onto the burn area.
• Mix baking soda into your bath and soak for about 15 minutes. Let skin air dry instead of drying off with a towel.
• Witch hazel has been known to reduce inflammation.  It can be applied to a burn with a cotton ball or added to a bath.

XO Lauren