Luckily, you don't have to let sunburn dictate whether or not you have a good time. Here are a few natural ways to stop the burning and soothe your skin.
Essential oils: Lavender, rose, frankincense, and chamomile are among the oils that can help heal sunburn. Young Living recently wrote a helpful article about DIY sunburn relief using essential oils, including a recipe for DIY sunscreen. While lavender is by far the most helpful oil, it can be combined with other ingredients, such as apple cider vinegar and baking soda, to provide the best relief.
Cool milk compress: It just sounds refreshing, doesn't it? This is one of the easiest ways to soothe sunburn, and you probably already have the ingredients in your kitchen. All you need is a washcloth soaked in a cup of chilled milk to pat over your most painful burns.
Witch hazel: This plant works wonders for the skin and has been used to treat acne, ingrown hairs, and sunburn. A few dabs of witch hazel on a washcloth or cotton ball will soothe the skin and decrease the burning.
Oatmeal: Though the smell of oatmeal may bring you back to the chicken pox you had in second grade, it's actually a great way to calm irritated skin (obviously!) and ease some pain. And no, you don't necessarily have to take a bath in the stuff...unless that's your thing. You can just apply it to the areas where you need it most.
Aloe vera: Last but not least, aloe is a tried and true way to relieve sunburn and cool the skin. In fact, aloe is often synonymous with sunburn as it has graced the cabinets of many homes for years...and for good reason. It works! Check out Humblebee & Me's recipe for Aloe & Silk Body Spray.
While using sunscreen should be the first method of prevention, sunburn happens even to the most careful of beach-goers. When it does, glance through your cupboard to see what remedies you already have on hand.