Even if you apply (and reapply!) sunscreen religiously, sometimes burns still happen! Sometimes you fall asleep under the sun, or forget your daily dose of SPF as you’re running out the door. And when these moments arise, and you find yourself stuck with a burn, you’ll want to take steps to alleviate discomfort and soothe the skin. Here’s what we recommend.
1) hydrate
When your skin is sunburned, your body draws fluids to its surface to help it heal. Therefore, it’s crucial to drink tons of water to keep your body from becoming dehydrated. As you’re healing, you’ll also want to lay off harsher skincare products that might dry out the skin further - that means no retinoids, sugar scrubs, alcohol-based toners, or products containing salt.
Instead, you should opt for nutrient-rich oils to soothe and hydrate the skin. And make sure to continue to drink a ton of water and moisturize throughout the entire recovery process - not just in the beginning!
Of course the standard sunburn remedy is aloe, but for your body, we also recommend using our skin butter. The rich, creamy formula melts into an oil as it reacts with your body’s natural heat, helping it absorb more easily into the skin. Its hydrating, coconut oil base is loaded with skin-nourishing fatty acids.In a hurry? Our golden elixir absorbs even more quickly and can be used to hydrate your face, body, and hair.
For your face, we also recommend our facial repair oil, which uses a moisturizing combination of virgin coconut oil, avocado oil, and rosehip oil to deeply hydrate, rejuvenate, and renew skin. And to spot treat stubborn dry spots, you can always turn to our mymatcha all-over moisture stick.
2) find a steam room!
Sometimes the after-effects of a sunburn are even worse than the sunburn itself - it’s common to experience major itchiness and discomfort as a result of your skin’s top layer being over exposed to harmful UV rays. Ouch!
While we don't have a product that specifically targets itchiness, we do have a trick that can help increase your comfortability. Our trick is to shower (and make sure to avoid harsh soaps or body washes that might strip your body of moisture!), apply a ton of moisturizer or body oil, and THEN head to the steam room. Sitting in steam with oils on your body helps them really absorb into your skin. We’d recommend steaming for 10-15 minutes, and then rinsing off with cool water.
3) use cooling mists
When you’ve been sunburned, your body’s response is to increase blood flow to the affected area, in an effort to help heal it. This is why your skin tends to feel uncomfortably hot or like it’s radiating heat, long after you’ve gotten out of the sun.
Soothing mists like our rosewater toner can help alleviate your discomfort by providing a gentle cooling effect. You can use it as much as you want on your face and body!
4) leave the skin alone!
It is so important to remember that as with any other skin trauma (which is what a sunburn truly is), it is essential to give your skin time to heal. Depending on your daily routine, you might also have to make active adjustments to your skincare regimen.
You should definitely hit pause on any retinoids, exfoliants, or potent acne treatments. Once your sunburn is healed, you can slowly reintroduce these products back into your routine, but until then, it’s best to place these heavy hitters on hold.
5) prevent future burns
The best kind of protection is a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Here at cocokind, we recommend a physical sunscreen, rather than a chemical one. Unlike its chemical counterpart, a physical sunscreen contains active minerals, such as titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. They work on top of the skin to scatter and deflect UV rays away from the skin. While physical sunscreens may need to be reapplied more often, they’re ideal for sensitive skin and usually contain cleaner formulas. Some of our favorites are Goddess Garden, All Good, or Coola, but you can also consult the Environmental Working Group to help you choose a sunscreen full of good ingredients and no harsh chemicals.
