Homemade Natural Sunburn Relief Gel

I love a good ‘science project.’ So if you tell me that I can make a home remedy for sunburn, you bet I will get the ingredients and make a natural remedy in a matter of minutes. Here’s how to put essential oils to good use and prepare an instant sunburn relief gel that smells like lavender and peppermint. And let me add, that is my favorite essential oils combo!

Growing up in South America, on the Caribbean Sea coast, to be exact, I can not tell you how many times I got sunburnt. I got sunburnt so many times as a child that I am literally scared of the sun as an adult. Due to excessive sun exposure, I have sensitive and delicate white skin, scars from blisters, and obvious dark spots and freckles.

There are only so many times a mom can get her kid to put on sunblock on a given beach day. How I wish we had this home remedy for sunburn back then!

I learned my lesson about sun exposure, and I rarely need this sunburn relief remedy. Kids, on the other hand, are a different story.

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Natural Home Remedies for Sunburn

A quick Google search for natural home remedies for sunburn will yield millions of results, and you will mostly find one common remedy: aloe vera. You can use aloe vera solo or mix it with some other natural ingredients to prepare your own after-sun spray for instant sunburn relief. The recipe is below.

I remember once, my mom putting sliced (raw) potatoes on my back and shoulders. Another time, she put compresses of a mixture of cold water and vinegar – yes, vinegar! This is very effective when you have a minor burn from touching a hot oven rack or something of the like.

Essential Oils for Sunburn

Fast forward to the era of essential oils. Yes, they have been around for centuries, but they became popular when major companies such as Young Living® and DoTerra started.

I have been using essential oils for quite a few years now and am always interested in finding ways to use them. Whether I am preparing natural cleaners or home remedies, I see no harm in trying out essential oils that are 100% pure and therapeutic grade.

In this recipe for sunburn natural remedy, I used two of my favorite essential oils: lavender and peppermint. Both of these essential oils combined make a literally dreamy scent!

Lavender Essential Oil for Sunburn

Lavender essential oil is a great beginner oil and one of the most popular ones. It is a must-have for every home, not only for its classic scent but also for its versatility. Lavender can be soothing to the skin after a day in the sun. From relaxing routines to making skincare products -like this instant sunburn relief gel- this oil can infuse and enhance many areas of your life.

Peppermint Essential Oil for Sunburn

Peppermint essential oil cools fatigued muscles after physical activity and provides a refreshing experience when applied to the skin after a warm day in the sun. You can learn more about the peppermint essential oil uses and benefits here.

Note: DO NOT apply peppermint essential oil directly to the skin. Always use carrier oil or carrier products. I recommend making this home remedy with aloe vera and other natural ingredients for instant sunburn relief.

Ingredients to Make Instant Sunburn Remedy

Now that you know a little about the essential oils mostly used for sunburn relief, let’s make it. This recipe yields 8 oz of sunburn relief gel. You can store it in an airtight container or split it into small travel-size spray bottles so you can have a sunburn home remedy on the go!

How To Make Sunburn Natural Remedy Gel

Below are step-by-step pictures of how to make this natural remedy for sunburn. You can skip it and jump to the printable recipe card below instead.

Pour 1/4 cup (4 tbsp) of distilled water inside the liquid measuring cup. I like to decant distilled water in swing-top bottles.

Then, add 4 tablespoons of aloe vera to the distilled water.

In a separate measuring cup (I used a shot glass measuring cup), measure 1/2 cup (4 ounces) of witch hazel.

I like measuring the witch hazel separately because the essential oils dilute better in it. Afterward, you can add the mixture to the distilled water.

Collect the drops of essential oil in a teaspoon. I used 20 drops of lavender essential oil and 10 of peppermint. The lavender essential oil soothes and calms the skin. The peppermint oil cools it down.

Pour the oils in the witch hazel. In this recipe for sunburn relief gel, the witch hazel serves two purposes. First, witch hazel helps relieve irritated or inflamed skin. Secondly, it is a good carrier to dilute essential oils. In other words, essential oils dilute better in witch hazel than in water alone.

Stir the essential oils in the witch hazel until combined.

Next, pour the witch hazel and essential oils mixture into the first measuring cup with distilled water and aloe vera.

Stir to combine, and transfer to your container of choice.

Recipe Card for Sunburn Remedy

For your convenience, here is a printable recipe card for this homemade sunburn remedy.