How to Soothe a Sunburn with Shea Butter

While fall is quickly approaching, summer still lingers and so do beach-goers who head towards the coast to surf the waves, snorkel the depths, and tan on the most gorgeous beaches. I was recently in San Diego, where the sun was flaming hot and gave me an unappealing farmers tan. Along with that farmers tan, I was unlucky enough to experience the most painful sunburn ever. It was just awful.

I know that the most important part of summer is skin-protection, so I always make sure to lather on the sunscreen. Forget finding the best bikini or having a perfect swimsuit body, protecting your skin from UV rays will help to prevent aging, discoloration, skin-cancer, and significantly make your life easier later on. When heading outside for more than 20 minutes, it is highly recommended that you wear SPF 30 or above.

What happens when you take full precaution and still end up with a nasty sunburn (like I did)? You know, those ones where you skin feels like a hot plate for 4-6 hours afterwards. Even when its temperature gets back to normal, you are left with redness and sensitivity to touch. Not to mention, the next 3-5 days are full of peeling skin.

There are a few topical creams and natural oils that can help to greatly reduce inflammation and pain after over-exposure in the sun. One of which is Shea Butter! Shea Butter contains key vitamins and antioxidants that help ease the sting and nourish skin to prevent peeling (because no one likes that part).

Because of its natural healing properties, I want to share a DIY home-remedy for any sunburn you might get this summer! I used this in San Diego with the help of my local Whole Foods (and Baraka Shea Butter that I carry with me everywhere – thanks Wayne)!

What you’ll need:

• Clean washcloth
• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Coconut Oil
• Baraka Shea Butter
• Optional: Lavender or Peppermint Essential oils

Directions:

1. You will first want to wet the washcloth and splash a little apple cider vinegar on it. Dab the washcloth on the sunburn to help with the stinging. Let your skin dry.

1. Rub coconut oil and Baraka Shea Butter onto the affected area of the skin. You can also add a few drops of essential oils (lavender helps to support overall skin health and peppermint cools and releases heat for quick relief).

You should find instant relief with this easy DIY recipe, repeat as needed throughout the next few days. Continue lathering on the coconut oil and Baraka Shea Butter to promote further healing and avoid the flaky skin!

Have you guys tried this remedy for sunburns? What do you usually do when you’ve over-exposed yourself to the sun? Remember, always wear SPF 30 sunscreen or greater as skin protection, this is ideal to keep your skin healthy.

After any amount of sun exposure, I highly recommend adding Baraka Shea Butter to your routine. The nourishing and moisturizing properties will leave you feeling hydrated and supple.