Living in Texas gives us many opportunities to enjoy the sunshine during long summer days. When the fun in the sun is done we all pile into the kitchen for some instant skin relief. This Soothing After Sun Spray helps to soothe skin and provides a gentle cooling effect. It feels amazing after a long day in the sun!
The secret to this recipe is the cooling power of your refrigerator. You’ll want to make a batch to have on hand during the whole summer!
I grew up in Hawaii, so my entire childhood was spent in the sun at the beach (I know, poor me). After the beach, we would reach for my mother’s aloe vera plant.
We would simply pull off one of the thick, juicy leaves and scrape the goodness out from the center. The aloe vera gel directly from the plant was just perfect for soothing and calming our skin.
I don’t have an aloe vera plant here, but I still remember and take advantage of all the benefits of this beautiful little plant. Aloe vera is a key component of this after sun spray.
After Sun Spray Ingredients
This recipe uses aloe vera, coconut oil, and essential oils. The ingredients were chosen to hydrate skin, provide antioxidants, and soothe and calm any inflammation.
Benefits of Aloe Vera:
- Aloe is full of antioxidants that fight free radicals to keep your skin smooth and healthy
- It gently cleanses and soothes irritated skin
- Aloe helps your skin regenerate after minor irritations
Make sure to use at least 98% pure aloe vera. You can buy vera gel from a local natural food store, or you can also find quality options here [1]. This will ensure that you’re getting the good stuff without a lot of additives or fillers.
Benefits of Coconut Oil:
- Coconut oil provides nutrient-rich hydration as a natural moisturizer
- Perfect for moisturizing hair, skin, and nails
- Makes the recipe smooth and easy to apply
This recipe uses fractionated coconut oil since it is already in liquid form. It will not solidify under high heat, at room temperature, or when refrigerated. Look for organic, unrefined liquid coconut oil like this one [2].
Essential Oils in After Sun Spray
This recipe uses two sun-soothing essential oils; lavender and peppermint. Now you might be thinking that peppermint is not a good choice for skin, but think again. Peppermint has a cooling effect when applied topically due to high levels of menthol. This makes it perfect for over-sunned skin.
Lavender is a treasured favorite for the skin. It provides many skin care benefits when applied topically. It is soothing and comforting to sun-kissed skin.
More essential oils to try in this recipe:
- Frankincense
- Copaiba
- Elemi
- Geranium
- Sandalwood
- Tee Tree
- German Chamomile
- Helichrysum
How to Use this After Sun Spray
Keep a 16 oz. refillable glass spray bottle [3] of this After Sun Spray in your refrigerator during the summer months. Here’s the beautiful part:
- The refrigeration helps keep the mixture fresh for a very long time
- It’s cold when you spray it on which adds a welcome refreshment to the experience
- Everyone in the family knows exactly where to find it when they come in from the heat
New to essential oils? Learn more about how we use them and why you should use them as well. [4]
Soothing After Sun Spray
Ingredients
- 1 cup distilled water
- 3/4 cup aloe vera gel [5]
- 1 tablespoon fractionated coconut oil [2]
- 10-15 drops Lavender Essential Oil (where to buy) [6]
- 10-15 drops Peppermint Essential Oil (where to buy) [7]
- 16 oz. large glass spray bottle [3]
Directions
- Combine all the ingredients in the spray bottle
- Swirl to combine
- Store in the refrigerator when not in use
- Yield: One 16-oz bottle
To use:
- Spray on the skin for instant cooling and soothing relief
You can safely use this recipe on most members of your family. It is diluted to a very weak solution so it’s safe for most people. Certain individuals have developed sensitivities to Peppermint Essential Oil when used topically. Those individuals should omit the Peppermint from the recipe.
Not the DIY Type? Young Living makes a similar product called LavaDerm Cooling Mist [8]. This all-in-one spray adds instant moisture and leaves skin with a cooling and soothing sensation. Find out more here [8].