14 DAY TRIAL // It's summer and if you're lucky enough to live within walking or driving distance of a beach, then you're sure to spend a lot more time there now that the temperatures are rising and the weather is turning hot. However, we all need to be very careful when it comes to exposing our bodies to the sun, particularly after a long interval in which sunbathing has not been on our top one hundred list of priorities, and be prepared in case we happen to get a little sunburned. Of course, it's preferable that we keep well protected and avoid any sun damage at all. However, if we overdo it a little bit and we get mildly burned, here are a few all-natural tips for looking after our skin and relieving some of the pain and discomfort.
First of all, as soon as the weather starts getting hot, make sure you have a supply of pure Aloe Vera gel around the house at all times. The soothing, cleansing and healing properties of Aloe Vera have been widely known and put to good use for millennia. It calms burn or irritated skin by forming a protective layer that seals in valuable moisture into the skin, helps with the healing process and prevents dehydration. Simply spread a thin layer of gel over the sunburned areas and you'll feel its gentle, soothing effect immediately. Of course, you can buy a product that combines Aloe Vera with other valuable ingredients such as green tea or tea tree oils and Vitamin E to speed up the healing process even more.
Another soothing sunburn remedy is taking a baking soda bath. Baking soda - the good old-fashioned sodium bicarbonate you're sure to find hiding in one of your kitchen cabinets - is an excellent home remedy for sunburned skin. Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to a lukewarm tub of water and soak the affected areas for about ten minutes. Don't dry your skin with a towel, but rather let it air dry and you'll feel your skin become less irritated and uncomfortable. You can also add about 20 drops each of lavender and chamomile essential oils to your baking soda bath and your skin will appreciate the treatment even more. After you've finished with your bath, take a couple of aspirins to further reduce any inflammation and redness caused by the sunburns and lay down for a couple of hours -you'll soon feel much better.
