Everything You Need To Know About Sunburns and Aloe Vera

The sun is scorching, temps are high, and this summer’s heat waves are showing no signs of letting up. No matter how much sunscreen you slather on, there’s always that spot you missed – the back of the neck, the ears, the tops of your feet – leaving behind a painful sunburn that lingers for days. Ready to speed up the healing process? Aloe vera is the not-so-secret miracle for bad burns.

The clear gel found in the succulent plant’s leaves has long been known for its healing properties. Folks from various cultures have been using it topically for centuries to heal minor ailments like burns, cuts, and sores.

Why it works

The multipurpose botanical helps heal sunburns in a few ways. For starters, since aloe extract is mostly water itself, it hydrates the skin and locks in moisture, reducing post-sunburn peeling and speeding up the healing process. It also contains salicylic acid, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial properties to soothe and protect the skin. If that isn’t enough, aloe stimulates collagen and hyaluronic acid production for hydrated, supple skin. Finally, its cooling gel consistency reduces discomfort and irritation. All that heat radiating from your red skin is cooled right upon application . Ready to try it for yourself?

Ways to use

If buying an actual plant (and keeping it alive) isn’t your thing, you can find plenty of aloe-infused skincare products—from moisturizers to masks—to keep in your summer skincare kit.

Toner

Soothe and calm irritated skin with a multi-purpose toner.

Beautylish recommends Indie Lee CoQ-10 Toner, $38

Face mist

Sunburn relief is only a spritz away with an aloe-infused mist you can always keep on-hand.

Beautylish recommends Dr. Barbara Sturm Hydrating Face Mist, $100

Moisturizer

Keep sun-exposed skin happy with an aloe vera-infused moisturizer.

Beautylish recommends Dr. Barbara Sturm Aloe Vera Gel for face and body, $80

Face mask

Does your face need some TLC after sun exposure? All you need is 10–20 minutes with the right face mask.

Beautylish recommends Dr. Barbara Sturm Face Mask, $150, or Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Mask Extreme De-tox Hydrator, $55

Eyes

If your delicate eye area gets irritated from too much sun, aloe-infused eye patches can be the perfect pick-me-up.

Beautylish recommends Good Molecules Caffeine Energizing Hydrogel Eye Patches, $18

Sunscreen

And, of course, protect your skin on all fronts with a multi-tasking sunscreen.

Beautylish recommends Bask Lotion SPF 30, $22 or Bask Lotion SPF 50, $22