Skipped Sunscreen? Cheap Sunburn Remedies to Ease the Pain

Every couple of years, my hubris rears its ugly head. "I'm half Cuban," I say. "Keep your SPF 45, I'm just going to use this Banana Boat tanning oil." If it worked for all those 1970s ladies, it'll work for me, I think. This fourth of July, while floating down the Russian River in Monte Rio (Vacation Wonderland!), my legs and tummy went from a golden brown to scary lobster territory. Every moment my skin touches any surface, I'm wincing.

So what's a frugal girl with a bad burn to do?

Here are a few home remedies to help soothe the savage beast. Your epidermis will thank you.

First of all, before you try any of these remedies, take a warm shower. Don't use shampoo or soap, just let the warm water moisten your skin. Pat yourself dry (don't rub a burn!) and then apply one of these useful home items …

COCONUT OIL

Coconut Oil is moisturizing, soothing, and smells delicious to boot. Smooth it over freshly washed skin and gently rub it in. Make sure to cover upholstered furniture if you sit down, because you may leave some "Coming to America" type stains on your couch if you don't.

WHY IT WORKS: Virgin Coconut Oil has healing, reparative properties, plus it lightly exfoliates while it moisturizes.

BONUS! Put some in your hair for a nice conditioning treatment while you're at it.

ESSENTIAL OILS

Mix some Lavender essential oil with water, put it in a spray bottle and spritz away to lessen the pain of your burn.

WHY IT WORKS: According to this interesting factoid from Greenfeet:

"French perfumer Rene-Maurice Gattefosse (1881-1950) is credited with the modern-day interest in the medicinal value of lavender essential oil. After suffering severe burns on his hand while working in his laboratory one day, he desperately sought something to cool the wounds. By chance, he applied pure essential oil of lavender directly to the burns. He discovered not only that his wounds cooled off, but moreover that his hand healed quickly, and without scarring."

BONUS! No need to wear perfume, you'll smell clean and flowery all day.

ALOE VERA

Squeeze some goo from the end of your Aloe Vera plant and massage directly onto the skin for instant relief. Mix it with some coconut oil to make it go further.

WHY IT WORKS: The gel from Aloe Vera plants forms a protective layer that seals in moisture, preventing dehydration and helping your burn heal.

BONUS! An Aloe Vera plant makes an attractive succulent and is easy to maintain.

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

Add a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to a few cups of water. Mix them up and pour them into a spray bottle. Spray on the affected area and air dry. It might smell funky, but it will help!

WHY IT WORKS: Apple cider vinegar helps create a PH balance in your skin. This supports healing.

BONUS! Mix a few spoonfuls with water in the morning and drink to help support a weight loss regimen.

Of course, the best defense is prevention, so wear sunscreen for crying out loud.

Got a great home remedy for a sunburn? Fill me in! Comment below...
 

Annie Mebane is a screenwriter and improviser living in Los Angeles. A veteran Savings.com DealPro and beauty product aficionado, you can catch her blogging about beauty on Wednesdays.