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You got a bothersome sunburn and are looking for a soothing, natural treatment? Look no further - we’ve got the answer right here - Aloe Vera. Learn more about the difference between aloe sprays and gels and how to use aloe vera for skin in summer.
Aloe vera has an immediate cooling effect, reducing the pain and swelling from sunburn and limiting the permanent damage caused by excess UV rays. With it’s natural anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, and cooling properties, it’s the perfect after sun treatment.
Aloe vera works as an astringent, keeping the skin clean as it heals, and it helps keep the skin moist, preventing the dehydration of your skin, the root of the problem when it comes to the cracking and peeling of the skin. Here’s what it actually does:
The glycoproteins and polysaccharides in aloe vera work to repair damaged skin cells due to sunburn, and also help reduce inflammation. Aloe vera also diminishes any redness caused by harsh UV rays. Studies have shown that aloe vera speeds up the healing process of burns, increasing the production of new skin cells to replace the damaged ones. Not only can you use aloe vera on sunburned skin, you can also heal your damaged lips using a drop of the gel.
Aloe vera reduces the burning sensation usually experienced after sun exposure, and can soothe inflamed skin due to the abundance of anti-oxidants found naturally in the gel. Lidocaine, an anesthetic, is found in aloe vera, which acts to relieve pain and soothes the skin. (Tip: Keep the aloe vera gel in the refrigerator, and apply while cold for an incredible cooling sensation on your skin.)
Aloe vera locks in moisture to keep the skin hydrated, while also forming a protective layer over peeling skin. This is essential when the skin is healing.
The benefits of aloe vera for skin health are many. In addition to acting as a natural moisturizer, aloe vera:
When it comes to the benefits of aloe vera, after sun treatment is high on the list. Aloe vera contains more than 100 different phytochemicals as well as essential vitamins, minerals, and hormones that can soothe the skin and speed healing. Glycoproteins and polysaccharides in aloe vera reduce inflammation and repair skin cells damaged by sunburn. It can also soothe the burning sensation itself and moisturize damaged skin, creating a protective layer to prevent further damage.
Aloe vera after sun products come in several different forms. You can find gels, sprays, lotions and many more. Aloe vera can also be paired with other ingredients to make skin care supplements.
One very effective combination is that of aloe vera and Vitamin E. Like aloe vera, it’s a natural antioxidant, and one of only three that have been scientifically proven to prevent further sun damage, as well as fight the aging effects of the harmful UV rays you’re exposing yourself to.
An ingredient we’d suggesting adding to your aloe vera after sun regime is avocado oil. It’s naturally rich in Vitamins A, D, and E and is an excellent choice for relieving and preventing sun damage. You also have the option of adding these vitamins via your diet. Some examples of foods to consider are cheese, oily fish, eggs and milk.
You can even make your own cooling after sun spray - try mixing ½ cup pure aloe gel with an ounce of liquid vitamin E, a quarter cup of witch hazel, 5 tablespoons of water, and a few drops of lavender essential oil. You can even make a healing skin ointment using a ¼ cup each of coconut oil and manuka honey mixed with a teaspoon each of beeswax and aloe vera gel.
In a perfect world, we remember to always put our sunscreen on, and we don’t over expose our skin to harmful UV rays. But we don’t live in a perfect world. We forget to reapply sunscreen, and we lay on the beach for longer than we should.
Because we can’t always count on properly protecting our skin from the sun, it’s important that we each have a repertoire of natural aloe vera skin care remedies at our disposal. If done right (using some of the tips and tricks above), you can help control the effects of sun damaged skin and prevent further damage from occurring.
When it comes to aloe vera after sun products, gels and sprays are the most popular but what is the difference? Aloe vera after sun gel is thickened with seaweed to give it a silky soft texture that is easy to spread and absorbs rapidly into the skin. Aloe vera spray is lighter than gel and easier to apply over a large area to soothe and moisturize the skin. Both spray and gel absorb well into the skin and have the same effect.
Seven Minerals Aloe Vera Skin & Body Spray is an excellent product that contains 99% organic ingredients and it absorbs quickly into the skin to provide immediate relief. It is also one of the best aftersun for sensitive skin products on the market.
To ensure that you have all of the aloe vera after sun products you need for at-home use and on the go, consider the Seven Minerals USDA Aloe Vera Spray & Aloe Vera Gel Combo. This combo includes a 4-ounce bottle of aloe vera spray and gel, both made with 100% pure, USDA organic aloe vera.
If you are travelling often, or want to bring a bottle off with you to the beach, Seven Minerals offers both aloe vera gel and aloe vera spray in 2-ounce travel sizes. (These travel size bottles make soothing sunburns on the go easier than ever.)
Be sure to moisturize daily, as well as before/after prolonged sun exposure. The sun’s UV rays dry out your skin overtime, depriving it of the vital nutrients needed for cell repair. That’s why applying aloe vera moisturizer often and in generous amounts is extra important.
How to use aloe vera spray:
How to use aloe vera gel:
While sun exposure is important to get your daily dose of Vitamin D, prolonged exposure to harsh UV rays is damaging to your skin. In addition to increasing the signs of aging – things like wrinkles and dark spots – it can also lead to scarring and dangerous skin conditions. Prolonged sun exposure can also cause sunburn which is something you are almost certainly already familiar with, but you may not know just how dangerous it is. Sunburn is a literal burn of the skin and it can increase your risk of developing skin cancer and speed up the aging process.
The more sunburns you have early in life, the greater your risk of developing skin cancer as an adult. In fact, some experts suggest that a single case of serious, blistering sunburn can greatly increase your risk and having five or more sunburns may double your risk. You can see now why skin protection is so incredibly important!
Whether you realize it or not, your skin is exposed to harmful UV rays on a daily basis. If you want to prevent damage, slow the process of aging, and reduce your risk for skin cancer in the future, take the time to protect your skin each time you go outside with aloe vera skin protection products.
