Soothe irritated skin with this DIY natural after sun lotion. This easy recipe uses aloe, lilac infused oil, and essential oils to heal your skin.
It's great to get outside in the summer and spend time in the sunshine. After that long, cold winter, I'm really enjoying getting outside. Even if I'm working, it's just so refreshing to be outside instead of cooped inside.
As good as the sun is for your vitamin D and for your mood, it's not so great for your skin. Even if you don't get a burn, it's important to take care of your skin after you spend time outside in the sun.
This DIY natural after sun lotion is easy to make. I carefully selected each ingredient for its benefits for irritated skin.
It uses allantoin, lilac infused oil, and essential oils to make this lotion for after sun skin care. I started with my favorite lotion base, but you can also make your favorite lotion and use these ingredients.
DIY NATURAL AFTER SUN LOTION
It's important to wear some type of SPF every time you'll be outside. I wear SPF on my face every day no matter what the weather.
I still get carded for alcohol, and the staff at my son's college orientation talked to me and not him. So wearing SPF daily must not be one of the worst choices I've made.
If you you do wear SPF, you can still get a sunburn. Maybe it wore off, or maybe you missed a spot. However it happens, it does still happen.
Even if you don't get a burn, it's important to take care of your skin after you spend time in the sun. The sun can dry out your skin, making it flake and look dull.
This DIY natural after sun lotion can be used on sunburn or to rehydrate your skin after spending time in the sun.
After you've been in the sun, take a shower to cleanse your skin. This also helps remove the sweat, sunscreen, and chlorine if you've been swimming.
Then use this after sun lotion all over. It's great for sunburned skin, but it's also a great way to add some moisture after being in the sun even if you didn't get a burn.
More DIY after sun care recipes:
LOTION BASE
There's a reason I don't make lotions; they are a pain in the tush. You have to use a preservative and an emulsifier, and if you're not super careful, both could fail.
Most of my readers are home DIY-ers, but I know that some of you make my recipes to sell. Either way, you don't want the risk of having mold or bacteria grow in your lotion or have it separate.
While not as bad, your emulsion could also fail. This can make your lotion watery, and it can cause skin irritation if the essential oils aren't mixed in well.
If you do make lotion and have a favorite recipe, then by all means make it and substitute the oil and essential oils that I used.
I get my lotion base from Crafty Bubbles, which is a brand that you'll see here often. I've been using this lotion base for over 10 years.
When I sold it on Ebay (before Etsy was a thing), I would sell a bottle, and they would come back and order more. It's that good.
I had tried other lotion bases, but they only let you add 1 ounce of oil or butter to a gallon of lotion. You can add one ounce of additives to each 7 ounces of the Crafty Bubbles lotion base.
If you're wondering why you can just add more to other bases, it's because of the preservative. They use enough preservative to add so much additive. More than that can disrupt the balance.
Please don't buy lotion at the store and add essential oils or carrier oils. The preservative may not be able to handle the extra ingredients, and it could grow creepy crawlies.
You can find their essential oils and carrier oils in some Hobby Lobby or Michael's stores, but the lotion base is only available directly from them. You can find ordering information on their website.
If you want to make your own lotion, try this natural lotion recipe from Garden Therapy. It has aloe in it, so just sub the lilac infused oil for one or both of the oils and add the essential oils that I recommend.
If you want to make your own lotion, try this natural lotion recipe from Garden Therapy. It has aloe in it, so just sub the lilac infused oil for one or both of the oils and add the essential oils that I recommend.
LILAC INFUSED OIL
When the lilacs bloomed this year, I wanted to use them to make lilac infused oil. As soon as I started researching the benefits of lilac oil, I knew I had to use them in a DIY natural after sun lotion.
Lilacs are said to promote healing, which is just what your skin needs after being in the sun. Learn more about the benefits of lilac oil and how to make it here. You can dry your own lilacs or buy dried lilacs from Etsy.
I use avocado oil
and grapeseed oil
to make my infusion. Avocado oil is high in essential fatty acids that moisturize your skin. It's also high in the oxidant vitamin E. The nutrients in the oil helps nourish the skin.
and grapeseed oil to make my infusion. Avocado oil is high in essential fatty acids that moisturize your skin. It's also high in the oxidant vitamin E. The nutrients in the oil helps nourish the skin.
I also used grapeseed oil because it's a lighter dry oil, so it soaks into the skin quickly. It also has vitamin E and fatty acids to moisturize the skin.
You can use your favorite carrier oil for dry or irritated skin in this recipe. Learn more about 40 carrier oils and the benefits in my book Carrier Oils.
ALOE VERA
Aloe vera
is perhaps the best remedy for sunburned skin. It's been shown to help the skin heal and add moisture to your skin.
is perhaps the best remedy for sunburned skin. It's been shown to help the skin heal and add moisture to your skin.
I used the aloe vera from my Summer Beauty Simply Earth Essential Oil Recipe Box. If you're shopping for aloe vera, make sure you get pure aloe vera. Some inexpensive ones in the store add alcohol and other ingredients.
ALLANTOIN
Allantoin
isn't a popular additive for lotion, but it's amazing in lotions. Allantoin is a white powder that is excellent for moisturizing your skin.
isn't a popular additive for lotion, but it's amazing in lotions. Allantoin is a white powder that is excellent for moisturizing your skin.
Allantoin powder is usually lab-created, but it's the same thing that is found organically in nature. It's found in plantain and chamomile, among other plants.
It's said to aid in wound healing, promote skin cell regeneration, and make the skin smoother. I've been using it in all of my homemade lotions, and I just love how it makes my skin feel.
Allantoin is water soluble, so don't add it to oils. It's important to get it to dissolve fully in a recipe or it can be sharp and feel like glass in your lotion.
I highly recommend using a laser thermometer to heat the water and allantoin to 130 degrees to ensure that it dissolves completely.
ESSENTIAL OILS
I used my three favorite oils for DIY natural after sun care. Peppermint essential oil is almost always used in after sun care. The menthol in it is naturally cooling, so you'll get immediate relief.
I also used helichrysum essential oil. It's a pricy oil, but it's one of my favorites for dry or irritated skin. It's a natural anti-inflammatory to help soothe irritated skin. Helichrysum is also said to be a powerful pain reliever when used topically, so I used it in this DIY natural after sun lotion.
The third oil I used is German Chamomile. It's another pricey oil, but it's a great one for irritated or inflamed skin.
You could also use lavender essential oil or frankincense essential oil in this recipe.
INGREDIENTS
- 3.5 ounces Crafty Bubbles lotion base
- 3.5 ounces distilled water
- 0.5 ounces lilac infused carrier oil
- 0.35 ounce aloe vera
- 0.15 ounces allantoin
- 20 drops peppermint essential oil
- 20 drops helichrysum essential oil
- 8 drops German chamomile essential oil
DIRECTIONS
STEP #1
Weigh the water and allantoin. Place in a double boiler and heat to 130 degrees. Stir well to dissolve the allantoin. I use a laser thermometer 
to check the temperature.
to check the temperature.
I put a Pyrex bowl inside a pan to make a double boiler.
STEP #2
Weigh the lotion base, lilac infused oil, and aloe vera to the water. Adding these will lower the temperature, but keep an eye on it so that it doesn't go over 120 degrees. This could ruin the preservative.
STEP #3
Heat until it reaches 120 degrees or until it starts to thin.
STEP #4
to blend until creamy.
STEP #5
Spoon into an 8 ounce mason jar. Let sit until completely cool and then cover with a lid.
I was originally going to use this is a plastic stand up container. This lotion base is really thick, so I prefer to use jars.
I was originally going to use this is a plastic stand up container. This lotion base is really thick, so I prefer to use jars.
You can use this lotion any time, and it's great for dry or irritated skin. It's a special treat for your skin after being in the sun, but you can use it any time your skin needs some extra love.
DIY Natural After Sun Lotion
Yield: 8 ounces
Estimated cost: $6
prep time: 15 Mperform time: 1 hourtotal time: 1 H & 15 M
Soothe irritated skin with this DIY natural after sun lotion. This easy recipe uses aloe, lilac infused oil, and essential oils to heal your skin.
materials:
tools:
- Laser thermometer
- Double boiler
- Stick blender
steps:
- Weigh the water and allantoin. Place in a double boiler and heat to 130 degrees. Stir well to dissolve the allantoin. I use a laser thermometerto check the temperature.
- Weigh the lotion base, lilac infused oil, and aloe vera to the water. Adding these will lower the temperature, but keep an eye on it so that it doesn't go over 120 degrees. This could ruin the preservative.
- Heat until it reaches 120 degrees or until it starts to thin.
- Add the essential oils and use a stick blender to blend until creamy.
- Spoon into an 8 ounce mason jar. Let sit until completely cool and then cover with a lid.
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