DIY Herbal Sunburn Cream for Soothing Relief
Herbal Sunburn Cream can be made in a few simple steps and it works wonders for cooling and healing your skin.
When it comes to natural sunburn remedies I think I’ve tried most of them. With very fair skin (Irish, Scottish, Norwegian and other very pale ancestry) I have had many a sunburn that needed care. Of all the home remedies and recipes I’ve tried, this one takes the cake.
I know the title of this says “cream”, but creams are more complex to make, needing emulsifiers and preservatives. I wanted to keep this recipe as simple and accessible as possible, while also making it easy for folks to find. Hence me calling it a “cream”.
Natural Ingredients & Supplies
Lavender (1/4 Cup Dried)
Known for being a calming herb, it also is anti-inflammatory, anti-septic, and anti-bacterial.
Plantain (1/4 Cup Dried)
You are probably familiar with plantain as it readily grows in lawns, ditches, and even parking lots. A lot of folks know that plantain can be used fresh to put on bee stings and bug bites. It also can be used for treating blisters and skin irritations in general
Calendula (1/4 Cup Dried)
Calendula has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. It is widely used for treating rashes, sores, infections, burns, and so on. If you are harvesting this yourself, simply harvest and DRY the blossoms before adding to your oil.
Vitamin E Oil (2g)
This is also optional but highly recommended. Vitamin E oil is wonderfully moisturizing and as an added benefit it acts as a natural preservative for the balm or salve and extend the shelf life.
Lavender Essential Oil (1g)
You can choose to add other essential oils to this blend. I like to use lavender because of its anti-inflammatory properties. It also is gentle and typically considered safe for pregnant and nursing moms, younger children, etc. In this recipe it takes about 19 drops of lavender essential oil to hit one gram)
Beeswax (40 grams)
This helps to solidify the balm. It also helps seal moisture into dry skin or areas where you have sun damage.
Carrier Oil (1.5 Cups, you will have a little leftover)
For the recipe I share in the video I use almond oil. Olive oil is also a good option!
Double Boiler or Crockpot
You will need this to melt warm the carrier oil and melt down the beeswax
Container for Storage
I like 4 oz glass mason jars or small metal tins.
How to Infuse the Oil with Herbs
Before we can make the sunburn salve we have to infuse an oil with herbs. There are a few methods you can try. The solar method takes the longest but I think is the best. Next you can sort of slow steep them in a crock pot for a few hours. The quickest is to heat them on the stove in a double boiler for about an hour. Here’s how you do each:
Solar Method
I like to make infused oils using the solar method. It takes longer than the other methods but I think you get the best results.
Place the herbs of choice in a mason jar. I typically fill it up about 3/4 full.
You can use one herb or blend several types together depending on what you want the oil to do.
Fill the jar until it is about 1/2 inch from the top of the jar.
Cap the jar, and give it a good shake. Then let it sit in a warm, sunny spot for 3-4 weeks. Strain the herbs from the oil when you are ready to use them.
Stove Top Method
If you want to make your sunburn balm right away you can make oil infusions on the stovetop.
For this, place your herbs in a double boiler.
Cover them with an inch or two of oil. Heat the double boiler to a low simmer and bring the herbs to somewhere between 95 degrees and 110 degrees F. Any hotter and you will cook the herbs, rather than gently coaxing their healing oils out of them.
Let them slowly steep for 30–60 minutes.
The oil will darken or turn green or start to smell herby when they are done.
Strain the herbs and use the oil.
Crock Pot
You can also slowly infuse the herbs in oil using a crockpot. Again, the trick here is not letting it get too hot. Most crock pots will get way too warm and cook the herbs.
Experiment first by setting your crockpot to the lowest setting or “keep warm”. Add water to it and check the temperature of it about an hour later. If it is over 110 degrees F then it is too warm.
Heat them gently in the crockpot for 4-6 hours until the oil turns green and smells good and herby.
Strain the herbs from the oil.
How to Make a Soothing Sunburn Cream
First, choose one of the oil infusion methods listed above.
After you have infused your oil and strained out the herbs, it is time to combine ingredients!
Either in a double boiler or in your crockpot, add 158 grams of the infused oil. To this, add in 40 grams of beeswax. Allow the wax to melt completely. Stir it with a popsicle stick or something you don’t mind getting a little waxy.
Remove from the heat. Stir in two grams of Vitamin E oil, then if you’d like stir in 1 gram of lavender essential oil.
Pour the mixture carefully into a glass jar or metal tin.
Allow them to cool fully to room temperature before covering with a lid. Be sure to label your burn balm!
Applying and Storing
This balm works great for sunburn, kitchen burns, grill burns, etc. Please note, if you have serious burns please seek medical attention.
Gently scoop out a small amount of the balm and apply it to any affected areas. You can also apply a cold compress, an ice pack wrapped in a towel for example, to help reduce discomfort. If you have especially sensitive skin start with a small amount or test it first on healthy skin before using it on a burn.
Store this out of direct sunlight and heat in a cupboard, first aid kit, etc. It will keep for several years.
If it is exposed to high heat the consistency may get softer, and if it really gets hot it may start to get gooey. It’s best kept at room temperature under 80 degrees F.
Other Options for Soothing Painful Sunburn
If you are using this for a kitchen burn or grill burn, running cool water over the area immediately can help pull some of the heat out of the skin tissues. This can reduce the severity of the burn.
If you have sunburn, simple things like a cool bath or cold shower can feel nice on mild sunburn and hot skin.
Aloe vera gel is probably the most popular of all the natural remedies for sunburn. The cooling sensation really feels wonderful and it can help to promote skin cell regeneration. Store-bought gel is available at most big box stores and pharmacies. You can also use aloe from the actual plant if you have some on hand!
Simply remove a leaf, peel back the skin, and rub the gel on the affected area.
Preventing Sunburn in the First Place
The summer sun is wonderful but too much sun exposure and all those UV rays can cause skin cancer at the worst and painful burns and peeling skin at the least.
Avoid the sting of a sunburn altogether by taking precautions. Apply sunscreen before you head outside. Stick to the shade when you can or create it with hats, umbrellas, sunglasses, etc.
Drink plenty of water and take breaks as needed during especially hot weather during the summer months. As they say, the best treatment is good prevention!
