With summer here, now is an important time to remember the importance of covering up when out in the sun. Even if you don’t get sunburnt, spending time out in the sun can still dry and irritate your skin. This easy DIY after sun salve helps soothe your skin while adding moisture back into it.

After Sun Salve

Obviously, prevention is the best, but living in the ‘Sunshine State’, makes for a hot, sunny summer. Doing anything outside such as mowing, gardening or feeding the chickens can result in some extra rays of sun. We try to cover up as much as possible, but occasionally, we still end up with a little redness and dryness to our skin. Even though you do need a some vitamin D, sometimes the sun can just zap a little too much moisture from your skin.

To heal this as quickly as possible without the side affects or risks of using store bought products, this after sun salve is easy to make and great to have on hand.

Before Using this Salve

Before using this rub, you will need to understand a few things.

Don’t use on skin with open wounds or cuts.
Test on small area of skin before using. If there’s any irritation, dilute with more carrier oils.
Wash hands well after using.

More Salve Recipes

After Sun Salve Notes

Carrier Oils – For this recipe, I used avocado oil which works to regenerate, rehydrate and soothe skin. It is great for dry, rough, sensitive or irritated skin. Other oils that can be used are olive oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil (not if allergic to nuts), rosehip oil and coconut oil (not if allergic to coconut). You can learn more about carrier oils here.
Consistency – To test the consistency of the salve, place a small amount on the back of your hand and let it cool. If it’s too soft, add more beeswax; if it’s too hard, add more oil. I like it softer as it is easier to apply to your irritated skin.
Storage – This homemade after sun salve should last about 6 months when stored in a cool, dry place. If it smells rancid or off, it is time to make a new batch.
Vitamin E – Vitamin E is optional, though it is often added to salves to help prevent rancidity.
Beeswax – For a vegan recipe, swap out the beeswax pellets for candelilla wax.
Disclaimer – One note to remember is to ALWAYS check essential oil safety for the ages and health of the person you are using the product containing essential oils on.

Making Infused Oil

To make the infused oil, you will need:

¼ cup dried lavender
¼ cup aloe vera powder
¼ cup dried comfrey leaves
¼ cup dried calendula
1 cup avocado oil

First you will need to infuse the aloe vera powder, comfrey leaves, lavender, and calendula in the avocado oil. If you have fresh leaves/flowers, let them dry for at least a day or two before infusing. If using, dried ones, you are ready to start.

Once ready, add in your aloe vera powder, comfrey leaves, lavender, and calendula all in the jar, trying to keep it about halfway full.

Pour the avocado oil into the glass jar, filling it and making sure everything is covered.

Put the lid on and keep it covered for 4 to 6 weeks to infuse the oil.

Shake the jar every day.

After the infusion period has been completed, strain the leaves with a strainer, cheesecloth or an unbleached coffee filter. The infused oil is now ready to make into a salve.

If you want to speed up the infusion process, slowly heat the oil in a slow cooker on low heat for 24 – 48 hours.

For more information on making infused oils, check this out.

Making After Sun Soothing Salve

To make around 6 ounces of this salve, you will need:

The infused oil from above
½ tsp Vitamin E oil
1 ½ (to 2) tablespoons beeswax pellets
7 drops of lavender essential oil

Combine the beeswax and the infused oil in a microwaveable container and heat for 30 seconds at a time in the microwave until the beeswax is completely melted. Stir in between each heat burst.

Allow it to cool slightly and then add the vitamin E oil and a few drops of lavender essential oil.

Pour the mixture into small tins and let cool for a few hours or overnight.

The salve is now ready to label, date and store.

Using Your After Sun Salve

After a shower, using clean hands gently massage a small amount of this salve to your dry, red, sun-kissed skin.

Let the salve soak into the skin and apply more if needed.

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on this website.

Ryan M.

January 9, 2024 at 6:23 am

Lavender essential oil and coconut oil works amazingly well for dry and sunburned skin. If you have a sunburn put a mixture of lavender and coconut oil on the sunburn it won’t peel and will heal in a day or two if you apply it at least 2-3 times a day depending on the severity. I hope someone can use this :).