Cooling Sunburn Spray with Essential Oils
Last Updated on May 22, 2025 by Kiersten
This easy homemade after sun spray helps soothe sunburned or overheated skin using just witch hazel, aloe, and essential oils. Gentle, natural, and safe for the whole family.
Between the gardens, the chickens, pool, and ongoing infrastructure projects, our family spends A LOT of time outside. Even when we’re careful, someone always ends up with a little too much sun (usually me).
This soothing after sun spray is something I make every June and keep in the refrigerator. It only takes five minutes, uses ingredients I already keep in the house, and works better than anything I’ve ever bought from the store.
It cools the skin right away and helps prevent that hot, itchy feeling that shows up a few hours after intense sun exposure. Because it’s kept in the fridge, it’s extra soothing for irritated skin.
Soothing After Sun Spray
This homemade after sun spray contains simple ingredients that you likely already have in the cabinet.
Witch hazel: helps cool, reduce inflammation, and calm down redness
Aloe gel: hydrates skin and helps prevent peeling down the road. If you have a mature aloe plant in the house, you can use fresh aloe gel from a plant like the picture above.
Lavender essential oil: supports skin healing and reduces irritation
Peppermint essential oil: gives an instant cooling effect. Don’t use on kids under 6.
Frankincense essential oil: helps soothe and repair deeper skin damage
Ingredients:
- 4oz alcohol-free witch hazel
- 2oz aloe gel
- 1 tablespoon jojoba oil
- 10 drops lavender essential oil
- 5 drops peppermint essential oil (don’t include for kids under 6)
- 5 drops frankincense essential oil
Skip peppermint essential oil for kids under 6 years old or anyone with super sensitive skin.
Instructions:
- Add all ingredients to a clean spray bottle.
- Shake well before each use.
- Store in the fridge for a longer shelf life and extra cooling power.
That’s it. No preservatives, no junk, and no fancy equipment.
How to Use:
Spray directly onto skin that’s been in the sun for a bit too long. This usually includes arms, shoulders, legs, back of the neck or tips of the ears. Reapply as often as needed.
You can follow it with a little body butter or whipped tallow balm once the heat is out of the skin if someone got burned enough where you think it may peel.
This after sun spray is also effective to soothe windburn, irritating bug bites, dry winter skin, and hot feet after long days working outside.
Storage and Shelf Life
If your aloe was bought commercially and contains preservatives like citric acid or potassium sorbate, this will last up to 1 to 2 weeks in the fridge.
After sun spray made with fresh aloe gel should be used within a week.
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Cooling Sunburn Spray with Essential Oils
This easy homemade after sun spray helps soothe sunburned or overheated skin using just witch hazel, aloe, and essential oils. Gentle, natural, and safe for the whole family.
Ingredients
- 4oz alcohol-free witch hazel
- 2oz aloe gel
- 1 tablespoon jojoba oil
- 10 drops lavender essential oil
- 5 drops peppermint essential oil (don't include for kids under 6)
- 5 drops frankincense essential oil
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a clean spray bottle.
- Shake well before each use.
- Store in the fridge for a longer shelf life and extra cooling power.
How to Use:
Spray directly onto skin that’s been in the sun for a bit too long. This usually includes arms, shoulders, legs, back of the neck or tips of the ears. Reapply as often as needed.
You can follow it with a little body butter or whipped tallow balm once the heat is out of the skin if someone got burned enough where you think it may peel.
This after sun spray is also effective to soothe windburn, irritating bug bites, dry winter skin, and hot feet after long days working outside.
Notes
- Skip peppermint essential oil for kids under 6 years old or anyone with super sensitive skin
- If your aloe was bought commercially and contains preservatives like citric acid or potassium sorbate, this will last up to 1 to 2 weeks in the fridge.
- After sun spray made with fresh aloe gel should be used within a week.
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