Without adequate sun protection, you never know when your Baywatch fantasies turn into a nightmare and leave your skin scalded! But, with the best sunburn treatment, you can successfully alleviate the burns and soothe your skin, ensuring that the condition doesn’t worsen eventually. While I’m still a staunch advocate of always keeping a small pack of sunscreen handy and re-applying as required, I’ve curated some aftercare products in case you get a sunburn unprecedentedly. 

When looking for products, I knew that I had to prioritize aloe as a key ingredient; if my skincare expertise and experience have taught me something, it is that aloe vera is the most beneficial salve to soothe and hydrate the skin, especially if it has been defenseless to sun damage. However, I was happy to come across a lot of products that contained other equally good ingredients such as green tea, rosehip, cica, chamomile, lavender oil, etc., as these provide amazing anti-inflammatory benefits too (and this is science-backed — you’ll know once you scroll!). 

Now, while I have tried out a couple of the below-mentioned products on my healthy skin, I wasn’t sure about how they’ll work out on actual sunburns. Hence, after a thorough scrutinization of product ingredients in addition to taking notes from customer testimonials from users across the globe, I took a leap of faith and laid out the following product reviews with utmost transparency about my knowledge of them. While I’m very confident in these gems that I’ve curated, I still urge you to refer to the buying guide and steer clear of allergens when making a product investment! Now, without further ado, let’s get on with my product recommendations!

• 1
  Most Cost-effective Product

  Advanced Clinicals Aloe Vera Soothe + Recover Cream

  Buy on Amazon

Over 45k Amazon users swear by the gentle, soothing prowess of this sunburn treatment from Advanced Clinicals, and my testing and ingredient analysis of this product proved that it deserves all that glory. This cream harnesses the anti-inflammatory and skin restorative properties of aloe and green tea to soothe and repair sunburned skin (Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences and as published on NCBI).

In addition to that, the product supplies the skin with loads of hydration and antioxidants, to keep it comforted and fight against environmental aggressors, thereby speeding up the healing process. The best part, you get a generous quantity of this product for just about $15, which is a fantastic deal!

Key Ingredients: Aloe vera, vitamins C and E, hyaluronic acid, and green tea

Skin Type: All

Quantity: 16 ounces and 1 pound

2

Best for Dry Skin

Sun Bum Cool Down Soothing And Calming Aloe Lotion

Buy on Amazon

Featuring a lean formulation with minimal but effective ingredients, this soothing sunburn lotion emerges in the top 2 positions of this list. This product is particularly suitable for skin types prone to trans-epidermal water loss after prolonged sun exposure, as the emollient-rich formula replenishes the skin pretty well and seals its protective barrier. 

With this product, you can effectively get rid of skin redness and reduce inflammatory action in the skin. In addition, it evens out the skin tone and thereby fades those bra strap and thong marks on your skin. A satisfied customer said, “This saved my skin after I was careless on the boat and ended up with a crazy sunburn. I used it liberally but my skin never hurt. I will always use this from now on”. 

Key Ingredients: Aloe vera, cocoa butter, and cotton seed extract

Skin Type: Dry and sensitive

Quantity: 3 fl. oz. and 8 fl. oz.

3

Best Aloe Gel

Holika Holika Aloe 99% Soothing Gel

Buy on Amazon

When it comes to soothing the skin, the humble aloe vera works wonders, and this sunburn soothing gel keeps things simple by offering 99% of the same. In addition, the gel is infused with other components such as cica to enhance the anti-inflammatory prowess of the product. 

I sought the feedback of several people with sensitive skin who have used this product, and no one had any complaints regarding any irritation that this product causes. It is immensely safe and even dermatologically tested, which gives added reassurance. Besides, sunburned or not, a product like this is always a good investment for different skin woes.

Key Ingredients: Aloe vera, centella asiatica, cucumber, and watermelon extracts

Skin Type: All, especially sensitive skin

Quantity: 8.45 fl. oz. and 8.5 fl. oz.

4

Climate Pledge Friendly

Burt's Bees After Sun Soother

Buy on Amazon

This richly emollient lotion from Burt’s Bees is a fantastic soother that reverses the effects of the sun’s shenanigans on your skin. In addition to the hydrating and skin-comforting properties of aloe, the formula also entails the exotic extracts of basal leaves and tilia cordata, to augment the overall skin benefits. 

What I appreciate about this product is that its formula is clean and almost entirely made with natural ingredients, and is free from nasties such as parabens, phthalates, and petroleum. If you are someone who goes to the beach or travels a lot, then keeping this little skin-saver handy is a great idea!

Key Ingredients: Aloe vera and coconut oil

Skin Type: All, especially dry skin

Quantity: 6 oz.

Quick Tip:

If your skin is particularly dry and sensitive, then consider layering this product underneath a generous amount of sunscreen to prevent sun damage as much as possible.

5

Best for Eczema/Dermatitis

PURA D'OR Healing Organic Aloe Vera Gel with Lavender

Buy on Amazon

The infusion of floral extracts in this nourishing emulsified aloe gel makes the product immensely invigorating in addition to soothing. This product is not only useful to alleviate sun damage but also cushions the harsh impact of other environmental aggressors on your skin. 

I am in love with how fresh and indulgent this product smells, which makes it all the more pleasant to use. The lavender extracts infused in this product make it a good choice for parched skin — the kind affected with eczema and dermatitis — owing to its impressive anti-inflammatory properties. And, any therapeutic effects you may experience with it would be an added perk (research by the Journal of Tissue Viability).

Key Ingredients: Aloe vera, honeysuckle extracts, and lavender oil

Skin Type: All, especially oily, combination, and normal skin

Quantity: 0.9 fl. oz. and 1.69 fl. oz.

6

Best Non-comedogenic

Neutrogena Sun Rescue After Sun Replenishing Lotion

Buy on Amazon

Sunburned or not, you can definitely use this rich hydrating lotion from Neutrogena that comes in handy every time you wish to soothe your skin after sun exposure. The paraben-free formula is rich in natural emollients such as shea butter and sesame oil to soften and pamper the skin, thereby strengthening it to bear any harsh external impact.

A happy customer said, “This lotion works well if you have a sunburn that needs health or you just want to add some needed moisture to your skin after being in the sun. It has also helped my tan to last longer than normal”. All in all, I highly recommend this product. 

Key Ingredients: Aloe vera, mint extracts, shea butter, sesame oil, and vitamin E

Skin Type: Dry

Quantity: 6.7 fl. oz.

7

Best After-shave Product

Banana Boat Soothing Aloe After Sun Gel

Buy on Amazon

A very popular sunburn treatment gel among skincare junkies, this calming skin-saver does what it claims without over-moisturizing the skin. Compared to other gels that I’ve tried that are often quite sticky, I found this particular formulation to be quite well-emulsified and convenient to use. 

Even in the case of minor burns, dryness, itchiness, and other skin irritations, you can use this product to soothe your woes away. Hence, I highly recommend this product. 

Key Ingredients: Glycerin and aloe vera gel

Skin Type: Oily, normal, not too dry or sensitive 

Quantity: 8 fl. oz.

8

Best to Prevent Photoaging

Absolutely Natural Rose Hip Aloe Lotion

Buy on Amazon

This multitasking lotion offers a plethora of skin benefits, including therapeutic relief from sunburn, inflammation, and other forms of skin sensitivity. Its formula is weightless and well-emulsified, which absorbs well into the skin and nourishes it from within. 

The infused rosehip extracts in this aloe vera lotion impressively reduce photoaging while leveraging its generous antioxidant content (study by the International Journal of Molecular Sciences). Plus the overall formula is brimming with the goodness of vitamins C and E, which renew and restore the skin cells.

Key Ingredients: Aloe vera and rosehip oil

Skin Type: All

Quantity: 8 fl. oz.

9

Best Hypoallergenic Product

Seven Minerals After Sun Recovery Aloe Vera Spray

Buy on Amazon

What's a quicker fix for sunburn woes than a lotion? A soothing spray — especially this one from Seven Minerals. The formula is rich in the nourishing goodness of botanical extracts and panthenol that hydrate your parched skin, and provide it with some much-needed TLC. 

The product comprises a lean formula and is fragrance-free, devoid of harsh ingredients such as parabens and alcohol. Plus, the hydration it provides is not too heavy or difficult for the skin to absorb. 

Key Ingredients: Organic aloe vera, glycerin, mango extracts, chamomile extracts, and panthenol

Skin Type: All, baring severely dry skin

10

Best Reusable Wraps

Termaburn Post-sun Aloe Wrap for Sunburn Relief

Buy on Amazon

Compared to all the other products on the list, this soothing sunburn wrap caters to more severe lesions in which one experiences peeling and itching. You can use this godsend on any part of the body that has been sunburned, be it the face, legs, or feet! The gel wrap is made by solidifying aloe extracts and is free from latex and other harmful film forms. 

With this product, you don’t have to worry about drying the skin out or clogging the pores with undue hydration, as its usage and preparation are both simple and to the point. Despite not being sunburned, I loved how soothing and cooling this product felt against my skin, and would still recommend it for any form of skin irritation.

Key Ingredients: Aloe vera, green tea, and vitamin E

Skin Type: All

Quantity: 1 Roll

Now that you’ve seen our product recommendations for the best sunburn treatment products, scroll away to see the following buying guide to understand the necessary factors before investing.

1. Look for Anti-inflammatory Ingredients:

To soothe and calm the sunburned skin area, it is important to invest in products that contain anti-inflammatory ingredients. In such products, aloe vera is the most common ingredient that you’ll find as it is packed with anti-inflammatory goodness and shows outstanding protective action against radiation damage while preventing and reducing skin sensitivity caused by UV rays (study by the Indian Journal of Dermatology). They also work as excellent pain relievers. 

In addition, it contains antioxidant, anti-bacterial, and antimicrobial properties as well as marvelous hydration prowess to safeguard and nourish the skin further. Other anti-inflammatory ingredients to look for are the extracts of centella asiatica (popularly known as cica), licorice root, nettle, green tea, chamomile, calendula, rosehip, lavender, colloidal oatmeal, etc. 

2. Check the Formulation And Ease of Use:

Sunburn treatments come in various formulations, such as mists, gels, ointments, lotions, salves, creams, liquid solutions, etc. The ultimate usage and benefits of each type of formulation are essentially the same. However, you can prioritize investing in a formula based on your skin type and the severity of the burn. 

The products I’ve mentioned on this list of recommendations are non-prescriptive and suited for milder, first-degree sunburns. But, in case of severe pain and blistering sunburns, you should immediately consult a dermatologist, who may then recommend a prescriptive steroid cream (topical corticosteroid) to cure the burn.

3. Look for Miscellaneous Benefits:

Moisturization is an important step one must take to support the skin after the sunburn treatment has been applied. However, it helps when the treatment itself has impressive hydrating benefits. Hence, that becomes an added benefit and more of a reason why you should invest in that product. In addition, you may look for products that are hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, easy to absorb, antimicrobial, antibacterial, vegan, and cruelty-free.

Do’s:

1. Get Indoors ASAP:

Prolonged sun exposure can worsen the lesion. Hence, once you’ve noticed that your skin is sunburned, get indoors as soon as possible.

2. Give the Wound a Cool Bath:

Like any other burns, rinsing the affected area with oodles of cool water immediately is absolutely necessary to prevent the condition from worsening. However, avoid applying ice or ice water, as the extreme temperature exposure can exacerbate the sunburn instead of treating it. If you’ve got a sunburn on larger skin areas, such as your entire arms, shoulders, or legs, then consider taking a cool shower instead of simply rinsing the affected areas.

3. Apply an Aloe-based Sunburn Treatment:

Aloe vera is the safest and most effective firsthand treatment for sunburn as its anti-inflammatory properties go a long way without aggravating the sensitized skin (Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences). Hence, it is pivotal to apply a sensitive skin-safe aloe-based sunburn treatment to cater to the issue. 

4. Apply Non-prescription Hydrocortisone If Needed:

If the sunburn is more severe in nature and the aloe treatment doesn’t help with pain relief and reduction of skin redness, then apply a small amount of non-prescription hydrocortisone cream to accelerate skin healing.

5. Cover with Protective Clothing:

In cases of bad sunburns, it is imperative to cover the area with loose, protective clothing, preferably lightweight, breathable cotton. 

6. Layer with a Water-based Moisturizer:

Once you’ve stepped indoors and have allowed the sunburn treatment to settle on your skin for a while, you should prioritize hydration to keep the parched skin moist and supported. However, it is important that this moisturizer that you’re using is water-based, and comprises a lightweight and easy-to-absorb formula, devoid of ingredients that can worsen the skin (check don’ts).

Don’ts:

1. Don’t break the Blister (If Any):

Blisters are second-degree sunburns, and if you experience blistering due to sun exposure of all things, then you should know that it is severe. However, breaking the blister is not a solution. 

2. Avoid Applying Anything with Petrolatum/Butter/Oil:

Occlusives such as oils, butter, mineral oil, petrolatum, and excessive silicones can make the blisters much worse as they tend to trap heat in the affected area. Hence, it is best to avoid applying them.

3. Avoid Wearing Tight Clothing:

Like other burns, sunburned skin needs to breathe to heal. Hence, avoid wearing tight clothing over the affected skin areas to prevent complicating the issue.