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Beauty / Skin Care
By Sophie Shaw, CNN Underscored
Published 3:49 PM EDT, Fri May 31, 2024
What’s in this guide
- What is the difference between after-sun lotion and sunscreen?
- How does after-sun lotion work?
- After-sun skin care routine
- Best after-sun lotions
- Other after-sun treatments
After-sun lotion quick picks
Having fun under the sun means that redness, peeling and sunburns are likely, which is why you’ll want to have a soothing after-sun lotion on hand this summer.
Even when practicing sun safety — which means wearing (and reapplying) sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher, staying in the shade when possible (especially during peak hours) and wearing sun-protective clothing, according to board-certified dermatologist Dr. DiAnne Davis — UV rays on hot, sunny days can have the upper hand. And when they do, an after-sun lotion can be the refreshing drink your skin needs.
We asked four dermatologists for the best post-sun skin care protocol, along with their top recommendations for after-sun lotions, gels and more.
What is the difference between after-sun lotion and sunscreen?
Unlike sunscreen, which contains filters that guard against UV rays, after-sun lotions do not provide UV protection. Instead, they “are moisturizing lotions designed specifically to be used after the sun,” says Dr. Amy Freeman, a New Jersey-based board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group. “Its purpose is to calm the inflammation from the sun, enhance hydration and repair the skin barrier.”
How does after-sun lotion work?
“After-sun products are typically based on soothing ingredients to lessen discomfort and hydrating ingredients to minimize skin peeling,” says Dr. Loretta Ciraldo, a Miami-based board-certified dermatologist and founder of Dr Loretta skin care. They are commonly in the form of lotions, gels or sprays. These lighter-weight products “will feel better on the skin and allow for it to breathe, versus a product with a thicker consistency,” Davis says.
The dermatologists recommend looking for after-sun products containing calming aloe vera or soy, hydrating hyaluronic acid or glycerin, and soothing shea butter. Davis and Freeman also recommended vitamin C and E, which act as antioxidants that aid in reversing sun damage.
After-sun skin care routine
To start off, literally cooling the skin down will help. Ciraldo recommends taking a cool shower or bath as soon as possible after sun exposure. “This not only soothes but it can lessen redness, inflammation and discomfort,” she says. Davis notes that a cold compress does the trick too.
Next, the dermatologists advise applying moisturizing after-sun products with soothing ingredients to rehydrate the skin. “Apply the after-sun product to damp skin and reapply every three to four hours until skin is feeling more comfortable and looks better-hydrated,” Ciraldo says. To ensure the best absorption, she recommends staying in your cool shower “until your fingertips swell, since this reflects a slight swelling of the skin surface” so you can maximize how much after-sun product gets soaked in.
As for skin care products to steer away from after intense sun exposure, Freeman says to avoid thick, ointment-based products, “which can trap heat on the body, preventing it from cooling.”
New York-based board-certified dermatologist Dr. David Kim says to skip retinol and chemical exfoliants like alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) if you’ve gotten too much sun too. Instead of using potentially irritating active ingredients, Kim likes after-sun products with centella asiatica, colloidal oat, allantoin, panthenol, camellia sinensis (green tea extract) and bisabolol (chamomile).
Ahead, check out 17 after-sun lotions and products that will soothe and calm the skin after a day of catching rays.
Best after-sun lotions
In addition to aloe and coconut oil, this after-sun lotion that Ciraldo and Davis recommend has glycerin and olive oil. Davis says it absorbs quickly into the skin and is packed with hydrating ingredients.
Freeman and Kim say you can keep it simple with this straightforward moisturizer. According to Kim, the formula’s emollient ceramides will help repair the skin barrier.
Freeman likes this after-sun lotion because it “contains shea butter and glycerin to hydrate and vitamin E to prevent further damage,” she says.
$11 $10 at Amazon $12 at CVS $10 at Target
This drugstore classic is an effective soother for sun-burned skin. Along with aloe vera, it’s loaded with hydrating glycerin. Freeman says to keep it in the fridge for an extra cooling effect.
“A combination of colloidal oat, allantoin and ceramide helps repair and calm the skin,” Kim says of this hydrating cream for the face and body.
“This is another great product to provide protection while containing soothing aloe vera for visible redness or dryness,” Davis says. “It also helps to improve the skin’s moisture barrier over time.”
Dry, dehydrated skin needs emollients to restore moisture, but those ingredients can feel heavy during the summer months. That’s why this serum-like moisturizer is a perfect swap for your after-sun routine. It’s loaded with niacinamide, vitamin B5 andoat extract, so your skin can soak in all the good stuff without feeing greasy or sticky.
The full size is currently sold out, so pick up a travel size for your summer adventures.
This top-rated after-sun lotion helps calm sunburns with aloe vera, lavender oil, rosemary extract and other organic ingredients. It has a nice, nourishing consistency without feeling heavy.
Calming ingredients like calendula, chamomile and cucumber make this fast-absorbing lotion feel like instant relief for sun-parched skin.
This after-sun lotion has a gel-cream texture that is great for applying right after a cool shower, as Ciraldo recommends. It has a natural, minty scent that assists with the cooling effect, while aloe, bisabolol, sea buckthorn and a blend of natural oils add moisture back to the skin.
Other after-sun treatments
Great for those with red skin conditions like rosacea, this soothing face cream can also help ease sun burns. “This product has camellia sinensis (green tea extract), bisabolol and glycerin to calm and hydrate the skin,” Kim says.
Vacation has become a go-to brand for sun protection, thanks to its nostalgic branding and summery-scented products. The After-Sun Gel fits right in, with a formula made to quench thirsty, sun-baked skin. You’ll spot all the great hydrating and conditioning ingredients like aloe, cucumber, green tea, niacinamide, vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, allantoin and more.
This ultra-light body serum sinks right in, adding weightless hydration with five molecular weights of hyaluronic acid for optimal penetration. It also includes niacinamide, aloe and algae for plump, soft skin.
You’ll want to keep this refreshing spritz in your beach bag. The mist contains aloe, eucalyptus, prickly pear and cucumber for an instant cooldown for sun-exposed skin.
Easing the effects of basking under UV rays all day, this gel calms redness and irritation. It consists of 95% Jeju palm cactus extract, which is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory benefits, along with panthenol and glycerin to repair the skin barrier.
This gel-based body mask is packed with fruit extracts, niacinamide, a patented glucose complex to prevent water loss and a touch of cooling menthol for a refreshing and relieving post-sun treatment.
Don't forget about your scalp! Unless you kept it covered with a cute sun hat, a day spent in the sun means that the top of your head probably needs some TLC too. This aloe- and oat-infused spray soothes from head to toe, while feeling essentially weightless on your hair.
More recommendations
Note: The prices above reflect the retailers' listed price at the time of publication.
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