Even if you don’t have a sunburn, this after-sun care salve recipe is a summer necessity to rehydrate and soothe sun-kissed skin. Apply it after a good scrub in the shower to remove sunscreen residue. Slather on this balm, and your skin will drink in the oils and butter, dealing with sun-damaged skin while you sleep.
The sun just keeps getting hotter, doesn’t it? Years ago, my nephews were caught out at an event longer than they expected to be, and as a result of embracing the fun outdoor activities, they brought home an unwelcome souvenir: sunburns.
The heat radiated off their pink cheeks, shoulders, and noses, and I could see how it was taking a toll on their energy. The next day, they were heading off on vacation, so I whipped up a batch of the after-sun salve that I use on my own skin all summer long.
Now, my own Kiddo uses the after-sun salve all the time whenever we head out camping, or he spends more than his fair share in the afternoon sun. It’s a staple in my herbal cabinet, so easy to make, and very effective at treating burns.
Today, we’re covering…
This recipe uses natural butter and oils to rehydrate the skin.
Homemade After Sun Care Salve Recipe
Seriously, this after sun care salve is pure magic. Keep a batch handy all summer long. Be sure to store it in the fridge so it keeps longer, but also so that it’s nice and cool when you use it on your skin.
I use pre-bought aloe vera gel but you can also use fresh aloe vera for this recipe.
Make It!
Melt the oils, butters, and beeswax in a double boiler or Turkish coffee pot. Use a medium heat and stir as the oils melt.
Remove from heat just as all ingredients are liquid. Stir in essential oil.
Allow to cool slightly and then add the aloe gel. Mix the gel in well with the rest and pour into a 2 oz container.
Apply the after sun salve generously to sunburned skin and rub it in as well as you can (which I know can be difficult with a sunburn!).
Apply again after waking in the morning or showering, until the sunburn has settled down. If you don’t have a sunburn but have spent a day in the sun, this lotion works well to keep exposed skin soft. Shower to remove any sunscreen and use the lotion each evening after a day of sun exposure.
Store your salve in the fridge so it feels cool and nice on your hot skin.
FAQ About After Sun Care Salves
Can I use fresh aloe vera for this recipe?
You absolutely can! I typically use aloe vera gel (this brand) just to extend the shelf life. But if you use fresh aloe vera, you’ll actually find it has stronger healing properties.
For fresh aloe vera, harvest it using these instructions, and then blend it with a hand blender to make it smooth for the recipe. You won’t need any preservatives if you use it right away. Store it in the fridge, and toss out any remaining salve after a week or if you notice any funky colouring or odours.
How long will this aloe vera salve be good for?
If you’re using pre-bought aloe vera gel, it will last as long as the soonest expiry date on the ingredients (read more about that here). I typically try to use my mixture within a month, however, and store it in the fridge so it lasts.
Help! My mixture is lumpy.
Temperature is key. Once I’ve melted all the oils, butter, and beeswax, I remove it from the heat as soon as possible so it doesn’t overheat. Meanwhile, I’m stirring constantly. I add in the gel and the essential oils once removed. You also want to make sure that the aloe gel isn’t too cool and setting the oils and butters before it’s properly mixed.
To try and save a lumpy batch, try gently heating the mixture to melt it again and stir it all together, using an immersion blender if necessary, being cautious of the hot oils.
Also, ensure that you’re using pure aloe vera gel, and not one that has additives that could be reacting poorly.
Fresh aloe vera will have stronger healing properties but won’t last as long.
Aloe Vera After Sun Care Salve
This salve is the perfect addition to your after sun care routine, helping to soothe, cool, and heal sunburns.
Over medium heat, melt the oils, butters, and beeswax in a Turkish coffee pot or double boiler. Stir constantly.
Just as the ingredients are fully melted, remove from heat. Add in essential oil and stir.
Let the mixture cool slightly before adding in the aloe vera gel. Mix in the gel well, and pour into a 2 oz container.
Apply generously to sunburned skin, rubbing it gently in.
Store in the fridge when not in use. Lasts approximately one month.
This aloe vera soap recipe contains plant-based, skin-soothing herbs that help to repair and protect skin when hand washing. It is simple to make at home and can be customized to any scent that you like to use. As an added bonus, aloe is great for both the hardworking skin on your hands and the delicate skin on your face.
I have seen so many bars of aloe vera soap around. I’ve always wondered how beneficial they are to your skin.
After digging in and doing a bit of research, I’m happy to say that I was rather impressed by the benefits. So much so that I decided to make a batch of my own.
But for my version, I wanted to make a liquid soap! This soap is super easy to make up and is amazing for your hands.
So don’t be shy, and let’s lather up with this aloe vera soap recipe!
Put your soap in smaller containers to make them easily portable for trips.
Benefits of Aloe Vera
Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) is one of the oldest plants on record to be noted for healing properties. It has been cultivated around the world due to its highly adaptable nature and usefulness as a skin-healing herb.
Aloe is naturally anti-bacterial and contains antiseptics that help clean cuts and wounds by killing bacteria and fungi. Aloe’s pH level closely matches our skin, enabling it to gently (but thoroughly) cleanse our skin while also closing pores. Its anti-inflammatory qualities can calm inflamed skin.
I wanted to take this wonderful skin-healing herb and add it to soap. Just adding this one extra element can really help the drying and cracking that happens from washing hands so regularly.
This aloe vera soap only requires 5 ingredients!
We know that aloe vera is amazing for skin. It has been used throughout history to treat burns, rashes, wounds, and other forms of skin problems. It can also be taken internally as a laxative to aid in digestion and to help with inflammation.
But it’s usually prepared as a juice or gel for both internal consumption and external application. So when it’s added to a soap recipe, I wondered if the beneficial properties of the aloe gel added are minimized by the hot temperatures that this aloe vera soap recipe requires.
Thankfully, the answer is yes—the benefits of aloe vera seemed to be mostly intact.
I always recommend having an aloe plant in your home or garden as part of your herbal first aid kit. I have a lot of great info in my herbal guide to aloe vera about how to harvest the gel. Plus it shows you how to use it to calm down sunburns and other skin irritation.
Aloe vera is a powerful anti-inflammatory and is great for healing skin.
Fresh Aloe Vera vs Aloe Vera Gel
In this recipe, I’m using a pre-packaged gel because of the shelf life. However, as with many herbal products, there is a lot of confusion as to what is actually inside the bottle of aloe gel that you’re purchasing. If the fresh gel only lasts for a week or so in the fridge, then can the store-bought gel have the same properties and last for a year to two years?
The answer is certainly not, but it doesn’t mean that the gel that you buy from the store doesn’t have any beneficial properties. It just means that there’s a trade-off between the benefits and the shelf life. Any amount of processing of aloe reduces its effectiveness.
The best way to get the most potent aloe vera is to grow a plant in your home or garden. But a suitable alternative is to find a high-quality aloe vera gel that can be used in recipes like this liquid hand soap.
How to Make Soap with Fresh Aloe
You can certainly make this recipe with fresh aloe gel. However, you will need to keep the liquid soap in the fridge and discard it after one week. It is certainly possible to make a weekly batch as it’s quite easy to make.
But, if you want one that lasts for a bit longer then I suggest doing some research to find the best aloe vera gel with the least amount of processing.
I like using Lily of the Desert aloe gelas it claims to be harvested from the inner filet of aloe, processed minimally in their own facilities, and certified USDA organic.
Lily of the Desert aloe gel is food grade and contains over 99% organic aloe vera juice with a few other ingredients such as carrageenan (thickening agent), citric acid (pH stabilizer), and potassium sorbate (mold inhibitor).
By the way, they have not sponsored this post. I just have used the brand for years and haven’t had any problems with it.
For ease of use, I recommend making this with aloe vera gel.
How to Make Aloe Vera Soap
The base of this recipe is Castile soap, which is the name for the olive oil soap formulation that comes from Castile, Spain. I purchase liquid Castile soap from a local soap dispensary or Dr. Bronner’s brand online, and with these “Castile” refers to a plant-based liquid soap. It can be made from olive, coconut, avocado, or other plant oils.
This biodegradable, non-toxic soap comes concentrated so it should be diluted at different concentrations for various purposes. I always choose an unscented soap as my base, and add my own essential oils to the final recipe.
Ingredients
See the recipe card at the bottom of this post for exact measurements.
I scented my soap with lavender and lime, but you can substitute it with any essential oil scents you prefer.
Make It!
Once you have your ingredients, making the aloe vera soap is quite simple.
First, whisk together water and aloe vera gel until it’s homogenous. Then, add in your castile soap and stir again to combine well. Add the essential oils of your choice—I used lavender and lime which is a lovely combination.
Thoroughly mix your soap in a container before putting it in the soap pump.
Then, pour it into a glass soap bottle and shake it well. I find it easiest to do this with a funnel.
A funnel will make it much easier to get into the soap pump!
Before using the soap, shake the bottle. A batch will last you for up to three months, but if you notice any discoloration or strange scent, discard it.
Replace any unused soap after three months.
FAQ About Aloe Vera Soap
Can I make this into foaming soap?
As this aloe vera soap recipe stands, it is too thick to work in a foaming dispenser. By adding more water, you can make it less thick. I go through how you can make your own foaming soap in this post, so feel free to adapt this recipe according to the instructions to make your own foaming aloe vera soap.
Can I use this recipe as a body wash?
You sure can! I personally like making my own bar soap for the shower as it’s even more moisturizing, but I recommend giving both a try and seeing which you prefer.
Is it safe to use aloe vera gel daily?
Yes, unless you’re allergic to it. Aloe is very good for sensitive skin, and has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, that make it very helpful for healing and soothing skin.
More Projects with Aloe Vera Gel
If you are looking for more ways to use aloe vera gel, give one (or more) of these projects a try.
DIY Aloe Vera Soap
If your hands are rough and raw thanks to an increase in washing and sanitizing, give them soothing relief with this DIY aloe vera soap.
Whisk together one cup of the water with the aloe gel until mixed.
Then add in the rest of the water and which well.
Add the Castile soap and stir to combine.
Add in essential oils and stir to combine.
Pour in a glass bottle using a funnel.
Cap the bottle and shake well to combine.
Shake well before each use for the first few days. Over time, the ingredients will combine permanently and shaking will not be necessary.
How to Use: Apply one or two pumps of soap to wet hands and lather for 20 seconds. Use a nail brush to get the dirt that hides under your nails as well. Rinse well and dry with a clean towel. Shelf Life: This soap will last for up to three months. Discard if it becomes discolored or smells unpleasant.
Aloe vera is one of the true super plants. This plant is perhaps best revered for its ability to relieve pain from a sunburn. While this is certainly one of the uses, aloe can also do so much more. Read to learn about using aloe vera for sunburns, other aloe vera benefits, AND aloe vera plant care.
When I was a kid (a freckly, redheaded kid at that), I fondly remember visits to my grandmother’s place at the beach. She lived in a warm city where the sun shone relentlessly in the summer despite the fact that it was windy enough to keep us cool.
This meant more hours of fun in the sun, which was more than my skin could reasonably handle. Even when I did put on sunscreen and reapply regularly, the sun would win out by the end of the day. I would be left with those bright pink shoulders that radiated heat up to my ears!
With one aloe vera plant, you can get many sunburn treatments.
That was when my brilliant grandmother would cut off a little piece of her aloe vera plant, split it open with a knife, and apply it to my shoulders. It stung just a bit right at first but then cooled the sunburn down. The relief came almost instantly, and when I woke up the next morning, my shoulders were pink but not inflamed and not radiating heat like the sun.
That’s because aloe vera is a powerful anti-inflammatory, and it is most potent when applied directly from the plant. Since then, I’ve always kept at least one aloe vera plant growing in my house and have had some that have grown and provided me with the healing gel for many years.
Here’s a taste of what we’ll be covering today…
The main draw to aloe vera is its antiinflammatory properties.
The Quick History of Aloe Vera
Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) is one of the oldest plants on record to be noted for its healing properties. This plant is native to eastern and southern Africa—even Cleopatra and Nefertiti used it to help maintain their youthful appearance. Due to its highly adaptable nature, it has since been cultivated around the world.
There are many different kinds of aloe plants, but aloe vera refers to Aloe barbadensis.
Aloe Vera Plant Care: How to Grow Aloe Vera
Aloe vera, a succulent with thick, gray-green leaves that have serrated edges, is very easy to grow. Simply treat it like you would any indoor succulent or cactus, except that it is much more forgiving of low-light conditions.
To keep your aloe very happy, plant it in well-draining soil that is preferably equal parts potting soil and sand. The plant likes tight spaces and has shallow roots, so plant it in a pot that’s just big enough not to tip over from the weight of the plant.
Aloe plants prefer bright, indirect light. Keeping them in sustained direct light can cause the leaves to dry out too much and turn yellow.
As for water, aloe likes to have a good, thorough drink every couple of weeks with their soil drying thoroughly in between waterings.
If you tend to keep the soil moist and begin to notice brown or limp leaves, your aloe may have root rot. Simply back off the watering a little and let its soil dry out before watering again.
In addition to its soothing, anti-inflammatory properties, aloe vera is also used as a powerful laxative. However, as a laxative, it can be too effective. Aloe vera can cause intestinal cramping and griping if you take too much of it, so be conservative.
Additional internal benefits of using aloe include:
Aiding indigestion
Reduce inflammation
Prevent and reduce the size of kidney stones
Externally, aloe can be used to help alleviate sunburns, wounds, frostbite, dermatitis, skin disorders, and burns from radiation therapy.
If you have lots of burns to treat, putting your aloe vera gel in a bottle is a great idea.
Different Uses For Aloe Vera
Aloe vera truly is a super plant! Here are a few powerful ways to use it.
Relieves the pain from sunburns. Perhaps the most widely known use for aloe vera, this plant helps cool the skin and speeds up healing. It can also help reverse sunburn blisters if applied before they develop. Keep reading on to find out more.
Relieves the itch from bug bites. The plant’s anti-inflammatory properties help relieve sunburns and the itching, swelling, and redness caused by bug bites.
Aloe is naturally anti-bacterial and contains antiseptics.
Helps to cleanse and speed up the healing of wounds. Aloe is anti-bacterial and contains antiseptics which help clean cuts and wounds by killing bacterial and fungi. Aloe also helps promote quicker healing of wounds.
Cleanse and moisturize skin. Aloe’s pH level closely matches our skin, enabling it to gently (but thoroughly) cleanse our face while also closing pores and tone skin. Its anti-inflammatory qualities can also help prevent breakouts. Try it in this DIY liquid hand soap.
Helps reduce visibility of wrinkles, stretch marks, and scars. Aloe was called the “plant of immortality” by the Ancient Egyptians and helps promote skin tissue repair and healing.
How to Use Aloe Vera Plant For a Sunburn
The healing power of plants cannot be denied, especially when something as simple as an aloe vera plant can provide great relief to something so painful: sunburned skin. A classic use of aloe (and probably one of the most common aloe vera benefits), this sunburn remedy is one that I have been using for as many years as I can remember.
To use aloe vera gel on a sunburn is simple.
Cut a piece of aloe vera off of the plant with a sharp knife. Cut the tip off of one of the leaves; it can be as large as the whole leaf or as small as just part of the tip.
Place the cut piece on paper towel and let sit from 10 minutes to allow the dark yellow latex to drain. After 10 minutes, you can wipe the sides of the cut which will remove the latex from the inner filet. The latex can stain skin and clothes and can cause skin reactions in sensitive people.
Don’t forget to drain the latex from the aloe before you start using it.
Pro Tip: If you cut a section of a leaf off at an angle (and don’t cut the whole leaf off), the end of the leaf will seal up from the latex (that’s what it’s for!) and it will be available for cutting another time again.
Then, take a paring knife and split the leaf in half so that the gel inside has the most surface area. Take the leaf and rub it directly on the burn.
Note: de sure to test a small patch of skin before applying it en masse. Some people have allergies to aloe vera straight from the plant and you don’t want to cause a worse reaction!
Caution: do not use aloe vera on deep wounds.
You can also put the leaves in the fridge and use them as a cold gel to soothe the burn. It will feel good but will not add any additional healing properties so this isn’t an essential step.
Compost the leaves when you’re finished applying the gel to your skin and repeat every six hours if you’re still looking for relief from a nasty sunburn. Please note that this is for a typical sunburn. Serious burns with blisters, a headache, or severe pain should be seen by a doctor.
By putting the aloe in the fridge, the cool gel will feel nice on your skin.
Preventing Sunburns
Luckily, now that I am older and wiser, I no longer burn. Not because my skin has changed, but because I know the secret tips to keep my skin healthy:
Staying out of the sun between 11:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. on hot days
Wearing long-sleeved clothing and a wide-brim sun hat
Always wearing sunscreen on exposed skin (even if it’s cloudy out)
Preventing sunburns rather than treating them is much better for your skin.
FAQ About Using Aloe Vera
Is the yellow liquid in aloe vera bad for skin?
The yellow liquid that comes out of aloe is the plant’s latex. It can cause reactions to people with sensitive skin, as well as can stain the skin and your clothes. Before applying the aloe plant to your skin, you want to leave the aloe cutting on a paper towel for ten minutes to let the yellow latex drain out.
Can aloe vera reverse sun damage?
Aloe vera is amazing for the skin, helping to heal burns and wounds, clear acne, moisturize skin, and more. It can also help to reduce the visibility of scars and wrinkles, which can be a side effect of too much sun exposure.
What is the best aloe vera for sunburn?
While there are many aloe plants, aloe vera refers to the Aloe barbadensis plant. If you don’t have an aloe plant and are looking for the gel to apply to your skin, look for pure aloe vera gel (I usually shy away from that dyed green stuff).
I hope that this information about aloe vera and my instructions on using it for sunburns help you as much as they have helped me for all the years that I got sunburned. Now that you know some aloe vera benefits, I hope you’ll try growing one of your own (it’s great for green thumbs and black thumbs alike!).
