Soothing Bath Soak for Sunburn Relief DIY
You know when you’re scrolling through Instagram and you see those ‘too good to be true’ bath photos, and think but they’re pretty but just a bit ‘do it for the ‘gram!’? Guilty as charged. I’m one of those wellness-loving ladies that showcase those bath photos where I’m surrounded by eucalyptus and floating flowers, however, pretty as they might be they have a purpose! My background is in herbalism- the study and practice of the medicinal and therapeutic use of plants- so while I feel like a princess the herbs I’m steeping in my bath have are great for sunburn relief!
Think of one of those fancy-pants baths as literally steeping yourself in tea. Taking some of the same herbs you ingest for their dietary qualities and processing them through a different organ- your skin! So, because I get SO many questions as to what each of my pretty baths do I thought I’d break them down here so you can get your ‘Gram on but heal yourself at the same time! As always, before you start any therapeutic practice, make sure it is right for you and your body- I’m not a physician so check with yours!
Sunburn can be a literal pain- you’ve actually burned your skin with the sun’s UV radiation and it changes the cells’ DNA which can alter everything from color (where a UV-induced tan comes from) to the pH balance of your skin. These ingredients help to soothe the pain of a burn as well as promote skin health and peeling. But remember, the best treatment for sunburn is prevention! Wear your SPF! However, if you have an accident like I did (an organic sunscreen that wasn’t waterproof *sad face*) make yourself a princess bath.
Soothing Bath Soak for Sunburn Relief Ingredients
Lemon
I took an organic lemon (no pesticides on the rind!) and sliced it thinly. Lemon juice and the oils contained in its skin are high in antioxidants that will help promote healing, Vitamin C to boost collagen production, and citric acid to help remove those burnt, dead skin cells. Now you never want to apply lemon juice directly to the skin without diluting it first- it can make the burn worse with its acidity, so just dilute it in your bath water.
Epsom Salt
I add epsom salt into pretty much every bath I take. Epsom salt helps soothe skin and muscle ache with its high dose of magnesium- an anti-inflammatory mineral.
Lavender Flower
Lavender is also an anti-inflammatory, but on top of that it can help speed up the healing process of burns, is an antiseptic, and overall soothing.
Chamomile Flower
Chamomile is great great for calming red, irritated skin and is used to help soften the tightness in the skin that is often associated with sunburn.
Calendula Flower
I call calendula ‘nature’s gift to skin’ I use calendula constantly to promote healing for cuts, scrapes, burns, and intense skin dryness. Both an anti-inflammatory and an anti-bacterial, calendula can promote healing through stimulating cell growth- super important for a burn! Once you start collecting bulk herbs for your herbal home apothecary (doesn’t that sound fancy!?) these are some of the herbs that you’ll always have on hand when accidents do occur! Plus, you can pull from your herb stash to make things like my DIY Elderberry Syrup, DIY Cough Drops, and Sleepy Time Tea! To make it easy I made an Amazon list that you can shop from!
Have so much fun- and healing!- in your Instagram worthy bath (and follow me there while you’re at it!) and don’t forget, when it comes to sunburn, prevention is best!
Some links are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. Contact your physician before starting any new therapeutic practices.
