Sunned skin fix

We've been spending lots of time in the sun lately. My skin is getting nicely tanned. Along with the summer tan though comes sunburn, peeling, and discomfort. So I rounded up a few tips that are helping to sooth my summer skin and prevent any more damage.

1. Believe it or not baking soda is an important summer companion for me. When suffering from sunburn, I make a paste of 1/4 C of baking soda and water. Smooth this onto burned skin and let it sit for a few minutes. I usually keep it there for about 10 minutes. It helps calm the inflammation. When peeling starts to happen, baking soda works really well as an exfoliant. The granules are small enough to be gently but are still effective at sloughing off the peely layer. 
2. Lemon almond oil also helps me deal when I've spent too much time in the sun. The almond oil is so light, skin just soaks it up and makes the most of it.It is slightly heavier than body lotion so I feel like it nourishes my skin a little better. Skin gets so tight when it's burnt and this just helps keep skin a little more flexible. The lemon scent is just my favorite :)  
3. When you've got a sun burn and your body develops that feverish feeling it feels so good to spray on a cooling mist. One recipe I've found is this: boil water on the stove or in a microwave. Add a handful of mint. Let that steep for about 10 minutes. Strain liquid into a spray bottle and stick it in the fridge to chill. Mist on body for cool relief. (Maybe you noticed- This is essentially cooled, mint tea in a spray bottle.)
4. Oh one more summer favorite! If you have one of those rice filled heating pads that you microwave to heat up (either bought or homemade) it's great for the summer too when you stick it in the freezer for a few hours. When you take it out it'll stay cool for a while and is great for laying against overly warm skin. It's cool  without being shockingly cold. ( To make an easy, fast, and cheap rice pack: grab a clean, knee high sock, fill with rice, tie off at the end then heat up or freeze as you wish. You can also sew one up if you're handy). 

Stay cool this summer ; )