Suffering from a sunburn when all you wanted was a sun-kissed glow? It happens. Drop the ice pack and break out the aloe vera lotion to soothe your irritated skin.
"Aloe is one of the oldest known plants used for healing and medicinal purposes, especially for the skin," says Los Angeles-based celebrity facialist Candace Marino. "Its cactus-like stems store water, creating a gel that is stocked with antioxidants, minerals, amino acids and vitamins, making it beneficial for our internal and external health. Vitamins A, B, C, D, and E are found in aloe, along with minerals like zinc, potassium, and magnesium — which make it a known skin healer."
Marino also notes that aloe is one of nature's best gifts for our overall skin and health because of its antiseptic, antibacterial and alkalizing properties. It's also a humectant that prevents water loss in the skin and can be used as an antioxidant to protect and repair tired, damaged skin.
While it may take days for your sunburnt skin to get back to normal, we listed a few aloe vera lotions that can provide relief now. Plus, they're a great way to get hydration any time you're experiencing dry skin. Here are our top picks that you'll want to keep stocked in the medicine cabinet at all times.
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BEST OVERALL
Aloe Vera Body Lotion
ahava.com
$17.99
This lightweight lotion is gentle enough to use every day to give your skin a spa-like experience at home. This luxurious lotion also contains dead sea minerals to replenish and nourish your skin while aloe vera works its hydrating magic. The best part? It's under $20!
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BEST VALUE
Vitalizing Soothing Gel
innisfree.com
$10.00
Looking for a budget-friendly fix for your sunburn? Well, when the going gets tough on your skin and wallet, grab this gel. Its $10 formula works wonders on skin, thanks to moisturizing aloe vera, and it keeps your bank account happy — a win-win!
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BEST FOR EYES
Dew It All Total Eye Cream
sephora.com
$38.00
Ditched the sunglasses during your last outside endeavor? Sunburns can get pretty gnarly, but sunburns around the delicate eye area are especially painful.
To help heal this high-maintenance area, Marino recommends this eye cream from Farmacy. It's filled with aloe, along with soothing chamomile and calendula extracts, to comfort and calm your burnt, itchy eyelids and under-eyes.
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BEST FOR OILY SKIN
Hand & Body Lotion Soothing 84% Aloe Vera
walmart.com
$11.69
What makes this aloe vera lotion stand out from the rest is its easily absorbed formula. This clean-beauty lotion uses only the best of Mother Nature's best ingredients to swiftly glide and soak into skin without any sticky, tacky, or greasy feel left behind.
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BEST FOR DRY SKIN
Aloe Vera Lotion
amazon.com
$17.10
$8.76 (49% off)
You can't go wrong with this lotion made from two skin-smoothing ingredients: lanolin and aloe. The moisturizing, non-greasy formula relieves dry skin in any season, whether it's sunburned or not!
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BEST FOR COMBINATION SKIN
Aloe Lotion
ulta.com
$15.00
Having combination skin is like Goldilocks and the three bears: Your skincare products have to fit your needs just right.
Thankfully, this aloe lotion was made for combination skin types in mind. It's infused with aloe vera extract to soothe and hydrate parched areas of skin, while a mild alcohol-based astringent helps soothe, deep-clean, and reduce redness.
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BEST FOR SENSITIVE SKIN
Unscented Aloe Hand & Body Lotion
amazon.com
$10.38
For those with sensitive skin, give this lotion a try. It's certified organic, unscented, vegan, and paraben-free. You'll get serious moisture thanks to ingredients like essential oils, shea butter, and vitamin E. Bustle named it as one of their favorite aloe vera lotions, too.
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CLEAN FORMULA
Aloe and Coconut Oil After Sun Soother
amazon.com
Sunburns happen, and this Burt's Bees lotion will be there to help you when they do. A blend of natural aloe vera extract and coconut oil replenishes skin's moisture levels, and also eases redness and itchiness.
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LONGEST LASTING
Aloe Vera Body Lotion
ulta.com
$8.49
When you need lasting relief, this Nivea body lotion with aloe vera works for 48 hours, so you can spend more time feeling better and less time reapplying.
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REEF-FRIENDLY
Cool Down Hydrating After Sun Lotion
amazon.com
$11.95
Next time you take a beach trip, make sure this after-sun lotion is in your bag! The reef-friendly formula smells amazing, and you'll actually look forward to applying it at the end of the day.
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BEST BALM
After Sun Rescue Balm with Aloe
ulta.com
$29.00
As much we love tanning, it comes at our skin's expense. Prevent damage after a day spent poolside with Clinique's Rescue Balm that soothes, repairs, moisturizes, and prevents peeling.
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BEST BODY BUTTER
Aloe Soothing Body Butter
thebodyshop.com
$21.00
If you can't get enough of aloe vera, The Body Shop has an entire line of skincare with the refreshing ingredient for daily use. Along with the cleanser and day cream, you'll definitely want to add this skin-smoothing body butter to cart.
It's ultra rich and creamy to hydrate parched skin, but won't leave a greasy film behind. Plus, it's also formulated with sensitive skin types in mind.
