Best essential oils for sunburn: 5 top picks to soothe damaged skin

Protecting your skin from harmful UV rays is essential for every skin type. While sunscreens are the most widely used skin care products for sunburns, including essential oils can also be effective as they are the most natural way to soothe your inflamed or irritated skin. Essential oils are loaded with anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties that help heal your skin. Mixing these oils with healing ingredients like aloe vera gel and coconut oil can be therapeutic for your skin. Here is a list of the best essential oils for sunburn that you must try!

What is sunburn?

Sunburn occurs after your skin gets overexposed to harmful UV rays. Red, painful and damaged skin that appears after the exposure to sun or ultraviolet light sources exceeds the ability of the melanin. There are two types of sunburns – first-degree sunburn, which damages the outer layer of your skin and second-degree sunburn that impacts the middle section of your skin and contributes to development of blisters. Sunburns may even lead to premature ageing or skin cancer, so applying the right sun protection products on your skin every day is vital.

5 best essential oils for sunburn

If you get a sunburn, you are likely to feel a burning sensation on your skin. Applying the best essential oils for sunburn can be effective in reducing the symptoms of sunburn. Check out this list of the top essential oil brands and pick your favourite one:

1. Greenwood Essential Pure Roman Chamomile Essential Oil

Try this essential oil for sunburn relief by Greenwood Essential. This roman chamomile oil is loaded with calming properties that soothes inflamed and irritated skin. Extracted with the steam distillation method, this essential oil promises to provide therapeutic benefits. Besides treating skin redness, swelling, pain and inflammation, this oil also moisturises your skin from within and gives it a soft touch.

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2. Plant Therapy Peppermint Essential Oil

Including the right essential oil for sun-damaged skin in your daily routine is important. So, try this peppermint oil by Plant Therapy as it is infused with therapeutic benefits. It contains cooling properties that help soothe irritated or inflamed skin. Regular application of this oil can give you a rejuvenated and refreshed skin. In addition, this oil also boosts blood circulation in your skin, which helps enhance skin tone.

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3. Naturalis Essence of Nature Tea Tree Essential Oil

The Naturalis Essence of Nature Tea Tree Essential Oil is packed with the goodness of tea tree oil. Extracted using the steam distillation method, this oil helps improve skin health. This oil is rich in antifungal, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that soothe your skin. Applying this oil speeds up wound healing and helps protect against skin cancer. In addition, it also moisturises your skin, prevents peeling and repairs sun damage.

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Also Read: 5 tips to protect your skin from sunburns in summer

4. Organic Bliss Marigold Essential Oil

This essential oil by Organic Bliss is loaded with the goodness of marigold. Adding this oil in a diffuser can help promote relaxation and relieve stress. The brand claims that its oil is 100 percent steam distilled natural and organic, which gives therapeutic benefits. This marigold essential oil is packed with anti-inflammatory that helps soothe irritated skin, reduce redness, and swelling. Its antioxidant properties combat free radicals, protect your skin against damage and prevent premature ageing.

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5. Plant Therapy Organic Lavender Essential Oil

The Plant Therapy Organic Lavender Essential Oil is 100 percent pure USDA Certified Organic. This undiluted oil promotes relaxation and supports mental health. Besides giving peace, it helps reduce redness and protects your skin against UV rays. It also helps detoxify your skin, helps fight infections, prevent wrinkles and provide glowing skin.

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What are the benefits of essential oils for sunburn?

Essential oils benefits go beyond moisturisation and hydration. These oils help give relief from sunburn discomfort. Some important benefits of essential oils include:

• Most of the essential oils like lavender oil are rich in anti-inflammatory properties that help calm inflamed skin. Applying these oils can reduce redness, swelling and promote faster healing.
• Peppermint oil is popular for its cooling effect, which gives an instant relief from the burning sensation of sunburn.
• Sunburn can make your skin dry and dehydrated. Applying essential oils can replenish the lost moisture and prevent peeling.
• Sunburn can lead to premature ageing. But, regular use of these oils can help repair damaged skin cells, combat free radicals and promote skin regeneration due to the presence of antioxidant properties.
• One of the damaging effects of sunburn is the formation of blisters. Essential oils that are infused with antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that can help prevent bacterial growth and contribute to better wound healing.

(Disclaimer: At Health Shots, we make a constant effort to break the clutter for our readers. All products listed are carefully curated by the editorial team but use your discretion and an expert’s opinion before using them. Their price and availability may differ from the time of publication. If you buy something using these links in the story, we may earn a commission.)