How to Soothe Sunburn Fast: The After Sun Skincare Hack You Have to Try
Sunburn happens. And as much as we’re here to remind you to apply – and reapply – your SPF 30 every day, we’re also here to help during those times when you simply forget. In fact, we at Biossance were recently chatting among ourselves about the power of our superhero ingredient – sugarcane squalane – to help calm redness and support the skin barrier after sun exposure.
A sunburn disrupts the skin’s moisture barrier, making it more vulnerable to water loss. This is why sunburned skin is also dehydrated skin and can feel tight, dry, irritated, and red. Sugarcane squalane mimics your body’s natural moisture, supporting the skin barrier by sealing hydration from the outside in and helping repair the skin barrier to prevent further water loss. When combined with gentle hydrating, soothing, and protective ingredients, sugarcane squalane is your secret weapon for soothing a sunburn.
Follow this easy three-step routine to calm painful, red, irritated skin after sunburn with the power of sugarcane squalane.
Step 1: Use a Gentle Cleanser
The first step in any first aid process is to clean the area. Check your cleanser’s ingredients before applying it to sunburned skin. Exfoliating acids, retinoids, and harsh cleansing ingredients can further irritate a sunburn. Instead, reach for a gentle cleanser with soothing ingredients such as our Amino Aloe Gentle Cleanser. It combines calming aloe and barrier boosting sugarcane squalane with gentle amino acids to break down dirt, makeup and sunscreen while adding a burst of soothing hydration to leave your skin clean and refreshed.
It’s important to note that you shouldn’t cleanse sunburned skin with hot water or stay in a steamy shower for too long. This can further disrupt the skin’s moisture barrier, amplifying irritation and slowing your body’s natural healing processes. Instead, cleanse with lukewarm water to support your skin barrier. Take care when toweling off so that you don’t further irritate skin by rubbing. Pat skin until just damp, then proceed to step two.
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Step 2: Hydrate
The effects of dehydration can make sunburned skin look and feel wrinkled, saggy, and irritated. Soothe these symptoms by deeply hydrating your skin immediately after cleansing. We like to keep our Hyaluronic Acid Facial Mist in the fridge for exactly this purpose. Spritzing it onto damp skin immediately after cleansing allows its hyaluronic acid formula to bond with the water on your skin, pulling it into the epidermis to instantly boost hydration while cooling your sunburned skin.
Follow with a dropper full of our Copper Peptide Rapid Plumping Serum to further increase hydration using our powerful blend of clinically proven hydrators, including hyaluronic acid, polyglutamic acid, and stress-busting ectoin. This bio fermented ingredient acts as a bodyguard for skin cells, protecting them by binding with water to create a protective, nourishing hydration shield around cells to calm irritation. Meanwhile our sugarcane squalane helps drive these powerful ingredients deeper into the skin to maximize hydration.
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Step 3: Lock In Moisture
All that hydration will be for naught if your skin barrier is too compromised by sunburn to retain moisture. Lock in hydration with a clinically proven moisturizer suitable for sensitive skin. Our award-winning Omega Repair Cream contains ceramides, omega fatty acids, plant sterols and sugarcane squalane to mimic and support your skin’s protective barrier. Eczema-friendly and suitable for all skin types, this rich whipped cream absorbs quickly to smooth rough texture, plump fine lines, and calm red, irritated skin.
At night, a restorative treatment such as our Ectoin Overnight Rescue can help soothe a sunburn fast by supporting your body’s natural nighttime repair process. Our rich repair cream includes a clinically proven combination of ectoin, peptides, magnesium and squalane to soothe and defend against damage while supporting and replenshing your skin’s natural barrier. You’ll awaken to visibly calmer, smoother, deeply hydrated and moisturized skin.
For an added moisture boost, apply our 100% Squalane Oil anywhere that’s been exposed to the sun. This pure, weightless, single-ingredient oil instantly hydrates and locks in essential moisture. Use from head to toe after a day in the sun to soothe irritation.
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As a lifestyle writer and journalist, I love sharing my passion for ocean conservation and obsession with clean beauty. I’ve tried almost every trend and ingredient, and Biossance’s science-backed formulas are the only ones that consistently calm my reactive skin and make it smoother, clearer, and healthier. I’m so excited to be on this journey of skincare innovation with Biossance, and to share it with you!
