Your skin is going to be very red, hot and sore, so is going to need cooling, soothing and moisturising, preferably all in one go. Because your skin is incredibly sensitive when it is burnt, you will need to use a very gentle cream that is not going to aggravate your skin more or even worse cause an allergic reaction as your skin is so sensitive. Look for unperfumed creams or even better gels, as gel will be much more soothing on your skin and will soak in faster. One key ingredient to look for is Aloe Vera, as it is renowned for it’s soothing and healing properties, a tube of Aloe Vera gel kept in the fridge is the perfect thing for sunburn as it will be lovely and cool on your skin helping to take some of the heat out of your burn while it soothes and nourishes your skin.

If you have a large area of sunburn, then taking a very cool bath will help to take some of the heat out of your skin, and this can provide immense relief, just remember not to put any bubble bath in as this may irritate your skin making the situation worse. Once you have got over the initial heat and pain of your sunburn, which should generally be within 24-48 hours, then you will be able to apply a thicker, richer moisturiser to your skin to try and minimise any peeling. Unfortunately peeling is inevitable with most sunburns as the skin has been badly damaged so will dry and flake as part of the healing and regenerating process. However if you keep your skin well moisturised then the peeling won’t be so bad, and also won’t be so noticeable, nothing worse than realising you have large flakes of skin starting to peel off while you are out and about and not able to do anything about it.

Of course the best thing for your skin is to not over expose it to the sun so you can avoid sunburn altogether, but if you do find yourself suffering from sunburn, the best thing to do is to use a good skin care cream to give your skin the care it needs.

Banana Boat Aloe Vera Gel

This is an incredibly popular aftersun, and comes in a gel form which is immediately cooling to the skin and is absorbed quickly and easily without any greasy feel. While the bright green colour of the gel may be slightly off putting, the smell is pleasant and fades after an hour or two so is not overpowering at all. One great thing about this aftersun is that it can be used for other purposes to such as minor cuts, bruises, rough or dry skin and minor skin irritations. COmbine this with the fact that even the small bottle lasts a very long time, Banana Boat Aloe Vera Gel is the perfect one-stop bottle to take on holiday with you.

Hawaiian Tropic AfterSun Moisturiser

Hawaiian Tropic comes in a range of “flavours” so you can choose from Body Butter, Lime Coolada or Mango in creams or Aloe Vera in a gel which is the latest addition to their range. All of these use a luxurious combination of Cocoa, Shea and Mango butters, making them rich, creamy and very moisturising. They all go on smoothly and smell divine, making them a pleasure to use, and with the added bonus of helping to extend the life of your tan, these creams are pefect to use not only while you are on holiday, but also when you get back and are clinging on to your tan for as long as possible. Hawaiian Tropic Aftersun Gel is developed with sunburn in mind and contains Lidocaine, which helps to ease the sting and heat of sunburn on application. This is combined with Vitamins and Aloe Vera to help soothe burnt skin and prevent peeling, while moisturising. Great for those that have a habit of spending just a little too long in the sun.

Nivea Moisturising Aftersun Lotion

Nivea have long been a well respected name in skin care, and their sun cream and after sun ranges are extensive. Nivea’s Moisturising Aftersun Lotion is superb, offering intensive 24 hour moisturisation, with enriching advocado oil and Vitamin E. Using this aftersun regularly after exposure to the sun helps to keep your skin nourished and soft. Even when you return from holiday, using this as your daily moisturiser will ensure your skin stays in tip top condition, making your tan last longer and keeping your skin healthy.

These are just a small sample of the huge range of aftersun creams and lotions that are available, but are also the most popular ones. If you are looking for a good skin care cream to use on holiday or just after a long hot day in the garden, then any one of these aftersun creams will do just the job.
Soltan Aftersun

The ranges of sun lotion are so huge it can be difficult to know where to start. The minimum SPF typical European skin should have is SPF 15. If you have particularly fair or sensitive skin then you will want to use a much higher factor. Remember, the SPF is only an indication of the protection given, and this is assuming proper application and re-applying after activities such as swimming.

You don’t have to go for big brands when it comes to sun cream, in fact many supermarkets own brands are excellent in not only value for money, but also product quality.

Boots Soltan Once spray – SPF30

Having sun cream in a spray makes application so much easier, and this is no exception. With excellent UVA and UVB protection, and a once daily application which incorporates up to 40 minutes in the pool or sea this is a great own brand product that will give you ample protection while on holiday.

Superdrug Solait Spray – SPF15

This is also another excellent spray on product, and smells lovely. It is easy to apply and will give you superb protection as it has been shown that it actually gives around an SPF25 if applied properly, which is excellent as it is giving some leeway for poor application. It is also water resistant, allowing you up to 40 minutes water exposure before needing to re-apply.

Clarins Oil Free Sun Care spray – SPF15

This is a lovely light spray, and is perfect for those with oily skin who find that sun cream can give them outbreaks of spots as it can be very heavy and pore blocking. As with all Clarins products this smells great and is a pleasure to apply.  This spray claims to offer deep cellular protection and the cutting edge a mineral filter offering the skin perfect protection.

Nivea Moisturising Sun Lotion – SPF15

Nivea have long been associated with excellent skin care creams, and this sun cream is no exception. With the lovely smell that is Nivea this cream is thick and creamy but non-sticky and easy to apply. It works immediately on application and can help to reduce sun allergies which can cause discomfort. With an adequate level of UV protection this makes a great general sun cream to use either at home or abroad.

Whichever brand of sun cream you choose to buy, the most important thing after getting the right factor for your skin is to make sure you apply it properly and regularly. It is all too easy to forget to re-apply your sun cream after swimming, and even if you are using a water resistant cream, it’s effectiveness will deteriorate after water exposure. Choosing the right sun cream is just as important as choosing the right skin care cream as it will help you keep your skin in top condition.

There are so many different sun creams on the market it can be difficult to know where to start, what factor to use, whether to get waterproof suncream or just re-apply it after going for swim, whether to get sun cream with insect repellent in it. All these things can make choosing the right sun cream seem difficult. However, if you want to keep your skin in tip top condition then you need to address your mind to getting your summer sun cream sorted.

The main thing you want from your sun cream is a high protection factor. Ideally you will have been wearing an SPF15 throughout the winter anyway, to protect you face from the winter sun. Depending on where you are going and what kind of sun exposure you are going to experience, you will need anything from a factor 25 up to 50 for your face and 15 to 25 for your body. Of course this is all dependant on your skin type, as those with fairer skin will need higher factors, while those with darker skin will be able to use lower factors.

Remember, fake tan, while it offers colours, offers no protection from the rays of the sun at all, so while it is all very well and good giving yourself a bit of colour before you hit the beach, don’t forget that underneath that colour your skin is still as fragile as ever, so you should still be slapping on the suncream.  It doesn’t really matter whether you choose water resistant sun cream or not, as you really should be re-applying your cream when you get out of the pool anyway. Of course, if you are prone to forgetting, then using a water resistant sun cream will help prevent you burning, and if you remember to re-apply it then all the better!

Making sure you take care of your skin in the sun is so important, as sun damage can lead to premature aging, lines, wrinkles and in worst cases can even result in skin cancer. Making sure your skin care cream has an SPF 15 or higher is important, making sure you always use a high factor sun cream when you are in the sun even more so.

Check back soon for news and reviews on the best sun creams on the market.