Natural Sunburn Remedies

thatladyinthewoods
Jul 7
3 min read

Natural Sunburn Remedies: Sun-Kissed Protection from the Garden and Kitchen

As a herbalist and someone who spends long days tending plants and gathering wild medicine under the open sky, I’ve learned to dance with the sun — to revere its warmth while respecting its intensity. While I always encourage shade, wide-brimmed hats, and mindful exposure, there are also gentle, natural allies we can turn to for skin support and solar protection. Today I’m sharing a few of my favourite natural sunburn remedies, including one that often surprises people — castor oil, a quiet powerhouse especially for deeper sun damage and burns.

🌿 My 3 Healer Approach to Sun Care

When addressing sun exposure, I turn to the Three Healers I use in many areas of herbalism:

The Nourisher – builds resilience before damage occurs.
The Soother – calms irritation and heat.
The Restorer – helps the body recover and repair.

Each one plays a role in natural sun care, and castor oil — one of my favourite plant allies — happens to embody all three.

🌞 Castor Oil: The Unexpected Sun Healer

Castor oil is often overlooked in sun care, but it's a quiet wonder for broad, deep burns — especially the kind that sneak up after a day in the garden or paddling on the lake. Rich in ricinoleic acid, castor oil penetrates deeply, drawing out heat while reducing inflammation and promoting cell regeneration.

I use it most often as part of an after-sun compress or balm. Here’s how:

Castor Oil After-Sun Compress

Apply ample castor oil to a castor pack
Lay it gently over the affected area
Rest for 30-60 minutes
Let any residue soak in overnight

It’s especially helpful when the burn feels deep or the skin is struggling to recover. In my experience, castor oil often brings instant cooling relief while helping prevent peeling and scarring. Apply it liberally to the skin as soon as possible after the burn.

🌸 Other Plant Allies for Sun Support

1. Red Raspberry Seed Oil A natural darling in the herbal world, red raspberry seed oil offers some of the highest sun-protective properties among plant oils. It’s light, non-comedogenic, and filled with antioxidants.

2. Carrot Seed Oil This oil is rich in beta-carotene and vitamin A. I use it more for its regenerative and antioxidant benefits. It pairs beautifully with jojoba or rosehip oil for facial use.

3. Aloe Vera A classic soother, fresh aloe gel cools, hydrates, and reduces inflammation. I often blend aloe with castor oil in a gentle, post-sun salve.

4. Calendula Oil This golden flower is a skin whisperer — soothing, repairing, and anti-inflammatory. I infuse calendula into olive or sunflower oil and use it both before and after sun exposure.

🌼 My 3 Healers Salve: A Summer Skin Staple

If you’re looking for an all-in-one balm to carry with you throughout the sun season, I always recommend my 3 Healers Salve — made with plantain, calendula, and comfrey. This small but mighty blend was created with the Three Healers in mind:

Plantain draws out heat, irritation, and toxins from the skin (The Soother)
Calendula promotes gentle healing and reduces inflammation (The Nourisher)
Comfrey supports cell regeneration and deeper repair (The Restorer)

Perfect for sunburns, bug bites, scrapes, and wind-chapped cheeks, it’s the balm I tuck into every garden basket, beach tote, and market kit. Just a small dab helps skin return to balance and softness.

🌻 DIY Herbal After-Sun Oil Recipe

Ingredients:

2 tbsp castor oil
1 tbsp red raspberry seed oil
1 tbsp calendula-infused oil
10 drops lavender essential oil
Optional: 5 drops peppermint essential oil for added cooling

Directions:Blend all oils in a small dropper bottle. Shake before use. Apply after sun exposure to soothe and nourish.

Final Thoughts

Nature offers so many gentle, effective ways to care for our skin — especially when we lean into its rhythms instead of fighting them. Sunlight can be medicine in its own right, and when we tend to our skin with awareness and plant allies, we allow both to shine.

Castor oil, in particular, continues to be one of my most treasured tools — for burns, for deep healing, and for embodying the work of the Three Healers all at once. Pair it with something like my 3 Healers Salve, and you have a sun care toolkit made entirely of love, leaves, and light.