5 Simple Things to Do After Being Out in the Sun

We spent the day at Storybook Gardens today with some of our extended family. It was a lot of fun but boy oh boy was it ever hot. I was incredibly tempted to jump right into the splash pad with the kids! We did really well with avoiding the sun as much as possible. We looked for shade wherever possible, loaded up our skin regularly with sunscreen, and made sure to stay hydrated. Still, by the time we got home, I felt really wiped out. I couldn’t even eat a Beavertail because I was feeling a little nauseated and headachy from the heat. Yikes!

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So, I started my post-sun routine. I didn’t get a sunburn so I didn’t need to go into burn healing mode but still, my body felt a bit parched inside and out. So here’s what I do after being out in the sun:

1. I drank water. And then I drank some more. Even though I felt like I was staying appropriately hydrated while out in the heat and sun, I still always feel a bit dehydrated after a hot summer day. More water begins to help almost immediately to settle my stomach, soothe my headache, and make me feel a little more energetic again.

2. I like to take a cool bath or shower. It helps lower my body temperature back down a bit and again, make me feel refreshed and energized. However, the headache and drained feeling was making me a bit dizzy so I decided it was safer to take more of a sponge bath instead. This also helps get rid of the excess sunscreen still left on my skin off so that I feel squeaky clean. (Anyone else ever feel kind of grimy after a day out in the sun?)

3. Next up is moisturizing my skin. For my body, I love the Mary Kay After Sun Replenishing Gel. On my face, after cleansing, I start out with a great gentle toner. My preference is BeautyPapier’s Daisy Toner. That’s followed up with a good moisturizing cream. I like something really thick – more of a cream than a lotion to really sink in overnight. Eau Thermale Avene Rich Skin Recovery Cream is a great one for this!

If my face is feeling extra parched, I may apply a mask to it before going through my cleansing, toning, moisturizing routine. Plain yogurt works really well as a home DIY solution but I also really like the cooling effect of Garnier’s Ambre Solaire After Sun Tissue Mask as well.

For any spots on my body or face that look a little bit sun-kissed as well as my lips, I give them some extra TLC with Magic Balm from Honest Beauty. This stuff really is magic! I use it all the time for any parts of my skin that just seems to need a little extra love. It’s perfect for dry elbows, heels, cuticles, and so much more.

4. In a few days, I’ll use a good exfoliating cleanser on my skin (face and body!) and then a more substantial moisturizing mask. I don’t like to do this on the same day as my sun exposure because often my skin is just a bit sensitive and I don’t want to make things worse. But the drying effect of the sun often means that within a few days, it feels like there is quite a bit of dry skin that I’d like to try to slough away and re-moisturize.

5. It’s a good idea to give yourself some time to replenish your energy after a day in the sun. The sun can be quite draining and if you have a chronic illness like I do, its effects are often amplified. I try not to plan back-to-back active days out in the sun and build in time for a little extra rest.

Mary Kay After-Sun Replenishing Gel Eau Thermale Avène Skin Recovery Cream, 1.69 fl. oz.Honest Beauty Magic Balm, 0.17 Ounce