My Easy DIY Sunburn Cures

Because tanning is such a huge no-no in the beauty world, I'm probably not even supposed to talk about sunburns -- much less give advice on how to cure them. But let's get real. No matter how much we hear about proper SPF usage, lobster-red complexions are alive and well and lying out on a beach near you.

Hey, I'm not above getting a little toasty. In fact, until a few years ago, I was guilty of getting my glow on more often than I'd like to admit. And, I'm definitely not proud of this fact, those past skin care mistakes made me into the DIY sunburn cure whiz I am today.

See, I'm all about at-home remedies. There is something to be said for finding instant relief in all-natural ingredients that come straight out of your kitchen. Nothing beats knowing exactly what you are putting on your body and saving heaps of cash while you're at it!

These remedies aren't complicated and are definitely not hair-brained. They come straight from Hollywood skin care guru Ole Henriksen -- so you know they really work. So, if you've soaked up more sun than you intended be sure to commit these all-natural sun care cures and tips to memory.

Yogurt
Why it works:
"Yogurt contains lactic acid which is cooling and comforting," explains Henriksen. "In addition to reducing redness and inflammation, lactic acid also brightens and evens out skin tone."

How to apply:
Slather the yogurt onto your skin on all of the sunburned areas. Be sure not to rub in all the way but instead create a healthy layer over the hot spots. "Make sure to use regular yogurt and not low-fat -- the texture will feel creamy and luxurious as you apply it to the skin and will absorb much better, delivering maximum benefits," says Henriksen. Leave it on overnight (it should dry up and cake to the area) and then reapply a fresh layer in the morning. It may not be the prettiest cure but it has great short and long-term benefits for your skin.

Aloe Vera
Why it works:
"Aloe vera is full of naturally healing steroids and humectants," says Henriksen. "The steroids work incredibly to lift the redness out of the skin, and the humectants replenish the moisture -- which is zapped out by the sun."

How to apply:
Massage aloe into the skin like you would your daily moisturizer. You can slather it on as often as you'd like.

Cucumbers
Why it works:
"Cucumbers are full of vitamins and enzymes that cool and comfort the skin," says Henriksen. "They are also naturally anti-inflammatory, so they will help to reduce some of the swelling and puffiness that comes with a sunburn."

How to apply:
"You have to break the cucumber down to release all of the vitamins and enzymes and provide the best care for your skin," says Henriksen. "Just chopping up cucumber slices and putting them on your skin isn't going to have much of an effect!" If you have a juicer handy, juice the cucumbers and put them into a misting bottle. Then spray the cool and calming cucumber juice on your sunburn. If you don't happen to have a juicer available, grate the cucumbers, creating a paste, and apply to sunburn areas.