If our readers remember, back in May I put out an issue of Looking Good about the proper ways to apply sunscreen. Well, this past week while on vacation, I apparently didn't follow my own advice! I applied sunscreen to my own children and my nephews, but neglected to apply it to myself at all! After spending over 7 hours on and in the lake on Saturday, I'm almost a shade of purple red! Can anyone say "Ouch"? That of course prompted me to do a bit of research on how to get rid of sunburn as quickly as possible since this is quite painful and Aloe and lotions alone are not cutting it. Below is a recipe you can make consisting of only 2 ingredients to help relieve sunburn in half the time!

This recipe consists of two very simple ingredients. Aloe Vera and Coconut Oil, each of which has it's own properties to help heal a sunburn quickly.

Aloe Vera helps by:
-Rejuvenating and hydrating the skin
-Treating sunburns
-Soothing irritated skin and skin allergies
-Treating stretch marks, aging spots, acne and scars

Coconut Oil helps by being a:
-Oil that gives skin a natural glow
-Antibacterial and antifungal agent
-Natural Moisturizer that slows skin aging
-Lotion for dry skin

To make this wonderful gel you need:

-1/3 cup pure aloe vera gel, not juice
-1/2 cup organic coconut oil (solid state, not liquid)
-essential oil fragrant of your choice

To mix the gel:

Mix both the coconut oil and aloe vera gel in a large bowl.

Mix the ingredients for 5-10 minutes. You should have a thick, bright-colored cream when you're done.

Add a few drops of essential oils when finished.

Once you've got the mixture complete, transfer the cream into a glass container with a lid and keep at room temperature.

To apply the gel:

Apply the gel as you would any other lotion, but try to apply it right after showering as your pores are open and your skin is moist, so it will absorb into the skin more.