With summer in full swing, the days are long and the sun is hot! We all know how important it is to protect our skin from those damaging UV rays. And yet, even with the best intentions and most diligent regular sunscreen applications, sunburns still seem to get the best of us at some point throughout the season.

The good news is that one of the best natural remedies for a pesky sunburn is likely already a staple in your kitchen cupboard: honey!

Honey to the Rescue

Honey’s antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and soothing properties make it a fantastic topical remedy for rejuvenating sun-damaged skin. Honey is also antibacterial, helping to reduce infection and moisturizing which is precisely what your skin needs after getting too much sun.

The next time you find yourself nursing a sunburn after too much fun in the sun, try grabbing your favourite jar of Elias honey! We recommend using a touch of our regular, household Elias Liquid honey, or, for more enhanced benefits, try using Elias Raw or Buckwheat honey as these honeys contain specific trace minerals and enzymes that soothe skin irritation and help promote optimal healing. We’ll get into specifics later, especially about Buckwheat honey… stay tuned!

At Home Honey Remedy

For critical relief, apply a thin layer of honey to the sun-damaged area and let it sit for about 15-30 minutes before rinsing or dabbing it off with a warm washcloth. It’s that easy!

Repeat as needed, but you will likely find that the pain, swelling and inflammation begins to subside after the first application. It’s no wonder that honey has been used for thousands of years as a topical burn relief!

For milder cases, try mixing a dab or two of honey with pure aloe vera, or add it into your favourite moisturizer / after sun lotion (it won’t be sticky, we promise) for an incredibly soothing, cooling healing boost – the ultimate natural defence against a sunburn!

For more sun-safety tips, check out these recommendations from Health Canada.

Contributed by Lea Manuel, Holistic Nutritionist