Whether it’s the sun, salt, sweat, or hours in the ocean spray, it’s no secret that surfing can take a serious toll on your skin. In order to help our fellow surfers, these are some organic, eco-friendly, and inexpensive products and recipes to protect your skin before surfing and to heal your skin after the session.
Table of Contents
Wear sunblock
This is the first and best thing that you can do to protect your skin while surfing. It is best to apply sunscreen 15 to 20 minutes before direct sun exposure. Believe it or not, these 15 minutes make a huge difference between getting a sunburn and staying protected.
Don’t forget:
Sunscreen can contain harmful chemicals that can damage coral reefs and marine ecosystems. Be sure to check out our article 5 Best Eco-Friendly Sunscreens for some all-natural alternatives.
Aloe
Aloe is a succulent plant, cultivated for centuries for its medicinal purposes. When cut open, it is filled with a clear, jelly-like substance. This substance is what we call aloe vera and is the equivalent of pure gold for the skin.
Many of us already automatically reach for aloe vera in the stores to soothe sunburn and there is tons of science behind why. In fact, studies show that topically applying aloe vera to burns can accelerate the healing process of your skin by up to 9 days when compared to normal medicine.
Furthermore, aloe vera has antibacterial properties that treat canker sores, cold sores, skin infections and can even reduce wrinkles. All of this combined makes aloe the ideal post-surf and sun skincare hack. Pure, natural aloe vera is the most effective. It can be cut from a leaf of the plant itself and applied directly to the skin. It’s as simple as that.
Aloe is the best surf skincare hack, and will help to heal and protect your skin session after session.
Don’t forget:
There are so many products that tend to line the shelves in the supermarkets every year around summertime, boasting that they contain aloe vera. Be careful to read the ingredients; many of these products tend to contain high amounts of glycerin gel and only a small percentage of aloe vera.
Pure, natural aloe vera cut from the plant itself is always the best option and is the most effective. If you don’t have access to the actual plant, finding brands that sell 100% natural aloe vera is the best alternative.
Coconut oil
This recently had an explosion all over the internet, but there is no secret; coconut oil is fantastic for your skin. It’s full of fatty acids that help rebuild, protect, and rejuvenate your skin. Coconut oil has anti-aging, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. It even protects skin from the sun’s rays.
This makes coconut oil an ideal skincare hack for surfers. Slap some coconut oil on before you surf as a natural sunblock or after your surf sesh to rehydrate and protect your skin before you even have to leave the beach. It’s an amazing all natural, zero-waste, organic lotion-alternative that can be used all over the body.
Don’t forget:
Just like aloe vera, there are so many brands selling coconut oil, that is only a small percentage of the raw coconut extract.
Make sure you are reading the ingredients and purchasing products from ethical brands that are selling 100% pure coconut oil, non-refined is ideal. Your skin and the environment will thank you.
Oatmeal
The benefits of oatmeal for the skin has been a #skinhack for mothers for centuries. I remember taking long oatmeal baths to soothe poison-ivy rashes or itchy bug bites when I was a child.
Turns out, oatmeal contains powerful anti-inflammatory properties that help with allergic reactions, scratches, burns, and even a number of skin conditions like dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis.
As a result, oatmeal can provide the ultimate sunburn relief, making it an excellent surf skincare hack. Taking oatmeal baths and oatmeal masks can help reduce sunburn’s inflammation, redness, and can help speed up the healing process.
Don’t Forget:
When it comes to skincare, there is no “quick oats” solution. Regular, whole oats are the way to go with this post-surf skincare hack.
Read to the end of the article to check out my favorite DIY oatmeal skincare hack recipes!
Honey
Honey has long been revered for its healing properties. It has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and antifungal properties. The pharaohs in ancient Egypt used honey to heal their battle wounds, so you know that this is powerful stuff.
What allows the honey to heal scars and war wounds is the same thing that makes it one of our post-surf skincare hacks.
Applying a generous amount of honey to your face after a surf session will help to brighten, heal, and renew your skin after being exposed to the salt, sun, and wind.
Honey is also an amazing ingredient to use in DIY all natural face masks that you can make at home. Keep reading to discover some amazing DIY recipes to help rejuvenate your skin post-sesh.
Don’t forget:
Bees are important and the people who take care of them are equally so! Taking the time to research where you get your honey from and how the bees are treated helps to ensure that:
1. you get a better product,
2. your money is supporting ethical keeping practices
3. you are helping support the health of bees! It’s a win, win.
DIY skincare recipes:
1. Oatmeal bath:
- Add 1-2 cups of oatmeal to a warm bath
- Soak in the bath for 25-30 minutes
- Increase or decrease the amount of oatmeal as needed.
That’s it! But make sure you use a cloth to drain the tub, it can get messy really quickly!
2. Oatmeal mask:
This mask is ideal for soothing and healing a salt-parched, sunburned, and dehydrated face post-surfing.
- Add a ½ cup of oatmeal to a clean glass bowl
- Mix one tablespoon of honey
- Add one tablespoon of milk
- Mix ingredients together to form a paste
- Using a brush, a spoon, or your hands; apply the mask to your face.
- Let sit for 20 – 25 minutes.
- Remove with warm water and washcloth.
3. Coconut and honey mask:
This mask is so luxurious and super easy to make. It’s perfect for brightening and hydrating your skin and it only has two ingredients.
- Add one tablespoon of pure coconut oil into a clean glass bowl
- Mix one tablespoon of raw honey
- Stir with a spoon until evenly mixed
- Using a brush, a spoon, or your hands; apply the mask to your face.
- Let sit for 20 – 25 minutes.
- Remove with warm water and washcloth.
Fun fact:
All of these masks are delicious and nutritious! If you eat them, they are just as healthy for your insides and it is for your skin.