A sun burn remedy mask for heat and redness (with a food that may surprise you)

Amanda’s note: Here is another great recipe tutorial from Ramya Venkateshwaran, writing in India from her website WildTurmeric.net. She shares here a sun burn remedy used in India that we had simply never considered. Interesting!

This homemade face mask made with fresh apples and ground oatmeal treats sun burn and will also give your face a nice glow. It is very gentle on the skin and can be used by people with very sensitive skin.

Last week when my sister visited me, she brought a huge bag of organic apples. After eating them fresh, making apple pie, apple sauce, and apple milk shake, there were some more apples left. When I was wondering what to do with the rest of the apples, this face mask came to my mind. I tried this face mask a long time ago but I had forgotten about it completely until the last time when we went trekking. I was out in the sun for a long time and my face had turned red and was flushed. I wanted something gentle on my face but at the same time, a remedy that treats the redness of the face effectively. This homemade apple face mask fit the requirements perfectly.

When I used the mask, the redness of my face lessened and the burning sensation diminished immediately. In my experience, this face mask is one of the best home remedies for sun burned skin, as it is very soothing and cooling.

This face mask is made with fresh apple puree, honey, oatmeal powder and dried herbs. Apples, as we all know are rich in vitamins and tropical application of apples helps soothe irritated skin. Honey is a natural moisturizer that hydrates the skin and the herbs have anti bacterial properties. Oatmeal powder is a gentle cleanser and it is also good for treating redness of the face. Choose herbs according to your requirements. I chose dried holy basil and neem leaves, as they both have anti inflammatory properties and are good for any type of skin. You can also choose herbs that may be more common in your area like lavender and chamomile. Chamomile and lavender are both wonderful herbs that soothe irritated skin. If you are using dried herbs, make sure to powder them finely in a mixer before adding it to the mask. You can also add pure essential oils, instead of the dried herbs depending on what you have at home.

To make the face mask, take 1/4 cup of instant oatmeal and powder it finely in a dry mixer. Peel a fresh apple, slice, and puree it in a mixer to a fine paste separately. Add the required amount of ground oatmeal and dried herbs to the apple puree and blend to get a thick, smooth paste. To use, clean the face using a mild face wash, pat dry and apply this face pack all over the face and neck. Wait for it to dry for 15 to 20 minutes before washing it off with lukewarm water. If you are suffering from redness of the face or from sunburn, try to use this face mask daily for 2 to 3 days till you feel better. This mask will turn black if you leave it unused for a long time, so try using it immediately once it is made.

Sun Burn Mask Ingredients

• 1/2 tablespoon apple puree
• 2 tablespoons oatmeal powder (from ground oats)
• 1/4 teaspoon honey
• 1/4 teaspoon dried herbs, finely ground (or one drop essential oil)

Sun Burn Mask Steps

1. Take instant oats and powder them finely in a dry mixer.
2. Take a fresh apple, peel and make it into a smooth puree in a mixer without adding any water.
3. Add the oatmeal powder, honey, and dried herbs to the apple puree and blend to a smooth mixture.

To use to mask, apply the face pack on your clean face. Allow the mask to dry for 15 to 20 minutes before washing it off.

Sun Burn Mask Tips

• If you are going to use this face mask continuously, powder your oats and herbs together and store them in the refrigerator.
• Try using organic apples. If you are not using organic apples, make sure to remove the outer skin before grinding it to a paste. I normally remove the skin regardless while making the face mask.