If you’re like most people, you’ve probably experienced a sunburn at least once in your lifetime. Even people like me who doesn’t really get sunburn that easily will experience it at least once at some point in life. And let me tell you, it’s not only unappealing but also traumatizing.

Long story short, I went for a week-long vacation (pre-covid) soaking up the beautiful sun on an undiscovered island with the love of my life. Nothing can top this vacation I would say because everything was perfect but I spoke too soon. I got sunburn-ish from the said vacation. Nothing too serious though but since wearing a scarf, my skin developed a bit of discoloration on my cheek area. Other than that, my skin felt heated underneath, and a few days after it slightly began to peel from all the tropical sun and salty sea air.

So I needed a post-trip refuge pronto and the best thing I did was to calm down and calm the heated skin with a cool and damp towel.

I know in a situation like this, being calm is much needed more than ever. So I did the first step which was to cover the heated skin with something cooling. Next, was to prevent myself from peeling the flaky skin on my nose. I know by that time my skin barrier was messed up because of the overexposure to the UVA and UVB — my skin got so inflamed, dry, flaky and dull. So I waited for the dead, flaky skin to get rid of itself and applied a thin layer of aloe vera gel because that’s everyones’ best friend for sunburned skin, right?

I am the type that wants any hyperpigmentation on my skin to just vanish in a matter of days. That sounds impossible but there’s no harm trying. So I asked for some advice from my friends on how to treat sunburned skin caused by overexposure to sunlight and they told me to get this product and that product. Their advice was without a doubt super helpful but I don’t want to just blindly buy products, you know what I mean?
Therefore, I googled the best ingredients to look for when it comes down to sunburned skin. There’s a lot you can find on the internet so don’t get too overwhelmed because I have been there.

I scoured for the best ingredients to cure my sunburned skin and I found these 3 ingredients that are hands down easy to find and they could potentially be in one (or two) of your skincare products right now.

1. Niacinamide

I know what you are thinking. How niacinamide or vitamin B3 can help repair sunburned skin? Fret not. Niacinamide is now shown to be a simple, cost-effective treatment for repairing sunburned skin. It promotes healthy skin repair and reduces healing time. Sounds exciting?

The best thing about niacinamide is that it stimulates and ensures healthy DNA and skin repair while increasing the rate of protection to your skin from UV rays. Niacinamide is also known for its anti-hyperpigmentation and anti-inflammatory properties which will zap any redness, scars or pigmentations in general.

Vitamin B3 also enhances general skin appearance by encouraging lipid production, which acts as a protective barrier that retains moisture underneath the skin. It properly hydrates and prevents water loss which makes the skin less vulnerable to damage or irritation. What a perfect remedy for a damaged skin barrier because of the sunlight. Besides protecting the moisture barrier it also acts as a natural exfoliant by encouraging the removal of accumulated dead skin cells that affect skin texture, colour and healing time.

2. Camellia Japonica Seed Oil

Have you ever heard of Camellia japonica seed oil? If it’s new to you, don’t worry about that. It is a Japanese best-kept beauty secret that is apparently still very unknown. What a shame because in Japan, women are using this ingredient to nourish their skin for seemingly decades now.

While it is known for a lot of its goodness, Camellia japonica seed oil is a hydrating carrier oil that contains a rich source of the oil-soluble antioxidant gallic acid. Yes, the oil does protect the skin against UVB damage — protecting it from environmental exposure and arresting the effects of free radical damage. Just like vitamin B3, Camellia japonica seed oil also increases the moisture level beneath the skin by providing a physical barrier to epidermal water loss. In short, this oil will help keep the skin moisturised and prevent water loss. To further hype this Camellia oil, it won’t clog pores. It’s suitable for all skin types and skin conditions, including eczema and acne-prone skin. Any sun-damaged skin will thank you if you incorporated this oil into your healing journey.

3. Glycerin

Glycerin is an amazing tool for moisture rehydration. It is a humectant, which is a type of moisturizing agent that attracts and pulls water to itself. It draws moisture from the environment and the deeper level of the skin so the outer layer of skin remains moisturised for hours. Glycerin, used on sunburns, will effectively trap moisture in the skin, soothe the heat and aid in faster skin repair.

Remember when I said these ingredients are not hard to find and could be in one of your skincare products right now? I wasn’t wrong. I looked at the back of all of my skincare products including my empties and boxes stash and I found the one. The one that has these 3 specific ingredients in it. And it’s the Aqua Whitening Cream from Hansaegee Nature! Ah, I knew this brand wouldn’t let me down. I have worked with them in the past and I absolutely love all their products.

Their Aqua Whitening Cream is probably my most-used product from Hansaegee Nature. You can’t not fall in love with the texture. Before I go into details, I just have to tell you how lucky I was to find that those 3 ingredients are incorporated in their Aqua Whitening Cream. I mean, I don’t have to buy new products because I will always have this cream in my skincare stash forever, right?

I know prevention is better than cure but I guess I didn’t have enough ‘prevention’. Fret not, it’s never too late to get your beautiful skin back. So the important thing I did first was to wear the Aqua Whitening Cream religiously. I was invested in the whole jar; I wear it day and night without fail. Hydration and moisture are what you need to cure sunburned skin fast. I made sure to apply just the perfect amount to my skin after my toner and it seemed to work pretty well. This cream is SO good for hydration and moisturizing purposes, which then will lessen the risk of peeling.

The texture is so lightweight since it’s a water-based cream, which I truly appreciate because for my own skin I do prefer lighter and gentler options. It also has an instant cooling, calming effect on irritated skin while being non-greasy and fast-absorbing. What a better option to soothe and heal sunburned skin.

So long, sunburn! I no longer have sunburned skin and that took me around a week to fully heal, which was major. I think what I get in a 50ml jar of cream is beyond worth it. The cream eased any discomfort, soothed my skin and definitely helped it to heal as soon as possible. You need Aqua Whitening Cream in your skincare stash. Your skin will thank you!