Sunburn prevention and aftercare are essential—especially during the hotter months. With a smart summer skincare routine and a few simple habits, you can help reduce pain, fade redness, support healing, and protect your skin going forward.
Published on June 13, 2025 |10 min read
[ comfort zone ] Corporate RD Excellence & SC RD and Innovation Director
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We all have that one friend (or relative) who insists, the moment they step onto the beach, “I don’t need sunscreen—I never burn.” …Famous last words. By the end of the day, they’re as red as a lobster and wincing at the thought of putting on a t-shirt or sitting down.
Here’s the truth: no one is immune to sunburn. If we don’t protect ourselves properly from the sun’s UV rays, our skin is the first to suffer the consequences—and so does the magic of our vacation.
UV rays penetrate the skin and cause real cellular damage, altering structure, metabolism, and function. In response, the body triggers inflammation that leads to:
Several factors affect the intensity of a sunburn. These include:
It’s important to remember that sunburns don’t just happen at the beach or in summer. Any exposure, in any season, can be dangerous without proper protection. Even at higher altitudes—like in the mountains—UV intensity increases significantly.
Sunburn symptoms usually peak 12–24 hours after exposure and fade gradually—but the damage runs deeper. UV damage accumulates over time, contributing to premature skin aging and long-term health risks.
A major study from the University of Iowa* confirmed: the more often you burn, the greater your risk of developing melanoma. This isn’t meant to scare you—only to raise awareness. Sunscreen isn’t just a cosmetic step for glowing skin; it’s an essential act of self-care and long-term protection that matters at every age.
*Dennis LK et al. "Sunburns and risk of cutaneous melanoma: does age matter? A comprehensive meta-analysis." Annals of Epidemiology. 2008; 18(8):614–627.
After you spend a day in the sun, does the mere thought of getting into bed scare you? Do your once-soft sheets and pajamas feel like sandpaper against your skin? Unfortunately, this kind of discomfort can come from a sunburn. Don’t panic, though: with this simple 3-step mini-routine, you can soothe the burning sensation and reduce the redness of your sunburn overnight. This way, by tomorrow morning, you’ll look more like yourself again—and less like a lobster!
One of the most annoying symptoms of sunburn is the intense feeling of heat. After excessive sun exposure, our body heats up, damaging and disrupting the overall balance (homeostasis) of the organism.
The first step to feel better is to lower your skin temperature. Applying cold compresses, such as a towel soaked in cold water, can help soothe redness, reduce swelling, and relieve the burning sensation, providing immediate comfort. Be careful not to apply ice directly to sunburned skin, though—the drastic temperature difference, combined with the skin’s heightened sensitivity, can actually worsen the damage and cause further irritation.
Just like the rest of our body, our skin is made up largely of water: about 60–70% in the dermis and 30–40% in the epidermis. Prolonged sun exposure causes these levels to drop drastically, draining water from the skin, especially on the face, where the skin is thinner and more sensitive.
That’s why aftercare matters just as much as prevention. To soothe sunburn symptoms and support your skin’s recovery, it’s essential to stay consistently hydrated both inside and out. Drink plenty of water throughout the day, and use skincare products rich in hydrating, calming ingredients like hyaluronic acid or betaine. These ingredients help draw water into the skin, restoring comfort and balance—making the [ comfort zone ] selection of hydrating moisturizers, a great choice for replenishing sun-exposed skin.
Nature should never be underestimated—it often holds everything we need, even when it comes to sunburn relief. Aloe vera, for example, is a powerful ally in soothing sunburn symptoms. Its juice is rich in polysaccharides, vitamins, amino acids, and minerals, with well-known calming, cooling, and soothing properties that help restore balance and hydration to irritated skin.
You can find its skin-regenerating effects in our Sun Soul Aloe Gel, where it’s combined with the deeply hydrating action of argan oil to provide immediate relief from redness on both face and body after prolonged sun exposure.*
Another natural ingredient effective against sunburn is Physalis Angulata, a plant native to Brazil from the same family as tomatoes and eggplants (Solanaceae), also known as wild tomato or balloon cherry. An extract from its fruit is known for its powerful soothing properties, offering fast relief from sun-induced redness and irritation.
The calming effects of Physalis Angulata are featured in several products from the Sun Soul After Sun line, such as the Hydraglow After Sun Soothing Illuminating Cream. Thanks to its fast-absorbing biomimetic texture and the presence of hexapeptide, it delivers antioxidant protection against UV-induced skin damage** and provides scientifically tested soothing action**.
*100% clinically and dermatologically tested
**In vitro test, an independent laboratory on keratinocytes
We’ve seen the 3 essential steps to reduce sunburn redness overnight. However, if you want visible and lasting results, it’s important to pay attention not only to what remedies you use, but also to how and when you use them.
First of all, when dealing with irritated skin, gentle cleansing is key. Choose mild products that respect the skin’s natural balance and physiological needs. For this reason, in your post-sun cleansing routine, you can use Sun Soul’s 2-in-1 Shower Gel, formulated with a natural surfactant derived from olive oil and other plant-based surfactants. It cleanses without stripping the hair or skin, leaving both soft, hydrated, and radiant.
After cleansing, sunburned skin behaves like a sponge, ready to absorb hydration and active ingredients lost due to the sun’s intense drying effects. That’s why it’s essential to follow a proper after-sun skincare routine, starting with the application of a cooling gel like Sun Soul Aloe Gel, made with aloe vera, which is known for its soothing properties*, followed by a soothing cream for both face and body. This step helps nourish and restore the skin’s barrier, providing immediate freshness and relief.
At night, our skin, just like the rest of our body, goes through a natural regeneration process. In the case of sunburn, this process becomes even more crucial. If you’ve spent too much time in the sun, having a targeted overnight skincare routine is a great way to reduce redness and swelling by the next morning.
The Renight line offers overnight nourishment through true nighttime care products, with formulas specifically designed to support the skin’s natural overnight repair process. Both the Renight Cream and Renight Oil are rich in antioxidants, hydrating, and soothing ingredients—ideal for helping your skin recover from sun exposure stress.
*100% clinically and dermatologically tested
There are different levels of sunburn, and the remedies we've suggested so far are effective for mild to moderate sunburns, typically characterized by redness and a burning sensation. But what should you do in more severe cases?
When sun exposure leads to a serious sunburn, there are specific warning signs that indicate the situation requires more than just home remedies or cosmetic products. Pay close attention to the following symptoms:
In these cases, it's important to seek help from a professional, such as your doctor or a dermatologist, who can provide appropriate and targeted treatment to support your recovery. This way, you can get back to enjoying the sun safely—always remembering to use proper sun protection.
So far, we've talked about how to reduce sunburn redness overnight, but there's another equally important aspect that needs to be addressed: sunburn prevention.
Treating your skin to protect it before sun exposure is actually the best form of after-sun care, and it all starts with sunscreen. When it comes to complete and effective protection, not all sunscreens are created equal.
Choosing the right product depends on several factors, such as the duration of sun exposure, your skin phototype, the sensitivity and delicacy of your skin, and your geographical location. All of these influence the level of protection you need to avoid uncomfortable and harmful sunburns.
In all cases, it's important to choose a high, broad-spectrum SPF, capable of protecting you from both UVA rays, which penetrate deep into the dermis and cause premature skin aging, and UVB rays, which affect the epidermis and are the main cause of sunburn.
In addition to sunscreen and a strong summer skincare routine, another important line of defense against the harmful effects of UV rays is protective clothing and accessories. Especially during the summer, wearing hats and sunglasses is essential to protect the scalp and eyes from sun damage and premature aging. Lightweight, long-sleeved garments, such as those made from linen, provide an extra layer of protection for the skin, significantly reducing UV penetration.
Comfort Zone has always been committed to researching sustainable and safe cosmetic solutions, delivering clinically proven effectiveness while maintaining high environmental sustainability standards. The Sun Soul line fully embodies this philosophy, formulated with ingredients that are as respectful as possible—not only toward our skin but also toward the oceans.
The wide range of products in the Sun Soul line perfectly reflects our Conscious Skin Science approach, which ensures high-performance skincare treatments that are ideal for both the skin and the planet. Through this line, Comfort Zone offers intensive protection against UVA and UVB rays, essential for preventing sunburn and photo-aging while providing a powerful anti-aging effect.
Our formulas have been developed with the goal of minimizing the concentration of UV filters and limiting their dispersion into aquatic environments. An independent laboratory specialized in environmental analysis tested these formulas and found that our sunscreens have no negative impact on the aquatic ecosystem.
We’ve seen that to reduce sunburn redness overnight, you need to:
However, true sunburn prevention depends on how well you prepare your skin and on the proper application of sunscreen. No one is immune to the harmful effects of the sun, not even those with naturally darker skin tones. Sunscreen must be applied with every exposure to avoid damaging the skin and risking much more serious issues.
While there are effective remedies to treat sunburn, preventing it is always better. The Sun Soul line by Comfort Zone offers formulas with 96.5% ingredients of natural origin, clinically tested for efficacy and designed to be sustainable and safe for the environment, particularly our oceans.
From preparing the skin, to active protection, and finally to tissue repair, the Sun Soul line supports your skin before, during, and after sun exposure, helping you achieve an even tan while keeping your skin looking healthy, energized, and radiant.
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