Pretty much every expert we spoke to said you should keep a sunburn relief product on hand, especially before a vacation or right before summer. Since the 24 hours following a sunburn are critical to its healing, it will be easy if you have easy access to these products. Plus, Aguilar says that some sunburn relief products are also helpful after waxing, after getting bug bites, while gardening, or even if you just want to cool your skin down after being outside.
Imahiyerobo-Ip suggests looking for things that are meant for sensitive skin and that are gentle and hydrating since your skin will be ultra-sensitive. She recommends avoiding harsh fragrances, exfoliants, vitamin C, and retinol, which can be irritating, while your skin is healing.
When it comes to application, you'll want to apply some products twice daily for up to two weeks or however long it takes for the skin to heal. Of course, it depends on the type of product and what it's supposed to do to the skin. "For example, apply a physical broad-spectrum sunscreen at least every two hours when exposed to the sun," DeRosa says. "A moisturizer may be applied twice daily. However, you may find that your dehydrated, burned skin is 'asking' for reapplication more often, so certainly reapply if your skin is feeling dry or tight."