We Tested 22 After-Sun Lotions and These Are the 9 We’d Recommend After a Day in the Sun

Solarcaine After Sun Face Relief Gel is a noncomedogenic after-sun lotion that isn’t greasy and won’t clog your pores. This gel provides a cooling and soothing effect, promising to reduce redness and peeling, making it perfect for irritated skin after sun exposure. Solarcaine After Sun Face Relief Gel won’t aggravate sensitive skin because it is hypoallergenic and free from fragrances, parabens, and petrolatum.

Our tester described this gel as lightweight and having the “perfect texture,” with a light and airy feel.

“It's very lightweight and silky,” our tester, the Everyday Health writer Katie Mannion, says. “It's not thick or creamy like a lotion, but it's not clear or sticky like many after-sun gels.”

Solarcaine After Sun Face Relief Gel comes in a small tube with a pump, so it’s easy to travel with for on-the-go use. It also absorbs quickly, soaking into the skin within 30 seconds after application.

Mannion described this cream as “extremely moisturizing,” and said daily use prevented dryness, even after she spent significant time outside in the sun as well as in chlorinated and saltwater pools. It was thicker than she was used to, taking a few minutes to fully absorb.

“It wasn’t greasy at all,” Mannion said. “Plus, once I rubbed it in completely, it left my skin feeling plump and hydrated without feeling weighed down.”

Eucerin Advanced Repair Body Cream is a hypoallergenic, scent-free lotion that is great for more sensitive skin types. It is also affordably priced at under $20 for a 16-ounce (oz) jar. One thing worth noting is that this size of the cream comes in a tub, rather than a bottle with a pump, which may not be the preferred application method for some.

CeraVe created its moisturizing cream specifically for the most sensitive skin types, earning it the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance. This cream is noncomedogenic, fragrance-free, and doesn’t contain parabens. It has been allergy-tested and developed with the help of dermatologists.

Badger’s Coconut After Sun Balm provides skin recovery and sunburn relief in a small 2 oz tin that you can easily toss in your purse or pool bag. Badger prioritizes organic and natural ingredients, using coconut, sunflower, and jojoba oils, along with beeswax, cocoa butter, and shea butter to soothe and hydrate the skin. This is a lavender- and Moroccan blue tansy–scented balm that is free of artificial fragrances.

Our tester, Everyday Health editor Katie Tuttle, noted that this balm is a waxy solid, requiring you to warm it in your hands a bit before application. But the application was easy: the balm quickly absorbs, and a small amount goes a long way. During testing, she found that the balm delivered on its promise.

“This product is hydrating and soothing,” Tuttle says. “I felt it helped my skin retain moisture quite well, and it felt nice to apply after, say, a day of boating.”

We also love this after-sun lotion as an eco-friendly skin-care option, and Badger is a company we feel great about supporting. The tin is plastic-free, made from recyclable metal, and the products are made using 100 percent solar power. Badger is located in the United States, and it is a women-owned family business.

Because of the ultra-hydrating nature of this balm, we feel it has uses well beyond after-sun skin care. Keep it handy and apply to cuticles, dry elbows, or even as a lip balm.

We chose Burt’s Bees Sun Care Lip Balm as the best after-sun lip balm because it moisturizes the lips, soothes after sun exposure, and is gentle on sensitive skin.

Mannion used this product for two weeks and loved the smooth, buttery texture. It absorbed quickly and didn’t feel heavy or waxy, and it did provide all-day moisture. She swapped out her daily Aquaphor habit for this sun-care lip balm for two weeks, and said it kept her lips just as hydrated. 

“It's much less messy and more travel-friendly,” Mannion says. “So that was a definite plus.”

Burt’s Bees doesn’t add fragrance to their Aloe After Sun Soother, but the ingredients used do give it a subtle, natural scent. Natural ingredients like coconut, cocoa butter, shea butter, and sunflower oil hydrate and moisturize the lips, while aloe vera provides a cooling sensation to soothe sunburned lips.

We chose Avène Tolérance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Cream as the best after-sun lotion for the face because it is a lightweight skin cream containing postbiotics that soothe and calm irritated skin. Because it is hypoallergenic and Avène makes it without preservatives, parabens, and fragrances, it’s also gentle enough for sensitive skin.

I tested this cream and have continued to use it beyond the two-week testing period. When a short trip to the pool turned into a long, lazy day, I accidentally got a sunburn and turned to this cream right away. I found it soothing on my burnt skin and very hydrating; I never experienced peeling on my face from my sunburn while using this cream.

While I personally prefer a slightly thicker moisturizer for daytime use, I noticed that Avène’s Soothing Skin Recovery Cream isn’t as lightweight as other daytime moisturizers, and some may find it too heavy under their makeup. This cream should be followed up with a sunscreen or face cream containing SPF, as this lotion does not provide sun protection.

Sun Bum Revitalizing Protect & Repair Oil acts as a heat protectant, shielding the hair from damage caused by the sun’s UV rays. It is also a reparative oil, with natural ingredients like sunflower, jojoba, and Abyssinian seed oils that hydrate and strengthen the hair while controlling frizz.

Our tester, Raki Swanson, used Sun Bum’s Revitalizing Protect & Repair Oil for two weeks and noted that her hair was more hydrated during that time. She also felt that the oil prevented damage when she spent time in the sun.

“I liked that it wasn't a heavy oil; it was lightweight and not very thick,” Swanson says. “My hair was always soft after using it, especially when in water. I didn't get anything in my eyes when my hair was wet, and I did reapply after a few hours as recommended.”

She also found that this hair oil absorbed easily. Like all Sun Bum products, this product is scented and smells like coconut and bananas.

Because Babo Botanicals After Sun Soothing Hydrating Aloe Gel uses natural ingredients to provide cooling after-sun relief, we’ve chosen it as the best after-sun lotion for children. This aloe vera gel is alcohol-free and made from plant-based ingredients, including aloe vera and witch hazel. Applied after sun exposure, it is a lightweight gel that has an immediate cooling effect upon application.

We loved that this product is hypoallergenic, vegan, and cruelty-free. But our tester, Marisa Olsen, did note that this is a scented product, which may not be appropriate for very sensitive skin types.

“We found the product to help with cooling and moisturizing, but the product would often feel sticky,” Olsen says. “I was skeptical of the hydrating effect, but after the next day, skin felt normalized, less red — especially on my son’s burnt neck — and partially hydrated without any emollient or creamy texture.”

Eucerin’s Advanced Hydration After Sun Lotion is the best after-sun lotion to buy on a budget because its affordable price tag doesn’t seem to limit its effectiveness at soothing and hydrating sun-stressed skin.

During testing, I loved that this lightweight product quickly absorbed into my skin and didn’t leave it feeling sticky or greasy. It has a nice, soothing effect after application and definitely helped keep my peeling under control after an accidental sunburn at the pool with my kids.