Best After Sun Lotion: Does it really make a difference?

Get turnt, not burnt. We’re lookin’ into whether after sun lotion really is that important and, if so, which is the best after sun you need to add-to-bag RN.

Continue Reading: our guide to the best sun cream

What does after sun actually do?

After sun lotion is the key beauty product for re-hydrating the skin after sun exposure. It’s generally more cooling than your standard body moisturisers, and will typically be a lotion as opposed to a cream moisturiser.

Heavy formulations tend to have more oil in them, meaning they serve as a barrier between the skin and external forces. Normally this is exactly what you’d want, but if you have sunburn then you don’t want to lock the heat in. Lighter formulations will help skin the breathe and heal more quickly.

When should I apply after sun lotion?

In an ideal world, we wouldn’t need after sun as we’d obvs never stay out in the sun. However we know day drinks might occasionally get out of hand, so it’s always a good idea to have a bottle of after sun lotion in your skincare collection.

You should apply after sun as soon as you can when you head back indoors after being out in the sun. Typically you’ll start to feel the effects of sun exposure between two and eight hours after being outside, but aim to counter the burn before it hits.

After sun isn’t just for your face and body. We’re making sure to add after sun to our collection of hair products too as the top of your head is easily one of the most overexposed areas to sun.

Lookin’ for more? Read our guide to the best sunscreen for hair.

Best After Sun Lotion 2018

We’ve curated an edit of the best after sun you can treat your (overexposed) skin to this year, so get ready to add-to-bag.

Best After Sun for Face, Body and Hair

£24.00 Buy now with HQhair

ULTRASUN AFTER SUN TAN BOOSTER

There’s a reason why Ultrasun is one of our bestselling after sun lotions.

It’s no secret that Ultrasun is a leader when it comes to sun protection, but did you know its after sun is just as impressive? Free from silicones, mineral oils, preservatives and emulsifiers, this incredibly soothing moisturiser will keep you cool (even when you really don’t feel it).

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£22.00 Buy now with HQhair

BABOR Aftersun Repair Fluid

Developed for your face and neck, this is a particularly light formulation developed by Babor. We love its smell, and it’s perfect for cooling skin after a long day of staying sassy in the sun.

Plus, it focuses on evening out red skin tones, making it perfect for applying when you’re on the way to your next social call.

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£10.20 Buy now with HQhair

PIZ BUIN AFTER SUN SOOTHING AND COOLING MOISTURISING LOTION

Another brand renowned for their suncream, we’re adding this lil blue bottle to bag as soon as we can.

Piz Buin‘s after sun lotion does exactly what it says on the bottle and focuses on soothing and cooling any redness from sun exposure by harnessing the power of mint.

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£9.99 Buy now with HQhair

BODY GLOW BY SKINNY TAN TINTED AFTER SUN GEL

Nope, you’re not mistaken, Skinny Tan does do after sun – and a good one too, we have to add.

Not only is this gel formula after sun super cooling to apply, it also has a lil bit of fake tan in it, meaning that you can gradually build up a tan as you apply it. Win win.

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Psst, read our blog post all about Skinny Tan

Buy now with free delivery
£13.00 Buy now with HQhair

NUXE AFTER SUN HAIR AND BODY SHAMPOO

Definitely not just for your face, this Nuxe formulation is perfect for throwing in your bag when heading to the beach or on holiday, as it’s one of the best multi-tasking beauty products for summer.

This beaut smelling after sun can be used on both your body and hair, so lather up and rinse off to cool down.

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£19.20 Buy now with HQhair

Lancaster Tan Maximiser Sublimating Oil Repairing After Sun Body 150ml

Prestigious suncare brand Lancaster have developed (excuse the pun) the perf’ after sun oil. This satin oil absorbs quickly (no awkward sand stuck everywhere moments here), leaving you with hydrated skin. They’ve also worked on ensuring this helps to maintain and extend the length of your natural tan by extending the release of melanin.

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£25.00 Buy now with HQhair

SACHAJUAN HAIR AFTER SUN CREAM

This cream formulation by Sachajuan is perfect for those who are looking to protect their hair from further sun exposure. Both made for use to leave in and wash out, you can use this after sun hair cream to style hair too.

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£12.80 Buy now with HQhair

DR. HAUSCHKA AFTER SUN

This award-winning after sun by Dr. Hauschka is an empty we keep repurchasing. Its blend of almond oil, rosehip and shea butter smells incred and intensely hydrates skin without leaving a greasy residue, meaning your skin is soothed and your colour will be maintained for longer.

Pick this after sun for sensitive skin.

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£16.50 Buy now with HQhair

PHYTO PHYTOPLAGE AFTER SUN RECOVERY MASK

We’re here for this hair treatment serving levels of hydration our hair has been crying out for all summer.

Make sure you have smooth and shiny hair no matter how many hours you’ve been putting in at the hotel pool with Phyto‘s recovery mask.

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£32.99 Buy now with HQhair

KÉRASTASE SOLEIL MASQUE UV DEFENSE ACTIVE

A wash out hair mask by hair care queens Kérastase, this is one of our go-to hair products the moment the temperature rises.

This one’s great if you’ve got coloured hair, as it focuses on elongating colour pigment and maximising shine.

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Continue Reading: our guide to the best Kérastase products

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£10.00 Buy now with HQhair

GARNIER AMBRE SOLAIRE AFTER SUN TAN MAINTAINER

Spent all your dolla’ on the holiday, but still need to add an after sun to bag? We feel ya. This Garnier tan maintainer is a classic we’ve used for years, and love that there’s a lil bit of fake tan in there making it a go-to gradual tan.

Buy now with free delivery