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It’s funny how small experiences can spark ideas. While spending four days in Maine, I enjoyed a foot soak and massage at a lovely Portland spa. Afterward they misted my feet with a Soothing Lavender Skin Tonic that felt heavenly, and I decided I wanted to recreate it at home. I drove eight and a half hours back from Maine yesterday in a car with no air conditioning, windows down, arm resting on the door. The result was a severe sunburn from shoulder to wrist. Knowing that lavender essential oil can help with sunburns, I set about making my own Soothing Lavender Skin Tonic as soon as I got home—and found immediate relief. Here’s the recipe and how I use it.

So how bad was my sunburn? Pretty bad.

The photo doesn’t fully capture the redness. When I stepped out of the car, my partner gasped and said, “Oh my. That has to hurt.” I told him not to worry—I had a plan. I went straight to the kitchen, mixed up the Soothing Lavender Aloe Tonic, and put it in the only clean spray bottle available: a Misto sprayer. Fortunately I keep 100% pure aloe vera and witch hazel on hand for situations like this, and both were cold from the fridge, which made the spray extra soothing.

Why witch hazel, lavender, and aloe?

All three ingredients are anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and moisturizing. Lavender essential oil also has analgesic and antiviral properties and a pleasant deodorizing effect—so it can help ease pain and reduce odor. Together, these ingredients make a soothing combination for painful sunburns or irritated skin. Witch hazel in particular has a long history of use for skin issues: acne, sunburn, minor bug bites and stings, razor burn, blisters, eczema, and more. For these reasons I call this a skin tonic rather than limiting it to a foot or sunburn spray.

The Misto sprayer I used was especially handy: it pressurizes the bottle so the tonic mists like an aerosol, and the brushed aluminum bottle kept the contents cool and refreshing. Any spray bottle will work, but a cooler-feeling container makes the tonic feel more soothing on hot, sensitive skin.

Which aloe should you use?

I recommend a truly pure aloe vera product rather than the thick, gel-like formulas often found in drugstores. Pure aloe vera without thickeners or preservatives is thin and watery, which makes it easy to blend with witch hazel and essential oils and allows it to spray cleanly through a mister.

I prefer a 100% pure aloe vera product for a few reasons:

• Purity: Many mass-market “aloe” products include thickeners, preservatives, and additives. For treating sensitive skin or conditions like rosacea, a product with no unnecessary ingredients works better.
• Consistency: Pure aloe is thin and sprays nicely, unlike gooey gels that clog a sprayer.
• No artificial color: Pure aloe looks natural and won’t leave colored residue on your skin.

Preparation and usage notes

• Use a high-quality, therapeutic-grade lavender essential oil. Essential oils absorb quickly into skin, so choose a pure product rather than a fragrance or perfume oil.
• Store pure aloe vera in the refrigerator to help preserve its quality and to make the tonic extra-cooling when applied.
• Witch hazel is widely available at drugstores, but if you can get a higher-quality version, it’s worth it when applying to damaged or sensitive skin. If you’re waiting for a particular product to arrive, you can make a half-batch using the best witch hazel you have locally and switch when a preferred product is on hand.

Ingredients

• 5 tablespoons 100% pure aloe vera (either bottled pure aloe or fresh gel from a plant)
• 5 tablespoons good-quality witch hazel
• 20 drops lavender essential oil (therapeutic-grade)

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a clean spray or mister bottle. Secure the lid and shake well to mix. Spray on sunburned or irritated skin as needed. The tonic also works for minor bug bites or stings, refreshing tired feet and lower legs, and cooling skin during hot, humid weather. Store the bottle in the refrigerator for optimal soothing relief and longevity.