No one is perfect and despite trying our best to shield our skin from the sun with sunscreen, sometimes we get burned — literally. Sunburn can be unsightly, itchy and even painful but there are ways to soothe your discomfort and speed up recovery time. Check out these seven easy tips to help you heal sunburned skin.

1. Act fast. It can take four to six hours for sunburn to fully surface so as soon as you see or feel any signs you should act immediately. Get indoors or under shade as soon as possible. Staying in the sun when skin is already burned can lead to serious side effects later on, and could be the difference between a minimal and severe burn.

2. Calm inflamed skin with a cool compress. Ice water works okay on its own but you can also add a few drops of YON-KA’s aroma-therapeutic Emulsion to the compress for an increased anti-inflammatory relief.

3. Skip soap, which can dry out skin even more. Instead, take a bath with cool water and either a cup of apple cider vinegar, baking soda, or a packet of an oatmeal powder. Turn your bath into a spa retreat with Phyto-Bain. Any of these three are a great alternative to scrubbing sunburned skin with soap, which can irritate the skin.

4. Combat dry, tight skin with moisturizer. Sunburned skin lacks moisture so it is important to slather on lotion after you bathe and periodically throughout the day. Look for formulas with ingredients like glycerin, soy, or ceramides, which not only hydrate but also help lock moisture in. A product that can help aid in rejuvenating your skin is Yon-Ka’s Crème 28. You will want to avoid products that are heavy and petroleum rich (which will make your skin will feel hotter than before by stopping heat from leaving your body) and anesthetics like benzocaine (which can cause stinging and irritation).

5. Speed up healing with aloe. A natural wound healer, aloe vera is a great remedy for sunburned skin. You will see it as an ingredient in many soothing after-sun products, but you can also use the juice from the plant itself directly on your skin. Aloe is also a main ingredient in Yon-Ka’s Hydra No. 1 Cream.

6. Stay hydrated. When you’re sunburned your skin loses water. This can leave you dehydrated and fatigued. Replenish by feeding your skin from the inside out. Drink lots of H 2 0 and nosh on hydrating foods like watermelon and cucumber. Foods with high water content can be just as beneficial as drinking the real stuff and taste pretty delicious too.

7. Amp up your antioxidant intake. You can’t go back in time and undo your sunburn but you can help reverse some of the damage. Antioxidants fight free radicals so now is as good a time as any to make them a priority in your life. Attack damage from both ends by eating foods packed with vitamins (think fruits and veggies) and incorporating products infused with vitamin C and E into your beauty routine.