Look, sunburns happen. As much as we try to prevent them and avoid them completely, sometimes you just miss a spot with your spray sunscreen or lose track of time. If you've found yourself with tender, itchy, painful skin as the result of a sunburn, you're likely looking for the best way to erase your mistake—or at the very least, make it stop hurting. If the first thing you consulted for your sunburn advice was Google, you might've come across more than a few… unconventional sunburn remedies, one of which is shaving cream. But does this DIY sunburn hack work? And more importantly, is it safe to try? We took these very questions to skincare experts.
Meet the Expert
Ahead, find out exactly what you need to know before using shaving cream for sunburn.
Can Shaving Cream Heal a Sunburn?
If your main question regarding the use of shaving cream as a sunburn treatment is "can you" rather than "should you," Green says there might actually be a little truth to this popular Internet hack. As it turns out, when used on superficial sunburns, shaving cream may minimize some of the discomfort associated with the burn. "Shaving creams are formulated to soothe and hydrate the skin as you shave," explains Green. "The same concept applies when you apply it to a sunburn. It is a rather unconventional approach that can work to soothe any discomfort from sunburn."
Ingredients That Soothe Sunburn
So what is it about the formula of shaving cream that makes it a potential sunburn remedy? That answer has everything to do with the ingredients. "Most shaving creams are formulated with aloe and super-hydrators to keep the skin moisturized, preventing any nicks you may get from shaving," Green explains. Tzu says in addition to aloe vera, other ingredients found in shaving cream, such as menthol, shea butter, glycerin, petrolatum, and various essential oils (such as eucalyptus, chamomile, or tea tree oils) all potentially work to soothe the skin by either providing a cooling, comforting sensation or by rehydrating the skin and restoring its barrier—but there's a catch. Some of those very same ingredients may do more harm to a healing sunburn than good.
