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Pinterest Worthy Travel Tricks: Instant Sunburn Relief

sunburn tea soak - touristmeetstraveler

Sunburns. They are all something we experience at least once in a lifetime. Fun in the sun usually translates to forgetting about sunscreen.

While on a cruise, I was desperate for relief after getting a nasty burn. The aloe and pain relief meds just weren’t working. So, a friend suggested an easy and natural remedy – Earl Grey Tea. Please note that you should not use this in replace of sunscreen! Prevention is the best and far less damaging to your skin. Even better, tea is often a free hotel staple along with those packets of ground coffee. So, you can do this on the road or at home.

Try this little trick the next time you get a sunburn!

You will Need:

6 Earl Grey Teabags
1 Large/Medium Mixing Bowl
4 Cups of Water
1 Clean hand-towel or rag you don’t mind discoloring

Brew: Place the teabags in a pot with the water and bring to it to a gentle simmer on the stove. Or, place the teabags in your coffee maker (plop them in the same area you put your coffee and filters) and run the water through the cycle just like you are making coffee.

Transfer: Pour tea, along with the teabags, into a mixing bowl and let it steep and cool for at least 15 minutes.

-Soak: The towel in the brew for 2 or 3 minutes.

Apply: The towel directly to sunburned area after you wring out excess tea/water. Leave it on the skin for 20-30 minutes and enjoy the pain slowly fading away.

The key is to soak the skin with Earl Grey tea ASAP, but within 5-7 hours of the burn. Don’t use any other creams or aloe as it will put a barrier between the tea and the skin.

I have also heard black tea works well, but we have not personally tried it yet. If you are feeling even more adventurous, white vinegar also provides a relief, but the smell can be overpowering. The tea worked better for me thanks to the tannins.