Cool Down with Cucumber

Cucumber is a wonderful item to place on the body for relaxation-or in this case relief from the hot sun. While this can be done by yourself if you have a frontal sunburn, you will need someone to help you place the cucumber on the back. Cucumber is a perfect solution to sunburn relief, since its ingredients can cool the skin, relieve the itch and it is easy to apply and clean up.

Gather about 3-5 cucumbers depending on the area of the burn you will need to cover. Slice each one thinly and set them aside on a plate. Then, either apply them to the front of the body by yourself, or have a friend/partner apply them to the back. Be sure that they are touching, but not overlapping so you can get the most use out of the juices from the slices. Relax for 10-20 minutes while the cucumber slices work to relieve and cool the sunburn. Once you are done relaxing, remove the cucumbers and wait at least 4 hours before taking a shower. Waiting that long after the treatment allows the cucumber juice to continue working on the skin, bringing relief and cooling even after you are done.

You can also apply the cucumber slices to the face and relax while the juices soothe and calm the skin. The cucumber is used in many spas for relaxation and rejuvenation, so you don't even need a sunburn to experience all the benefits they have to offer. Use the cucumbers to cool eyes during a hot day, or even on the face to feel refreshed after a workout. Placing cucumber on the eyes can also relieve headaches, since the gentle pressure works to alleviate the tension behind the eyes.