Post-Beach Sunburn Relief Soothing Gel Ratio Tool

How it works

Each ingredient amount is simply its percentage of the total batch: amount = total ml x percentage / 100. For water-based ingredients, 1 ml weighs about 1 gram, so the ml and gram figures are the same; coconut oil is slightly lighter, at about 0.92 grams per ml, and vitamin E oil at about 0.95 grams per ml, so those two gram figures are a little lower than their ml figures.

The safe maximums are deliberately conservative for skin that is already irritated: cucumber juice no more than 15%, coconut oil no more than 5% so the gel stays light and does not trap heat, and vitamin E oil no more than 2%. If your chosen percentages add up to less than 100%, the remainder is plain gel base (or cooled boiled water, if you are thinning a thick gel) so the batch still reaches your target size.

How to use your result

Mix the ingredients in a clean bowl, starting with the aloe, then stirring in the cucumber juice, then the oils last. Chill the finished gel in the fridge for 30 minutes before use, and keep it refrigerated and used within a few days, since it contains no preservative.

Warnings: patch test first — dab a little on the inside of your forearm and wait 24 hours before wider use. Do not use this gel on blistered or broken skin, on the face near the eyes, or on a child without checking with a clinician first. For severe burns — large areas, blistering, swelling, fever, chills, or a burn on the face, hands, feet or groin — see a doctor promptly rather than relying on a home gel.

Related guides

• Sunburn Relief: Natural Remedies That Help
• Aloe Vera Gel: DIY Blends and Uses
• Sunburn Care: When to See a Doctor