The Best Après-Sun Skin-Care Products, According to Dermatologists

“It’s important to replenish lost moisture after sun exposure,” says Manhattan-based dermatologist Dr. Michele Green. “Using a moisturizer enriched with ceramides and lipids will restore the skin’s balance. The damage done by exposure to the sun is cumulative, and to minimize sun damage and premature aging you should use products with antioxidants and vitamin C.” She recommends Sun Bum Cool Down Hydrating After Sun Lotion, which contains the antioxidant Vitamin E, and also came recommended by Zeichner and Ellen Marmur, associate clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai in New York. Zeichner says Sun Bum’s unscented lotion is a good option not only for its soothing and hydrating formula, but also because “it’s a totally natural product,” and prevents peeling to boot.

Dr. Peter Saitta, a dermatologist at the Skin Institute of New York’s Brooklyn office, says that if you want to tan, there are a few post-beach products you can apply to prolong your glow. “To encourage your sun tan to stay a little longer, you’ll need to decrease the amount of natural skin shedding,” he says. Instead of using a loofah in the shower, “use a soft cloth with a pure and simple moisturizing soap. A bar of unscented Dove is best. It won’t increase exfoliation and will moisturize the outer layer of your skin.” But before you submit your body to the sun, he warns that “extended sun exposure without adequate protection can damage skin,” so don’t forget to slather on the SPF first.

If you want something a little more luxurious after a day in the sun, Kim Zimmerman, of Rescue Spa in Philadelphia, suggests Institut Esthederm After Sun Body Wash. She recommends it for “rinsing away sunscreen and chlorine.” The body wash has micellar molecules — similar to those in some of our favorite French cleansers — that gently clean overheated, sunscreen-clogged skin. Zimmerman says that this “leaves skin moisturized, soft and comfortable,” and that its moisturizing properties will help prolong a tan.

Dr. Michele Green seconds the antioxidant and vitamin C recommendation, and told us about a serum that she developed, MG Skin Labs Vita-C Advanced Serum, which has a high concentration of vitamin C meant to neutralize free radicals.

Jordana Mattioli, a New York–based aesthetician, calls this serum “hands down the best repairing product for the body.” One edge it has over everything else on this list: It also firms.

“The yogurt base and its proteins are very calming to the skin,” dermatologist Ranella Hirsch of Skincare Doctors in Cambridge, Massachusetts, says of this gel. It also contains nourishing sweet almond oil and anti-inflammatory calendula extracts. To make it even more refreshing, try keeping it in the same place that you store your yogurt — in the fridge. If you want to maximize your post-sun skin repair by using a gel and a serum, you’d apply the serum before the gel, since you’d generally use a gel like you would a lotion or other hydrating moisturizer.

“Aloe is ultracalming and soothing, which is why it’s so commonly used,” says Zeichner. Hirsch concurs: “Aloe vera is the OG after-sun ingredient, and this is an inexpensive aloe product that’s great to keep around.”

“All skin types can benefit from after-sun products. Everyone from dry, to fair, to dark skin tones can use replenishment and added hydration that may have been lost while in the sun,” says Marmur. The LOLI Beauty hydrator jelly that she recommends contains the antioxidant blueberry, and leaves a matte finish for a fresh face with or without makeup.

If you prefer a soothing lotion to a gel, Saitta recommends using this cream after showering — you can apply it on its own, or after one of the serums (to lock in extra moisture). It helps prevent skin from peeling and also preserves a tan. The cream also has ceramides, which Green named as an important skin-balancing ingredient, and hyaluronic acid, which dermatologists say draws and seals moisture into the skin.

Dr. Sherwin Parikh, a dermatologist at Tribeca Skin Center, recommends Coola ER+ Radical Recovery After-Sun Lotion because it has aloe, “a known staple for after sun care,” as well as “natural yeast ferments and agave ferments, which cool the skin and restore cell integrity.” Parikh also notes that it has natural rosemary “which acts as an antiseptic,” and says that the lotion “helps to prevent excess peeling after sunburn.” (Coola’s sun-care products are generally beloved by derms, many of whom recommended its Mineral Sport SPF 50 Sunscreen Stick as one of the best for your face.)

“After-sun products come in a variety of textures, but I generally recommend lotions because they are easy to spread over large surface areas. This is an ultralight moisturizer that does double duty as an after-sun skin-care product,” says Zeichner. Plus, it’s nonsticky.

“For my body, I am currently in love with Moroccan Oil After Sun Milk. It’s great if you have a mild sunburn, and it has a pleasing smell that my patients seem to love,” says Joyce Imahiyerobo-Ip, director of cosmetic dermatology at South Shore Medical Center. Although it’s on the pricier side, the milky formula checks off all the boxes. “It’s lightweight, fast-absorbing, and contains naturally cooling aloe, antioxidant-rich argan oil, and vitamin E, along with coconut and passion-fruit oils,” Imahiyerobo-Ip explains.

Our ears always perk up whenever a skin pro recommends something affordable enough to buy in bulk, like this pick for the face and body from Hirsch. She’s a fan of this “very hydrating” product because it has a “good price” and “includes linden extract, which is a natural antioxidant.”

“This balm helps to minimize postburn peeling and can be used on the face and body, which makes it great for those looking for a simple after-sun routine,” says Imahiyerobo-Ip. And no need to worry about bacne — her one-and-done fave is also oil-free and non-acnegenic.