At this time of the year, many of us are getting out in to the sun for longer than a few minutes at a time for the first time of the season. The sun's rays are most damaging between the hours of 10am and 2pm, or for those in daylight savings areas, 11am and 3pm. Sometimes we expose ourselves a little longer than we should, and when we do, it's really important to nourish the skin immediately to minimise any damage.

Whether it's covering up with a long sleeved shirt and a hat or slapping on some natural sunscreen, we can't always protect ourselves from the sun and at the end of the day, you may be sunburnt. There are plenty of ways to protect and nourish your skin to reduce the damage and the risk of peeling. I have scoured or organic skin care selection and my own personal tips for helping to soothe sun damaged skin.

My tip for removing natural sunscreen and moisturising the skin

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Two products, one you only ever have to buy once and the other is probably in your pantry already, but if it isn't, you can buy a small cosmetic size to keep in the shower. The Eco Tan exfoliating glove and some coconut oil. Because most natural sunscreens are water resistant, it can be difficult to wash them off at the end of the day with soap and water alone. By putting a generous dollop of coconut oil on to the exfoliating glove, you're removing the sunscreen and adding moisture to your skin at the same time. This is the part of my routine that happens just at the end of a normal day. If my skin has had excessive exposure, I go further than this.

Treating sun damaged skin on your body

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Aloe Vera Gel is your best friend when your skin is damaged by the sun. The Every Bit Organic Aloe Vera Gel is certified organic and as pure as you can get besides tapping it straight from an aloe vera plant. It is a cooling gel that will soothe burns, insect bites and skin irritation. It contains just 3 ingredients, the aloe vera, rose water and a food grade natural preservative.

Treating sun damaged skin on your face

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While it's fine to use the Aloe Vera Gel on your face, not everyone will like to do this. Zkin Organics have a product specifically for UV damaged skin on your face, the Zkin Hydrating Mist. This product has been clinically tested to reduce redness after sunburn by 50%. It's suitable for sensitive, normal and dry skin and is also used for daily skin hydration. If you're out in the wind a lot, a spritz of this during the day will help keep your skin hydrated.

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The La Mav Organic Vitamin C Advanced Nightly Repair Nectar is a great product to put on in the evening to help repair and rejuvenate UV damaged skin. Don't just save this for days after the beach, it's an every day product designed for skin that has uneven pigment, age spots, fine lines and hydration. Use on its own or as a part of your evening skin care routine after cleansing and toning but before your night cream.