It's important to not only care for your skin when you are in the sun, but also right after you leave direct sun. And this is where the growing world of After-Sun Care Products comes into play. Unfortunately, however, many such products are loaded with unnecessary fillers, preservatives, and other penetration enhancers. Penetration enhancers may sound like a complicated term, but it simply allows other ingredients to more easily penetrate the skin's surface and thus, more rapidly enter the bloodstream. So what should you do at the end of a day of tanning (or even just an hour of UV exposure)? Cool off and then moisturize moisturize moisturize! And moisturize some more. The sun's rays actually dry out your skin and its tissues, even stripping the top layer of its water content. Look for products with ingredients that promote deep hydration -- that's exactly what your moisture-deprived skin needs:

Cool your skin with aloe vera, calendula and mint

Replenish your skin with shea butter replenishes

Soothe your skin with green tea

Heal your skin with tea tree oil

Prevent peeling with chamomile, calendula and lavender extracts

Lock in moisture with jojoba and various nut or seed oils like sunflower, olive, hemp, even avocado.

The great thing about pure after sun products is that you can use them everyday to refresh your skin, especially on a hot day. A little extra moisture has certainly never hurt my skin! And the ingredients are so gentle and nourishing that you can massage onto your body and face liberally without worry -- dehydrated skin absorbs a lot! My favorite after sun concoction: 100% pure organic aloe vera that I buy bulk in glass bottles, mixed with a couple drops of a few chosen essential oils, but great products exist on the shelves too. I hear Dr. Hauschka and Lavera's after sun lotions are just fabulous, as is Burt's Bees! Apivita did the trick for me under the scorching Grecian sun. There are some other great suggestions in our article: Over-exposed: after sun skin care. When in doubt, start with the basics and ensure your sun care regime is free of parabens, synthetic fragrance, and petroleum-based ingredients, as those are all frequent offenders in after sun care products.