When you come from hearty German stock, like me, red face is an issue. But it only happens upon extreme exertion. Like, say, moving a king-sized mattress all by myself.
You should’ve seen my face, yo. It was like a tomato and a firetruck had a baby all over my cheeks.
While growing up, this caused me great consternation, and was, in no small part, a source of extreme embarrassment at the roller skating rink. It never crossed my mind that the embarrassment, instead, should’ve come from creating a choreographed skate-dance routine to Somewhere Out There from Fivel Goes West.
(At one point, I crouched down and pretended to be a mouse. Please don’t envy my dance move genius.)
After the mattress-moving effort, and with great red face a-glowing, it occurred to me that I could create a cooling spray to help mitigate this uncomfortable hot mess. And then, then I remembered watching the Great Dr. Oz Show and how he recommended – when you’re blazing hot – rubbing aloe vera on the soles of your feet.
Thus, the Keep Your Cool Spray was born. Best of all, it’s good for both your face and your feet. So if you have issues with exertion-provoked red face, or if you just get extra toasty in the summer heat, this may be your ticket to a little relief!
This is ridiculously simple to whip up, and you can use it right away. Plus, there are a few variations you can try, depending on your needs. It only uses three (or two, even) ingredients – aloe vera gel, witch hazel, and peppermint essential oil. The most difficult part, actually, is finding the right aloe vera gel. So let’s talk about that first.
Shopping for Aloe Vera Gel – Not Always Easy
In the spirit of frankness, the aloe vera gel I own isn’t the most natural. I bought it last year without really looking at the ingredients, and it’s full of some preservatives (like carrageenan) that I don’t particularly enjoy.
However, I have it, so I will use it until I’m done and then move on to something a little more wholesome.
And this, my friends, is the issue. All aloe vera gels will contain some amount of preservative, but some are much more natural (and far less iffy) than others, so be attentive when reading the labels before you buy.
In short, these are ingredients you may want to avoid when you’re buying aloe vera gel:
- Carrageenan – technically natural and it often comes from seaweed or irish moss, but it has been shown to be a carcinogen, and controversy swirls around its “organic” classification. I haven’t run across any studies that show its danger on skin cells, but it has been shown to kill epithelial cells in studies. If you want to learn more about carrageenan (which is in MANY products, beauty and food), start at page 11 on this enlightening white paper by the Cornucopia Institute.
- Parabens
- Retinyl Palmitate – this is basically vitamin A, but studies have confirmed that vitamin A, when combined with sun exposure, greatly increases the risk of skin cancer. Just an FYI – make sure, if you do use a sunscreen, that it doesn’t include this ingredient.
- Fragrance oils
- Polysorbate 20 – this ingredient isn’t scary terrible, but it’s technically a “natural” ingredient that’s derived in synthetic ways; in addition, it can easily be contaminated with ethylene oxide and 1,4 dioxane.
Those are just a few ingredients I found in some of the more widely sold aloe vera gel brands.
However, there are alternatives. Yay! I spent several hours trying to find the best brands that keep it natural. Here’s what I came up with (maybe you know of more?).
Happy Aloe Vera Gel Brands
- Aubrey Organics Aloe Vera Gel – it contains only aloe vera gel, grapefruit seed extract, guar gum, and vitamin E. Aubrey also sells it on Amazon, and you can find Aubrey Organics in just about any natural foods store.
- Mountain Rose Herbs – (no surprise here, right?) Their brand contains only aloe vera gel, potassium sorbate, citric acid, and xanthan gum. As of this writing, you can get 16 oz of aloe vera gel (so much!) for only $5.75.
- Aloe Farms – I just found them today while searching for truly natural aloe vera gel, and I LOVE what they’re about. All the aloe is organically grown in Texas and it’s cold pressed. It seems to truly be a shining example of a small business with a friendly, conscious demeanor. You can order 32 oz for $9.75 and it contains 99.75% aloe vera, citric and ascorbic acid, and potassium sorbate.
Enough about aloe vera gel. On to the recipe!
Keep Your Cool Spray Recipe
Here’s the original recipe, and then I’ll give you a couple of alternatives. This can be used on your face and on the soles of your feet, whenever you’re feeling uncomfortably toasty.
Keep Your Cool Original Recipe
- 3 Tbsp aloe vera gel
- 3 Tbsp witch hazel
- 4-5 drops peppermint essential oil
Combine all the ingredients in a mist sprayer bottle and shake well. Spray on your face or on the soles of your feet whenever you’re feeling hot and bothered (not in that way). Allow the breeze to blow over your skin for maximum effect. Store in a cool, dark location for 2-3 months.
Note this, though: Both aloe vera gel and witch hazel can have a drying effect on your skin, so if you have issues with dry skin already, you may want to go a little easy on this for your face. However! If you have issues with oily skin, especially after exertion, this could be a fantastic oil tamer option for you. Nonetheless, I wouldn’t spray it on my face more than three times a day.
Note this, too: Peppermint essential oil is pretty potent stuff, so do NOT add more than the ratio suggested above. Otherwise, you’ll end up with an uncomfortable burn-cold sensation all over your face. In fact, you might want to add 1 drop at at time, shake it up, and test it on your cheek with each drop addition, just to make sure you’re not going overboard.
Keep Your Cool Spray Variations on a Theme
So, depending on how you want to cool yourself with this handy little recipe, you can change it up to be more effective for you. Here are some variation ideas:
- If you just want to use it on your feet … skip the witch hazel and add 5-6 drops of peppermint essential oil to about 3 Tbsp aloe vera gel (you can up your peppermint essential oil ratio here, because the soles of your feet are much less sensitive than your face). Added bonus, by the way: Peppermint EO can give you a boost of relaxed energy, and the soles of your feet are a great place to apply it for this reason.
- If you have dry skin … and you don’t want to use witch hazel, try picking up some aloe vera juice instead and adding 3 drops of peppermint essential oil to about 1/4 c. aloe vera juice. Put that in a spray bottle and use it instead! However, you’ll need to store this in your refrigerator and keep it no more than 2 weeks.
- If you need to get rid of red face fast … spritz the original recipe on your face and then immediately place a cold to very cool washcloth on your face and lay down for 5-10 minutes (or until the washcloth heats up).
Totally Off Topic, But I Hear You
I just want you guys to know that I read every single comment that you guys leave here. I don’t often have time to respond, but I read every one and each time I give a silent “thank you.” I especially enjoy the times where you guys share personal stories and hilarious anecdotes, and every comment on the Manifesting Your Feathers post left me thrilled.
I just wanted you to know how much you’re appreciated.
And that I’m sorry I can’t answer every question or respond to every post that touches me.
Just know you’re heard, appreciated, and loved.
That is all.
Now go be cool!
Navigating Your Natural Health … One Step at a Time
Can I get more information about to use for red face, and what to use for the heat
I have red face when get really hot, thanks.
For sensitive skin (eczema psoriasis dermatographism dishydrosis) which I very much have …replace the witch hazel with rose water
Hi, I was wondering if this would be safe on say, a 10 month old? we just moved from a cold skit town to AZ and my boy needs something to keep him cool for our early morning walks- love to hear your input 🙂
-A
I love this! My nickname for myself is “flame face” lol My face gets read all the time, not only after exertion.
About the peppermint being pretty potent, I wish someone had told me this earlier today. I mixed up some natural foundation and decided to use peppermint oil to hold it together in a compact. I figured it could help me wake up in the morning. Well I added waaaaaay too much. Thankfully I only made a small amount so I can add more powder and a different (non smelly) oil later on to dilute it a bit.
I can’t wait to try this though! I too have the red face issue. I was always called a tomato as a kid. It’s so embarrassing. It’s nice to know there is something to do for it. I’ll also tell my mom about it, she gets hot and red very easily and sweats a lot so she gets really oily.
I love all of the information on here. Thank You so much for posting all this stuff!!
I was going to try this, but once I saw it had aloe changed my mind.. I’m allergic to Aloe so this wouldn’t be a good idea for me.. hope it works for others..
U could do the witch hazel by itself. I don’t always have aloe. On,y problem is that it can be drying so if u dry easily, you’ll need to put something moisturizing in it.
One quick note on your aloe suggestions: the Aloe Farms gel must be refrigerated after opening, and the Mountain Rose Herbs one says refrigeration is recommended. Not sure about the Aubrey Organics. Bummer that aloe is almost all water! Hard to keep it fresh without major preservatives or refrigeration.
Then again, since this is a cooling spray, refrigeration doesn’t sound like such a bad idea! Plus, the fact that the spray is half witch hazel and peppermint oil will help anti-bacterial properties, too.
Thank you, thank you! My feet and legs always feel so hot during our desert summers. This is greatly helping both me and my kids.
Love the cooling spray idea. Thanks! FYi carrageenan isn’t a preservative. It is a hydrocolloid(water loving carbohydrate) extracted from seaweed. It is it there to keepntje aloe more gel-like and control the moisture.
carrageenan is a carcinogen
I buy my Aloe from Aloe farms. I love it. I store the bulk in the fridge and keep a small amount in a spray bottle, add a couple drops of lavender and tea tree oil for the anti-microbial properties, and use on burns and on my scalp. I have a terrible dry scalp problem. Its not dandruff. I have curly hair. Coconut oil helps some. Spraying this aloe on my head helps a ton. I use Bronner’s Peppermint for the twice a week shampoo. I tried no poo for 3 months, but it wasn’t for me or my curls. This regimen seems to help my scalp and my curls love it. Of course, I still use a mousse that is full of chemicals, but I figure 1 thing isn’t too bad.
I buy my Aloe from Aloe farms. I love it. I store the bulk in the fridge and keep a small amount in a spray bottle, add a couple drops of lavender and tea tree oil for the anti-microbial properties, and use on burns and on my scalp. I have a terrible dry scalp problem. Its not dandruff. I have curly hair. Coconut oil helps some. Spraying this aloe on my head helps a ton. I use Bronner’s Peppermint for the twice a week shampoo. I tried no poo for 3 months, but it wasn’t for me or my curls. This regimen seems to help my scalp and my curls love it. Of course, I still use a mousse that is full of chemicals, but I figure 1 thing isn’t too bad.
This is so great! Now, this might be an insane question…I have an aloe plant sitting around the house. Any chance I could squeeze some of it out in lieu of aloe vera gel? Or is that just way too nutty? I know I would probably need a LOT…or would I???
I have used aloe vera gel for itching. It works well without being harmful to the area. It has a soothing feel. Great ideas.
Hey, Betty! Love this – been using something similar for yonks, now. Mine is just for feets. Hubby and I both get sweaty feets/stinky boots in the summer, so I dropped peppermint into surgical spirits (for quick evaporation cooling action) and used it in a foot spritz. BUT! Bonus: I use tea tree and juniper in there, too, for extra freshness and awesome antibacterial action. Spray feet and boots, cool feets, boots no longer stinky. Voila!
XXX
sorry i didn’t mean to click on negatives on here – i just clicked on those numbers b/c i don’t know what they do and I was trying to see – sorry!!! I can’t get it back to neutral or positive now – I’m so sorry!
If you click the downvote again, it removes it =)
I’m going into the field for training…this will be a perfect thing to pack!!!
I wonder how this would work for ‘hot flashes’? Guess I will have to try it and report back. 🙂
Thanks for this recipe. I am nevertheless surprised you are using EOs without an excipient (oil or other) as they won’t disperse in any water-based material (like AVG)?
dude idk how u feel bout Origins… but Dr Weil has a line there for us red-faced folk w special mushrooms that w continued use reduces redness… fyin btw jes found ur blog n heart it
This is awesome! I know just the person to make this for (in addition to the batch I make for myself)!!
Ah, I could’ve used this on my hike yesterday! I bet it smells fabulous! This is definitely going in my recipe binder. Thanks!
Ah! Red face plagues me to no end! Any time I get back from the gym I’m red faced for at least 45 minutes after, despite feeling recovered long before then. Can’t wait to try this. Thanks!!
Love your stuff!!!!
I’m going to try this next time I thin out my aloe plants and squeeze some gel!
I also have a bottle of rosewater that I keep in my fridge which is most excellent to spritz your face (and bod) with, especially in the hot weather. Won’t help a sunburn, but it feels and smells great!
So cool!! (haha) any way, love this! I too suffer the red face problem. I also find i can’t take the heat like i used to. Must take after my grandma. I love, love, love peppermint essential oil! I think i put it in anything i can! If i could buy a gallon of it i would. Will definitly be making this and the bug spary soon. Need to hit the $1 store to get some cute spray bottles i found there. Now if the warm weather would ever return here, that would be awesome! it’s June and we needed the heater Monday.
Great idea! I have MS, which causes some heat intolerance and I often need to cool down quickly. I’ll definitely give this a whirl.
I am excited to try this as I too have always had that red face syndrome. But is 3 tbsp liquid and 3tbsp gel plus some essential oils all the ingredients? Just doesn’t seem like that would be near enough to last a couple of months? Just doesn’t seem like this recipie makes very much. Maybe I only need 1 squirt each time?
When you mentioned the roller skating story, scenes from That 70s Show flashed through my mind, where Eric dresses up in the Mork from Ork outfit and dances a choreographed routine on skates 🙂
Thanks for the aloe vera recipes. I think I’ll give this a try, because we’ve got some really warm days coming up soon, and I don’t like it when my skin feels uncomfortable.
Have a great day 🙂 Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather 🙂
I bought some Lily of the Desert aloe vera gel from a health food store recently. Is it supposed to smell horrible, kind of like rotten vegetables? It said “refrigerate after opening,” but it smelled like that as soon as I opened it, the day I bought it.
I’ve never had aloe smell like that – I think there is something wrong with it, Emily.
nothing to say about aloe, we already know it rules…..but I dig the shout out to American Tail. I sang the somewhere out there song for a talent show in grade school….. I probably could have used this spray after that!
American Tail! I KNEW as soon as I typed Fivel Goes West, I was off on the movie, but was too lazy to remember the actual name. Sooo long ago … my brain … it is fading …
Now I get it! The red face I get after a good workout in Karate is because of my German grandparents! Maybe middle aged germanish ladies aren’t supposed work that hard!
I love your spray! Another place it would be helpful is the back of your neck!
Love this!
Can I harvest the aloe that’s growing outside and use that for the gel? I will often pluck some, slit it open, and rub that on “owies.” It’s delish.
Here’s a recipe for making your own aloe vera gel:
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Aloe-Vera-Gel
I’ve never tried this but I’m definitely going to soon!
I do the same thing, Allison! Except, my aloe plant grows in my bedroom.
I love your creativity!
Another way to stay cool is to use hydrosols or floral waters. I find cucumber hydrosol (from Nature’s Gift – online – just a happy customer) to be particularly cooling. Much better for my sensitive skin than peppermint essential oil, which I love, just not for my skin.
Thank you! I believe I will try this. I saw a previous post for your ‘Activated Charcoal Cooling Summer Scrub’, are you still selling it? If so I would like to purchase some.
did you mean “dreams to dream”? either way, ideal songs in which to roller (under black lights, of course). well done!
I am so excited about this! We live in the Southeast and Summers are hot and humid, so any cooling is greatly appreciated. I’m curious where you purchase the little spray bottles?
I purchase my bottles and other containers from Sunburst Bottle (online). They don’t require outrageous minimum orders like other bottle companies. You can buy just one of whatever you want. (I’m not affiliated in any way with this company; just a happy customer.)
I don’t have peppermint EO (yet), so I was wondering if there would be a good substitution of some other tingly, cooling EO…maybe eucalyptus or tea tree? Do you think either would work?