5 Natural Remedies to Nix Uneven Tan Lines, Bikini Bumps, Poison Ivy Rash, and Other Summer Bothers

Who has time to struggle with confidence-sapping arghs? Not you! Read on for the five natural beauty remedies that’ll leave you eager to join the summer fun!

Bikini line bumps? Banish them with aspirin.

The anti-inflammatory pain reliever quickly calms the redness and irritation that come with the bumpy rash that shaving and waxing can leave behind. Plus, aspirin contains salicylic acid, which clears out clogged pores to reduce ingrown hairs.

Try it: Mix two crushed aspirin tablets with one tablespoon of water. Apply to bumps and let sit 10 minutes; rinse.

Red cheeks? Nix them with an herbal spritz.

Anti-inflammatory aloe eases hot flash-related redness, while lavender helps end hot flashes 33 percent faster — together offering quick relief.

Try it: Add 1⁄2 cup of water, 1⁄4 cup of aloe vera gel, and five drops of lavender essential oil like Aura Cacia Lavender Essential Oil (Buy at iHerb. com, $9.02) to a spray bottle, then mist onto face.

Melting makeup? Prevent it with milk of magnesia.

The medicine cabinet staple’s magnesium hydroxide creates an absorbent shield on skin that prevents oil or sweat from running down the face and ruining makeup. 

Try it: Rub a pea-size amount of milk of magnesia onto the face; let dry two minutes before applying foundation. Tip: Use twice a week since overuse can dry out skin.

Uneven tan lines? Fade them with lemon and honey.

Lemon’s citric acid brightens skin and sloughs off dead cells to lighten the skin around awkward tan lines, while moisturizing honey’s enzymes further exfoliate to help blur the line of demarcation between the two skin tones.

Try it: Combine one tablespoon of lemon juice and one tablespoon of honey. Apply to areas around tan lines, and let sit 15 minutes; rinse. Bonus: After using the paste, mix two self-tanner drops like Tanologist Face + Body Drops (Buy at Ulta.com, $19.99) with a palmful of body lotion and apply to paler areas to blend in with tanned skin.

Poison ivy rash? Soothe it with bentonite clay.

A natural antibiotic, bentonite clay heals inflamed skin, and using it with rubbing alcohol (it removes the ivy’s reaction-causing urushiol oil from skin) speeds healing.

Try it: Mix one tablespoon of bentonite clay like Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay (Buy on Amazon, $9.98), 1⁄2 tablespoon of rubbing alcohol and 1 ⁄2 Tbs. of water. Apply to rashes and let sit for 10 minutes, then rinse.

A version of this article originally appeared in our print magazine, Woman’s World.