Homemade Sunscreen

I’ve finally gotten around to making some homemade sunscreen! This has been on my to-do list for an embarrassingly long time (a year and a half???). It’s simple! (Do I use this word in every post?)

As a family, we try and NOT use sunscreen everyday for a number of reasons. The ingredients in most commercial brands have known carcinogens in them. Commercial brands also may be adding to a deficiency in vitamin D, which comes from not getting enough sun exposure. BUT, my family and I are pasty white and don’t want to get burned. So on days when I know we’ll have prolonged sun exposure, I wanted an alternative.

First you need to gather a few ingredients some of which you may not have just lying around the house.
I based this recipe from Green Boot Living. Check it out!

5 tsp Zinc Oxide Powder

1 Tbsp Organic Beeswax

1/2 cup Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (There are tons of other uses for coconut oil.)

5-10 drops Essential Oil  (Don’t use a citrus oil, which could make you burn more. I used lemongrass.)

Stick the coconut oil and beeswax into a glass jar that won’t be used for food consumption again. Place the jar in a pot of boiling water till ingredients are melted.

Remove from heat and add essential oil (it’s really just for fragrance so you can skip this step if need be.)

CAREFULLY mix zinc oxide into the jar without inhaling the powder. Cover your mouth/nose with a towel or something.

The original recipe called for adding a bit of water to help thin things out. I had the opposite problem. It was totally runny and watery. I had to stick it in the freezer for a couple minutes so the coconut oil would be more lotion-like. No biggie. Also, it has been suggested that you could use a different oil beside coconut oil, such as olive or almond.

Need a quick sunscreen on the fly. Just mix zinc oxide with a natural lotion. It’ll work in a pinch, though it might not blend in super well.

I love the results from this recipe! Rubs in great, smells lovely, no hormone blocking chemicals!

Please note: Use common sense when outside. Reapply as often as necessary! Everyone’s skin is different. It’s not completely water-proof. I’m not a doctor so please don’t take my advice as law. You have to do your research and do what you believe is best for your family.

Boasting in Weakness: I am completely covered (as are my kitchen counters) with coconut oil because I spilled and splashed so many times making this recipe. I make everything harder on myself because I rush around, never thinking ahead. 

Why am I telling you this? Read more here.