Homemade Sunscreen
Homemade Sunscreen Recipe
Sunscreen has been a hot topic for years and something I am very familiar with using and not using, I hasten to add. Picture the scene if you will. The merest sign of a bit of sunshine, sends the mass population out to beaches, the garden or just walking out and about with next to nothing on in the clothes department.
Adorned with nothing or practically nothing applied to protect the skin, no precautions taken by covering up, we slathered on the baby oil, cooking oil or sun oils we thought would make us get the perfect tan in an hour!
Oh how wrong we were and I have been guilty of all of the above and paid the price on my fair skin, getting severely burnt. I see people lying on the beach trying to get a real tan but not minding of the risks ahead.
Things have changed and I am very thankful that I have learned my lessons in safely enjoying the benefits of sunshine. As we get older, we tend to read more about healthy living and that includes how to protect ourselves from the harmful rays.
Sunscreen
Thankfully, research and technology has prevailed and the dangers of the sun have been persistently highlighted along with the benefits sunshine brings.
Wearing sunscreens has been an important part of modern culture and not only alone as a product but has been incorporated into numerous color cosmetic products including foundation, face powder, lip balms and lipsticks. Skin care products are all available now with added SPF including anti -aging serum, face moisturizer, eye cream, cleanser and body wash.
From researching homemade sunscreen there are mixed opinions as to the use of two particular ingredients; mineral zinc oxide and titanium oxide.
Zinc oxide is the more commonly used ingredient in a sunscreen recipe and has the ability to reflect the harmful rays with minimal negative effects and it is the one I have included in this homemade recipe. Zinc oxide powder is not safe to inhale so it is best to wear a face mask or cover the nose and mouth while mixing the powder.
Research and evidence is not conclusive as to whether zinc oxide is indeed harmful but so far the Environmental Working Group (EWG) find that sunscreen with mineral zinc oxide rates higher than chemical based options because;
1. They do not break up in the sun (stable)
2. They provide better sun protection properties with fewer health issues
3. They believe zinc oxide provides good protection from dangerous UVA rays
In the end, the decision is yours, I am not trying to persuade you. I am just showing you some possibilities of making your own sunscreen which uses gorgeous butters, oils and essential oils that give SPF protection, are nourishing on the skin, very cost effective and smell wonderful.
Olive Oil
Natures Sunscreens
Many ingredients and essential oils have natural SPF protection that originate from plants and need to be combined to get a higher protection.
On their own they are not necessarily sufficient. I have discovered quite a list of natures natural sun protectors which makes sense when you consider that plants are exposed to sun every day and they need protecting from harsh dangerous rays.
They have evolved to produce nutrients, phytochemicals and pigments to provide this protection.
Ingredients high in antioxidants are also natural sunscreens and Vitamin C and E are two of nature’s antioxidants.
Here are some of the common carrier or base oils and essential oils that have SPF protection.
Vegetable Oils
Raspberry Seed Oil SPF 28 30
Carrot Seed Oil SPF 30
Wheatgerm Oil SPF 20
Olive Oil SPF 15
Soyabean Oil SPF 10
Macadamia Oil SPF 6
Avocado Oil SPF 4 – 10
Jojoba Oil SPF 4
Almond Oil SPF 4
Shea Butter SPF 3 6
Coconut Oil SPF 2 – 8
Green Tea Benefits
Homemade Sunscreen Recipe SPF 20 ~
This recipe incorporates ingredients that you may easily use in many homemade recipes in skin care, personal hygiene products and cosmetics, making them very versatile and cost effective.
The oils, butters and essential oils have a shelf life up to a year when stored in cool, dark cupboard making them useful for making later on in the season.
Recipe yields 3 – 4 oz of sunscreen.
Ingredients:
1Ttbsp Shea Butter
1 Tbsp Mango Butter
1 Tbsp Jojoba Oil
1 Tbsp Avocado Oil
4 Tbsp Green Tea (1 teabag)
1 Tsp Beeswax Pellets
4 Tsp Zinc Oxide Powder
½ Tsp Vitamin E Oil
6 drops Essential Oil of Choice
6 drops Essential Oil of Choice
You Will Need:
4 oz Dark Glass Jar (recycled sterilized clear jar will do)
Stainless Steel Bowl (to fit over a saucepan)
Saucepan
Hand Whisk
Method:
1. Boil the kettle leave for 5 minutes to slightly cool and pop the green tea teabag into ½ cup of boiling water and leave for 5 minutes.
2. Add the butters, oils and beeswax into your stainless steel bowl and place over a saucepan of boiling water (about a third of the saucepan full) to melt.
3. Wait until all the ingredients have fully melted and remove from the heat. This will only take a few minutes.
4. Remove the teabag and add 1 tbsp of green tea to the butter and oils whisking immediately and vigorously. Wait until it has been blended in completely before adding the next tablespoon until all 4 tbsp have been whisked in.
5. Add the zinc oxide powder and whisk extra VIGOROUSLY to ensure no lumps are formed.
6. When satisfied, add in your chosen essential oils and whisk in to your sunscreen.
7. Pour into your container and your gorgeous sunscreen is ready!
This sunscreen will last a month if stored in a cool, dry dark cupboard. It will last up to 3 months when stored in the fridge. Remember storing it in the fridge will harden up the cream so just remove it a few hours before you need it.
Avoid using CITRUS essential oils as many are sun sensitive so are best to avoid completely in this product.
Ideal to make for all the family, remember to reapply every 2 hours and immediately after swimming. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen on the “nooks and crannies” such as the ears, behind the ears, the heels of the feet, front of feet and back of neck.
Staying protected makes sense and taking unnecessary risks is compromising your health so make your own healthy batch of sunscreen all the family may use and stay safe.