With summer being in full swing, that means spending a lot of time out in the sun. Although commonly thought to be a bad thing, spending a lot of time in the sun can be very beneficial to our bodies. However, too much time in the sun results in a sunburn, which I am sure we all have experienced a time or two. Learning how to make homemade sunscreen is great for this time of year. The process is quick, there are minimal ingredients, and you can whip up a batch in less than an hour when you are running low.
How do you make natural sunscreen at home?
Ingredients:
- Shea Butter
- Coconut Oil
- Beeswax
- Non-Nano Zinc Oxide
- Essential Oils
Directions:
- Melt the shea butter and coconut oil over a double boiler.
- Once melted, turn the heat off and mix in the remaining ingredients.
- Allow the DIY homemade sunscreen to sit at room temperature for about an hour until it has fully set.
- Apply as needed.
It is that simple! Now, you might have a few questions about making sunscreen at home. Here are some common questions that most people wonder when making a DIY natural sunscreen recipe.
Tips for avoiding a sunburn
- Wear a homemade natural sunscreen (to learn about the toxic ingredients in conventional store-bought sunscreens, keep reading.)
- Limit sun exposure to increments of 2 hours at a time before seeking shade, then reentering into the sunshine.
- Optional, wear large hats to cover sensitive areas like your face, neck, and shoulders.
Is homemade sunscreen waterproof?
The answer is yes. You might find it odd to add beeswax to a homemade sunscreen recipe but beeswax is the key to making the sunscreen waterproof. If you’ve ever used beeswax on your skin before you will know that it wicks away water, allowing the homemade sunscreen to stay active on your skin even while getting wet.
It is important to note; that using too much beeswax can cause the homemade natural sunscreen to not set properly. Therefore, following the recipe measurements is important with this one.
What is Non-Nano Zinc Oxide?
This is essentially the SPF part of the natural sunscreen recipe. According to this article, “Zinc oxide sits on top of your skin (rather than soaking in, as chemical sunscreens do) and protects you by scattering, absorbing, and reflecting the sun’s rays. It can stand alone as a sunblock because it is truly effective against UVA, UVB, and even UVC rays — this is called a “broad-spectrum blocker.” But zinc oxide isn’t just effective at blocking the sun! It’s also good for your skin.”
Another great thing about using non-nano zinc oxide is that it is considered safe for marine animals, whereas nano zinc oxide is not safe for marine animals. To read more about that, check out this study.
Homemade Sunscreen with Essential Oils
I love adding essential oils to almost every homemade recipe. Essential oils add a great fragrance when used in natural sunscreen made at home. If using peppermint essential oil in your DIY natural sunscreen recipe as I did, your skin will feel cool and tingly, in a good way, when using this sunscreen.
If you want to make this sunscreen a 2-in1 deal, aka, bug repellent and sunscreen, there are some essential oils to repel bugs that you can use. Examples: peppermint, citronella (great for repelling mosquitos), and eucalyptus. To learn more about essential oils that repel bugs, check out my DIY Bug Repellent Lotion Recipe.
Here are some essential oils for homemade sunscreen:
The Toxic Ingredients in Conventional Sunscreens
In recent years, some studies have exposed the toxic and harmful ingredients used in common conventional sunscreens. Some of the harmful ingredients include oxybenzone, octinoxate, homosalate, and nanoparticles. Not only are these ingredients harmful when used on our bodies, but they are also harmful to marine animals. When swimming in the ocean specifically, I am sure you have seen your sunscreen leave an oil trail next to where you are in the water. Leaving that trail behind means the marine animals will encounter it, later on, harming them the same way it harms us.
To read more about the harmful effects of conventional sunscreen, check out this website.
If you do end up with a sunburn, check out my Natural Sunburn Relief Cream recipe to help ease the pain and discomfort of a sunburn.
How to Properly Store Sunscreen
When making a DIY sunscreen recipe with essential oils, it is important to store the sunscreen in a glass container. Essential oils have the capability of breaking down plastic over a long period of time therefore it is better to be safe than sorry and just use glass. Make sure to use a tight lid on whichever glass container you choose.
Glass Containers for Storing Sunscreen:
DIY Natural Homemade Sunscreen Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1/2 Cup Shea Butter
- 1/4 Cup Coconut Oil
- 2 Tablespoons Beeswax
- 2 Tablespoons Non-Nano Zinc Oxide
- 10-20 Drops Peppermint Essential Oil
Directions:
1. Melt the shea butter and coconut oil over a double boiler.
2. Once melted, turn the heat off and whisk in the remaining ingredients.
3. Allow the DIY homemade sunscreen to sit at room temperature for about an hour until it has been fully set.
4. Store in an airtight glass container and apply as needed.
Notes:
It is nearly impossible to measure exactly how much SPF this natural homemade sunscreen has, however, it is safe to assume the SPF is around 30, give or take.
This sunscreen is generally safe to be used anywhere you would normally apply sunscreen, like your face. Just be sure to use essential oils that you are not allergic to and be sure to keep the sunscreen out of your eyes.
Use your best judgment when applying this to your children. I use this on my kids age 6 months and up with no issues. Some kids might have sensitive skin when using essential oils, so feel free to omit that.
Watch the Youtube Video Tutorial Here!
