It’s ironic to make sunscreen when it’s snowing outside. The end of March and we get snow all day long! I am getting depressed with winter.
I long for sunny days and warmer temperatures and the need for sunscreen! I’m preparing and wishfully thinking.
I love the scent and texture of this natural homemade sunscreen.
It works great, smells great, moisturizes, doesn’t break our skin out, and doesn’t have any of those nasty unpronouncable ingredients.
It’s pretty water-resistant too.
Water Resistant Sunscreen Recipe:
- 1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1/4 cup Coconut Oil (natural SPF of 10+)
- 1/4 cup Beeswax (try to get some locally for even more health benefits!) This makes it water-resistant.
- 2 Tablespoons Zinc Oxide powder (natural SPF of 20+)
- 1 teaspoon Vitamin E oil (I love the scent of this stuff!)
- 2 Tablespoons Shea Butter (natural SPF of 5+)
- 40-50 drops of Essential Oils (I use about 10 drops each of Lavender, Helichrysum, Myrrh, Roman Chamomile, Carrot Seed)
Melt the oils (except vitamin E and essential oils) over medium heat in a double boiler or in a glass jar and fill the pot halfway up the side of your jar with water. Stir with a wooden spoon. I sometimes just use a disposable plastic spoon or even wooden chopstick! I typically don’t use metal spoons when dealing with essential oils in case they react.
Let the oil mixture cool to almost room temperature, but not yet solidified, then add the vitamin E oil, zinc oxide, and essential oils. After an hour or so, it will solidify to a nice creamy lotion. If you keep it really chilled, you could put this into pretty shaped molds and have a lotion bar.
I found this glass jar in the container section of Walmart. Craft stores have a nice selection too. I love pretty glass jars with good sealable lids!
This homemade natural sunscreen has at least 30 SPF with the essential oils and all those natural ingredients! It smells amazing and is good for your skin – with no scary chemicals. I have so many friends and family members who are allergic to commercial sunscreens and they have to be really careful when they go out on sunny days. With this, they won’t have to worry so much! And it smells great and doesn’t leave our skin greasy.
We do have to reapply this a bit more often than commercial sunscreens if we’re spending the whole day at a pool or beach.
TAN ENHANCER: You need the sun’s exposure, but not to the point of burning. Try this simple recipe to nourish your skin with healthy oils, while resisting some of the harmful UV rays. As always, use care and common sense with the amount of time your skin is exposed to the sun. RECIPE: Mix 6 T coconut oil with 1 T sesame oil. Rub into the skin. According to Sue Frederick, author of A Mother’s Guide to Raising Healthy Children, sesame oil resists 30% of UV rays while coconut oil blocks out about 20%. Info has not been evaluated by the FDA.
Want a super quick 3-ingredient sunscreen?
- 4-5 oz Your favorite natural lotion
- 1-2 T Zinc Oxide
- 12-15 drops Carrot Seed essential oil
Also, check out my natural bug spray recipe!
Heather Hurst says
I’ve been having trouble getting my finished product to stay creamy. It always wants to separate. What am I doing wrong? Thanks!
Jennifer Lambert says
It does solidify after mixing if kept at room temp. The simple one, if it separates, just shake it up a bit. We haven’t had any separating and we leave it out on the counter and have no AC. You can always keep it in the fridge.
Belinda says
This sounds great!
Is there a way to make a “higher SPF sunscreen”? We have at least two members of our family with vitiligo, so they need the extra protection.
~B
Jennifer Lambert says
I imagine you could increase zinc and reapply often. And I found this handy chart for carrier oils. You could mix and match to help. http://www.naturaltherapypages.com.au/article/carrier_oils_and_spf
The Natural Homeschool says
Awesome post! Thank you for linking to The Natural Homeschool! :)
Alwin Yeoh says
Hi Jennifer,
Can i know what kind of glass jars is that?
I think not all glass can be heated that much?
Gonna appreciate your reply.
Tks.!
Jennifer Lambert says
The big one is from Walmart and the others are from Abundanthealth