4 Homemade Natural Sunscreen Recipes

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We want to be frugal, natural, and healthy! Well, here are a few steps we had to make along this homemade, diy journey. Homemade Natural Sunscreen is a big one! And making these 4 Homemade Natural Sunscreen Recipes is easy!

Know Your Ingredients

Ingredients to Avoid

If you’re reading this, you are probably already aware of how bad ingredients are in most sunscreens. But the long list can be daunting. Here are a few to look out for:

Oxybenzone, an ultraviolet light absorber and key ingredient in many sunscreen

s, is responsible for many phototoxic and photoallergic reactions (breaking out in a rash or having your skin burned by the chemical within hours or days of using). It is highly absorbed by the skin and, accord

ing to research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is reported to be a contaminate within the bodies of 97% of Americans. It is also believed to be a human endocrine disruptor (European Commission on Endocrine Disruption) and can interfere with cellular signaling, cause mutations, lead to cell death. and may be implicated in cardiovascular disease (K.M. Hanson). (1)

While Octinoxate is almost as bad as oxybenzone, it’s main concern is with estrogen mimicking, causing hormones to be disrupted and wrecking havoc on your system. It has also been found in breast milk.

Propylparaben, a preservative also known to disrupt the endocrine system. Simply put, for men or women, this basically blocks receptors so that hormones do not get to where they need to go. It mimics estrogen, throwing your body for a loop. (3)

Retinyl Acetate (Vitamin A Acetate) – High levels of Vitamin A put all over the body can lead to reproductive toxicity. It can also interfere with cellular signaling, cause mutations, lead to cell death. and may be implicated in cardiovascular disease (K.M. Hanson). The National Toxicology Program also reports that it causes tumors in animals at low doses (2)

Better

Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide are similar in benefits. They both protect against UV-B and UV-A radiation.

Dangers – Nano-particles (tinier titanium dioxide or zinc oxide) are supposed to better help protect from the sun. Yet, some studies have now shown that the nano-part

icles do cross into the blood stream (4). The study was on nano-titatnium, but we can assume the same possibility with zinc. It is also very dangerous to inhale either metal. Some studies show that cellular damage which can lead to cancer can occur if it is inhaled (Sayes CM, Wahi R).

So you can’t inhale it, and you don’t want nano-zinc, but can you use something else?

There is Non-Nano Zinc Oxide that you can buy. Here’s a product that we have used: Non-Nano Zinc Oxide.

Use – Zinc Oxide must be used only on very healthy skin. When used on skin that is damaged, sunburned, cut or scratched, or otherwise healing skin there is a much greater potential for absorption, which would cause cellular damage. I look at it like this. We are fair enough that the damage from the sun is greater than the danger from these products on a normal day. We believe in getting sun, but not burned (there’s enough skin cancer in my family that I have no problem monitoring exposure).

But!!! There are so many other options!!! Read Below!

Spray, Powder, or Liquid?

Just say No! Sprays and Powders are a big no no! I can’t get over the ignorance or selfishness of people who sit right beside my family and start spraying. First, four of us will develop extremely itchy hives within hours (we literally have to get up and run). Secondly, inhaling those products is cancerous! Avoid at all costs!!

Choose creams unless using an all natural homemade blend.

Natural Oils with SPF

There are natural oils with SPF ranges! These combined can go a long way in protecting your skin. I put on shea butter daily. It is not enough to protect me from getting burned. But I am finding that a combination of the following makes a huge difference.

I’ve included links to high quality ingredients.

Shea Butter – approx. SPF 5-6

Coconut Oil – approx. SPF 6-10

Avacado Oil – approx. SPF 4-8

Carrot Seed Essential Oil – approx. SPF 28-40 (contains antioxidants to protect skin cells) Must be diluted or it will burn your skin!

Myrrh Essential Oil – approx. SPF 15 (ultra healing oil to help take care of your skin)

Avoid Citrus oils (orange, grapefruit, lemon, etc) as they will increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun. Everyone’s skin is different. So please use caution when using essential oils and sun exposure until you know how your skin will respond and how often you need to reapply sunscreen. Here’s one study for more information.

The Recipes

Whipped Shea Butter Sunscreen

1/2 cup Shea Butter
1/3 cup Coconut oil, melted
15 drops carrot seed essential oil
10 drops myrrh essential oil
2 Tbsp zinc oxide (optional) You can add more myrrh instead (up to 40 drops)

With the zinc oxide, this will be an SPF of about 40+ (estimate as government hasn’t had their hands on it in a lab to verify). Without the zinc oxide it will be somewhere around 20-30. Measure ingredients carefully, because a little variance makes a big difference in the end fluffiness. Whip raw shea butter until creamy. Slowly add melted coconut oil while whipping. Add essential oils (and zinc oxide if adding – do not inhale!) and whip until fluffy.

Sunscreen Oil

You can also just create an oil to put on your skin.

1/2 cup fractionated coconut oil (doesn’t harden below 76 degrees F)
10 drops myrrh essential oil (add up to 40 drops for higher SPF)
5 drops carrot seed essential oil

Combine all ingredients and keep in amber jar (to help preserve oils). Apply over all exposed skin. Reapply often.

Bees Wax Sunscreen (more water proof)

Instead of a whipped lotion, this creates more of an oil. I like to pour it into a deodorant container and keep in the fridge (to help prevent separation, though not necessary. It can be taken out with you when you go).

1/4 cup avacado oil
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup beeswax
1/4 cup shea butter
10 drops myrrh essential oil
15 drops carrot seed essential oil
2 Tbsp zinc oxide (optional) You can add more myrrh instead (up to 40 drops)

Use a double broiler or place ingredients in a glass bowl or mason jar in/over water in a saucepan. Add avocado oil, coconut oil, and beeswax to container. Stir on low heat until all ingredients are melted. Remove from heat and add shea butter and essential oils. Stir until shea is melted (do not add before or heat will make shea grainy). If you are adding zinc oxide, add now and whisk until there are no clumps. Transfer to storage container and use as you would your regular sunscreen.

Aloe Vera Sunscreen

Add all ingredients to a sprayer bottle. Shake before each use.

If you don’t have the ingredients or want to give it a try before buying the ingredients, I sell three versions of sunscreen in my Etsy Shop.

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