Easy Homemade Sunscreen - Au Naturale!

You'll save lots of money over time with this simple sunscreen recipe you can make at home! 

​I love the sun!  I believe we all need some direct sunlight on our skin every day, if possible, to optimize our vitamin D levels.  No one should ever get sunburned, however, which is quite unhealthy. So, when in the sun for extended periods of time, it's good to use sunscreen to prevent sun damage and photo-aging.

When wearing sunscreen, there are many things to be aware of. Otherwise, the sunscreen may be just as harmful as a sunburn itself. Please see my previous post, Take a Critical Look at Your Sunscreen, all about strategies for getting healthy amounts of sun exposure & the dangers found in many commercial sunscreens. Here's a recipe you won't have to worry about:

​Make your own sunscreen!

What makes this recipe special, is that it uses non-nano zinc oxide as the active ingredient, which reflects the sun off your skin.  It's so much better than all the toxic ingredients found in most store-bought sunscreens that actually enter your bloodstream. 

The SPF of this recipe is about 25-30.  (The chart HERE explains that if 25% of your recipe is zinc oxide, then the SPF is considered "ultra-high" and greater than 20.) In addition to the zinc oxide, the other ingredients provide some SPF.

Yes, most zinc oxide sunscreens go on white, but once rubbed-in well, the white nearly or completely disappears.  Use less zinc oxide if you want it less white (it will have a lower SPF.)

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​Ingredients:

• 3 Tbsp. organic Beeswax pellets
• 1/2 cup Shea butter, measured un-melted (SPF 3-6)
• 1/2 cup your favorite oil for the skin*. I use either jojoba oil (SPF 4) or avocado oil (SPF 4-15).
• 1/4 cup Zinc Oxide Powder (non-nano)
• Optional: your favorite scents from essential oils.  However, don't use oils that make you more sun-sensitive, like citrus oils.

*You can also use coconut oil, but it's not my favorite for this recipe because it's sometimes a solid, sometimes a liquid.  Plus, it gives some people acne when applied topically (including me).
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​Instructions:

In a heat/microwave safe glass bowl, melt the shea butter and wax pellets. I used a 4-cup/1 L glass pyrex measuring cup with a handle. (See below.)  

​Melt in the microwave (stir every 30 seconds) or set it in a pan of water used as a make-shift double boiler on the stove.

Add in the remaining ingredients and blend thoroughly with a stick blender.  (Be sure not to inhale the zinc oxide powder.) The more you mix it, the less grainy it will be when cooled.  (No worries, any graininess dissolves immediately when applied to the skin.)  A regular mixer would work, too. BE CAREFUL, it's HOT!!

Pour the sunscreen into 4 deodorant containers.  (These below are 2.5 oz each.) They can be re-used. (FIND THEM HERE.) 

​Allow them to cool completely.

As for clean-up, don't put anything with wax on it in the dishwasher.  I run everything under hot water, then wipe out with a paper towel.  Then put it in the dishwasher.

Expiration date depends on the dates found on your ingredients.

Look like a pro! Apply some nice "Au Naturale Nutrition Sunscreen" labels to your homemade sunscreen!

PRINT Sunscreen Labels

To use the sunscreen:  Simply rub on, then rub in!!  

​These are great to give to kids to use individually, or even to give as gifts.  

It's slightly water/sweat resistant, but should be reapplied when sweating or after toweling off.  
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​Enjoy your fun in the sun!

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