DIY Ultra Moisturizing, Non Toxic Sunscreen Recipe

Summer is upon us!  Which means for the fair skinned it’s time to cover up or lather up! Conventional store bought sunscreen can be laden with harmful chemicals which have been questioned to cause more harm then good.  CNN did a study where it was found that 25% of 800 tested sunscreens were effective at protecting skin without the use of potentially harmful ingredients, which means that, 75% of sunscreens contain harmful ingredients!  Here are some baddies to look out for on the back of your sunscreen label:

1. Oxybenzone a.k.a. benzophenone-3 – prevents other ingredients from deteriorating and is readily absorbed by our bodies.
2. Nanoparticles – Easily absorbed through your skin and often not listed as an ingredient. Check ingredients to list that no nanos are present.
3. Retinyl Palmitate [RP] – a dangerous form of natural vitamin A when exposed to ultraviolet light.
4. Octyl methoxycinnamate (Octinoxate, Eusolex 2292 or Uvinul MC80) – can affect your thyroid hormones and creates free radicals under your skin.

This list of Toxic Sunscreen Ingredients is from Revitalise Your Health, read their full article for more information.

Fear not.  There is a solution to all of this.  Mother Nature has granted us it’s own SPF, that you can whip together in your own batch of natural, safe and effective sunscreen.This is were being empowered comes in.  We have options and choices about what we put on our bodies!

DIY Non Toxic Sunscreen Recipe

What you will need:

• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup Coconut Oil
• 1/4 cup beeswax
• 2 tablespoons zinc oxide (you can purchase zinc oxide at some pharmacies or on Amazon)
• 2 tablespoons shea butter
• 12 drops Helichrysum essential oil

 

Mix everything except the essential oil and zinc oxide in a glass container.

Place in a medium sized sauce pan with 2 inches of water. Bring to a boil and stir occasionally.

NOTE: It took about 15 minutes for the beeswax to melt

Once everything is melted, take the glass container out of the pan and let sit for about 3 minutes. After the 3 minutes is up, add the essential oil and zinc oxide.

Pour into a small jar.  I used a super fancy upcycled olive jar. 🙂

Let sit for 30 minutes or so, then label and use!

NOTES:  This does set firm, you can use the back of your fingernail get it out.  This recipe made about 1 cup of sunscreen, so it was enough for 2 little jars or one big one. Total SPF of this sunscreen is about 20.

BONUS: Here is a graphic of SPF of other natural oils.