Homemade Sunscreen
with only essential ingredients
This sunscreen recipe has worked for me for years and its really quick to make up.
I know some folk will worry about the proven protection factor and feel that using store bought cream is best, but for me personally, I'd rather know exactly what it is that I am applying to my skin, particularly when it comes to sensitive and regularly exposed areas like my face.
Just looking at the list of unknown ingredients in many of our bath and beauty products, suncream in particular makes me feel a little uneasy applying all these unknown substances and synthetic chemicals to my skin, so a few years ago I had a good look into it, and created my own!
If you're on our website, chances are you would have worked out that I am a big believer that natural is best and that Nature has the answer to most things. A good degree of sun protection doesn't need to be over complicated with unnecessary chemicals, just like many things in our modern world.
Being a Gardener, professionally and leisurely I spend a lot of time outside, I have been using variations of this homemade suncream for at least 5 years now with what I believe to be great success!
I do practice other good habits to protect myself of course as well, like wearing a hat or trying to avoid being in the direct sun for too long when it is at its peak and I ALWAYS apply a good layer of moisturiser to exposed areas at the end of the day to rehydrate and feed my skin - Homemade of course too.
There are many carrier and essential oils to choice from that offer so much goodness and nourishment to our skin and that may well have some sun protection factors, my suggestions below are what i've experimented with and researched. I always buy Certified Organic, cold pressed oils and food grade where possible to support best practices and highest quality.
It may seem like a lot of ingredients to buy all in one hit, but once stocked up, it keeps me going for a LONG time and overtime it definitely works out cheaper than expensive suncreams
.
This is obviously just a recommendation from my own personal experience and I have not had this recipe scientifically tested.
Ingredients:
½ cup Olive, Almond or Avocado Oil (Natural SPF 2-15)
¼ cup Coconut Oil (Natural SPF 2-8)
¼ cup Cocoa butter (Natural SPF 6-15)
2-4 TBSP Zinc Oxide (Blocks UVA & UVB rays)
(Basic Version)
Recommend Additions
2 TBSP Shea Butter (Natural SPF 3-6)
1 tsp Raspberry Seed Oil (Natural SPF 28-50 UVA & UVB)
6-12 drops Carrot Seed Oil (Possible SPF 38-40)
6-12 drops Non-phototoxic Essential Oils
My favourite combination is peppermint which has a natural SPF around 7 and Frankincense, as it has so many good healing properties. For the summer the peppermint is zingy and refreshing and makes it smell like Mint Chocolate with the Cocoa Butter.
Method:
Add Coconut oil, Cocoa butter and Shea butter (if using).
Either use a bain-marie, glass bowl in pan of hot water, or heavy based saucepan on very low to no heat like I do. I warm the pan a little first, then add the hard oils on a very low heat for a few seconds until the oils just start to melt, then I turn the heat off and leave them to melt together slowly.
Once hard oils are melted add ½ cup of your chosen liquid oil, followed by your choice of the additional oils and stir well.
Finally add the Zinc and give it a really good stir or even a gentle whisk to break down any lumps. NOTE: Take care not to inhale the zinc powder.
Keep stirring regularly as the mixture cools to avoid the zinc settling.
Once cooled store in glass jars or bottles of your choice.
Give it another really good shake or stir after the first 24 hours and before every use.
Use as needed and re-apply once dry if you get wet.
Trust Nature - Enjoy ✌️🌿
Coconut & Cocoa Butter melting gently
Shea Butter added
Zinc mixed in