DIY Sunscreen

sunscreen blog

One could go crazy bouncing between the sunscreen-all-year-round-anytime-you-go-out-of-doors camp and the we-need-more-vitamin-D-in-our-lives-and-sunscreen-is-in-the-way camp. I haven’t really given much thought to it because I’m really not together enough to sunscreen my kids religiously–or even semi-regularly. I do know, however, that when I decide we need sunscreen I want one with minimal to no toxins. The last thing I want to do is slather my children’s largest organ with chemicals I cannot pronounce.

Turns out that #DIY #sunscreen is pretty easy and used ingredients that mostly I already had on hand. Click To Tweet

Ingredients for Sunscreen

  • 1 oz. beeswax pellets
  • 2 oz. cocoa or shea butter
  • 3 oz. coconut oil
  • 2 oz. liquid oil (search the internet for oils with natural SPF, then choose based on how sensitive your skin is to UV exposure)
  • 1 oz. zinc oxide powder 
  • Lavender, helichrysum and/or myrrh essential oils* (optional)

The How-to

Before you get started, gather a kitchen scale and double boiler. I actually use glass jars in a pot of water and have a separate glass jar that I use just for sunscreen. Beeswax is really a pain to clean up, so I opt to just not clean it up and re-use the same glass jar. You may also want a set up stirring utensils that you designate for only this task.

  1. Melt all the ingredients (minus the zinc and essential oils) in the double boiler. Stirring frequently.
  2. Remove from heat and whisk in the zinc until all lumps are gone.
  3. Stir in 10 drops of essential oils (optional).
  4. Transfer to a squeezable container.
  5. Apply as you would any other sunscreen.

*Essential oils can improve the smell of your sunscreen but also provide additional support for your skin. Do not use citrus oils as they may make the skin more photosensitive.

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2 Comments

  1. I’m so glad you posted this, Melissa! Recently I think I saw you post about having a sunscreen making party and I wish I could have been there. We have some very sensitive skin kids and pay a crazy price for sunscreen.

    Do you have any idea how water resistant this is?

    Thanks for sharing!

    • The beeswax makes it fairly water resistant. Water beads off of my skin when I wear it. Let me know how it works out for your crew!

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