Many cosmetic products masquerading as sunscreens are costly and they can have negative side effects. What you need is not a list of chemicals but a natural sunscreen. If you don’t want to rely on a store-bought sunscreen, why not try your hand at making your own natural sunscreen? Try out our simple and natural DIY sunscreen recipe below. You can feel good about slathering it on, since it's chemical-free!
Sunlight is a natural mood booster and a way to get your daily dose of Vitamin D. With warmer weather approaching, sunny days spent outside become the norm. However, the sun can inflict irreparable damage to your skin and hair, and can even cause skin cancer. Many signs of ageing are actually a result of damage caused by direct sunlight with all its ultraviolet radiation and the ozone layer is simply not enough protection.
There are many ways to protect yourself from the sun, and you don't have to confine yourself to the indoors to do so. One way you can save yourself is by wearing hats or taking an umbrella when you know you'll be in the sun for an extended period of time. Of course, the best way to protect yourself from the damage the sun can cause is by regularly applying sunscreen.
Many cosmetic products masquerading as sunscreens are costly and they can have negative side effects. What you need is not a list of chemicals but a natural sunscreen. If you don’t want to rely on a store-bought sunscreen, why not try your hand at making your own natural sunscreen? Try out our simple and natural DIY sunscreen recipe below. You can feel good about slathering it on, since it's chemical-free!
- Let's start with the ingredients. You need coconut oil, jojoba oil, shea butter, vitamin E oil, zinc oxide and a few essential oils if you want a nice scent. Some great essential oil options are lavender or peppermint oil, eucalyptus or sesame oil, or even sunflower oil.
- The SPF that you see on sunscreen labels is essentially the amount of zinc oxide the product contains. Depending on the amount of sunscreen you are making, 5% of zinc oxide will get you anywhere from SPF 2 to SPF 5. If you want SPF 12 to SPF 19, then you must use 15% of zinc oxide. For SPFs greater than 20, you need to use more than 20% zinc oxide the quantity of the sunscreen. For true sun protection, we highly recommend that you use SPF 20 or above.
- Next, mix 1 oz of unadulterated coconut oil with 0.8 oz of shea butter and 0.1 oz of jojoba oil. Use a double boiler to gently heat the mixture. Once the shea butter melts completely, take the mixture off the heat and let it cool down. Put on a mask to protect your mouth and nose, and measure out the amount of zinc oxide powder you need. Again, we'd recommend that a minimum of 20% of your blend be zinc oxide for the best sun protection. Finally, add in the vitamin E oil and the essential oils that you've chosen. Stir the mixture until everything is smoothly combined, and you have your very own natural sunscreen! For best results, store it in a cool place, ideally in the fridge.
Have you ever tried to make your own sunscreen? Let us know in the comments!