Homemade Sunscreen Sticks

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I’ve had fun lately creating several different varieties of lotion bars. I started with the basic recipe and realized the options were truly endless for variations. Sometimes I’ll use a mold, but I like making lotion bar sticks too for even easier application. One of my favorites so far is this DIY sunscreen stick!

Mineral Sunscreen Stick

It’s basically a stick version of my homemade sunscreen. It also avoids all the harmful chemicals, parabens, and potential carcinogens in regular sunscreen. And it’s easier to apply than a cream since it’s in a bar or stick form which makes it easier for kids to do it themselves. It glides across skin for easy reapplication as needed.

There are a few different ways to make these depending on how you like them. If you want some cute shapes and a handheld version, then use silicone molds. Muffin tins also work well if that’s what you have. The least messy option is to make a sunscreen stick with a twist-up tube or deodorant container.

It has hydrating ingredients that are moisturizing and great for sensitive skin. Because it’s basically a lotion bar with sun protection it’s perfect for dry skin too. If you’re prone to acne then this may not be the best sunscreen face stick option for you though. Coconut oil is not non-comedogenic, and neither is cocoa butter. Shea butter and mango butter though are much less likely to clog pores.

Sunscreen SPF

But first, let’s put on our science hats for a bit and geek out on the details of SPF. SPF stands for sun protection factor and tells how much UV protection you’ll get from your sunscreen lotion. It’s calculated by dividing the amount of sun exposure that causes the skin to get red by the amount that causes skin reddening without sunscreen. For example, if it takes the skin 30 times longer to burn with sunscreen on than without, that’s SPF 30.

However, this doesn’t take into account different skin types, skin tones, how much someone sweats, or other weather conditions. While many sunscreens are marketed as water resistant, this doesn’t mean they’re waterproof. If you’re in the water for several hours dermatologists recommend you reapply.

You’d think that a broadspectrum SPF 50 would have way more protection than SPF 15, but that’s not really the case.

  • SPF 15 – Blocks 93% of UVB rays
  • SPF 30 – SPF 40 – Blocks 97% of UVB rays
  • SPF 50 – Blocks 98% of UVB rays

There are also two different types of rays, UVB and UVA. UVB rays cause skin reddening while UVA does not. A broad-spectrum sunscreen will cover both, but UVB is what SPF is rated for.

Chemicals in Sunscreen

Skincare companies use chemicals like oxybenzone and octinoxate in sunscreen to absorb sun rays. Research has found these are absorbed into the body in unsafe amounts and can cause problems like hormone disruption. Sun sticks that promise ultra-sheer coverage are more likely to use risky chemicals. Sunscreen sprays are another option often full of harmful chemicals.

Drugstore brands like Neutrogena, Cerave, Aveeno, Sun Bum, and Cetaphil sheer mineral sunscreen stick all have ingredients I’d rather avoid. Other popular sunscreen brands include Supergoop, Eltamd, and Shiseido. These all score high on EWG for toxic ingredients. Another good reason to make your own!

Other more natural options are ingredients like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. These sit on top of the skin and block UVB rays. I always opt for non-nano zinc oxide since the particles aren’t small enough to be absorbed into the bloodstream. Mineral-based sunscreens are reef-safe and the safest and best sunscreen options for the skin.

Ingredients in DIY Sunscreen Sticks

I use coconut oil in these because it has a mild SPF on its own and adds a nice texture. If you have a coconut allergy then you can replace the coconut oil with a mix of liquid oil and more beeswax. Mango and shea butter both have a natural SPF of 4 and help moisturize and protect skin.

Beeswax helps thicken everything up and the zinc oxide provides protection from the sun’s rays. I also like adding vitamin E to extend the shelf life and add some skin-nourishing antioxidants. You can make a fragrance-free version or add essential oils for a nice scent and added skin benefits.

Certain essential oils are phototoxic, meaning they can cause burns if applied before sun exposure. Do NOT use lime, lemon, or bergamot essential oil in this sunscreen! Grapefruit may be phototoxic, but the jury is still out on that one. Other citrus options like sweet orange, tangerine, and mandarin don’t have this problem.

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4.43 from 7 votes

Homemade Sunscreen Sticks

These DIY sunscreen sticks are easy to apply, even for little ones! Use silicone molds for fun designs, or use tubes for even less mess.
Author: Katie Wells

Materials

Instructions

  • Combine the coconut oil, shea butter, and beeswax in a double boiler. You can also use a glass bowl over a smaller saucepan filled with a few inches of water.
  • Bring the water to a boil and stir ingredients until melted.
  • Remove from the heat and add the zinc oxide powder, vitamin E oil, and essential oils. More zinc oxide gives you more sun protection, but it also makes a thicker layer on the skin.
  • Pour into your molds or tubes and allow to cool completely.
  • Store at room temperature or in the fridge. Keep below 80 degrees or they'll start to melt.

Notes

  • You can use different shaped molds for different designs or use a square baking pan and cut them into bars. 
  • You can use any amount of shea, cocoa, or mango butter you want as long as they total 1/2 cup.
  • Experiment with how much zinc oxide you need to use for your skin type and sun exposure needs. 

What SPF is Homemade Sunscreen?

The short answer here, is I don’t know. No one does without extensive (and expensive!) testing. Because this is a homemade product not made in a lab I can’t guarantee exact SPF amounts and I’m not going to try to guess. However, with the amount of zinc oxide used and from my family’s personal experience using this I can say we’ve had good results.

Natural sunscreen needs to be reapplied every few hours and after swimming. Normally I like to use hats, sun-protective clothing, and shade whenever possible.

Storing Your Sunscreen Sticks

I recommend keeping your sunscreen sticks in the cooler if you take them to the beach. They’ll start to get soft in higher temperatures. These sunscreen sticks store well at room temperature though.

I’d also encourage experimenting with how much coverage you want based on how much Zinc Oxide you add to the recipe. These have a smoother, thinner, and more waterproof coverage than my basic sunscreen recipe.

Don’t Forget Your Vitamins!

When possible, it’s also important to spend some time in the sun without sunscreen for vitamin D production. I try to get a few minutes of morning sunlight each morning, plus more in the afternoons. And of course, it’s really important to eat your sunscreen! There are also supplements and high-nutrient foods that help us avoid burning when we don’t use sunscreen.

About this time of year, I start taking a specific regimen of supplements that help reduce inflammation and improve sun tolerance. Here’s what I take:

  • Vitamin D3 (I take about 5,000 IU/day)- Emerging evidence shows that optimizing blood levels of Vitamin D can have a protective effect against sunburn and skin cancer. Here’s where I get it.
  • Vitamin C – (I take about 2,000 mg/day)- A potent anti-inflammatory and it’s good for the immune system too. What I use.
  • Coconut Oil– the Medium Chain Fatty Acids and saturated fat are easily utilized by the body for new skin formation and are protective against burning. I don’t use this as much anymore since my body does better with fewer saturated fats.
  • Fish Oil – I like to get my fish oil naturally from low-mercury fish options like salmon and sardines. These healthy Omega-3s reduce inflammation and help protect skin. Here’s what I use when I need a fish oil supplement.
  • Astaxanthin– A highly potent antioxidant that research shows acts as an internal sunscreen. It’s also anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, plus other benefits! I use this one.

Do you use sunscreen? What kind do you use? Share below!

These sunscreen lotion bars contain zinc for a natural sunscreen without the chemicals. The natural coconut oil and butters provide SPF and moisturize skin.
Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

338 responses to “Homemade Sunscreen Sticks”

  1. angela butters Avatar
    angela butters

    I have a daughter who has such terribly sensitive skin and has had a recent allergic reaction to the “baby” version of sunblock. Coppertone I think. So, I am excited to give this a try. If you had to give this a number, what SPF would you give this with org recipie?

    1. Wellness Mama Avatar
      Wellness Mama

      About a 20, but not super exact! If she has skin reactions, It would also be worth trying the fermented cod liver oil and other supplements to help heal from the inside out too 🙂

    2. Elizabeth Avatar
      Elizabeth

      So if I double the amount of zinc oxide does it double the spf? Is it uva/uvb?

  2. sara Avatar

    You mentioned at one point “a cup of each ingredient”, are you including the zinc oxide in that statement?  I’m just curious because I know you said 2T in the ingredients list, but I thought maybe you actually used 1C and it was a much higher SPF?  I’m someone who usually used SPF 70+ and can STILL burn.

    1. Wellness Mama Avatar
      Wellness Mama

      I get it on Amazon, but you may be able to find locally, just look for non-nano…

      1. Mandy Boyd Avatar
        Mandy Boyd

        I have just made these today, and they turned out awesome, I used the silicone muffin cups..they set really well in the fridge for a short period of time, and you hardly get the white residue.. I did use the non-nano zinc oxide powder! LOVE THEM, and your site is my favorite 🙂 Thank you!

        1. chellie Avatar
          chellie

          How did your zinc oxide mix in? I seem to have quite a bit left in the bottom of the jar. Some is mixing in, but it seems some is just sinking. looking for a tip on this.

          1. Jessica Avatar
            Jessica

            I had the same problem, looking for advice on how to fully mix the zinc in???!! Can I re-melt everything and remix and repour?

          2. Lara Avatar

            You might try letting the oils cool to a semi-firm state. For instance, mix everything together, let cool until the mixture just begins to harden, stir again to incorporate the zinc more completely, repeating this until the bar has set up completely. This is a method I use when I make scrubby shower bars or any lotion bar with additives. Another method I use is to let the mixture cool until mixing it creates more of a “paste”, then smooth the “paste” into the molds to harden the rest of the way. This method works well with additives like zinc or clay. Hope this helps!

  3. Teeja Avatar

    How can you post something like this without including Any precautions about the dangers of working with a powdered mineral like zinc? This must not be inhaled, proper ventilation as well as respiratory protection are necessary. Please revise the article to include this information before someone hurts themselves. Sheesh. 

    1. Wellness Mama Avatar
      Wellness Mama

      Those instructions come with any of the zinc powders I’ve linked to and it is also a common ingredient in mineral makeup or cosmetics which women regularly up on their face and nose

    1. Wellness Mama Avatar
      Wellness Mama

      Yep… You just might need to dip the pan in hot water for a second to loosen them up once they’ve set

  4. Berry Avatar

    I just made these, and after I poured 90% of the mix into the cups, I realized most of the zinc was curdled at the bottom of the mix.  I poured everything back in, mixed up more, poured again, and it was still doing the same thing.  Is there a trick to get the zinc to mix in properly?  Do you think enough of the zinc mixed in?

    1. Wellness Mama Avatar
      Wellness Mama

      A lot of the zinc will mix in, even if some sinks to the bottom. You can let it cool slightly and mix it when its thicker and then scoop into molds to help it mix better…

      1. Berry Avatar

        Thank you, I will try that in the batch.  I could tell some mixed in because the color lightened up alot when I added it, but I wasnt sure it was enough.  Yesterday afternoon I went outside to test, and when I started rubbing it on, I could see the white of the zinc in the mixture, so I knew it was in there!  I was outside several hours and didn’t burn, so I would say it worked!  Thank you so much for this recipe!  

  5. April Chronister Avatar
    April Chronister

    Just made them!  So excited to use them on our camping trip on the Frio River in the TX sun.  I’ve been grain free for 2 months now thanks to you:)  Feeling great and down 10 pounds with radiant skin at 37 with 2 kiddos.  Still working on getting the entire family on the bandwagon.  Thank you Wellness Mama….love your posts. 

    1. Wellness Mama Avatar
      Wellness Mama

      Congrats! That is wonderful! Have a great camping trip… sounds like fun!

  6. Kelly Gilmore-Taylor Avatar
    Kelly Gilmore-Taylor

    any suggestions if you have an allergy to zinc oxide (especially on the face and neck)?

    1. Wellness Mama Avatar
      Wellness Mama

      The mix of coconut oil and shea butter will naturally be about an SPF 6. Other than that, covering up is probably the best option…

    2. Christine Avatar
      Christine

      Kelly I’m wondering if my daughter has an allergy to zinc, what is your reaction like? I made (and love) this sunscreen for myself and my 3 children and she is the only one who seems to be having a reaction — watery, itchy eyes when applied to her face and itchy skin with tiny red bumps when applied to her body. She’s kind of a sensitive kid (low pain tolerance) but doesn’t have sensitive skin unlike my son who is the opposite and he didn’t have a skin reaction to this. Ironically she’s never had a reaction to commercial sunscreens so I don’t know what to think! I want to make another batch with carrot seed oil instead of the zinc and see if the reaction goes away but I wondered if you could shed some light on what a zinc allergy looks like.

  7. Wellness Mama Avatar
    Wellness Mama

    Zinc oxide is one of the least offenders. Other than that, the best option is just covering up with hats or clothing.

    1. Kate Avatar

      I am 41 and was diagnosed with skin cancer a few years ago, compliments of a beachy childhood…. And I spend a fortune it seems on sunscreen for me and the fam year round. I LOVE your recipes and use several of them- I already use zinc on my face almost daily per dermo instructions to heal my skin from the chemo treatments I’ve done, and I’m SO EXCITED to try this recipe! He already told me the benefits of zincs physical barrier to the skin as a sun protectant. Thank you for your posts! ????

  8. Wellness Mama Avatar
    Wellness Mama

    Zinc oxide is one of the least offenders. Other than that, the best option is just covering up with hats or clothing.

  9. Lauren Craig Avatar
    Lauren Craig

    LOVE your stuff!! Was just wondering…can you take coconut oil supplements instead of melting some in tea? Do you think that would work as well?

    1. Wellness Mama Avatar
      Wellness Mama

      You can as long as they are just coconut oil. They are more expensive, but they will work just as well.

  10. Jillian Navejas Avatar
    Jillian Navejas

    These seemed to separate quite a bit as they “set”, it almost looks like all of the zinc is on top.  Any tips?

  11. Mariah Avatar
    Mariah

    I used 40% zinc oxide like diaper rash cream (that’s all I could find). Is this ok? I did put extra in though.

    1. Wellness Mama Avatar
      Wellness Mama

      It should be fine. I haven’t tried it but it should work just fine. I’d just start sun exposure slowly to make sure the SPF is the same and work up.

  12. carole Avatar
    carole

    do you avoid burning simply through supplements? i like that better than applying sunscreen — even a natural one (yours looks great). we’ve also started trying pure coconut oil as a sunscreen this summer … so far so good, but it’s got such a low melting point that it’s getting tricky….

    1. Wellness Mama Avatar
      Wellness Mama

      The last few years I have avoided burning just with supplements. I do start slow though to make sure I don’t burn, but now am spending several hours a day in the sun (pulling weeds) in the heat of the day without burning… never been this tan before either! So funny, I used to hate my pale skin and chalked it up to genetics, thinking it couldn’t change…

      1. annette Avatar

        Hi, could I add zinc powder to avocado oil? I haven’t purchased zinc yet, I am fair and live in hawaii- tied of spending so much $ on sunscreen.

    1. Wellness Mama Avatar
      Wellness Mama

      15-20 depending on how much zinc oxide you add… I’d still test with a little sun exposure at a time until you see how it works for you though

  13. Sarah B. Avatar
    Sarah B.

    Hi,
    I just stumbled upon your blog and I LOVE this idea of homemade sunscreen. I purchased some natural sunscreen for my kids and me because my skin won’t tolerate regular sunscreen. But it is $18 per 3.5oz tube. Which is crazy expensive. So I wanted to find a more economical/fun way of making my own. We have just started incorporating a Primal/Paleo diet in our family and we use a lot of coconut oil and I’m hoping it will help with our sunscreen dilemma. Anyway…I’m rambling… My question is when you are measuring out your ingredients it says 1 cup coconut butter/butter mixture. Are you packing all that down into a measure cup? Or are you melting it all to get a 8floz measurement?

    Thanks so much! I’m adding you to my netvibes feed! 🙂
    Sarah

    1. Wellness Mama Avatar
      Wellness Mama

      Just packing it down, and you can actually cut the recipe in half if you don’t want to make a huge batch up front. Thanks for reading 🙂

  14. Julie Avatar

    What a fantastic idea!  I have done a little of playing around with making my own bath and body products but never realized you could make sunscreen.  I also have been trying to go natural with sunscreen.  I like Bahainlove’s ideal of adding bug repelent  such as Citronella. 

  15. Lisa Avatar

    Hi..I am going to try this!   When you buy the beeswax. …..do you buy the beeswax pastilles or the filtered beeswax? 

    Thanks!

    1. Wellness Mama Avatar
      Wellness Mama

      They increase sun sensitivity and can cause burning

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