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In the book Zero to One, Peter Thiel asks readers to consider what views/truths they believe that very few people agree with them on. For me, one such personal belief is that most sunscreen is not helpful in avoiding skin cancer and may actually increase the chances of it! This is one of the reasons I’ve been making homemade sunscreen for years (even though I rarely use it).
Sound crazy?
Sunburn is harmful… we all agree on that and it should absolutely be avoided. But sunscreen isn’t the only way to avoid it.
It’s definitely not a popular opinion, and I’m certainly not encouraging you to avoid wearing sunscreen or to ignore the advice of your doctor. I am, however, encouraging you to do your own research, look at the actual studies, and use common sense when it comes to sun exposure.
Why Make Homemade Sunscreen?
I explain in full my stance on sunscreen here, but here’s why I decided to try making my own years ago.
Avoid Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals
It’s interesting to notice that in the years since sunscreen use began, skin cancer rates have actually risen. In fact, many reports show that most sunscreens actually raise skin cancer risk. This may be due in part to the fact that many sunscreens contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as oxybenzone. Oxybenzone is a known hormone disruptor that is not recommended for use on children. It has been banned in many locations world-wide.
My homemade sunscreen recipe relies on a physical mineral barrier that stays on the surface of the skin rather than penetrating through as most chemical sunscreens do.
Of course, there are many more mineral sunscreens with safer ingredients on the market now than when I first started making homemade sunscreen. (I’ve listed some of my favorite EWG-rated sunscreens below.) That being said, you still have to read labels because even more “natural” sunscreens can still contain problematic ingredients.
Protect the Coral Reefs
Recent research is showing compounds in many types of sunscreen harm ocean life, especially coral. Researchers estimate that over 5,000 metric tons of sunscreen wash off of swimmers each year. This “swimmer pollution” threatens a large part of the coral life in the ocean and indirectly many other ocean species as well. This is because these compounds may awaken dormant viruses in symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae, which provide food and color to the coral.
Some sunscreen ingredients have even now been banned in some places due to their negative environmental effects on the coral reefs. This homemade sunscreen recipe avoids all such ingredients.
The Vitamin D Factor
Also, our bodies need some exposure to the sun to formulate vitamin D, a necessary building block for correct hormone function. Combine vitamin D deficiency with sunscreen ingredients such as oxybenzone (a hormone disrupter and not recommended for use on children) and it is any wonder some of us are concerned?
I don’t buy the idea that even moderate sun exposure is harmful when our bodies need vitamin D and light exposure for so many aspects of health. I personally take astaxanthin daily to help protect my skin from the inside out (read about why I do this here).
Looking at these reasons, to me it makes sense to ask whether sunscreen is the best or only way to avoid sunburn.
Is Homemade Sunscreen Dangerous?
Several recent articles claim that homemade sunscreens are harmful and that a person should never consider making their own sunscreen. Their reasoning is that you can’t verify the SPF with homemade sunscreens, so the chance of burning is higher.
I certainly agree that homemade sunscreens don’t have the lab testing that conventional ones do, but you know what else they don’t have? Endocrine disruptors and coral-killing compounds. Also, sunscreen should be a last resort, according to the EWG, as shade and getting out of the sun in the heat of the day are better options anyway.
So while it may be true that we shouldn’t use homemade sunscreens in the same way we use conventional ones, I’d also argue that we shouldn’t use conventional sunscreens in the way we normally do either!
Bottom Line: Use common sense and get safe sun exposure. The amount and safety will vary by person and I definitely recommend doing your own research and talking to a knowledgeable naturopath or dermatologist to figure out what works best for you.
A Common Sense Approach to Sun
In most cases, my approach to sun exposure is to get adequate but moderate daily exposure, without getting close to the point of burning. Since most of us don’t work outside these days, it actually takes effort to get daily sun, rather than to avoid it. I definitely don’t slather on the coral-destroying sunscreen in the off chance I might encounter a few stray rays of sunlight, and in fact, I welcome it!
In fact, thanks to Nutrition Genome Testing, I know that I have mutations that make it very difficult to get enough vitamin D. This puts me at risk for a lot of serious diseases and taking supplements doesn’t work very well to raise my levels. For this reason, my doctor advised me to get adequate vitamin D… from natural sun exposure.
Of course, there is a limit to how much sun a person needs or should get. When I reach this limit, I personally:
Use the Shade or Cover Up
In the event that I’m going to be out in the sun for much longer than my skin is used to, it is often easy enough to just put on a hat or shirt to shield my skin. This is the approach that the Environmental Working Group recommends. It is more effective at stopping excess sun exposure, costs less, and doesn’t harm the ocean. A common sense win/win scenario.
Use Natural Sunscreen When Needed
If I’m going to be in intense sun and can’t easily cover up when I’ve gotten enough sun, I will very occasionally use a natural sunscreen. I’ve yet to use it this year, and hope not to at all, but I’m sharing my personal recipe (and healthiest options for store bought sunscreens).
Important Note: Unlike most sunscreens, natural and homemade sunscreens may not be as waterproof or have as high (or broad spectrum) SPF. Homemade versions may not protect as fully against UVA and UVB rays. I am not recommending entirely avoiding sunscreen or getting too much sun that could lead to sunburn or sun damage.
Support Skin From the Inside Out
Sun exposure itself is not the only factor linked to skin cancer. Many nutritional factors, such as optimal vitamin D levels or even reducing our consumption of harmful omega-6 vegetable oils, can have a big impact on skin health. See this post for how I optimize my diet and supplements for healthy skin and improved sun tolerance.
Natural Sunscreen Ingredients
Many of the ingredients in this recipe have a natural SPF (sun protection factor). This is a natural recipe and has not been tested by a regulatory organization for exact an SPF. For this reason, I can’t (and don’t) make any claims or even guesses as to the combined SPF.
The individual ingredients are considered low SPF and generally quoted at these levels:
- Almond oil: SPF around 5
- Coconut oil: SPF 4-6
- Zinc oxide or titanium dioxide: SPF 2-20 depending on how much is used
- Red raspberry seed oil: SPF 25-50
- Carrot seed oil: SPF 35-40
- Shea butter: SPF 4-6
The final version will have a varied sun protective ability depending on the amount of each ingredient used. For a simple version, even just coconut oil and shea butter with some zinc oxide or a little raspberry seed and carrot seed oil will work for moderate exposure.
As always check with your doctor or dermatologist before using any new products.
NOTE: This is an improved recipe since many people were having trouble getting the temperatures exactly right to get the lotion to emulsify (as per the comments below). This recipe should not have any of those issues!
Homemade Sunscreen Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup almond or olive oil (can infuse with herbs first if desired)
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- ¼ cup beeswax pellets
- 2 TBSP zinc oxide
- 1 tsp red raspberry seed oil (or less, optional)
- 1 tsp carrot seed oil (or less, optional)
- 2 TBSP shea butter (optional)
Optional Ingredients
- essential oils
- vanilla extract
- other natural extracts (not citrus)
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients except zinc oxide in a pint-sized or larger glass jar.
- Fill a medium saucepan with a couple inches of water and place on the stove over medium heat.
- Put a lid loosely on the jar and place it in the pan with the water.
- Shake or stir the jar occasionally to mix the ingredients as the melt.
- When all the ingredients are completely melted, stir in the zinc oxide, and pour into whatever jar or tin you will use for storage.
- Stir a few times as it cools to make sure zinc oxide is incorporated.
- Store at room temperature or in the refrigerator to increase shelf life.
Notes
- This sunscreen is not waterproof and will need to be reapplied after sweating or swimming.
- Make sure not to inhale the zinc oxide. Use a mask if necessary!
- Add more beeswax to make thicker sunscreen, less to make smooth sunscreen.
Store in a cool, dry place or in the fridge. - I prefer to store in a small canning jar and apply like a body butter. It will be thicker, especially if you use coconut oil in the recipe.
- Remove the zinc oxide and this makes an excellent lotion recipe!
An Even Faster Way to Make Sunscreen
- Get a bottle of your favorite lotion (that doesn’t contain citrus oils!)
- Add a couple tablespoons of non-nano zinc oxide
- Mix well
You can also make sunscreen bars by using many of the same ingredients!
Store-Bought Natural Sunscreens
Not Interested in DIY? I’ve gotten numerous questions over the years about pre-made sunscreen options for those who don’t have the time or desire to make a homemade version of their own. I list my favorite store-bought brands in this post.
This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Scott Soerries, MD, Family Physician and Medical Director of SteadyMD. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.
What do you think? Avid sunscreen user or vitamin D junkie?
Why should we avoid a lotion with citrus oils? Does it not mix well with the zinc oxide?
They can make the skin more sensitive to the sun…
What is non-nano version of zinc oxide?? and what is it important to not inhale it if it is safe to put on your skin? I could no find zinc oxide in powder form but did find zinc caps that are “natural” and chelated. I just opened the capsules until I had 2 tablspoons of powder. Is this the same?
I’m a vitamin D junky! I just have to do a couple of short tanning periods at the beginning of summer then I’m good to go for the year, texas summer n all with very little red n no peeling(occasional exceptions like once every couple of years) If I’m at the lake or somewhere with little shade to give my skin a break i might put sunscreen on half way through the day, but I haven’t used any all summer n only got red ones (n it was tan the next day) but texas has had a surprisingly mild summer this year…
Is there anything that can be substituted for the beeswax? my mom is allergic to all bee products and breaks out in hives from even touching them, so i dont want my baby slathered in bees wax. Thanks!
Mountain Rose Herbs also has emulsifying wax that will work
can we sub something for the beeswax? we’re vegan. thx!
Emulsifying wax might also work. Mountain Rose Herbs carries that too…
I just made mine without beeswax. I am allergic. This unblock is for my son. He’s allergic to other things, but I just figured I’d avoid it for both of us just in case. I used shea butter, coconut oil, zinc oxide and carrot oil. Hoping it works and smells better once it’s solidified a bit.
How many pounds is 1/4 cup? I’m trying to figure up how much I would need.
4 ounces would be plenty
Although I like this sunscreen recipe and I don’t like to put chemicals on my skin, my advice to readers is: do not take advice given on blogs as a substitute for medical advice. Just ask someone who has lost their nose how they feel about this statement: “To avoid skin cancer, which is not a particularly deadly cancer”.
I’m not saying that skin cancer isn’t horrible or trying to downplay it, I’m just challenging the assumption that it is caused by sun exposure and only sun exposure. In fact, the three people I personally know who have had skin cancer on their face have worn sunscreen everyday for YEARS before that.
Yep, that would be me . . .
Excellent advice, Jennifer! A heartfelt thank-you from an RN!
Encouraging the public to try a natural alternative as opposed to the toxic products our FDA allows to be made and sold to the unknowing public, is doing a HUGE service to anyone interested in bettering their health. READ READ READ. We are not being protected from toxic substances in our food OR our skin products. I am also an RN, only I don’t blindly believe what that we are protected by any Government agency, where our food or ‘health products’ are concerned. We are all free to make our own decisions on what we read on the internet, use due diligence to educate yourself before making that decision.
Thank you for speaking up!
You are right however, each case is unique. I got the best advices for my kid’s eczema from other moms and blogs. Docs loaded us with steroids and antibiotics till I learned that are other natural ways to fight eczema.
My Sunscreen seperated, all the white settled to the bottom and the gel/water mixture is sitting on top. Any suggestions for what I may have done wrong?
Probably a temperature thing… Maybe try blending with a teaspoon of ice cold water.
I didn’t have any problems making this sunscreen, but several people mention a watery mess. but there shouldn’t be any water in the actual sunscreen (at least not as I read the directions). Make sure you are using the water ONLY as a double boiler. My sunscreen is fairly firm and stayed incorporated quite well.
I could not be more disappointed in this recipe. I ordered all the ingredients that I didn’t have and was so excited to try this. I ended up with a grainy watery mess. I could not get the ingredients to blend so I poured off the excess liquid, reheated some more and tried again. Same thing. I also tried the suggestion to add a little bit of cold water. Nope. The resulting “body butter” is like white clown paint. Just a dab is enough to make my whole arm completely white. It will not rub in. I wish I would have read the comments before investing in these ingredients 🙁
I’m so sorry you had trouble with it. I didn’t have any trouble at all when I made it so I’m trying to remake several times to see what could be wrong…
What happens if there are citrus oils in the lotion. I have a lotion I love and want to add zinc, it doesn’t list any citrus oil but essential oil blend is on the label…….
some, like lemon, can make you more sun sensitive. If it is part of a blend, it is probably not in high enough concentration to cause trouble..
THis is such a dumb idea. Why do “natural” people reject solid science?
Show me the supposed solid science…
The “natural” people seem to be outliving their doctors!
What we know of solid science is usually about 50 years or so behind the new updated information. Using natural less toxic ingredients is always safer. Why do so many people have such a myriad of health issues today that we didn’t have in the past, just coincidence?
Probably because they weren’t being diagnosed in the past, science has come along way. If you haven’t noticed, life expectancy is up these days.
People are just living SICK longer. How many medications are in your medicine cabinet? That’s no way to LIVE.
I have tried several different manufactured sunscreens for my face and can’t find any that I don’t have a reaction to. My face will sting and then layers of skin slough off the next day. Even the type for children and sensitive skin bother me. I’m hoping that minimizing the number of unnecessary ingredients will help.
Have you tried 100% Pure products? I too have sensitive skin. Read ingredients and check on EWG.org website for toxicity levels.
“solid science” is merely a theory that has been “proven” (for the time being), but how many times has “tried and true” theories we took as “solid science,” been proved inaccurate? It’s not Called the art of Science… science evolves over time and adapts to accommodate new information learned along the way.
Us “natural types” recognize the importance of vibrating in harmony with the world around us. When using (topically or ingesting) products containing synthetic/manMade chemicals, we alter the natural “chemical” composition of our bodies, which causes unneeded stress on our body systems, especially the elimination organs. Various symptoms begin to manifest… from acne to skin rashes to allergies to gastro intestinal Issues (and so on). We “Natural Types”merely see this & Choose to make a conscious effort to limit our intake (via any method) of added chemicals.
Love the idea of adding zinc to my favorite lotion!
This is an excellent article. People should not be afraid of the sun just wise at how they get exposure.
According to The Essential Oil Handbook, the follow citrus essential oils are not phototoxic: Sweet Orange, Tangerine and Mandarin. The following oils can cause negative reactions if applied to the skin/sun exposure: Bergamot, Lemon, Angelica Root, Grapefruit, Lovage Root and Lime.
The Lavender scent Badger sunscreen linked above has lime oil and Sicilian orange oil in it so does that make it not ideal?
I had a friend who rubbed his body with lime leaves trying to keep mosquitoes at bay- what he ended up with was a crazy weird rash- phytophotodermatis- basically the lime juice makes your skin hypersensitive to sunlight. I don’t know about lime oil, but I know that lime juice would be a bad idea.
Question about the deodorant and sunscreen. I made the deodorant that is arrow root, baking soda, coconut oil and essential oils (lavender is what I used). Can I add zinc oxide to this to make sunscreen?
You could or could also omit the arrowroot…
Is the aloe vera necessary or could I substitute with something else? Just made the natural bug spray, thanks for the recipe!
You can omit if you don’t have it
I tried this recipe (well – a really similar one that I adapted from your recipe and a few other sites), and so far it’s working really well! I was afraid it would stay white on my skin, but it rubs right in, and it’s not sticky or anything! And the best part: I didn’t get burned!!!
Thanks!
Didn’t have time to read all the comments here yet but I was so excited to make this and followed directions I think to a T and the water or tea(I chose to make tea) after I mixed it was sseparated from the wax and oil. Did I do something wrong or what. I don’t see in the directions any indication that will happen. I ended up just pouring the water off and am using it like a body butter. I even tried reheating first again but it did not work. Any suggestions on making it into more of a lotion?
Unfortunately, homemade lotion is very persnickety about temperature. Re-blending with a teaspoon of really cold water might help. I’m going to try to post more detailed temperature directions. In the meantime, the body butter will actually have a higher SPF 🙂
I just tried this recipe today and as I was adding the brewed green tea, it started to separate. Was my tea too cool? I was hand stirring, vigorously and adding the liquid very slowly. Should I have stopped adding the liquid a bit earlier? If I reheat it and stir vigorously, will this help blend it all together again? Thanks for your help.
I’d try adding a teaspoon of ice water while whisking vigorously and see if that helps re-emulsify…
Thank you for this recipe, I doubled it and added an extra tbls. of e wax. 1/4 c. of Coconut oil and 1/4 c. infused grape seed oil. I stirred the Zinc into the oils until well mixed. I warmed the “tea” and aloe a bit and let the hot oils set for about 10 min then used the stick blender. I blended then let it set then blended again about 4 times . Then stirred gently to release the air bubbles. It came out beautifully! I do believe temperature is a key element here. Oh , not greasy either. Great recipe with or without the zinc.
Mine separated. It looks like the tea did not stay in? Suggestions please.
It was likely a temperature issue… homemade lotions can be really persnickety with temp. Try re-blending the two with a teaspoon of really cold water.