Homemade Sunscreen Recipe
Make your own sunscreen at home with natural ingredients and avoid the chemicals in commercial brands. Make sure to check out the notes at the end of the recipe for tips.
Servings: 10 ounces
Equipment
- Pint size mason jar with lid (or a double boiler)
Ingredients
- ½ cup sweet almond oil (or avocado oil or olive oil)
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- ¼ cup beeswax pellets
- 2 TBSP non-nano zinc oxide powder
- 1 tsp red raspberry seed oil (or less, optional)
- 1 tsp carrot seed oil (or less, optional)
- 2 TBSP shea butter (optional)
- 25 drops essential oils (not phototoxic ones)
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract (optional, for scent)
- ½ tsp vitamin E oil (optional, to extend shelf life)
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients except zinc oxide in a pint-sized or larger glass jar. You can also use a double boiler instead of a jar.
- Fill a medium saucepan with a few 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.
- Stir occasionally to mix the ingredients as they melt.
- When all the ingredients are completely melted, stir in the zinc oxide. This will take some stirring to incorporate.
- Pour into whatever jar or tin you’ll use for storage.
- Stir a few times as it cools to make sure the 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 it in a small canning jar and apply it like 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!