Summer is here! That means it is time to say hello to longer, warmer days drenched in golden sunlight. Unfortunately, if you aren’t careful, it also means that it is time to say hello to skin burnt to a painful red crisp by that summer sun. Ouch! Sunburn is not fun. Period. In addition, that sun exposure can up your risk of health problems such as skin cancer. This summer protect yourself and your loved ones by learning how to make homemade sunscreen.
Sure, you could skip learning how to make homemade sunscreen and just pick up a bottle at your local store but if you’re looking for a natural, chemical free remedy for you and your family, I highly recommend this homemade sunscreen recipe.
This particular recipe for homemade sunscreen is rich in natural ingredients (such as coconut oil) that will not only protect your skin but nourish it. There are no unpronounceable ingredients or questionable chemicals here!
Learning how to make homemade sunscreen is not difficult. In fact, all you have to do is melt a few ingredients on your stovetop or in the microwave, stir in a few essential oils, and voilà, you just successfully concocted homemade sunscreen! In fact, you can learn how to make homemade sunscreen from scratch in under 10 minutes.
Let’s get started so you can head outdoors and enjoy the summer and all of its sunshine!
How To Make Homemade Sunscreen
INGREDIENTS
2 Tbsp. coconut oil
2 Tbsp. almond oil
¼ cup Shea butter
¼ cup cocoa butter
2 tsp. carrot seed oil
2 Tbsp. zinc oxide
1 oz. beeswax
15 drops lavender essential oil
15 drops myrrh essential oil
SPF LEVELS
Many of the ingredients in this article on how to make homemade sunscreen have a natural SPF but since this is a natural recipe that has not been tested by a regulatory organization, I can’t make any claims as to the combined SPF. Here is a look at the SPF levels of the individual ingredients:
Coconut oil – 4-6 SPF
Almond oil – 5 SPF
Shea butter – 4-6 SPF
Carrot seed oil – 28-40 SPF
Zinc oxide – 2-30 SPF
Lavender essential oil – 6 SPF
Myrrh essential oil – 15 SPF
DIRECTIONS
1. Add coconut oil, beeswax, Shea butter, and cocoa butter to a small saucepan or microwave safe dish.
2. Melt the ingredients. If you are melting in a saucepan, stir regularly to mix ingredients and heat evenly. If you are melting in the microwave, heat in 20 second increments, stirring between each interval until fully melted.
3. Allow mixture to cool until just warm to the touch.
4. Stir in almond oil, carrot seed oil, essential oils, and zinc oxide and whisk to combine well.
5. Transfer to a squeeze bottle using a funnel.
Note: Sunscreen should keep for at least a year.
Want to learn other DIY tips and tricks like how to make homemade sunscreen? Follow Freebie Finding Mom’s DIY Fun Pinterest board.
Roxanna says
As someone who is in a constant battle between not wanting to burn, but not wanting to spray chemicals all over my body, this sounds promising. I’m happy to see that carrot seed oil seems to have a pretty high SPF, because I’ve learned firsthand that coconut oil doesn’t do much in the sunscreen department. As easy as this seems, it’s certainly worth a try!
Kelli says
I’m glad, Rozanna! Please share your experience!
Felishia says
My daughter has ketosis pilaris and regular sunblock seems to make it worse. I’m going to make this for her and keep my fingers crossed that it won’t. Thanks for the recipe.
Kelli says
Hi Felishia,
Please let me know how it works for your daughter. Thanks.
grace says
Can’t wait to try this natural sunscreen. I love all things homemade.
Dhari says
Are the essential oils necessary? My lo had eczema and for some reason she has a reaction to lavender. Could I just leave them both out?
Tammy says
I’m wondering did you apply the lavender oil without a carrier oil and or didn’t dilute it enough with a Carrier oil (Coconut oil is my favorite carrier oil)?