Numerous homemade sunscreen recipes are floating around out there, with most highly effective and a heck of a lot better for you than the nastified stuff found in most commercial sunscreens. Let’s take a brief look at some of the chemicals you’ll want to avoid, as well as an easy recipe for homemade sunscreen. Check it out:
Bad, Bad Chemicals
Many of the chemicals found in commercial sunscreens have unpleasant effects on the body. Some have been known to damage DNA via free radicals, while others cause toxin buildup as they aren’t recognized by the body. Others have shown signs of accelerating cancer growth in animals! Some of the numerous chemical ingredients to avoid like the plague include:
- Oxybenzone
- Padimate O/PABA
- Methoxycinnamate or Octinoxate
- Retinol palmitate
- Salicylates
- Avobenzone
Homemade Sunscreen Recipe
Ingredients for an easy DIY sunscreen recipe include:
- 1/4 cup shea butter (SPF 4-6)
- 1/4 coconut oil (SPF 4)
- 1/2 oz. beeswax granules/pastilles
- 2 tbsp. zinc oxide powder (SPF of 20 or higher, broad spectrum)
Add the oils and the beeswax to a glass bowl. Place the bowl over medium heat and remove once the oils have melted. Add the zinc oxide and blend the ingredients using a stick blender or a regular ol’ mixer. Blend until all clumps have vanished and oil is whipped. Pour the mixture into a glass jar and allow to cool. The stuff may have a thinner consistency at first, but will thicken after a day or so, don’t worry! It doesn’t even leave that ghostly-white sheen most natural sunscreens do! Nice!
Have fun trying this and other DIY sunscreen recipes!
Have you ever made your own sunscreen? What ingredients do you use? Share them in the comments section!
