We are making all the things at home these days, why not make your own sunscreen too? I hate to be the burster of bubbles, but not every bottle of sunscreen you buy at Target is safe 😱 I know, I know… Do me a favor ⏤ next time you’re there, flip a bottle around and give the ingredients list a gander. If you see synthetic oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate or octinoxate you better run! These ingredients are notorious for reeking havoc on the body and have been linked to endocrine disruption, affecting the nervous system or releasing free radicals. BAD BAD BAD. So why not avoid body danger and make your own? It’s super easy and only requires 3 ingredients. Scroll down and learn how to make your own sunscreen at home. Trust me, you won’t regret it! Once you’ve made some, but stayed in the sun too long, check out this DIY After Sun Spray. It’s all-natural. It heals sunburn. It’s awesome.
What you need
Body lotion
- I chose an unscented body lotion from a brand I know and love that uses clean ingredients
- I would steer clear of any lotions that contain parabens, synthetic Vitamin A and/or fragrances
Non-nano zinc oxide
- Provides broad spectrum sun protection that prevents sun burn
- Helps to lower inflammation associated with rashes, allergies or irritation (also diaper rash!)
- Recognized as safe for UV protection, however wear a mask when handling to prevent inhaling any particles
- Buying a non-nano zinc oxide is especially important so none of the particles can enter the body which would be no bueno
Carrot seed oil
- A powerful antioxidant that is great at repairing dry and damaged skin
- Has an SPF of around 40 which makes it an effective UV-blocking agent
- Helps to heal wounds, is anti-inflammatory and fights blemishes
- Don’t confuse it with Carrot seed essential oil, which has a higher concentration
Air-tight container
- I’ve repurposed an old glass container from this product I believe
- I try to repurpose old bottles and jars whenever possible, since it’s a great way to be more eco-friendly
- Use whatever your heart desires! Just make sure it’s air-tight so you get as long a shelf life as possible
How to make
- Get your mixing bowl and get ready to add:
- 1/2 cup of body lotion
- Followed by 12 drops of Carrot Seed oil
- Before the next step, put on a mask that covers your mouth and nose to avoid inhaling any particles
- Add 1 tbsp and 2 tsps of non-nano zinc oxide
- Stir extremely well. The texture of the zinc oxide will naturally create clumping, and we want all clumps gone so we are left with a smooth, even lotion. So be patient with this step, or use an electric mixer if you like!
- Once all clumps have been banished, add your sunscreen lotion to your air-tight container
- All done!
Tips and tricks
- This amount of zinc oxide in this recipe results in a sunscreen lotion with an SPF of 30. If you want more coverage, add more. If you want less coverage, add less
- The thickness of your lotion and the amount of zinc oxide you add will also determine the viscosity of your sunscreen lotion. So don’t go crazy adding mountains of zinc oxide, otherwise it may be super opaque and more challenging to rub into the skin. You might end up looking like this guy
- Optional: I used a plastic bag to pipe my sunscreen lotion into my container. To do so, simply cut a hole into the corner of your plastic bag and squeeze to neatly dispense
Did you make this recipe?
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