Summer is the best, full of long days at the pool, heading out to the lake or the beach, barbecuing with friends, popsicles, ice cold margaritas, and soaking up as much sun as we possibly can.
I don’t know about you, but I love taking my two wild boys to the pool. It’s one of the few things that really wears them out.
However, since learning about the endocrine disruptors in conventional sunscreen, I started to make my own natural sunscreen!
These chemicals interfere with our endocrine system and disrupt how our hormones are working. Once you apply the sunscreen, it absorbs into your skin, into your bloodstream, and into your cells and organs.
Our skin is our biggest organ, after all. So while we’re trying to protect it from sunburn and UVA/UVB rays, we are poisoning our body with endocrine disrupting chemicals in the process.
As someone with thyroid disease, I’m not surprised that I have all of the issues I have, especially considering how long I have used conventional sunscreen.
This natural sunscreen is really great. My boys never burn, but it does need to be reapplied after swimming and sweating. If we are out in the sun more than an hour to an hour and a half, we reapply. Be generous with it.
It does leave a little bit of a white shine, but it’s not that noticeable. This is important though, because it’s supposed to sit on top of the skin to protect from burns. The toxic sunscreen that absorbs into your skin is what causes problems.
Easy Natural Sunscreen
Easy Natural Sunscreen
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup organic coconut oil I get mine at Costco
- 1/2 cup shea butter
- 1/4 cup organic beeswax
- 1 tsp carrot seed oil optional
- 20 drops lavender essential oil
- 4 tbsp non-nano zinc oxide nano zinc oxide can be dangerous because it's small enough to absorb into the bloodstream
Instructions
- Over low heat, melt together the coconut oil, shea butter, and beeswax. Keep stirring it as it melts.
- Once it's all melted together, remove it from the heat and add the zinc oxide and essential oils.
- Stir it until it's well blended, and transfer it to a few small glass jars to cool.
What types of sun protection do you use in the summertime? We also use this natural bug spray!
Have you tried natural sunscreen?
Update Notes
This recipe for natural sunscreen was originally posted in June 2016. It was updated in June 2019.
Disclosure
I am not a doctor and this information should not be considered medical advice. You should seek the advice of your own medical professional for your own situation.
HI Stefani,
Excellent article. So many people use conventional sunscreen and its as dangerous to our health as the sun is in some cases. I love your recipe and it sounds like it really should work without all the health risks. Thanks for sharing on Real Food Fridays. Pinned & tweeted!
It’s so dangerous! I actually used it a few weeks ago because I didn’t have an alternative, and I ended up throwing my thyroid and hormones out of whack! What a bummer that has been, but now I know to always keep my natural stuff on me.
Love this recipe, especially the addition of carrot seed oil. We use a similar version, but I’d like to give yours a try! Thanks for linking up with us on Simply Natural Saturdays!
I was so happy to see that carrot seed oil has a natural SPF! It really is great, but definitely add a nice smelling oil… the carrot seed oil kind of smells dirty 😉
Can I use something other than carrot seed oil? I don’t have any.
You don’t have to use it, it’s just added protection. Lavender will give it a nice smell. The non-nano zinc oxide provides most of the protection.
Hi , where do u get the zinc oxide from? The chemist near me doesn’t stock it and the compound chemist won’t sell it to me .😁
I got it on Amazon! There should be a link in the post.
Didn’t know that carrot seed oil has a natural spf! Very cool.
Yes! Isn’t that so neat? I love how amazingly useful essential oils can be in so many different ways 🙂
What adorable swimmers! This was imformative to me. I find myself choosing natural products more and more often. This is the first time I’ve seen homemade sunscreen.
Thanks Pamela! They’re little troublemakers, but they sure look sweet 🙂 I started out looking more and more at natural products too, and now I’m making my own of a lot! Once you learn about the dangers of it all, you can’t go back!
Ok I am definitlly going to pin this! If it means a healthier lifestyle for my family then I will do it!
Awesome, Mihaela! I’m the same way, gotta do what’s best for the family!
I hate all the chemicals in sunscreen. We buy one of these most natural ones I have found because making it intimidates me. Maybe I can try to make it though? This recipe looks doable!
It’s always so intimidating to try something for the first time, but I promise you; If I can do this, then you can! I’m the one who always has things go horribly WRONG haha. But it turned out beautifully! You can totally pull it off. 🙂
My friend just told me about thr dangers if sunscreen and now this. I think will try this together.
I definitely recommend it, De! It’s so easy, and works wonderfully!
Thanks for sharing! This sounds great.
What a wonderful recipe for homemade sunscreen! I’ve never made my own, but have ditched the toxic ones many moons ago.
This is probably the best sunscreen I’ve ever used, especially on the kids. It’s so moisturizing, and I love that it doesn’t let them burn but it’s still healthy!
I had no idea that you could make your own sunscreen. I love this. I have been purchasing organic sunscreen since I learned about the toxins in it. You are right, everything we put on our skin is absorbed into our bodies. But we slather this on our children and set them outside to let it bake right into their skin. Scary! And the affects on the body are crazy! It’s amazing what the FDA allows in our food and products. Sharing widely. Pinned, Tweeted and Stumbled. This is a big deal!
Thanks, Nikki! I hope that you have a chance to give it a try, it’s so worth it to protect ourselves and our kids from the sun and from harmful chemicals!
What is non nano zinc oxide? And how do you know the size of the zinc particles in it?
You can find non-nano zinc oxide by clicking on the link in the post- I get mine from Amazon. The zinc oxide is labeled either nano or non-nano, so all you have to do is look specifically for non-nano.
Is this recipe creamy enough to be put in a squeeze tube for convenience?
My 12 yr old is allergic to sunblock and am going to give this natural recipe a try!
Hi Stacey! It hardens a little too much to be in a squeeze tube. We keep it in a small jar and the warmth of our skin helps it melt really well but a squeeze bottle probably wouldn’t be best.
I finally have all the ingredients to make this and cant wait to make it!
Hope you like it Marina! I love this stuff. We use it all the time!
I make my own sunscreen also, I add raspberry seed oil, and avocado oil and just leave out the zinc oxide. I think it’s amazing. I use it on my kids and myself, we love it.
That’s great, Chelsie! I haven’t heard about the SPF in raspberry seed oil.
I would definitely try this natural sunscreen this weekend. I am quite tired of the chemical-laden ones in stores.
Me too! Every time I look at the ingredients I cringe. Hope you like this one!
Hi, I just found your recipe. I have been making all my skin care products for a few years now, and since moving to the desert; sunscreen is a must! My son is a hiker and is excited about a homemade “by Mom” sunscreen. He wants to use a squeeze bottle; so I’m going to reduce the amount of bees wax in hopes that it will be smooth enough to place in a bottle. Wish me luck!!
Hi Susan! This sunscreen is not going to be creamy enough for a squeeze bottle unfortunately. It hardens up a little, and when applying it you let it work with the warmth of your skin to spread nicely. But without that warmth it’s not very soft.
Hi Stefani~ I just wanted to let you know that I reduced the bees wax by 1/2 and the consistency is awesome. I put it in squeeze bottles and it works like a champ!!! BTW….my son loves it; the carrot seed oil gives it a very nice scent and I added a little Frankincense as well. Thanks for the great recipe!
Awesome! Thanks for letting me know; I’ll have to try that next time! Glad it was a success for you, squeeze bottles are so handy ????
Well, I whipper up a batch of this sunscreen last night and tried it out today on my 2 girls and myself. It did harden up upon cooling, but was easily removed from the jar and spread nicely. After an hour we reapplied and spent about another hour or so out in my sister’s pool. WOW, unfortunately we are all fried to a crisp! Red as lobsters. So sad as we’re obviously all hurting, but more so because I’m trying to avoid all these chemicals. We are all fair, but I had high hopes for chemical free. ????
Oh no! This sunscreen does need to be applied generously. My boys are always a bit greasy after putting it on. It’s not supposed to rub into the skin, but sit on top for protection. My oldest son is pretty fair skinned and he’s never had a problem with it. I’m so sorry you guys burned! I would try applying more next time, to see if that helps. Also- lavender oil mixed with coconut oil is wonderful for sunburns. So sorry mama!
Please, use real sunscreen, wear hats and shirts with the sunscreen then. My in laws are all having cancer spots removed from their faces, because they didn’t protect themselves.
Zinc oxide is real sunscreen, Liz. And it does so without messing with the endocrine system. I guarantee that chemical-laden sunscreen is causing more than cancer spots for people. You can still protect yourself using healthier options! ☺️
Thanks so much for sharing this recipe. We just made some 🙂 what is the SPF of it?
If I remember correctly, the spf is around 30-40? Hope you enjoy it!
I would love to try this recipe but I am allergic to shea butter. Is there another butter i can use instead?
I’ve never tried… Maybe cocoa butter?
Do you know if this can be used on pets. Our dog lost fur due to food allergies and I worry about him getting sunburned this summer. We just adopted him at the end of last summer.
Hi Rachel, I wouldn’t think any of these ingredients would cause a problem for a pet. I would test it on a small patch of skin first and then proceed from there ☺️
COULD YOU WHIP THIS AND MAKE LIKE A BUTTER RECIPE AND WOULD IT WORK AS WELL??
I wouldn’t whip it because you’d be more likely to spread it too thin and not get enough coverage.
Thanks for the post. I did make it. It works good. Mine is a bit gritty. Did I just not mix it well. Can I warm it all up again to see if it will go smoother.
Mine is also a heavy visable layer on top. Just take some extra rubbing, then it go’s away. Also makes me sweat more. Can I use this on my face.
Mine is a little gritty too, but it’s the coconut oil. When I rub it on, it melts in. You can use it on your face- I do! You’ll get used to the way it feels. We hardly notice it anymore because it is all we know!
Sounds like a great alternative to store bought sunscreen! Does it leave a white film on the skin?
It leaves a slight sheen, but not bright white coating. The reason this happens is because this sunscreen sits on top of the skin to protect it from sun. The other sunscreens that absorb into your skin are causing the problems by absorbing into the skin!
Could I use a Shea butter with colloidal oatmeal in it do you think? It’s all I have in…
I don’t know if that would change how effective the sunblock is, I would just use normal shea butter.
I’ve made sunscreen before but it’s my first time trying this recipe! It’s cooking now & I’m sending a batch with my daughter to camp. I added cocoa powder to help with the stark white that comes from zinc. Thanks for the recipe!
Hope you enjoy it! Just make sure she doesn’t rub it all the way in, it needs to stay on top of the skin to protect it! 🙂
What’s the difference between Carrot Seed and Carrot Oil?
I haven’t heard of plain carrot oil, as far as I’ve seen, they are the same.
Hi , could I replace beeswax with another wax ?
I’m not sure what you could replace it with, the beeswax gives it a strong holding texture.
What is the SPF content of this sunscreen? Thanks
There is no official SPF, but I’ve found it to be comparable to 30-40.
Hi! I am excited to make this. Is it safe to use on babies? I have an 8 month old.
For a baby that young I would use something like ThinkBaby. Their skin is so much more sensitive I’d hate for something in this recipe to irritate your little one!
Hi!
I got all the stuff except lavender oil.. instead I have lemon essential oil. Can I use that??
Thanks
Od
I wouldn’t use lemon. Citrus oils can make you more sensitive to the sun which would counteract the sunblock!