DIY Sunscreen/Natural After-Sun Care
½ cup almond or olive oil (can infuse with herbs first if desired)
¼ cup coconut oil (natural SPF 4)
¼ to ⅓ cup beeswax (depending on how hard you want the sunscreen or what container you plan on using)
2 Tablespoons non-nano zinc oxide
Up to 1 teaspoon Carrot Seed Oil – optional
Up to 1 teaspoon Wheat Germ Oil – optional
Combine all ingredients (except zinc oxide) into a slow cooker or double boiler and melt. When the ingredients are melted, add the zinc oxide until it’s completely incorporated. Store in a small mason jar (or use empty deodorant stick containers if you prefer a harder sunscreen like I do). Let cool completely before use. Done!
SPFs (Sun Protection Factors) of different oils and ingredients:
Macadamia Oil: SPF 6
Non-GMO Soybean Oil: SPF 10
Avocado Oil: SPF 4-10 (can get as high as 15)
Olive Oil: SPF 2-8
Shea Butter: SPF 3-6
Almond Oil: SPF 5
Sesame Seed Oil: SPF 4
Hemp Seed Oil: SPF 6
Jojoba Oil: SPF 4
Coconut Oil: SPF 2-8
Carrot Seed Oil: SPF 38-40
Wheat Germ Oil: SPF 20
Zinc Oxide: SPF 2-20
Beeswax: No SPF, but acts as a water-resistant barrier which enables the sunscreen to stay on longer. It’s still recommended that you reapply after swimming, but it won’t wash off as easily if you’re out in the sun and no water is involved.
Natural After Sun Care:
Aloe Vera: Straight from the plant is best, but bottled aloe vera works well also. It helps cool the skin and heal damaged cells at the same time.
Cucumbers: Much in the same way that cucumbers can help with puffy eyes, a pureed cucumber paste is nourishing, cooling, and soothing to sunburned skin.
Witch Hazel: Lauded for its ability to heal inflamed skin, witch hazel can be used to speed up healing time and possibly prevent flaking from a sunburn.
Apple Cider Vinegar: Is there anything ACV can’t do? It helps balance the pH of the skin, which reduces irritation. Add a capful of vinegar to a spray bottle filled with water and spray on the sunburned skin. As vinegar is an astringent, it’s important to moisturize afterward to prevent dryness.
Coconut oil: Can act as a moisturizer if you want to use vinegar for your remedy, but also contains a good amount of lauric acid, which also promotes healing of the skin from a sunburn.
Baths: Taking a bath in cool water with baking soda, milk, and tea will help provide instant relief from the heat of a sunburn. The ingredients can also be made into a spray. Baking soda helps balance the pH of the skin like apple cider vinegar, milk cools the burn, and tea has tannins in it that can act as natural anti-inflammatory compounds.
Example After-Sun Paste:
½ cup aloe vera gel
¼ cup witch hazel
1 cup cucumber paste (blend 1 cucumber)
1 tsp baking soda
¼ tsp apple cider vinegar
¼ cup strong brewed black tea
