Make your own natural sunscreen
Summer is all about having fun in the sun, but today we have to protect our skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays. Sure, we need some kind of sunscreen, but do we have to use something with chemicals that are not beneficial to us or the environment? Here’s a very simple way to make your own natural sunscreen at home. Note that with a lack of ozone there really is no such thing as a “safe” tan, however if you decide not to be a hermit this will definitely help like any other sunscreen.
The first ingredient you will need for this sunscreen is olive oil, or you can experiment with different types of oil that are safe for your skin, such as avocado oil rich in vitamin E. Next, you will need beeswax and rust. zinc or titanium dioxide, both should be available at many health food stores or online. Titanium dioxide works a little better, although it is somewhat harder to find. Either one is the “active” ingredient and is what really protects you. The beeswax is what keeps the rust evenly throughout the sunscreen. You can also change the wax to oil ratio to your liking.
What you will need:
1 cup of olive oil or any natural oil
1 ounce pure beeswax
2 tablespoons pure zinc oxide (USP grade) or titanium dioxide
Addresses:
1. Heat the oil in a skillet over low heat.
two. Add crumbled beeswax.
3. Keep stirring until the beeswax is completely melted.
4. While stirring, slowly add the zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
5. Pour carefully into a glass or ceramic container that can be covered.
6. Once cooled, it is ready for application.
Some precautions must be taken. First of all, avoid breathing zinc oxide powder or titanium dioxide as it can be a health risk. Second, it might be a good idea to dedicate a particular pan, spoon, and any other utensil that is used for this purpose only, no longer for making food. Lastly, when applying, make sure the rust has not settled during cooling. If the sunscreen looks translucent, stir the rust to get that dull color.
Hope this provides an alternative to chemical laden sunscreens. It’s a small step to not using chemicals and not to mention saving some green in the process. And remember that sunscreen is not a complete solution to the sun’s rays and it is not unlimited time in the sun.
