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3 Easy and Non-Toxic DIY Sunscreen Recipes to Make at Home

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Did you know that you can make your own sunscreen with some simple ingredients from the health food store? In fact, you may already have some of these ingredients in your medicine cabinet or home apothecary cupboard.

These easy-to-make sunscreen recipes can be whipped up in minutes and offer significant protection from sun damage without any potentially harmful chemical additives.

Additionally, since your lips can suffer from sun and heat exposure as well, check out our article on 18 Nourishing DIY Lip Balm Recipes.

Let’s dive in:

1. Zinc Oxide-based Sunscreen Cream

Zinc has been used as a sunscreen for thousands of years and is considered a safe additive by the FDA in concentrations up to 25 percent.

Aim to use non-nano zinc oxide, as studies have shown that nano zinc particles can be absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream, and even through the blood-brain barrier [1]. We don’t want that.

When you’re creating this sunscreen, ensure that all of your ingredients are at the same temperature. If you’ve been keeping your waxes or butters in the fridge for long-term safe storage, take them out and leave them on the counter overnight (for eight to 12 hours).

Ingredients:

Gently melt your shea butter in a double boiler on low heat until it melts into a liquid. Then remove from the heat, add in the other oils, and stir until they’re combined. Next, gently stir in the oxide powder.

Combine all of these ingredients in a stand mixer to whip them into an amazing creamy texture or whisk them in a bowl by hand until they’re all combined. This is where you’ll add your essential oils for scent, if you like (notes on that at the end of this article.)

Once you’re done, the texture should feel like thick buttercream frosting.

Store this in an amber or other darker-colored cosmetic jar until you’re ready to use it. Then, apply it evenly to your skin before heading out into the sunshine. This sunscreen should last about three months at room temperature or six if kept in the fridge.

Please avoid using this sunscreen if you’re going swimming in the ocean. Zinc oxide has proven to be harmful to ocean life and particularly coral reefs [2] and zooxanthellae algae [3].

2. Water-Resistant Sunscreen Cream

Sunscreen

Summertime is ideal for going to the pool or beach to enjoy dips in the cool water on ridiculously hot days. Unfortunately, sunlight reflected off the water’s surface can increase our chances of burning.

Using water-resistant sunscreen like this one can reduce the damage being done to your skin.

Warm the avocado oil in a double boiler on low heat and stir in the beeswax pellets. Once they melt completely, remove from the heat and allow to cool for a few minutes. When this mixture starts to go cloudy, transfer it into a bowl along with all the other ingredients and whisk thoroughly.

After everything has been combined well, transfer it into a cosmetic jar and apply it before heading outdoors.

This sunscreen is water resistant, not waterproof, so you’ll need to reapply it after going swimming or being rained upon. It also has about a three-month shelf life at room temperature but will last longer if refrigerated.

If you’re going to use this while swimming in the ocean, please omit the zinc oxide powder and substitute it with rice flour instead.

3. Zinc Oxide-Free Sunscreen

If you’d prefer to avoid using zinc oxide at all, or if you’d prefer not to use it in sunscreen for your children, then try this recipe. It won’t provide quite as much protection as zinc-based options but offers a fair bit of UV protection for short jaunts outside.

  • 1/2 cup coconut oil
  • 1/4 cup sesame oil
  • 1/4 cup shea butter
  • 2 capsules of vitamin E oil (pierced and emptied)
  • 2 tablespoons rice flour
  • 1/2 tablespoon wheat germ oil (if you have Celiac disease, replace with sweet almond)
  • 12-15 drops chamomile or lavender EO (optional, for scent and soothing)

As with the other sunscreen recipes on this list, warm the shea butter gently in a double boiler on low heat, and once it’s melted, combine with the sesame and coconut oil.

Remove from the heat, and whisk in the remaining ingredients. Transfer into an amber or cobalt cosmetic jar, allow to cool, and apply as needed.

Although the gluten in some skincare ingredients can’t be absorbed through the skin, it can get into little bodies in other ways.

For those with gluten intolerance: Children like to rub their eyes, chew on their fingers, lick ice cream off their arms, and so on. If you or your kids are sensitive to gluten, it’s best to substitute any potentially harmful ingredient with a safer one.

Notes on DIY Sunscreen Ingredients

It’s a smart idea to experiment with different ingredients while you’re making your own sunscreen at home, as you can figure out which textures and scents work best for you.

This is especially important if you or your family members have allergies to some of the ingredients listed here. Many of these ingredients can be substituted with safe alternatives and offer the same degree of sun protection.

That said, there are some additives that won’t just lessen your sunscreen’s effect, but may actually intensify sun damage. For instance, although you may be tempted to add essential oils (EO) for fun scents, some oils just aren’t safe to add to your formulas.

One example of this is cold-pressed citrus EO, such as orange, lime, neroli, bergamot, and so on. These oils contain furanocoumarins: organic compounds that react to ultraviolet light to increase photosensitivity.

Basically, when sunlight hits them, they’ll make your skin burn more easily.

The only safe essential oils that you can add to your sunscreen recipes are:

In terms of other ingredients, the following carrier oils are safe to use in your DIY sunscreen recipes in lieu of coconut, if you’re allergic to it or dislike the scent:

Alternatives to shea butter include:

  • Kokum butter
  • Mango butter

Remember to Cover Up Too!

While sunscreen offers valuable protection from potential sunburn, it’s important to protect yourself in other ways as well

If you’re going to be gardening out in the sunshine, wear a long-sleeved shirt that also shields your chest and throat, as well as a hat to protect your face. Additionally, try to avoid spending too much time in direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day.

Stay well hydrated, take regular breaks in the shade, and keep an eye on any of your freckles or moles. If any of them start to change color or shape or look irregular, see your healthcare provider as soon as possible.

References:

  1. Sharma HS, Hussain S, Schlager J, Ali SF, Sharma A. Influence of nanoparticles on blood-brain barrier permeability and brain edema formation in rats. Acta Neurochir Suppl. 2010;106:359-64. doi: 10.1007/978-3-211-98811-4_65. PMID: 19812977.
  2. Chuan-Ho Tang, Ching-Yu Lin, Shu-Hui Lee, Wei-Hsien Wang, Membrane lipid profiles of coral responded to zinc oxide nanoparticle-induced perturbations on the cellular membrane: Aquatic Toxicology, Volume 187, 2017, Pages 72-81, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquatox.2017.03.021.
  3. Neto, Lúcio & Espósito, Breno. (2023). Toxicity of zinc oxide to scleractinian corals and zooxanthellae: a brief review. Química Nova. 46. 10.21577/0100-4042.20230003.