Mama's Sunblock

I have wanted to make all natural sunblock for years, but I always was dragging my feet, mostly because it seemed too hard and I can be lazy. Well, I finally broke down and bought the ingredients needed and started making my own this summer. I am happy to report that it works great and it wasn't hard!

I keep getting fancy, which I hope you appreciate, and have made a YouTube video on how to make your own sunscreen. I also included the recipe below.

Mama's Sunblock

1/2 cup olive oil
2 Tbs Shea butter
1/4 cup beeswax, grated
1/4 cup coconut oil
1 leaf of an aloe plant (optional)
2 Tbs zinc oxide
12 drops of essential oil (do not use any citrus)

Use a double boiler and melt olive oil, Shea butter, beeswax, coconut oil and aloe. Once it is all melted remove from heat and mix in the zinc oxide and essential oil. Pour into a container and let it harden over night, or you may put it in the fridge to speed up the process. This will make your sunblock about SPF 20 and waterproof!

You may ask, "Hippie Mama, what's the big deal using commercial sunscreen?"

Oh, thank you for asking! Well, first of all your skin is your largest organ, take care of it! You wouldn't put toxic chemicals on your other organs, so don't put it on your skin. Also, the cosmetic industry is not very regulated, allowing them to use all forms of chemical ingredients; some of which have been banned in other countries.

Here is a list from The Food Babe of what you need to watch for with sunscreen.

• Oxybenzone - this is a hormone disrupting chemical which penetrates the skin and enters the bloodstream. It is the most popular ingredient in chemical based sunscreens and only blocks UVB ray (sun’s good rays that provide vitamin D production), not UVA which are the most free radical damaging rays.  Avoid any sunscreen that has this chemical at all costs, especially for children.
• Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate) – A 2009 study by U.S. government scientists released by the National Toxicology Program found when this is applied to the skin in the presence of sunlight, it may speed thedevelopment of skin tumors and lesions.
• Fragrance – Sure it may make the product smell nice, but this is a petroleum based product that is linked to organ toxicity and allergies.
• High SPF – The FDA does not regulate SPF higher than 50 and there’s no scientific proof they work betterthan lower SPF. Many of the higher SPFs do not provide any additional protection and studies have suggested that users are exposed to as many or more ultraviolet rays as those who use lower-SPF products.
• Sprays or Powders – Generally speaking, sprays and powders have additional chemicals added to them for performance purposes. These additional chemicals are usually not something you want to be spraying on your body and can be toxic to the lungs. Besides, remember sunscreen is formulated for your skin, not your lungs. Many of the side effects of sprays and powders on the lungs are not tested before being approved.
• Popular Conventional Brands - Aveeno, Banana Boat, Coppertone Sport, Coppertone Water Babies, Bull Frog, Neutragena, Storebrands (CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens), Hawaiian Tropic and many other popular brands are rated the worst in terms of safety in the Environmental Working Group’s Sunscreen Guide. You can use this guide to find out how good or bad the brand you have or want to buy is rated.