Homemade Sunscreen

Ingredients:

1/2 cup grapeseed oil, coconut or olive

5 tsp zinc oxide (available online or in stores-make it is pure zinc oxide. )(This recipe has SPF of about 20, adding more zinc oxide will increase the SPF)

1 Tbsp Beeswax (I used pellets.  Easy to measure out)

2 Tbsp Natural Aloe Vera Gel - Not the kind with alcohol or propylene glycol

1/8 cup distilled water

1 tsp Rosehip essential oil (Optional ~ use any scent, just not citrus because it is phototoxic

How to make:

Heat oil and beeswax on a double boiler (or in a mason jar sitting in a pan of low boiling water) until just melted.  Remove form heat, and add essential oils.

Put into bowl that will not be used for food, and add zinc oxide powder, set aside.

In Small pan heat water and Aloe Vera until just warm.

Add the water/aloe mixture slowly while whisking vigorously or use an immersion blender.

I used a whisk and I didn't think it was that bad to get it all mixed and thicken.

I stored this in a plastic container with a lid.

Extra Notes:

This sunscreen is not completely waterproof, and will need to be reapplied after swimming or sweating. 

Make sure not to inhale the zinc oxide powder, use a mask if necessary

This recipe has SPF of about 20, adding more zinc oxide will increase the SPF

Add more beeswax to make thicker sunscreen, less to make smooth sunscreen.  Adding about 3 times the amount of beeswax and removing the water will make a sunscreen bar that runs on like stick deodorant

Vanilla extract is great for fragrance

Remove the zinc oxide and it is a great lotion.

I used this last year when we went to Adventureland for the whole day and I only put it on once and did not get a burn at all.
 
I originally go this recipe from http://greenbootliving.com