Hello Goddess,

I’m so excited about today’s recipe I could POP!

Last month, we made Hibiscus Rose Hair Tea and kicked off our Summer DIY Collection!

Today’s recipe is one that I keep fully stocked in the refrigerator during the summer months — Homemade Sunscreen.

This rich, all-natural version is perfect for you if you love the sun as much as this Sun Goddess. It’s also one of the easiest recipes you’ll ever make.

I promise.

If you can make a hair butter, then making this sunscreen is as simple as adding 2 tablespoons of zinc oxide to your diy favorite…

See for yourself!

Recipe Change From The Video:

I add 1 tablespoon of tamanu oil to my recipe in the video. I love to add extra for the healing effects it has on our skin. To reach an SPF of 18, you only need to add 2 teaspoons (or .35 ounce). Adding more won’t hurt the recipe, it’s just not needed if you’re only adding this oil for it’s SPF boost.

SPF Smackdown

I could only find exact measurements (and it’s SPF match) for zinc oxide and tamanu oil. I added these 2 together to get the spf level for the recipe — I chose the low end of the tamanu oil spf estimate (18 - 22).

1 ounce of zinc oxide is 2 tablespoons. This gives the recipe an SPF of 15.

Tamanu oil also has a high spf of 18 at .35 ounce, which is the same as 2 teaspoons.

The SPF for the recipe may be a little bit higher with the other ingredients, but an SPF of 33 will work!

Are Sunscreen’s Really That Bad?

Sunscreens are NOTORIOUSLY bad. The chemicals in most have been linked to:

skin damage
skin cancer (added vitamin a in most sunscreens — retinal palmitate — can speed the development of skin cancer)
hormonal disruptions
birth defects

…and that’s not all, these are just the top 4!

Not something I want YOU using, and definitely not something I want to put on my kids.

According to the Environmental Working Group’s site:

“Sunscreens can affect the reproductive and thyroid systems and, in the case of fetal or childhood exposure, permanently alter reproductive development or behavior.“

Whaaa???

They put together a sunscreen safety rankings guide each year. For more detailed sunscreen info, check out EWG’s 2017 Guide To Sunscreens.

As always, if making sunscreen isn’t your thing, there are some natural versions out there. I’ve got a couple to share. Just please, please, please, promise me you’ll stop using the ones that have the following ingredients:

oybenzone:

causes skin allergies
acts like estrogen in the body
alters sperm production in animals
is associated with endometriosis in women

octinoxate

once used it can be found in mother’s milk
penetrates human skin
alters the thyroid AND behavior
causes hormone-like activity

homosalate

found in mother’s milk
disrupts estrogen - essential for reproduction, the growth and development of reproductive organs, breasts, regulation of the menstrual cycle…
- disrupts androgen - a group of hormones produced in men and women that kick-start puberty and help regulate reproductive activity (an androgen you may know - testosterone)
- and disrupts progesterone - produced by the ovaries, adrenals, and placenta, it regulates the condition of the inner lining (endometrium) of the uterus…”

Nasty stuff right?

Check to see if your sunscreen makes the Hall of Shame. It’s not looking good for Neutrogena. If it does make the list, THROW THAT SUCKA OUT!

Banana Boat & Equate were two we used a lot of, which ones were yours? Tell me in the comments…

Two all-natural options:

Kiss My Face Kids Mineral SPF-30 Natural Organic Sunscreen ($12.00)

Badger Broad Spectrum SPF-30 Kids Zinc Oxide Cream Tangerine & Vanilla ($15.99 plus shipping)

Where I Buy My Ingredients

Mountain Rose Herbs

cocoa butter
tamanu oil

Better Shea Butter | raw shea butter - this shea butter is super soft and easy to work

Coastal Scents | zinc oxide — they don’t sell it anymore, but Better Shea Butter makes this one, which is also good

Recipe Inspiration

This recipe was inspired by Katie, mom-of-five and Wellness Mama on a mission. I didn’t have all of the ingredients to make her original recipe years ago, so I used what I had and I’ve been using the same ingredients ever since…with a few minor changes along the way.

One More Thing — Be Safe In The Sun Goddess

Sunburn is a major risk factor in the development of melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer. I’m glad I didn’t know that this time last year…remember my sunburn experience from birthday bash 2014???

Even though sunscreens are great, they still don’t seem to provide much prevention or protection from this condition.

Here are 5 ways to Protect Yourself and your Beautiful Skin:

Wear protective clothing and keep skin covered (hats, cute cover ups, umbrellas, sunglasses, clothes)
Wait 15 to 20 minutes after applying sunscreen before going into the sun or entering water
Re-apply homemade sunscreen once every 40 minutes while swimming or in direct sunlight
Go outside early or late - early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the sun is lower in the sky
Get comfy in the shade - find a shady spot or create one

Lavishly Natural’s Homemade Sunscreen (With & Without Chocolate)