Herbal Sunscreen recipe
Non-Toxic, Water resistant, Healing.
Printable SunScreen Labels
We need regular sun exposure (without sunscreen) for our skin to produce vitamin D naturally. The way our bodies make vitamin D is to convert sunshine into chemicals through which Vitamin D becomes a hormone within the body, a secosteroid hormone. It helps the body to absorb calcium and phosphate from our diet and impacts not only our skeletal structure, but also our blood pressure, immunity, behavior, brain function and ability to protect ourselves from various diseases.
Some of the Vitamin D deficiency symptoms are cancer, autoimmune diseases, depression, insomnia, diabetes, asthma, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, autism…
In my family we only use the sunscreen if we are going to be exposed to the sun longer than it takes for our skin to go red or burn and this time varies from person to person.
For us – being under the sun without clothing for over 5-6 hours straight and/or between 11 am and 2 pm, when the sun is at its pick, that’s when we most likely to get the sunburn.
We recently went on a short vacation to a Delaware Beach, so for that trip I came up with this recipe to protect us from all the spectrum of the Uncomfortable that comes with a sunburn!
We were on the beach for over 6 hours every day without using much shade and none of us got burnt! Well, scratch that! I got burnt because I didn’t think my rear needed protection, so I just rubbed some on my shoulders and the back and thought I’ll be OK. But even so, I used the sunscreen afterwards and it took some of the Uncomfortable away, and for the first time my skin didn’t peeled off!
The five of us have different type of skin: my Hubby is dark but burns easily, I am light but not easily burnt; my oldest son Chris, he is as light as I am, but burns easy and fast. My middle son Daniel is the most pale of the bunch but not easily burn, and my youngest daughter Melania has very dark skin (probably took after my pure Gypsy Grandfather), she tans fast and was never even close to a sunburn, I only applied the sunscreen on her on the 3rd day of our vacation, just in case.
My boys and the Husband got the sunscreen applied only twice per day (around 10 am and 1pm), because it end up to be pretty water resistant and even after 2-3 hours in the water was not washed away. The smell was very pleasant too.
Greasy? – Yes, it is, but so it should be to keep you from burning and cutting your vacation fun short.
For all of us, including my 6.3 feet tall with broad shoulders Husband we used less than 2 oz of the Herbal Sunscreen. I will keep the leftovers it in my fridge for when we need it next, probably next summer, as its shelflife is 1-2 years.
The recipe will yield 9 oz.
While we all know sunscreen’s main job is to protect us, what some of us don’t know is that the most of conventional sunscreens out there are doing just the opposite. In fact, many conventional sunscreens contain ingredients harmful to the environment and human health.
Read about conventional sunscreen toxicity in this article: “The Trouble With Ingredients in Sunscreens”
In the other hand many articles on the internet say that homemade sunscreens are useless and downright harmful and that a person should never consider making their own because it is difficult to verify the SPF, making the chance of burning higher.
It is true that homemade sunscreens don’t have the lab testing that conventional ones do, but even with lab testing, conventional brands get away with putting endocrine disruptors and coral killing compounds in our sunscreens. So what good are the lab testing for?
Synthetic fragrance or “perfume” is another health-harming ingredient that is used in conventional sunscreens. Read how really toxic the chemical fragrances are HERE.
Not just a few but all of them toxins cause central nervous system damage.
Is anyone still thinks it’s ok to put on our kid’s skin when we all know that some of it will be absorbed into the bloodstream within approximately 28 seconds?
Especially when you can simply make your own that not only protects your skin very well but has amazing skin moisturizing, nourishing and healing properties? Yes, please!
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What is SPF?
SPF means Sun Protection Factor and it is a relative measure of how long a sunscreen will protect you from UV B rays. What does an SPF rating on a sunscreen mean? Take for example you take 10 minutes to get sunburn when you’re not wearing any sunscreen or any form of sun protection on your body. So an SPF 30 will give you 30 times that amount of sun protection, which means it’ll take 300 minutes before you start to burn.
What ingredients did I use in this Herbal Sunscreen recipe & why?
Organic, high-quality Avocado Oil (SPF 15). Is a highly therapeutic oil rich in vitamins A, B1, B2 Pantothenic acid, D, E, proteins, and lecithin. A very good, penetrating nutrient for dry skin. Packed with healing and regenerating qualities for your skin. High in sterolins, which are known to help reduce age spots and help heal scar tissue and sun damage.
Comfrey flowering stalks which contain allantoin. Allantoin has long been used for its healing, soothing, and anti-irritating properties. Allantoin is a nucleotide that naturally occurs in the body and absorbs the spectrum of UV radiation which damages the cell’s fragile DNA. Allantoin helps to heal wounds and skin irritations and stimulates the growth of healthy tissue. Some clinical studies confirm that allantoin enhances skin repair. Allantoin can be found in anti-acne products, sun care products, clarifying lotions, toothpaste, mouthwash, and other oral hygiene products as well as in shampoos, lipsticks, and other cosmetic and pharmaceutical products, because of its ability to help heal minor wounds and promote healthy skin.
The only thing is that the type of allantoin is added to commercial products is isolated from cow urine! Eew! Allantoin is a product of the oxidation of uric acid. It is also a product of purine metabolism in most mammals except for higher apes, and it is present in their urine. In humans, uric acid is excreted instead of allantoin.
Plantain leaves. St.John’s Wort.
Unrefined Raw Organic Shea Butter (6-10 SPF) – is derived from the vegetable fat of the Karite Tree that is indigenous to Africa. Raw, unrefined Shea butter contains vitamins and minerals such as vitamins A and E, as well as essential fatty acids. It has been used for centuries for its moisturizing, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties will soothe, hydrate and balance your skin adding a breathable, water-resistant film and is the leading natural product for moisturizing, rebuilding and rejuvenating collagen production.
Organic Coconut Oil (8 SPF) moisturizing, anti-bacterial.
Beeswax from my own Buckfast Honey Bees, all organic of course(!) is antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. It seals in moisture while not clogging pores provides a layer of sun protection and locks the oils in creating a waterproof barrier on your skin.
Pumpkin seed oil (Cucurbita pepo) deserves greater recognition. With a lipid profile containing high levels of linoleic acid (43 – 53%), it contains two classes of antioxidant compounds: Tocopherols and phenolics, which account for 59% of the antioxidant effects.
Sesame oil resists 30% of UV rays
Vitamin E Oil protects cell membranes from light-induced damage. Topical application of these antioxidants to the skin has been shown to reduce acute and chronic photodamage. It is also acts as a preservative, greatly extenting the shelf life.
Red Raspberry Oil is a proven anti-aging and antioxidant powerhouse builds a natural filter to broad-spectrum UVA & UVB rays. It contains 45-50 SPF on its own, and also have clinically significant anti-inflammatory properties and proves to be a fantastic sunscreen.
Carrot Seed Oil (40 SPF) has significant antioxidant, antiseptic and fragrant properties with high levels of vitamin A. According to a study published in “Pharmacognosy Magazine” in 2009, products containing carrot seed oil have a natural SPF of 38 and 40.
Zinc Oxide (non-nano) – Zinc Oxide is a naturally occurring mineral that blocks UV rays (SPF 2-20)
Myrrh Essential Oil contains an SPF 20 and provides an extra dose of protection and wonderful scent..
Lavender essential oil – SPF 6
Tea tree essential oil – SPF 2 (Melaleuca alternifolia) is an ancient aboriginal remedy. It is an effective antiseptic, fungicide, and germicide. It is a popular component of many sunscreen formulations that relieve sunburn by increasing blood flow in capillaries, bringing nutrients to damaging skin.
If you don't want to mess with making it, you can buy the one I made:
Herbal Sunscreen recipe
This will be roughly 35-45 SPF, please note that it is not laboratory tested and that I make no warranties or guarantees regarding its exact SPF rating.
We've tested it on our vacation when we spent 3 full days on the beach and none of us got burnt.
- 100 g Avocado Oil infused with Herbs
- 60 g Coconut Oil
- 40 g Shea butter
- 40 g Beeswax
- 30 g Sesame Oil
- 15 g Pumpkin Seed Oil
- 5 g Red Raspberry Oil
- 5 g Carrot Seed Oil
- 5 g Vitamin E Oil
- 1 1/2 Tbsp Non-Nano Zinc Oxide
- 5 drops Tea Tree EO
- 5 drops Myrrh EO
- 5 drops Lavender EO
- 1 oz. Plantain Leaf fresh or dry
- 1 oz. Comfrey Flowering stalks fresh
- 1 oz. St. John's Wort flowers and buds fresh or dry
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First, you want to infuse the avocado oil with the herbs. There are two easy methods to choose from:
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1.) Combine the oil and the herbs, blend in a high-speed blender for a few seconds, transfer into a mason jar, set it in a slow cooker, pour warm water enough for it to rich the shoulder of the jar and set on medium. Let it infuse for 48 hours. Strain through a fine mesh strainer.
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2.) Combine the oil and the herbs, blend in a high-speed blender for a few seconds, transfer into a mason jar and set out on a sunny spot for 6 weeks. Shake the jar every day. Strain through a fine mesh strainer.
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Mesure out first 6 ingredients and add them in a stainless steel bowl (I used my KitchenAid mixing bowl) and set it on top of a small saucepan with boiling water in it (or if you have a double boiler - use that). Make sure the mixer bowl bottom doesn't touch the hot water.
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Once all the oils and beeswax are melted, set it aside and mix in the Red Raspberry oil, Carrot Seed oil, Vitamin E oil and the Essential Oils.
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Carefully measure out the Non-nano zinc oxide (wear a mask so that you do not breath in any of it!!!) Slowly add in your zinc oxide powder. Do not breathe the powder in. Make sure you use non-nano zinc oxide powder, as this will not absorb into the skin.
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Transfer the bowl in your fridge until it hardens. This will take about 30-40 min.
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Put the mixing bowl in the mixer with whisk attachment and beat it on high, scraping the sides from time to time until it's nice and fluffy and has that whipped creme texture.
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Use some upcycled glass jars to store it in!
Gently apply to your skin & go have some fun in the sun!
*Use clean glass upcycled jars to store at room temperature or in your fridge between uses.
**It will store for at least 2 years because the Vitamin E oil acts as a preservative.
Other herbs and EO that can be used: Rosehips, Turmeric, Chickweed, Celandine, Calendula, Chamomile, Lavender, Borage (Borago officinalis), Green Tea(Camellia sinensis), Arnica (Arnica montana), Purple Coneflower (Echinacea Purpurea), Eyebright (Euphrasia Officinalis), Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) EO.
***Directions for use: Apply on the main sun-exposed areas of the body. Rub in well and reapply as needed. Discontinue use if irritation develops. Apply liberally and evenly. Reapply: - After 80 minutes of swimming or sweating - Immediately after towel drying - At least every 2 hours Use safe sun protection measures including - Limit time in the sun, especially from 11am - 2pm - Wear long-sleeve shirts, pants and hats.
Foods and Herbs for natural skin protection and health:
Foods that are rich in Vitamin D are:
Fish (wild caught),
Eggs (pasture raised, organic),
Maitake and Portobello Mushrooms (exposed to UV light).
Vitamin C rich foods is the body’s most important “intracellular and extracellular aqueous-phase antioxidant. Vitamin C provides many benefits to the skin—most significantly, increased synthesis of collagen and photoprotection. Photoprotection is enhanced by the anti-inflammatory properties of vitamin C. Photoprotection over many months allows the skin to correct previous photodamage, the synthesis of collagen and inhibition of MMP-1 was proven to decrease wrinkles, and the inhibition of tyrosinase and anti-inflammatory activity result in depigmenting solar lentigines.[75]
Vitamin C is found in active form and substantial quantities in Rosehip seed oil.”
Printable labels for Avery 2″ (in.) Print-to-the-Edge Round Labels 22807
Or you can print them on a regular paper, cut out and glue onto your jars. Or decoupage them on to make them more durable.
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"a man who knows that the world is not given by his fathers, but borrowed from his children; who has undertaken to cherish it and do it no damage, not because he is duty-bound, but because he loves the world and loves his children…"
