Blogs     Home     Just for Women     Healthy Kids     Family Fun    

The Sunscreen Dilemma



What is the best sunscreen out there?


Overwhelmed by all of the sunscreen options out there?? What SPF should you use? What ingredients are safe? What works? Which brand is the safest? The most reliable? How often should you apply?? More than half of tested sunscreens only have half of the advertised SPF. You can find articles telling you to use this brand vs that brand and vice versa. So what’s one to do? For awhile I bought natural sunscreens, but with 6 of us, it was just too costly! I had to figure something out. I refused to use the cheap chemical filled sunscreens, and so…. I made my own! I chose ingredients that offer protection from the sun. I do not know the exact SPF, only that it works great on my family from the lightest to the darkest of us. We have used this recipe for several years now! I reapply about every 2 hours if it is a really hot sunny day (pool days) and just once if we are only out for a few hours.


So here is what you need…..

2 Tbl Carrot Seed Oil

2 Tbl Raspberry Seed Oil

4 Tbl Coconut Oil (not pictured)

4 Tbl Mango Butter

4 Tbl Raw Shea Butter

4 Tbl Beeswax

2 tsp Vitamin E Oil

2 Tbl Zinc Oxide

5 drops Helichrysum Essential Oil

5 drops Myrrh Essential Oil

5 drops Lavender Essential Oil

5 drops Peppermint Essential Oil

2 glass jars to store it in. (I use short wide mouthed jars)

1 shallow glass jar to mix it in

chopsticks (I use chopsticks to stir with! lol)


READ MORE: Should you stop using sunscreen?


First, you want place the shallow glass jar into a pot with some water in it (essentially to make a double boiler). Add the coconut oil, mango butter, and shea butter to melt.




Once melted add the beeswax to melt. (Adding the beeswax after the butters have melted helps to speed the process. Otherwise, beeswax takes a LONG time to melt.. so this step is important)




Once the beeswax is melted, remove from the heat. Stir in the zinc oxide until well combined.




Once well combined, add the remaining ingredients (carrot seed oil, raspberry seed oil, vitamin E and essential oils). Put into your glass jars for use.





Other articles by Nicole Cunningham