Homemade sunscreen?

[Mommay]

I remember reading somewhere on this forum about being able to make your own sunscreen with zinc oxide and shea butter. Does anyone have more info.? How much of each to use? Ordering information? Thanks!

[Tilia]

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[Mommay]

I should add that the reason I don't want to use the usual sunscreen is because I already use jojoba oil and shea butter. I don't need another lotion to put on my face. If anyone has suggestions for a sunscreen without the lotion, I'd appreciate that too.

[tappahannock]

I made sunscreen last year and it worked well for me. Here is what I did (although after reading your second post I'm not sure you want something like this):

I ordered shea butter and titanium dioxide from coastalscents.com. I ordered maybe a pound of shea butter and the smallest quantity of titanium dioxide. Then I took about two cups of shea butter and mixed in about a teaspoon of titanium dioxide. I was trying for a ratio of about 10:1, because it looked like the commercial sunscreens used about that much. It is a matter of personal preference though. The titanium dioxide is white white white, so if you add more of it your sunscreen becomes more like the zinc oxide formulations that lifeguards use (you know, white nose). So you can mix in your titanium a little bit at a time until you like the looks of your sunscreen, and then test it out in the sun for short periods of time. My formula had a bit of whitish color to it-- so you could see where you had applied it to you skin. It wasn't a ghostly white though. It's easier to mix the sunscreen if you warm the shea butter up a bit in the sun first. Mixing the sunscreen is MESSY, so do it outside or over newspaper. It really coats your hands or a spoon if you use one to mix it, but I found that Seventh Generation Dish Liquid cuts it very well, plus a scrubby pad helps too.

It is easier to apply your sunscreen if warm it up in the sun before you try to apply it. It's fairly stiff so it is not easy to cover your whole body with it- I only used it on my face and lower arms, and sometimes shoulders. I used it on my toddlers' legs, arms, and face. We wore surf shirts most of the time so we didn't have to slather our entire bodies with sunscreen since I feel that it is a nuisance to do so!

The suncreen worked fine for myself and my toddler son last summer but we never overdid it in the sun; we tried to avoid being out between 11 and 2, we wore hats, and we increased our exposure to the sun gradually. In fact by the end of the summer we could skip the sunscreen altogether-- though we still avoided the hottest sun times. I think it's good for you to get out in the sun some. I was happy with the lotion though and it has the added benefit of being good for your skin!

[Mommay]

Thanks Tappahannock for sharing and giving me a resource. I'm going to consider doing that. But from what it sounds, it may not be as effective as regular sunscreen? I'm okay with sun exposure, but I also think there are times when the sun becomes too much. I have Indian friends who won't let their children out in the middle of the day during the summer. They grew up in hot climates and they don't consider it healthful or beneficial to be out in the direct summer sun. I believe in moderation. I didn't use that much sunblock last year, but I like some protection.

[tappahannock]

Yes, I think you're right... moderation in all things, right?
In answer to your question, yes, the homemade sunscreen probably doesn't work as well as a commercial sunscreen. I gives you a layer of protection but can't frolic in the pool all day long.