Hi beauties! I finally made my own sunscreen that is GUARANTEED not to clog your/my pores!
Yay.
Okay, you all probably know by now that I like simple recipes with as few ingredients as possible. That way, it's easier to tell if any of the ingredients is causing problems / clogs. This recipe has two ingredients: hemp oil and zinc oxide.
The Recipe
To make 2 ounces of sunscreen with 20 SPF:
Approximately 2 ounces of hemp oil
0.4 ounces of zinc oxide (measured on a kitchen scale)
Mix together in a non-metal vessel and then pour the sunscreen into a PET container. Keep in the fridge!
You can adjust the measure of zinc oxide in the recipe according to your desired SPF. The percentages are of the total weight of the final product.
For SPF 2-5: Use 5% zinc oxide
For SPF 6-11: Use 10% zinc oxide
For SPF 12-19: Use 15% zinc oxide
For SPF >20: Use 20% zinc oxide
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| The stuff. |
Choosing the Zinc Oxide
The most important factor to consider when choosing your zinc oxide is the size of the particles. A lot of products use Nano or Micronized zinc oxide, which is an ultrafine powder that turns clear when applied. Unfortunately, nanoparticles have been found to cause health problems because they are so small that they can enter the body through the skin.You want a particle size of MORE THAN 100 nm.How it works
Zinc oxide is a physical barrier sunscreen. This means that it creates a barrier on your skin that blocks UVB and UVA rays (Murphy 1999).Here's a great article explaining the mechanisms of sunblocks:
Sunblocks: Mechanisms of action
Hi Miri, I *really* want to try this. Have you been using it on your face without breakouts? What is the texture like, and does it leave a white coat on your face? Also, about how long would you say this says good when kept in the fridge?
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Hi Samantha! This has been working shockingly well, actually! I've been gardening out in the New Mexico sun for a couple of weeks now and haven't gotten any sun damage. My skin is still 100% clear. The texture is weird... basically just a thicker oil. You have to mix it around before use as the zinc oxide tends to sink to the bottom. It goes on slightly whitish, but that fades after a few minutes. You should apply this 15 minutes before going out and then reapply 15 minutes after you've been out in the sun. This creates a physical barrier that should stay on for several hours (unless you've been swimming or sweating). Good luck!
DeleteThat is so exciting! To mix it, do you just shake the bottle or do you need to manually mix with a utensil? In terms of daily use, is this something that I could put on in the morning before I leave for work? Or id it necessary to reapply 15 min after being outside? If I plan to be in direct sunlight for an extended time, I would certainly reapply, but in terms of daily protection for a quick walk in the neighborhood or driving to work, is one application in the AM enough? One more question... about how much are you putting on your face? Thanks so much!
DeleteI think reapplying is key when you're going to be out for awhile. If you're just going to work or taking a quick jaunt outside, I think it's okay to go with one application.
DeleteAs far as mixing, I just shake the bottle. Good luck!
Oops, I forgot to ask one other thing: what brand of kitchen scale do you like to use to measure the zinc oxide? Thank you :)
ReplyDeleteMine's an Eat Smart Precision Pro. :)
DeleteGreat, thank you! :)
DeleteOk, clearly I am obsessed with your blog and wonderful ideas :). Sorry for the myriad of messages. I was just thinking, would it be possible to somehow add pigment to this in order to create a tinted moisturizer with UV protection?
DeleteHi Samantha! I frequently add some of my mineral makeup to this to create a tinted moisturizer! It works AWESOME!!!!!
DeleteThank you for the experimentation and recipes! What would you recommend adding to this to make it smell good?
ReplyDeleteHi Ingrid! I have been wracking my brain to come up with some way to scent this stuff. Maybe just a few drops of essential oil? I'm thinking something woodsy like cedar or something. I'm just too lazy to try it at this point... :(
DeleteLet me know if you come up with something! Have you seen the other post where I did a thicker sunscreen using coconut oil? It smells like a Thai restaurant. Somewhat displeasing...
Hi, I recently read about the oleic v. linoleic oils and acne. I'm hoping this is what has been aggravating my skin lately and that I can help by changing my routine. Where do you purchase your non-nano zinc oxide from? Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate everything you have added to my knowledge base.Admiring the time and effort you put into your blog and detailed information you offer.Thanks. cbd oil
ReplyDeleteI stumbled upon your blog recently, and I'm hooked! Your writing is engaging, and your topics are so relatable. Looking forward to exploring more of your content. Also view our Product - Hemp Kumkumadi Face Oil – 10 ml
ReplyDelete