Homemade Sunscreen, Version 2

Hi beauties! The hemp oil/zinc oxide blend I presented in a former post works really well as a sunscreen, but I wanted to take it a step further. 

My skin is almost 50 years old, and I've recently lost a bunch of weight (probably 30 pounds or so). Consequently, my skin looks pretty saggy, and I've been doing everything I can think of to get it straightened out! Moisture and SUNSCREEN are key, here.


So I decided to make a sunscreen for my body that will help with these issues. I LOVE body products that can multi-task!

The result of this recipe is a thick, lotion-ish sunscreen that melts on contact with the body. It works GREAT. 


TWO CAVEATS: 

1. this stuff smells like a Thai restaurant, which can be somewhat unpleasant on the body. Still trying to come up with a way to scent it and will let you know when/if I do!

2. It's GREEEEEEZYYYY!!!!!! Put this on before you get dressed and let it sink in for awhile. I usually put it on after my morning shower and walk around in a towel for a half hour or so. It will stain your clothes if you're not careful. This is what happens when you use natural ingredients. Totally worth it.

very cool canning funnel from my sister!

Here's my recipe for 8 fluid ounces of sunscreen with an SPF of 6-11:

• 2 fluid ounces (1/4 cup) Coffee-infused sweet almond oil
• 2 fluid ounces (1/4 cup) Coconut oil
• 2 fluid ounces (1/4 cup) Hemp oil
• 1/4 cup Cocoa Butter
• 1.6 ounces (by weight) Zinc Oxide

Instructions:
Put everything in a jar. Place in a sunny window. Shake and stir frequently until everything's melted together.

I keep this on my countertop. On hot days, it melts and separates. I just shake it up and apply as normal.

You can adjust the ingredients/vary the proportions according to your needs. I live in a hot climate, so I use more cocoa butter and coconut oil and less of the liquid oils to get a thicker product.

You can also adjust the amount of zinc oxide according to your SPF needs.

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

How to use:
Apply liberally 15 minutes prior to going out. Apply again 15 minutes after you've been out in the sun. 

That's it. It's a physical sunscreen, so it will continue to work for several hours unless you swim or sweat a lot. I've been using it for about 2 weeks and my skin looks really really good. It's very soft and I haven't even gotten tan even though I've been out by the pool in the hot New Mexico sun. It's awesome. If you are prone to clogs, don't use this on your face. It will clog your pores for sure. I use this on my son's face and he's fine with it. He's not as prone to clogging as I am.

Looking yummy!

Great texture after a cool night. Sometimes it's runnier than this...