Nothing beats a fun day out in the sun. It’s always good for your body to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather.
Better yet, natural sun exposure is the best way to get your body the vitamin D it desperately needs to function and thrive.
While some sun exposure is an important element to keeping your body healthy, I do have to remind you to also be careful while outdoors.
Too much sun exposure can be dangerous and lead to burns, skin damage, and even cancer.
There’s a good chance that, like most people, you use sunscreen to protect yourself from getting too much sun. If you are, then I’m glad you’re taking your skin health seriously.
The one thing that worries me is the kind of sunscreen you are using.
Unfortunately, many store-bought sunscreen brands contain chemicals that in the long run can cause health problems.
Check out a few chemicals found in the majority of popular name-brand sunscreens:
- Oxybenzone – This chemical is a penetration enhancer that helps the sunscreen penetrate the skin. The bad news is that it undergoes a chemical reaction when exposed to UV rays. When oxybenzone is absorbed by your skin, it can cause an eczema-like allergic reaction that can spread beyond the exposed area and last long after you’re out of the sun. Experts also suspect that oxybenzone disrupts hormones, which can throw off your endocrine system.
- Octinoxate – This is one of the most common ingredients found in sunscreens with SPF. It’s readily absorbed by your skin and helps other ingredients to be absorbed as well. Hormone disruption is common with this chemical. It also produces menacing free radicals that can damage skin and cells.
- Octocrylene – When this chemical is exposed to UV light, it absorbs the rays and produces oxygen radicals that can damage cells and cause mutations. It’s also toxic to the environment.
It’s clear that the sunscreen you pull of the shelf probably isn’t the safest option to help keep you protected.
That’s why I’d like to pass along one of my favorite recipes for making chemical-free sunscreen.
Use this all-natural sunscreen recipe, and you’ll never have to worry about harmful chemicals in your sunscreen again.
Chemical-Free Sunscreen Recipe
Ingredients:
½ cup almond or olive oil (can infuse with herbs first if desired)
¼ cup coconut oil (natural SPF 4)
¼ cup beeswax
2 tablespoons zinc oxide (This is a non-nano version that won’t be absorbed into the skin. Be careful not to inhale the powder).
Optional: up to 1 teaspoon red raspberry seed oil
Optional: up to 1 teaspoon carrot seed oil
Optional: up to 1 teaspoon vitamin E oil
Optional: 2 tablespoons shea butter (natural SPF 4-5)
Optional: essential oils, vanilla extract, or other natural extracts to suit your preference
Instructions:
- Combine ingredients except zinc oxide in a pint sized or larger glass jar. I have a mason jar that I keep just for making lotions and lotion bars, or you can even repurpose a glass jar used for pickles, olives, or other foods.
- Fill a medium saucepan with a couple inches of water and place over medium heat.
- Put a lid on the jar loosely, and place the jar in the pan with the water.
- As the water heats, the ingredients in the jar will start to melt. Shake or stir occasionally to incorporate. When all ingredients are completely melted, add the zinc oxide, stir in well, and pour into whatever jar or tin you will use for storage.
- Small mason jars (pint size) are great for this. It will not pump well in a lotion pump!
- Stir a few times as it cools to make sure zinc oxide is incorporated.
- Use as you would regular sunscreen. It’s best if it’s used within six months.
Recipe Source: http://wellnessmama.com/2558/homemade-sunscreen/
Learn more about how you can use natural ingredients to protect your body and improve your health, and check out this article on mint oil.
