How to make natural sunscreen with SPF 30 & 50?

 

Many sunscreens and other commercial cosmetics contain toxic ingredients and can cause acne and even promote skin cancer. 

I have known for a long time that zinc oxide is a great UV blocker, but I was honestly worried whether homemade sunscreen could protect my skin as well as or better than commercial sunblocks. I have used many of them, from super-drug stores and organic stores. But every time I went on holiday, I experienced sunburn. This last holiday when I went to Vietnam changed everything! I took homemade sunscreen with zinc oxide with me and used it only on my face. And this time, only my face did not get burned! My body skin was red as usual after using high-factor sunscreens bought in store.

Of course I have not tested all the available products in the cosmetics store and I do not say that they are bad. But the truth is that they are very expressive, so I prefer to make my own natural cosmetics with good quality ingredients.

What is zinc oxide?

Zinc oxide is a white, powdery mineral used as a skin protector against UV rays. Zinc oxide also helps reduce acne and blackheads, heal wounds, soothe inflammation and reduce sebum production. I tested it on my skin and it really works! Zinc oxide is also a powerful antioxidant, so it can be used as an anti-wrinkle skin care product.

Physical sunblock is better then chemical one? 

Zinc oxide is a physical barrier to UVB and UVA rays. Physical sunscreens do not absorb into the skin, do not degrade in the sun like chemical sunscreens, so they do not need to be reapplied as often as chemical sunscreens. Chemical sunscreens can also cause irritation (if you have sensitive skin) and even allergic reactions! Physical sunscreens are gentle on the skin and can be used on sensitive and children's skin.

How to make natural sunscreens with zinc oxide?

Before you start making your own homemade cosmetics please make sure that every utensil, equipment and containers for cosmetics are clean and dust-free. After that you have to disinfect your stuff with at least 70% of pure alcohol. 

You need of course zinc oxide powder. You can buy all the ingredients you need for homemade cosmetics online.

To make product with SPF 50 you need 40% of zinc oxide powder, 20% for SPF 30 or 12% to make cosmetic with SPF 15. 

The oils I'm using for this recipes are safe for acne prone skin. If you don't have that kind of problems but your skin is dry you can use almond, argan or avocado oil.

Face or body oil with SPF 50

INGREDIENTS FOR 100 g:

❃ 40 g of zinc oxide 

❃ 30 g of jojoba oil 

❃ 30 g of beta carotene oil (for example carrot oil) 

❃ 1 g of vitamin E (around 20 drops)

(For smaller quantities, use half of the ingredients).

Add zinc oxide powder to the bowl and then add oils, first 2 teaspoons of jojoba oil - mix it and then add rest of the oils. At the end add vitamin E and mix all the ingredients well. Pour sunscreen oil to the container and it's ready to use. The cosmetic is liquid so the better container for that it's a bottle. 

Of course you can use your combination of oils. If you don't like the orange colour of this product use only pure oils and you will get white sunscreen oil.   

The ready product is quite light, smooth and easy in application on the skin. It can be used also as a make-up base, especially for dry skin. 

Daily face cream or body sunscreen with SPF 30

INGREDIENTS FOR 100 g:

❃ 20 g of zinc oxide powder

❃ 2,5 g of emulsifier (Glyceryl Stearate Citrate)

❃ 2,5 g of cetyl alkohol 

❃ 15 g of jojoba oil 

❃ 10 g of castrol oil 

❃ 42 g of distilled water 

❃ 1 g of hyaluronic acid

❃ 1 g of green tea powder (matcha)

❃ 5 g of glycerine

❃ 1 g of vitamin E (around 20 drops)

❃ 5 drops of essential oil (I used geranium for acne skin) / optional

❃ 10 drops of preservative (Phenoxyethanol & Ethylhexylglycerin)

❃ pinch of xanthan gum

Prepare a heat resistant glass and put emulsifier, cetyl alcohol and oils in it. Prepare the second heatproof glass for water. Pour small amount of this water into another glass and mix well with 

hyaluronic acid, matcha powder and glycerine. Both of the heatproof glasses (with oils and with pure water) place into a water bath to melt emulsifier and cetyl alcohol and for heating up the oil and water phases. 

After that use a milk frother or electric mixer to mix together oils, emulsifier and cetyl alcohol. Keep the glass into a hot water bowl until you get a smooth consistency and everything mix together. Next remove the glass from the water bath and add gradually a zinc oxide powder and mix carefully. Slowly pour heated water into the mixture, still mixing. When the emulsion cool down slowly add water with hyaluronic acid, green tea powder and glycerine. Mix it well. Next add vitamin E and essential oil and mix it.  Add preservative and mix well. At the end add xanthan gum, which is optional but it helps to prevent the cosmetic from phrase separation. Mix all the ingredients together and if you need, use more xanthan gum. 

Now you can place your cream to the jar. Fresh cream is still a bit liquid but don't worry, after time becomes more thick. 

Cream has a nice consistency, it's easy to apply and it quickly absorbs to the skin. The cream doesn't leave your skin white as the products with higher factor. The hyaluronic acid and glycerine are a wonderful skin moisturizers. It's a perfect daily cream and make-up base. 

Face or body cream with SPF 50, without emulsifier

INGREDIENTS FOR 50 g:

❃ 20 g of zinc oxide powder

❃ 8 g of beta carotene oil (or other)

❃ 1 g of bentonite clay

❃ 20 g of aloe vera gel (I used Aloe Pura Aloe Vera Gel)

❃ 0.5 g of vitamin E (around 10 drops)

❃ 3 droops of essential oil (I used lavender oil)

❃ 3 drops of preservative 

❃ pinch of xanthan gum

Add zinc oxide powder do the bowl and mix with oil. If you have an oily or combination skin you can add a bentonite clay. It can help to suck all excess sebum from your skin. Mix it and add aloe vera gel, which help you to get a creamy consistency without adding an emulsifier. Next add vitamin E and essential oil and mix it.  Add preservative and mix well. At the end add xanthan gum, which is optional but it helps to prevent the cosmetic from phrase separation. Mix all the ingredients together and if you need, use more xanthan gum. 

The finished product is not as smooth in application and does not absorb as quickly as a cosmetic with an emulsifier, but it works! It protects the skin from UV rays and is a good skin moisturizer.

BB cream or make-up foundation with SPF 50 

INGREDIENTS FOR 50 g: 

❃ 20 g of zinc oxide powder

❃ 10 g of red clay

❃ 4.5 g of yellow clay

❃ 14.5 g of jojoba oil

❃ 5 drops of essential oil (optional)

❃ 0.5 g of vitamin E (around 10 drops) 

Add zinc oxide powder and clays to the bowl and mix it well. If you prefer darker colour you can add cocoa powder instead of yellow clay. Next add oil and mix with powders. Then add essential oil and vitamin E. Mix well all of the ingredients together into a smooth paste and place into a clean and disinfect jar or container. 

The cream doesn't contain any water so there is no need to add preservative. Vitamin E is enough to protect oils from rancidity.

The finished product is more like a paste than a cream, so it has good coverage. I like to use it every day as makeup instead of foundation or if I have to spend all day outside.

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That's all my recipes in this post. I hope that the recipes with zinc oxide are useful for you. Personally, I love using zinc oxide in my cosmetics and on my next holiday I will only take home-made cosmetics with zinc oxide with me to protect the skin of my face and body!