Making your own sunscreen

[Amber]

There was a thread about this at LHC! Did anyone have a copy of the recipe - I was going to try it this week!

Someone was also kind enough to tell me where they purchased their Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide for making their own sunscreen. Can people please share again where they buy this from?

Thanks heaps! :)

[snowbear]

I believe From Nature With Love (http://fromnaturewithlove.com/)carries both of those.
Sorry I couldn't be more help.

[Koala Kim]

I'm getting my Zinc Oxide from the Camden Grey GO.

I'm planning to try my hand at homemade sunblock as well as other goodies. :happy:

[SpiralingWaves]

So, if you are making your own sunscreen, do you need to use both zinc oxide & titanium oxide? Or do they do the same thing?

[Koala Kim]

So, if you are making your own sunscreen, do you need to use both zinc oxide & titanium oxide? Or do they do the same thing?
I'm planning on just using the zinc oxide. I hadn't thought about the titanium oxide. But- I *think* they do the same thing; block the rays.

Guess I'll find out soon enough if zinc oxide alone will work. :gurn:

[SpiralingWaves]

I'm planning on just using the zinc oxide. I hadn't thought about the titanium oxide. But- I *think* they do the same thing; block the rays.

Guess I'll find out soon enough if zinc oxide alone will work. :gurn:

Thanks Koala. When you say "block", does that mean both UVA & UVB? I think I read something about this on LHC, but darn if I can remember anything for more than 2 minutes. :whyme: :geek:

[SpiralingWaves]

Oop! I just found the answer to my question on the "Anti Aging Products" thread here. Amber posted this on that thread:

Look for a sunscreen with at least one of the following ingredients: Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide and/or Avobenzone. These three are the only ingredients that are effective at blocking the (aging) UVA rays instead of just the (burning) UVB rays. Don't rely on anything that doesn't have one of those 3 ingredients, even if it is marketed as "UVA/UVB" or "Broadspectrum".

And please be aware that the SPF factor of a sunscreen only refers to the UVB (burning) rays, not UVA (aging) protection. It's better to get a lower SPF and have a UVA blocking ingredient, than have a high SPF but only be blocking UVB.

I hope you don't mind me posting this here too Amber. I thought it would be helpful here. :flower:

[Amber]

No, you're welcome.

Thanks everyone who suggested where to get Zinc Oxide - I'll have to go internet shopping. :)

[Josephine]

here's the recipe if you still need it:

2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil
1 Tablespoon Shea Butter
1/2 Teaspoon Jojoba Oil
1/2 Teaspoon Aloe Vera Gel
2 Teaspoons Titanium Dioxide

Mix all the oils and butters together then stir in the titanium dioxide. The mixture may become runny when you add the TD but it will set up overnight. Store in a tightly covered container. This has the consistency of butter at room temperature. Keep in the refrigerator during the summer months if your house is warm as the coconut oil will become liquid at around 75 degrees.

[golden_gal]

Sounds interesting... Is the sunscreen very oily? There seem to be a lot of oils in it.

[kissme]

i read something about adding white wine in one of the sunscreens recipe in lhc. whats the purpose of white wine for?

[Josephine]

Sounds interesting... Is the sunscreen very oily? There seem to be a lot of oils in it.

I haven't made it yet, so I don't know. I'm waiting on a GO from LHF.

[SunCat]

The sunscreen is not oily at all the aloe vera gel helps the oils absorb into your skin. I came up with that sunscreen receipe as I don't use chemicals on my skin. I use it all the time and it works great for me.

Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide both work by physically blocking the Sun's Rays. Titanium Dioxide reflects the light better than Zinc Oxide. Both are pure white powders if you add too much your skin will turn white. If you want to add a little color to your sunscreen add a little mineral makeup for color.

Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide can be used together if you wish. Zinc Oxide has anti-inflamatory properties to it.

ETA: Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide block both UVA and UVB rays.

[SpiralingWaves]

The sunscreen is not oily at all the aloe vera gel helps the oils absorb into your skin. I came up with that sunscreen receipe as I don't use chemicals on my skin. I use it all the time and it works great for me.

Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide both work by physically blocking the Sun's Rays. Titanium Dioxide reflects the light better than Zinc Oxide. Both are pure white powders if you add too much your skin will turn white. If you want to add a little color to your sunscreen add a little mineral makeup for color.

Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide can be used together if you wish. Zinc Oxide has anti-inflamatory properties to it.

ETA: Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide block both UVA and UVB rays.

Oh, good info SunCat. Thanks!

And great idea to add MMU to the sunscreen for a little color!:grinhappy:

[quiet1]

Does anyone know if it's possible to get Z-Cote (the transparent form of zinc oxide) in small amounts & without being a big company?

[SunCat]

Here is a link where you can purchase Z-Cote in smaller quanties. I have not ordered from them.

Z-Cote (http://www.fastbuys.net/minerals.html)

[tessleopard]

Hello all - has everyone had luck with the homemade sunscreen? With a little bit of tweaking - say, using all jojoba in place of the coconut (coconut has a fairly high com. rating) do you think this would work for a facial sunscreen?

To my understanding, this blocks both UVA and UVB rays. So it's good for burn protection, and anti-aging? Please, feel free to correct me if I've misunderstood.

Around what SPF would you think this would be considered?

TIA, ladies. :eureka:

[Jessica C]

it is important first to be aware that zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are products that should not be inhaled. First put on gloves and a mask then place small pan on stove.

Pour 1 cup of olive oil, one ounce of beeswax and take a disposable spoon and stir the contents until the beeswax has melted into the oil.After you have carefully mixed these two items then take 1 to 2 tablespoons of zinc oxide powder into pan.
The zinc oxide is a white powder that, again, should not be inhaled so wear a mask and gloves. Once it is completely stirred pour contents into a ceramic or glass bowl and allow to cool to room temperature.

If you intend to make the sunscreen again label the pan and the disposable spoon and keep them in a separate area from cooking items. Once you have mixed the sunscreen with any of the items whether it is the bowl or the pan you should not use it again to prepare food.

[SonyaRose]

The problem that could arise in you making your own sunscreen is that you need to know the percentage of how much to use in order for it to be effective. This will be how you determine the "spf". I don't really advise that you try it since you could damage your skin in the process if it doesn't work, but an easy way to figure out the proper percentage of titanium dioxide for protection (which would be the active ingredient) is to look at the percentage of titanium used in diaper rash creams and common sun protectants. For instance, Bare Escentuals Natural Sunscreen powder carries an spf of 30. that's great protection, since they have to list the PERCENTAGE of titanium they used for this product to be effective, you can use that same percentage in your sunscreen. The percentage they used was 12%. So you can use this amount in your product to get an spf of 30.

Sonya

There was a thread about this at LHC! Did anyone have a copy of the recipe - I was going to try it this week!

Someone was also kind enough to tell me where they purchased their Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide for making their own sunscreen. Can people please share again where they buy this from?

Thanks heaps! :)

[anonymouse01]

This is an old thread, but I thought I'd mention for any passerbys that Zinc Oxide is toxic if accidentally inhaled. You should use a mask and gloves when preparing your sun block cream and you should never store any utensils, pots or other containers used in the process with other dishes or use them to prepare food ever again after they've come in contact with the zinc oxide OR the sun block cream you end up producing. You also should not wash said contaminated dishes with other dishes (even after multiple washes!). I would almost advise you to avoid making your own sunblock with Zinc Oxide altogether. Be very careful and make sure you research everything you use before you use it!

[jadamiranda]

Good job! I'll be doing that recipe, too. I'll be on my way buying the ingredients.