Sunscreen is the best way to protect your skin from the harsh sun. Read the article below for various natural sunscreen recipes.

Natural Sunscreen Recipes

The summer sun brings many hardships and the most pressing is its adverse effects on the skin. Not only does the heat prove to be a discomfort but it also inflicts untold miseries on the skin. Exposure to the sun deprives the skin of moisture and the natural oils, which protect the skin from fungal and bacterial infection as well as maintain the elasticity. Prolonged exposure to the sun also makes the skin susceptible to ultra violet radiations and the damage it does to the skin is only too well known to merit any mention. However, if you are someone who hops from the house to the car to the office with minimal exposure to the sun then you do not have much to worry of the sun harming your skin. However, for most people the daily grind do not leave them with the choice to stay in the shade always. For such people sunscreen is the best option. It acts as a skin parasol but with far greater capability. That is why sunscreen is a must in places where the sun is at its blazing best. Commercial sunscreens can be used but many people are of the opinion that in the long run they do more harm than good. This is because a majority of sunscreens use chemicals to ward off the effects of the sun. So, making your own sunscreen will prove to be a blessing in disguise. Making sunscreens at home is not only cheap and easy but since they mostly contain essential oils and some herbs with only a trace amount of chemicals, they are very healthy for the skin. Read below for a number of homemade sunscreen recipes.
Image: CTG Publishing@flickr
 
Homemade Sunscreen Recipes 
 
Sunscreen Lotion
 
Ingredients
  • 3 tbsp unrefined Sesame oil
  • 1 tbsp unrefined Avocado oil
  • 1 tbsp unrefined Jojoba oil
  • 1 tbsp walnut or Almond oil
  • 1 tbsp Shea butter
  • 2 tbsp Cocoa butter
  • 1 tsp Beeswax
  • 1 tsp Soya-lecithin
  • 2 tbsp Aloe Vera gel
  • 2 tbsp Rose or Lavender water
  • 1/2 tsp Borax powder
  • 20 drops Carrot-seed essential oil
  • 3-5 drops Coconut fragrance oil 
Procedure
  • Melt the sesame oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, and almond or walnut oil in a double boiler along with the butters and beeswax over medium heat.
  • Stir in the soya-lecithin to blend and remove from the heat.
  • Take the aloe vera gel and rose or lavender water in a pan and gently warm. Add the borax power and stir to dissolve. Remove from the heat.
  • When still warm set the pan into a bowl of ice. Then drizzle the melted oil while mixing rapidly till a cream forms.
  • Now add the carrot seed essential oil and the coconut fragrance oil and blend. 
  • Store the contents in an airtight jar and refrigerate. 
Green Tea Sunscreen
 
Ingredients
  • 2 cups Water
  • ½ cups Green Tea leaves 
Preparation
  • Boil the green tea leaves in water.
  • Strain and discard the leaves. Keep the water in a bottle.
  • Before going out in the sun wash your face with the tea water.
 
Beeswax Sunscreen
 
Ingredients
  • 1 cup Olive Oil or Natural Oil
  • 1 ounce of Beeswax
  • 2 tbsp pure Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide
 
Preparation
  • Heat the oil over low flame in a pan.
  • Add the beeswax and stir until the beeswax melts completely. Continue stirring.
  • Add the zinc oxide or titanium dioxide gradually while stirring.
  • Pour it in a small jar or bottle. Leave it to cool.
 
Vitamin C Sunscreen
 
Ingredients
  • 1 - 2 tbsp Vitamin C powder
  • 2 tbsp Spirulina or Chlorella powder
  • 3 tbsp Milk Powder
  • 2 tbsp Water
  • 1 - 3 tsp Lavender essential oil
Preparation
  • Mix the vitamin C powder, spirulina or chlorella powder, and milk powder.
  • Add the lavender essential oil and water to make a thin paste.
  • If using only on the face then mix only a few drops of lavender essential oil.

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