Homemade Mineral Sunscreen with Tallow and Zinc Oxide

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Commercial sunscreen ingredients include chemicals that are known to be toxic, and store-bought mineral sunscreens are often made using processed seed oils. Fortunately, you can easily make your own sunscreen using skin-healthy ingredients like tallow and zinc oxide powder!

Chemical vs Physical Sunscreen

Conventional sunscreens work by converting the sun’s rays into heat once absorbed into the skin, and then releasing the heat from the body. That is the function of the active chemical ingredients in these products.

A physical sunscreen or “sunblock” uses minerals to reflect the rays away from the skin, literally ”blocking” the skin from the sun.

What’s Wrong with Conventional Sunscreens?

Chemical sunscreens are made with active ingredients like benzene, octyl methoxycinnamate, and oxybenzone. These chemicals are known endocrine disruptors and carcinogens. So why would we slather a product with these ingredients all over our largest organ (our skin)?!

What About Natural Store-bought Sunscreens?

Mineral-based sunscreens often use highly processed seed oils like sunflower oil or grapeseed oil. Seed oils contain high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) which easily oxidize, especially under conditions like direct sun. This can lead to oxidative stress on cell membranes of the skin. Fortunately, you can use alternative carrier fats that are low in PUFAs, and make your own! Keep in mind, it is also important to reduce PUFAs from processed seed oils in your diet for a variety of health reasons, including skin health.

Why You Should Make Your Own Homemade Sunscreen

This DIY sunscreen recipe is made using grass fed tallow, coconut oil, bees wax,and non-nano zinc oxide. These natural ingredients are healthy for the skin and can provide a protective barrier from UVA and UVB sun exposure. 

Grass Fed Tallow is the ultimate skin care product. I use it on my face every day, and it has dramatically improved my complexion. I have noticed reduced acne and wrinkles, as well as increased hydration. It is noncomedogenic, which means it doesn’t clog pores. It contains numerous vitamins and fatty acids that are beneficial for the skin, helps to increase collagen production, and helps hydrate and moisturize the skin. It also naturally has an SPF of about 4 on its own!

Coconut Oil is a fruit oil that is more stable than seed oils as it is high in saturated fats and very low in unsaturated fats. In this sunscreen it helps to create a barrier for blocking the sun rays, helps the sunscreen to spread more easily, and has an SPF of about 8 on its own.

Non-nano Zinc Oxide is a mineral that creates a reflective barrier on your skin, acting as a physical sunblock rather than a chemical sunscreen. Zinc oxide is a well known mineral for effectively blocking UVA and UVB sun rays from the skin.

Bees Wax gives this sunscreen a more durable water resistant effect.

What is the SPF of this Homemade Sunscreen Recipe?

SPF stands for Sun Protection factor. This is how commercial sunscreens measure a product’s sun protective effectiveness when applied. Since this recipe is homemade, there is no way to guarantee an SPF rating.

Interestingly, SPF only measures UVB rays, not UVA rays. While UVB rays are responsible for sunburn on the epidermis, UVA rays reach deeper into the skin and can cause more long term damage.

With that being said, do your own research and use this recipe at your own risk. Make sure to test and ensure it works well for you and your family before before getting too much sun, especially if you have fair skin. This is a physical sun block and not a chemical sunscreen that will be absorbed in the skin, so it will wash and rub off. If you will be in the water or sweating, reapply frequently.

​When Should You Wear Sunscreen?

A healthy amount of daily sunlight has so many benefits and is important for overall health. Ensuring you are getting enough sunlight will help prevent common modern health problems such as vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D has an important role in many bodily processes such as immune health, bone health, metabolism, and more. Many people today are not getting enough vitamin D, so it is important to make sure you are spending some time outside daily, when possible.

The problem is when we spend a lot of time in the direct sun for a long time, particularly at midday times when UVA and UVB rays are the most intense.

Usually protective clothing like a hat and long sleeves can help prevent sun damage, but for those times when you don’t have the proper attire, that’s when sunscreen comes in handy! By using beeswax, you can make your own water resistant sunscreen for days at the beach or lake when hats and sleeves are inconvenient, or when you will be sweating a lot.

History of Sunscreen

You may not imagine ancient people applying sunscreen, but cultures throughout history have used a variety of methods to protect the skin from excess sun exposure. Palm leaves, hats, scarves and clothing were common, and some cultures to this day use clay to protect the skin. Ancient Egyptians used extracts of rice bran, lupine and jasmine to help reduce the tanning effects of the sun.

After a hike in the 1930s, a Swiss chemist named Franz Greiter got sunburned, and developed a mineral sunblock with zinc oxide ten years later which he named Glacier Cream or “Gletscher Crème”.

That was the first “sunscreen” product, and over the past century sunscreen has become more and more laden with harmful chemicals.

Mineral Sunscreen is too White!

A common complaint about mineral based sunscreen is that it makes your skin bright white, which is not the most attractive look. Not to worry! By adding some cacao powder or infusing the melting ingredients with coffee grounds you can tone down the bright white if you want, and make it closer to your personal skin tone.

How to Apply Homemade Mineral Sunscreen

Before spending extended periods of time in direct sunlight, apply sunscreen cream to coat the top of your skin in desired areas such as the face, shoulders, back, and other areas as evenly as you can. The best option would be to have someone else apply in areas you can’t see or to use a mirror. Re-apply every 30 minutes or so if spending time in the water or sweating. Wear a sun hat if possible, or spend time under some shade during times outside of the water for extra sun protection.

How to Make Sunscreen With Tallow and Zinc Oxide

Step One

Place small metal bowl on a kitchen scale and tare to zero on oz setting. Add beeswax, tallow, coconut oil, zinc oxide, and optional coffee grounds or cacao powder to a small, dry metal bowl. Make sure all equipment is dry as any amount water in the final product could cause mold to grow.

Step Two

Using a small pot or double boiler, boil water and place metal bowl with ingredients on top. Allow ingredients to melt, stirring occasionally. 

Step Three

Once all ingredients are fully melted and dissolved, remove from heat and allow to cool for about 5 minutes. 

Step Four

When just under room temperature, whip sunscreen with a hand mixer to make it nice and creamy. This also helps with easier application.

Step Five

Once fully cooled, use a rubber spatula to add sunscreen to a small glass jar with a tight fitting lid. 

​How to Store Mineral Sunscreen

This recipe creates a fairly shelf stable product, but to extend the shelf life it is a better option to store it in the refrigerator. It should last for up to a year in the refrigerator, but make sure to check for mold as it is a natural product. 

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Beeswax Beads

Grass Fed Tallow

Non-nano Zinc Oxide Powder

Going to the beach?

See the benefits of sea water for hair and skin, and how to protect hair from salt water damage here.

Disclaimers

​*This is a homemade recipe and cannot guarantee SPF protection. Use at your own risk. 

*This post does not contain medical advice.

*As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. 

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