Homemade Sunscreen Bars

With summer right on top of us, the sun is already starting to beat down well enough to give out some sunburns. Most of you know how toxic commercial OTC sunscreen can be for us to use but we still need a way to protect our skin. Even in the shade, even on cloudy days- you can still get a burn! Not talking about stormy days here, just overcast and clouds.

 I’ve spoken to several people just recently who claimed a cloudy day would protect them and in turn they got a nasty sunburn. Without getting too much into it, something called broken cloud effect happens on cloudy days. Those UV rays are actaully stronger than on a sunny day! It’s all in the way the light is bouncing off and reflected throughout the cloud – in turn cloudy days can create a bad sunburn. Wear protection at all times if you are outside for any duration of time. Protect your skin! You only have one body. 

Whether sunny or cloudy, walking around in shade, the sun is still getting you , so time to protect it. If you’ve given up the OTC sunscreen for it’s toxins, I’ve got something for you. 

Skimming Pinterest ( it’s like a jackpot for everything you ever need) on homemade sunscreen bars I found a couple I wanted to try , but only three that I really liked. One of them was Sunscreen Lotion bars, non toxic easy to make and conditioned my skin at the same time.  The bar itself goes soft while against something warm, so you really only have to rub the bar along your skin to spread, then pop it back into the fridge to harden up again. 

bars

Love how soft they leave my skin!

The bar is about 15-20 SPF, good everyday wear for protection , there’s no greasy feeling and is so easy to make. I’ve been carrying it along on hikes and midday just reapply. So far no burns and after anywhere from 4-10 hours hiking you can bet we’re in the sun plenty.  This is a wonderful DIY non toxic  sunscreen you can make in your own kitchen. 

baringredients

All you need to make your own sunscreen!

Ingredients

1/2 cup shea butter
5 Tbsp beeswax
1/2 cup coconut oil 
2 Tbsp Zinc Oxide 
½ tsp Vitamin E Oil
¾ tsp  Lavender essential oil ( you can get some right here ) 

*Mold 

*Double Broiler or glass bowl over pot

* Measuring cup if you can pour from the double broiler and or glass bowl. 

 Directions

Using a double broiler or a glass bowl over a boiling pot of water , heat the shea butter, coconut oil and beeswax on low heat. Slowly mix it while it melts, may take a few minutes until everything is melted and mixed well keep it mixing . 

pour

Remove the mixture from heat and add in the remaining ingredients and pour into your molds. There should be no lumps, it will look like almost a creamy eggnog.  once poured, place your molds into the fridge to cool down.  Once cooled you can pop them out and store at room temp. Just simply rub along your skin and rub in.  They get real soft outside with the heat but harden once cooled. It’s not a problem at all, I hike for hours at a time or bike so they just get tossed into the fridge and wait till next use.  

bars4

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19 Comments

  • Megan @ C'mon Get Crafty

    Bravo for the Pinterest attempt! I’m possibly too lazy to attempt these myself, but I love the fact that they are reusable!

  • Anne | HealthySouthernMama.com

    I would love to try this! Thank you for sharing!

  • Lisa Rios

    Sounds like a wonderful idea! I have never tried homemade sunscreen before. I am having very sensitive skin and your recipe sounds chemical free and easy to prepare as well. I think this is really going to help me for my skin, by saving some money too.

  • Ann Bacciaglia

    This is such a great idea. I like that it is in a bar form. I will have to try making some up for my family.

  • m

    I had no idea you could make sunscreen bars at home. What a lovely idea and less chemicals in our body

  • Kristen from The Road to Domestication

    I have never heard of a sunscreen “bar” before, but this is amazing!

  • Rachelle J

    This is awesome. I was wondering if something like this was out there. We are trying to cut out chemicals and this is another great way to do it.

  • Annie M

    This is neat! I think it’s a great idea & it’ll save money as well 🙂

  • Amber NElson

    Wow, what a great idea. I didn’t know you could make your own!

  • Paula Schuck

    I love this because it’s not toxic. I also like how it conditions your skin while you are wearing it.

  • Mama to 5 BLessings

    Oh my goodness this is brilliant! i wish you sold these because I so would try them!

  • Dawn

    This is super neat. I have always wanted to try making my own sunscreen!

  • Liz Mays

    Oh those are awesome. I’ve never tried making my own sunscreen but I’d love to!

  • Pam

    I didn’t know it was this easy to make your own sunscreen. I will have to try this out.

  • Heather

    Wow I have to try this. I spent an hour in CVS the other day trying to find a decent one…nothing!

  • aimee fauci

    These seem so cool. I really thought they were sticks of butter. Great pictures.

  • Jeanine

    Wow. This is a brilliant idea! I love this, and think I would use this for our whole family! Much better than store bought!

  • Grace Hodgin

    I think this sounds like a great project to make with my granddaughter when she comes to visit. I will send some home with her as well.

  • Robin Rue (@massholemommy)

    I love this idea. I think it would be a lot easier to get on my kids than that awful spray!

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