Homemade Sunscreen with Essential Oils

Being a fair-skinned redhead, I know firsthand the awful, miserable feeling of getting a sunburn.

And even worse, as a mom and having a daughter with even fairer skin than mine, I know that terrible guilty feeling of letting my child get a sunburn.

That’s why I’m so happy to have this all-natural, homemade essential oil sunscreen!

  • It’s water resistant
  • Helps protects against UVA and UVB
  • SPF 30+
  • Rubs in completely
  • Not sticky or overly greasy
  • Easy to make
  • You get to control what goes in it
  • Made with pure, all-natural ingredients
  • With the goodness of essential oils
  • and it smells great!

But even with all that, with such fair skin we still have to be careful.  We try to find shade when we can, we cover up, we reapply sunscreen every hour or so, and reapply sunscreen after being in the water (or sweating a lot).   And when we get a little too much sun, we use this fantastic after-sun spray with essential oils.

 

homemade essential oil sunscreen recipe. It's water resistant, protects against UVA and UVB , and SPF 30+. Plus it rubs in completely and it's not sticky or overly greasy. {DIY natural sunscreen recipe, essential oil recipe, essential oil DIY, doTERRA, Young Living, Plant Therapy}

 

 

What’s in this DIY sunscreen?

mango butter or shea butter – SPF 3-6

coconut oil – SPF 6-8

beeswax – thickens sunscreen and makes it water resistant

apricot kernel oil– lightens sunscreen and helps it absorb into skin

non-nano zinc oxide– UVA and UVB protection with SPF 20+

cacao powder (optional)– Zinc oxide sunscreen is famous for being stark white.  Adding a little cacao powder softens that and helps sunscreen blend into your natural skin tone.

essential oil–  I use lavender essential oil.  I love the scent, it’s very relaxing, and it even has a little sun protection (about SPF 5).

3 oz silicone squeeze bottles

homemade essential oil sunscreen recipe. It's water resistant, protects against UVA and UVB , and SPF 30+. Plus it rubs in completely and it's not sticky or overly greasy. {DIY natural sunscreen recipe, essential oil recipe, essential oil DIY, doTERRA, Young Living, Plant Therapy}

 

How to make homemade sunscreen with essential oils?

step 1:  add 1/4 cup beeswax to heat-safe glass measuring cup or bowl

homemade essential oil sunscreen recipe. It's water resistant, protects against UVA and UVB , and SPF 30+. Plus it rubs in completely and it's not sticky or overly greasy. {DIY natural sunscreen recipe, essential oil recipe, essential oil DIY, doTERRA, Young Living, Plant Therapy}

 

step 2:  add 1/2 cup mango butter

(or substitute with 1/2 cup shea butter)

homemade essential oil sunscreen recipe. It's water resistant, protects against UVA and UVB , and SPF 30+. Plus it rubs in completely and it's not sticky or overly greasy. {DIY natural sunscreen recipe, essential oil recipe, essential oil DIY, doTERRA, Young Living, Plant Therapy}

 

step 3:  add 1/2 cup coconut oil

homemade essential oil sunscreen recipe. It's water resistant, protects against UVA and UVB , and SPF 30+. Plus it rubs in completely and it's not sticky or overly greasy. {DIY natural sunscreen recipe, essential oil recipe, essential oil DIY, doTERRA, Young Living, Plant Therapy}

 

step 4:  use double boiler method to melt butter, oil, and beeswax

  • fill pot with 1-2 inches of water
  • heat pot over medium high heat so that the water gently simmers
  • place heat-safe glass measuring cup in the pot of simmering water
  • stir occasionally
  • be sure to melt the butters and beeswax completely.  If the beeswax doesn’t completely melt, it can reform and become grainy.

homemade essential oil sunscreen recipe. It's water resistant, protects against UVA and UVB , and SPF 30+. Plus it rubs in completely and it's not sticky or overly greasy. {DIY natural sunscreen recipe, essential oil recipe, essential oil DIY, doTERRA, Young Living, Plant Therapy}

homemade essential oil sunscreen recipe. It's water resistant, protects against UVA and UVB , and SPF 30+. Plus it rubs in completely and it's not sticky or overly greasy. {DIY natural sunscreen recipe, essential oil recipe, essential oil DIY, doTERRA, Young Living, Plant Therapy}

homemade essential oil sunscreen recipe. It's water resistant, protects against UVA and UVB , and SPF 30+. Plus it rubs in completely and it's not sticky or overly greasy. {DIY natural sunscreen recipe, essential oil recipe, essential oil DIY, doTERRA, Young Living, Plant Therapy}

 

step 5:  remove mixture from heat and let it cool for a couple of minutes

homemade essential oil sunscreen recipe. It's water resistant, protects against UVA and UVB , and SPF 30+. Plus it rubs in completely and it's not sticky or overly greasy. {DIY natural sunscreen recipe, essential oil recipe, essential oil DIY, doTERRA, Young Living, Plant Therapy}

 

step 6:  after mixture has cooled for a couple minutes, add 1/4 cup apricot kernel oil

homemade essential oil sunscreen recipe. It's water resistant, protects against UVA and UVB , and SPF 30+. Plus it rubs in completely and it's not sticky or overly greasy. {DIY natural sunscreen recipe, essential oil recipe, essential oil DIY, doTERRA, Young Living, Plant Therapy}

 

step 7:  add 60 drops essential oil (1% dilution) and stir well

I use lavender essential oil.  I love the scent, it’s very relaxing, and it even has a little sun protection (about 5 SPF).

homemade essential oil sunscreen recipe. It's water resistant, protects against UVA and UVB , and SPF 30+. Plus it rubs in completely and it's not sticky or overly greasy. {DIY natural sunscreen recipe, essential oil recipe, essential oil DIY, doTERRA, Young Living, Plant Therapy}

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step 8:  add 1/2 cup non-nano zinc oxide

homemade essential oil sunscreen recipe. It's water resistant, protects against UVA and UVB , and SPF 30+. Plus it rubs in completely and it's not sticky or overly greasy. {DIY natural sunscreen recipe, essential oil recipe, essential oil DIY, doTERRA, Young Living, Plant Therapy}

 

step 9:  (optional) add a little cacao powder to make your sunscreen to a softer color that’s closer to your skin tone

Zinc oxide sunscreen is famous for being stark white.  Adding a little cacao powder softens that.

I add 2-3 tablespoons to a batch for my family’s fair skin.  If you have a darker skin tone, you may want to experiment with adding more.

homemade essential oil sunscreen recipe. It's water resistant, protects against UVA and UVB , and SPF 30+. Plus it rubs in completely and it's not sticky or overly greasy. {DIY natural sunscreen recipe, essential oil recipe, essential oil DIY, doTERRA, Young Living, Plant Therapy}

 

homemade essential oil sunscreen recipe. It's water resistant, protects against UVA and UVB , and SPF 30+. Plus it rubs in completely and it's not sticky or overly greasy. {DIY natural sunscreen recipe, essential oil recipe, essential oil DIY, doTERRA, Young Living, Plant Therapy}

 

step 10:  let the mixture cool completely.  If you’re patient (I’m not) you can let it sit at room temperature for a couple hours.  Or you can speed up the process by putting it in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.

homemade essential oil sunscreen recipe. It's water resistant, protects against UVA and UVB , and SPF 30+. Plus it rubs in completely and it's not sticky or overly greasy. {DIY natural sunscreen recipe, essential oil recipe, essential oil DIY, doTERRA, Young Living, Plant Therapy}

 

step 12:  The zinc oxide and cocoa might have settled to the bottom when it cooled.  To make sure everything is mixed well, give the sunscreen a quick stir with your mixer.

homemade essential oil sunscreen recipe. It's water resistant, protects against UVA and UVB , and SPF 30+. Plus it rubs in completely and it's not sticky or overly greasy. {DIY natural sunscreen recipe, essential oil recipe, essential oil DIY, doTERRA, Young Living, Plant Therapy}

 

step 13:  transfer sunscreen to beach-and-pool-safe containers

To make filling the silicone squeeze bottles quick, easy, and no mess, here’s what I do:

homemade essential oil sunscreen recipe. It's water resistant, protects against UVA and UVB , and SPF 30+. Plus it rubs in completely and it's not sticky or overly greasy. {DIY natural sunscreen recipe, essential oil recipe, essential oil DIY, doTERRA, Young Living, Plant Therapy}

homemade essential oil sunscreen recipe. It's water resistant, protects against UVA and UVB , and SPF 30+. Plus it rubs in completely and it's not sticky or overly greasy. {DIY natural sunscreen recipe, essential oil recipe, essential oil DIY, doTERRA, Young Living, Plant Therapy}

homemade essential oil sunscreen recipe. It's water resistant, protects against UVA and UVB , and SPF 30+. Plus it rubs in completely and it's not sticky or overly greasy. {DIY natural sunscreen recipe, essential oil recipe, essential oil DIY, doTERRA, Young Living, Plant Therapy}

 

Here’s the essential oil sunscreen recipe one more time

1. use double-boiler method to melt the following:

1/4 cup beeswax

1/2 cup mango butter

1/2 cup coconut oil

2. remove from heat, let cool a couple minutes, and then add the following:

1/4 cup apricot kernel oil

60 drops essential oil (1% dilution)  – stir well after adding

1/2 cup non-nano zinc oxide

(optional) 2-3 Tbsp cacao powder

3. refrigerate for 30 minutes

4. zinc oxide and cacao powder may have settled to the bottom of bowl during cooling process.  Use hand mixer for 1-2 minutes to blend everything together really well.

5. transfer sunscreen to silicone squeeze bottles (1 batch fills 3-4 of these 3 ounce bottles)

 

homemade essential oil sunscreen recipe. It's water resistant, protects against UVA and UVB , and SPF 30+. Plus it rubs in completely and it's not sticky or overly greasy. {DIY natural sunscreen recipe, essential oil recipe, essential oil DIY, doTERRA, Young Living, Plant Therapy}

 

Where to get supplies for this essential oil sunscreen?

mango butter or shea butter 

coconut oil

beeswax 

apricot kernel oil

non-nano zinc oxide

cacao powder (optional)

3 oz silicone squeeze bottles

homemade essential oil sunscreen recipe. It's water resistant, protects against UVA and UVB , and SPF 30+. Plus it rubs in completely and it's not sticky or overly greasy. {DIY natural sunscreen recipe, essential oil recipe, essential oil DIY, doTERRA, Young Living, Plant Therapy}

 

here are a few other essential oil posts that I think you’ll like:

DIY Bug Spray That Really Works!

DIY Anti-Itch Stick Recipe {made with essential oil}

Homemade Peppermint Cooling Spray

DIY Essential Oil Bug Repellent Lotion Bars Recipe {non greasy}

15 Summer Room Spray Recipes to Freshen Your Home

After Sun Spray {made with essential oils}

easy to make “Bug Away” Essential Oil Mason Jar Candles (repel mosquitoes, flies, gnats, and other bugs & insects)

25+ Best Summer Diffuser Blends

DIY Dusting Powder Recipe with Essential Oils

Be Safe- Essential Oils and the Sun

DIY Cooling Peppermint Foot Cream {to refresh tired feet}

DIY Stinky Shoe Spray Recipe

Foaming Hand Soap in 21 Spring & Summer Scents

Best deals for essential oil supplies— diffusers cases, spray bottles, carrier oils, essential oil tools

soft & silky body butter with essential oils

 

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Sarah Lewis

A little thing about me: I 💙 essential oils. I also love using my background in research to help people learn more about essential oils and all the wonderful ways they can be used. I share DIY recipes for natural cleaners that really work, non-toxic beauty solutions, and holistic wellness. My essential oil recipes, info, and tips have been viewed more than 20 million times. I've been featured on MindBodyGreen, Health & Natural Living, All Natural Ideas, This Natural Home, Natural Living Ideas, and Passion for Savings.
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2 thoughts on “Homemade Sunscreen with Essential Oils”

    • No, I don’t feel like I’ve ever achieved spf 50 with a homemade sunscreen.
      As a fair skinned redhead, I also need a lot of sun protection. Shade, hats, and long-sleeved clothing are a big help. And when I need to be out in the bright, tropical sun for a prolonged period of time, I use the least toxic store-bought sunscreen I can find. I used this one from Amazon last year when we went to Maui & Turks and Caicos. https://amzn.to/2qNVQT9 It worked well for me, and it’s waterproof and reef safe so that’s good, too. But even will this sunscreen, I still sought shelter under a beach umbrella or inside the boat when I could.

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