It’s summer time. It is also the time when kids are enjoying their holidays. When we can’t stay cooped up in the house and have to brave the sun, sunscreen is just what we need.

Here’s another sunscreen recipe you can use when you have to brave the sun. The best part – it is tinted and has mineral ingredients. So, ready for the recipe, everyone?

Ingredients

Shea Butter – 250 Gms.
Roman Chamomile Essential Oil – 7 Drops.
Lavender Essential Oil – 7 Drops.
Coconut Oil – 100 Ml. (Optional)
Yellow Iron Oxide – a pinch
Orange Iron Oxide – as needed
Red Iron Oxide – a pinch

Instructions

In your double boiler, melt Shea Butter and Coconut Oil (if adding).

Once melted remove from heat and set aside.

When slightly cool, add the Essential Oils.

In a mixing bowl, add the Zinc Oxide and Iron Oxides.

Blend mechanically to combine – it takes a couple of minutes for the oxides to blend evenly in the Zinc Oxide. Set aside.

Add the oil and butter mixture to your blender and start whipping.

Slowly add the oxides mixture and keep blending.

When nice and fluffy – takes more than just a few minutes, transfer to a sterilized jar.

Done!

Tips to Tweak the Recipe

I have added Coconut Oil, though it completely optional. I like a lighter consistency, so adding oils.

You can also use Titanium Dioxide instead of Zinc Oxide.

The tinting is optional – you can also use brown oxide, or combine oxide powders like given above to get the required tint. The tinting also gives a slight coverage and added sun protection. However, you can skip it if you have very pale skin.

You can add other ingredients including ingredients that offer sun protection like Raspberry Seed Oil. You can reduce the Coconut Oil, or just add this along with it and increase your Shea Butter.

You can also add Beeswax for its healing and soothing properties, especially if you are prone to sun burns.

You can also add Vitamin E Oil to this recipe for added shelf life.

You can add natural preservatives if you are worried. However, since we have added only oils and butters, the recipe lasts without preservatives.

You can also use a moisturizing lotion / butter / cream if you want to skip some of the steps and whip up a sunscreen real quick – there are many lotion recipes here on the site you can use.

You can also use soothing ingredients like Aloe extracts to this recipe. If you are using hydrosols, make sure to use an emulsifier to bind the ingredients – beeswax is good for emulsification.

Like every other recipe, feel free to tweak and alter to suit your needs, requirements and preferences better. Don’t forget to keep us posted with your successful tweaks and results. Want us to cover specific topics, or you have a question? Don’t hesitate to write back to us. If you don’t have time for DIY, feel free to try Gaya Cosmetics – natural, hypoallergenic and organic mineral makeup for your beauty needs.