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Make Your Own Natural Sunscreen 🌞

Make Your Own Natural Sunscreen 🌞

Say goodbye to greasy, chemical-laden sunscreens forever!

Cedie Omaña
July 21, 2025

NOTICE: Formerly known as The Steady Homestead, we’ve rebranded to The Homestead Movement! Same great content, just a fresh new name. 😊

You’re outside soaking up the sun, enjoying your garden, maybe chasing the kids or chickens around, and then it hits you… “I forgot sunscreen!” But most store-bought ones are full of ingredients you can’t pronounce. And let’s be honest, girl, some of them smell awful and feel greasy, too.

If that sounds familiar, this simple, all-natural sunscreen recipe is for you.

It’s easy to make, made from safe ingredients, and gives your skin a layer of sun protection while you’re out living your best backyard life.

HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL NEED

Ingredients:

½ cup avocado oil (about 3.3 oz)
¼ cup cocoa butter (around 1 oz)
¼ cup beeswax pellets (1.2 oz)
¼ cup coconut oil (2 oz)
¼ cup non-nano zinc oxide (1.3 oz) – This is your sun-blocking superstar
15 drops of essential oil (totally optional – more on that below)

Tools:

A double boiler or a heat-safe bowl and pot
A metal whisk
A wide-mouth mason jar or any plastic container with a lid
A kitchen scale (for best results… trust me on this!)

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

Step 1: Melt the oils and waxes together

Add your avocado oil, cocoa butter, beeswax pellets, and coconut oil into a double boiler. No double boiler? Just set a heat-proof bowl over a saucepan with simmering water. Stir gently until everything melts together.

Step 2: Take it off the heat

Remove the bowl and let it cool for a few minutes. You don’t want to burn yourself or the zinc!

Step 3: Add the zinc oxide

Slowly whisk in your non-nano zinc oxide. It’s best to wear a mask or do this gently so you don’t breathe it in. It’s safe on skin but not in your lungs.

Step 4: Add your essential oils (if using)

Once the mixture has cooled a bit but is still liquid, stir in your essential oil drops.

Step 5: Whisk, whisk, whisk

Keep whisking every few minutes as it thickens. You want a nice, creamy texture without lumps.

Step 6: Pour into your container

Transfer it to your mason jar or chosen container before it sets. Let it cool fully before sealing the lid.

☀️ How to Use Your Sunscreen

Apply it generously to all skin that will see the sun.
Reapply every 2 hours, or after swimming or sweating.
Store in a cool spot. If it softens in the heat, just pop it in the fridge for a bit.

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INGREDIENT SWAPS THAT WORK

Making do with what you’ve got? Here are some safe substitutions:

Original Ingredient	Try This Instead
Avocado oil	Olive oil or sweet almond oil
Beeswax	Candelilla wax (vegan option)
Cocoa butter	Shea butter

Just remember: swapping ingredients may change the texture a little, but not the effectiveness.

SAFE & SOOTHING ESSENTIAL OILS TO TRY

Lavender – Gentle and calming, perfect for sensitive skin
Peppermint – Adds a refreshing cooling feel (but avoid near your eyes)
Frankincense – Helps with skin clarity and discomfort

Stick with oils that are gentle and known to be sun-safe. Avoid citrus oils like lemon or orange. They can make your skin more sensitive to the sun.

TIPS FOR BEST RESULTS

Clean tools = clean sunscreen. Always sanitize your whisk, bowl, and container to keep bacteria out.
Use a kitchen scale. Measuring by weight gives the most accurate mix, especially for zinc oxide.
Low and slow. Don’t rush the melting step—high heat can break down oils and reduce benefits.
Mix zinc oxide well. You don’t want white streaks or clumps—whisk thoroughly for smoothness.
Make bars if you like! Pour the mix into silicone molds and let it harden. Great for quick grab-and-go use.

❗ IMPORTANT REMINDER

This DIY sunscreen hasn’t gone through lab testing for SPF level. Based on research and ingredient ratios, it may offer around SPF 20, but this is only an estimate.

Always take extra steps to protect your skin: wear hats, stay in the shade during peak sun, and cover up when needed, especially for long days outside.

QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE

Can I use this on kids?

Yes! Just skip the essential oils or use a child-safe one like lavender. Always do a patch test first.

Does it stay on in water?

It holds up pretty well, thanks to the beeswax, but reapply after swimming just to be safe.

How long does it last?

If kept in a cool, dry place, your sunscreen should last about 6 months. Toss it if it smells off or separates too much.

Will it make me look ghostly?

A little bit! Zinc oxide gives a white cast, but if you blend it well, it’s minimal, and totally worth it for the protection.

Can I use shea butter instead of cocoa butter?

Absolutely. Shea butter has similar benefits and can even be a bit more moisturizing.

What if I don’t have zinc oxide?

Unfortunately, that’s the one ingredient you can’t skip. It’s what gives this recipe sun-blocking power.

I hope this helps you feel more ready for summer! If you give this a try, I’d love to hear how it turned out.

Take care and happy homesteading!

— Lexi 💚

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