I find it ironic that while sunscreen sales are growing and reaching $1 billion a year, skin cancer is on the rise. Shouldn’t this be an inverse relationship? According to CNN report, 5 million people are treated for skin cancer each year. In fact, in the past three decades more people had skin cancer than all other cancers combined. When it comes to cancer it’s more than one factor that might play a role, but can it perhaps have something to do with a fact that after reviewing 2,000 sunscreens in 2014 The Environmental Working Group found that 75% contained toxic chemicals? The interesting part about those toxic chemicals is that they create free radicals when exposed to sunlight. And free radicals damage cause cell mutation that leads to cancer. Yes, you read it right, some ingredients in sunscreen you buy at the store increase risk of cancer.
There are five ingredients in my homemade sunscreen and I looked at each individually.
A study published in Pharmacognosy Magazine reported that carrot seed oil provides a sun protection factor 38-40. It has been widely disputed (mostly by sunscreen manufacturers) and in my opinion, even if if the study is a bit off, it’s a lot of natural SPF with no harmful side effects. I will take it.
If you are worried about not getting enough SPF read this article from Environmental Working Group.
I have tried a couple of recipes and finally arrived at this 5-ingredient concoction that makes everyone in my family happy. And “happy” means we use it regularly. It is odorless, doesn’t stain clothes, and can be used on babies (just google “is zinc oxide safe for babies,” if you don’t believe me).
Apart from the harmful chemicals, another thing I always hated about sunscreens is how yukky, sticky it feels on a skin. Once I put it on, all I wanted to do was to take a shower and scrub it off my skin. Our homemade sunscreen feels nice. You actually want to apply it.
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup organic coconut oil
- 1 stick organic beeswax (=1/4 cup, 1oz)
- 1 teaspoons organic carrot seed oil
- 2 Tablespoons zinc oxide powder (non-nano, uncoated)
4. Store in the mason jar it was made in or reuse some old face cream jars. Label your jar and you are done.
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