Make your own non-toxic homemade sunscreen lotion bars with this easy homemade sunscreen lotion bar recipe. Popular lotions and products contain unhealthy ingredients which we can easily avoid by making our own.
Why a Non-toxic Homemade Bar?
If you didn’t already know, commercial lotions can be toxic due to potential endocrine disruptors and other nasty chemicals. I am not entirely sure that exposing my skin to the sun is such a bad thing what with Vitamin D being so important. Maybe the sun doesn’t even cause skin cancer anyway.
However, I live in Texas and the sun can get pretty brutal during the summer.
I was inspired by Robin Konie of Thank Your Body to make non-toxic homemade lotion bars after reading her eBook, Toxic Free. However, I love the tallow lotion bars (recipe from Mommypotamus’ DIY Beauty eBook) I have been making because I can easily travel with them. I decided to try my hand at a recipe for a non-toxic homemade lotion bar using similar ratios as the tallow bars, but use shea butter and coconut oil to provide some natural protection as recommended by Robin.
What I love about this bar is that it is goes on easily and soaks right in without being overly greasy. It also doesn’t turn your skin or your clothes white from the zinc!
Non-Toxic Homemade Lotion Bars
Homemade Ingredients
- 1/2 cup shea butter
- 5 Tbsp beeswax
- 1/2 cup coconut oil (where to buy coconut oil)
- 2 Tbsp Zinc Oxide (I found a source via Mommypotamus for a non-nano here)
- ½ tsp Vitamin E oil
- ¾ tsp essential oil for scenting the bar (citrus oils increase photosensitivity so do not use those – I used lavender)
Homemade Lotion Bar Directions
Combine the shea butter, coconut oil and beeswax in a glass bowl placed over a hot pot of water or use a double boiler. Heat on low until the ingredients are melted and full incorporated. Remove from heat and stir in the zinc oxide, the essential oil, and the vitamin E oil. Pour into silicone mold and place in the fridge to cool for about 30 minutes. Pop out and store in tins or an airtight container. Store at room temperature.
Homemade Notes
- These homemade sunscreen lotion bars will melt in the hot sun. I plan to cut off a small piece to take with me to the pool or the beach and carry it in an airtight container. Once back indoors it will solidify again.
- I have received questions about how to apply. You simply rub all over your body while holding in your hand. The texture is firm but emollient and it will feel like a lotion – not soap. You can rub it in further with your hands.
Pin it here!
So, do you just rub the bar on your skin? If you are out in the sun all day, how do you keep it from melting?
I mean keep it from melting in the storage container. 🙂
Kathy – these are good questions. I know they will melt in the hot sun while we are out. I plan to cut off a small piece and take it in a small container with us. If it melts we can still use it. Just make sure it is sealed container so it doesn’t leak out. Once you get it back to room temp it will solidify again!
We take one wrapped in a small plastic bag stuffed inside a large plastic bag filled with ice. It keeps it enough that it doesn’t melt for quite a while. If you pack a cooler it will last even longer.
how about store it in your cooler, while out & about….along with some water to drink 🙂
EXCELLENT!
That’s what we did 🙂
You could use tins or glass jars from the beginning. 🙂 That way, it can melt and solidify as it wishes and still be convenient for you to carry around…
These look great , thank you. Reminds me of Lush products which I love. http://Www.lushusa.com. FYI, Lush sells tins that would fit these awesome well, I believe
Thanks for the recipe! I can’t wait to make some =)
Does the beeswax offer a waterproof effect? Could the SPF be boosted by adding more zinc? Thanks!
Any answer to this question? I didn’t see a reply. I understand it’s not waterproof but can the SPF be increased?
Castor oil makes it waterproof
Castor oil wouldn’t make it waterproof because it is absorbed by the skin. So is bees wax, but it abosorbs much more slowly and it seems like it might just be waterproof enough. However, huge amounts of water (that you are swimming in) will eventually wash anything off. It’s just a matter of slowing down that process.
Zinc oxide itself isn’t soluble in water, but that doesn’t mean water cannot wash it off your skin.
In clonclusion, I believe that it would be enough to protect you while swimming, but once you’re out of the water, reapply.
beewax is an excellent waterproofer for leather equipment…would have to think it would do the same for your skin. It is also what is used to seal a toilet to the floor- so that it does not leak…just fyi
The water beaded up on the back of my hands when I was cleaning up from making this. I’d say that the beeswax and shea butter both offer some waterproofing.
I have seen that the beeswax helps with waterproving and the shea butter has a natural spf of 12 does anyone know what the total spf is?
Lavender and Tea tree oil should be used in a limited way with boys. They can mimic hormones and can cause breast growth, which happened to our little boy when we used a lavender soap.
There are differing views about this claim. I certainly can’t comment on your personal experience, but I encourage people to read and make a decision for themselves.
http://www.mommypotamus.com/does-lavender-oil-cause-estrogen-imbalance/
Thank you @mslancast for posting this!
@Amanda Leins, how soon did you notice this? Was there a behavioral difference as well?
The combination of tea-tree oil and lavender is the endocrine disrupter for pre-adolescent boys. Either without the other is OK.
Why do you use non nano zinc oxide? How is that better then regular nano?
nano zinc oxide particles are extremely small, which can pass through the skin and into your blood stream
The blog included an update with another source for non-nano zinc oxide: http://www.camdengrey.com/essential-oils/zinc-oxide-powder.html
This looks awesome!
On a side note, the advertisement banner at the top of the page reads “$30 books for $39! One week only!”
Where can I find Beeswax. & vitamin e oil…
mountainroseherbs.com
I use Carrot seed oil and Mryth and with a carrier oil. I think I will try this recipe with the 2 essential oils.
How does this work with Kids who are swimming all day… does it wash off immediately when in water? I need something that stays on them for at least 30 minutes in water.. or they will fry fry fry before I can reapply 😉
Dawna – this is not waterproof!
My skin reacts to shea butter… any idea for a different fat to use? Shea butter would be the most convenient since it is solid at room temperature. I cannot think of what would work in its place.
cocoa butter is a good alternative, plus it has a natural UVB 15
Mango butter is wonderful and has natural sun protection in it.
http://www.fromnaturewithlove.com/soap/product.asp?product_id=BUTMANGO
Be very careful using mango butter. Mango is a cousin to poison ivy. If you get an allergic rash from poison ivy, you’ll probably be allergic to the oils in the mango skin. Had to bring my daughter to the ER because of this. We hadn’t been anywhere near poison ivy, but she had handled mango skin. She can eat the meat of the mango, but has to stay completely away from the skin.
That is very interesting about the poison ivy! My daughter broke out in hives all over her face after eating mango with the skin on it. She too can have the meat.
I have a friend who is deathly allergic to coconut and I would love to share this with her. Do you have a suggestion on a replacement for coconut oil?
Cocoa butter might work. Solid at room temp, melts at body temp. Plus it smells wonderful!
Don’t use if you have dogs, it will be toxic to them if they lick you
and the store bought ones would be toxic as well…not sure what your point is…
She’s referring to the fact that chocolate (cacao) is poisonous to dogs (in significant quantities).
Eww! I have dogs, but they are NOT allowed to lick people!
Even IF you let your dogs lick you the quantity they’d have to lick would be so great it’s doubtful any unabsorbed residue from your skin would be enough to be harmful.
The solids of the cocoa bean contain alkaloid theobromine (totally hope I spelled that right) which is what is toxic to dogs, not the fat (cocoa butter). If you have dogs, opt for the purified or deodorized cocoa butter and there should be no problem for pets.
Cocoa butter is great, but I don’t recommend you use the finished product on your face. Cocoa butter clogs your pores and your face will break out in pimples.
I would imagine bees wax would clog your pores much more.
Please remind your readers to use a mask when handling mineral powders like zinc. While they are safe once they are mixed in our formulae, inhaling them is not recommended.
These look awesome! And SO much easier to make (and easier to buy) than the super-expensive stuff I usually buy.
Hello! Is there anything you can use in place of Shea Butter? I am on the allergic side, but I would like to try this recipe.
Cacao butter should do the trick.
Thanks
Mango butter. http://www.fromnaturewithlove.com/soap/product.asp?product_id=BUTMANGO
This sounds like a great recipe. Love the heart molds. Where did you get them? Love Miracle Butter from http://www.gardenofikeda.com (whipped Shea butter w/coconut oil. SPF 6.
Is there a non-coconut oil version? I’m allergic to coconut 🙁
Try mango butter! http://www.fromnaturewithlove.com/soap/product.asp?product_id=BUTMANGO
What a GREAT idea! Thank you!
Is there anything I can use instead of beeswax?
Beeswax has a much higher melting point than other ingredients – it’s basically what makes this solid. I haven’t tried, but it seems like without it, it would pretty much look like a liquid lotion, which is also good. 🙂
soy wax in place of beeswax
I have to try this
How many bars does this recipe make?
6-8 depending on the size of your molds.
what does the beeswax do?
It thickens it 🙂
This may be a dumb question but…I was just wondering if the zinc oxide over the counter cream can be used? If so, how much would be recommended.
I don’t know if I’m thinking of the same cream as you, but if I am, the answer is no. First of all, your skin would be completely white and second, it would dry out. It would protect you from sunrays, however.
Can zinc oxide cream be used instead of the powder? If so, would there be any change to the amount needed?
I have never made it that way so I do not know the answer. Maybe you can try that and report back on how it turns out.
Would this still work without the Vitamin E oil? I have all the other ingredients and would like to make it for our beach weekend and this weekend and I don’t think the Vitamin E oil would arrive in time.
try walmart in the vitamin section- that is where I get mine…
trader joes has vitamin E at a really good price
The link for the zinc oxide goes to a site that only sells it in Canada… Where is a good place to purchase in the US?
I found the same thing when I entered the site. Just drop down to the US site.
But then I can’t find the zinc? I’m sure it’s user error… LOL
Is the beeswax grated? Also is there something I can substitute the shea butter with like more coconut oil or something?
We used this bar in Florida on the beach last week and I am happy to say it worked well! I wouldn’t rely on it for a week in direct sun without a base tan (Florida sun is much more direct than Ohio!), but I used it on day 4, 5, 6 with great results. I would say it is somewhere between 20-25 SPF. Wonderfully moisturizing and no white residue!
Thanks Lora! So glad it worked out for you on the beach!
These are also great to use for massage, they don’t leave a mess like baby or coconut oil
I would imagine it would keep for a long time outdoors in an insultated stainless steel coffee mug if you kept the mug in the freezer
I’m allergic to coconut oil. Is there anything that will work as a substitution?
Question how long will these bars keep for!?
SECTION: 8. EXPOSURE CONTROLS AND PERSONAL PROTECTION
Eyes Protection:
The use of safety glasses is recommended. If a material is to be handled in a manner where splashing may occur, the use of splash goggles or face Shield is recommended.
Respiratory Protection:
In well-ventilated areas, respiratory protection is not normally required.
Protective Gloves:
Using chemical resistant gloves is recommended.
Protective Clothing:
Using chemical resistant clothing is recommended.
Protective Equipment:
An eyewash fountain and / or safety shower should be available in the work area. Acceptable industrial hygiene practices should be maintained.
I’ve got 4 of these cooling in the fridge right now. I’m hoping to solve the messy melted lotion bar problem by setting it up in empty deodorant containers. I’ll be sending it to daycamp with my 4 year old; they require that we provide sunblock.
Is this safe to use during pregnancy? The essential oil primarily is what I’m asking about but all ingredients as well.
I’d like to know if it’s safe for pregnant and/or nursing mothers. But mostly because of the zinc oxide. I make a skin cream with zinc oxide in it and I’ve heard that they haven’t tested it fully and can’t say whether it’s safe for pregnant or nursing mothers.
Zinc oxide and other ingredients are safe. As for essential oils, I wouldn’t use them here even without pregnancy. Generally, there is not a lot of data about the safety of essential oils in pregnancy, simply because it’s impossible to conduct safe experiments. The data gathered from the experience of users shows that there are some oils to avoid (non of which you’ve heard of, probably – Balsamite, Camphor, Ho leaf, Hyssop, Indian dill seed, Parsley leaf, Parsley seed, Sage, Savin) and some oils are considered safe (Cardamom, Roman and German Chamomile, Clary sage, Coriander seed, Geranium, Ginger, Lavender, Neroli, Palmarosa, Patchouli, Petitgrain, Rose, Rosewood, Sandalwood).
Source: Tisserand, Balacs: Essential oil safety;
This is a wonderful recipe. I shared on my website. Thank you. Liz
Can you tell me how to use Beeswax? I’ve never used it before. How do you measure it? I bought a couple 1oz bars of beeswax at the farmers market but now I see that is probably not enough. How does 1oz compare to 1 Tbsp? I have also seen it sold online in the pastilles. How do you measure these?
Thank you.
I cant get the beeswax to melt, what could I be doing wrong?
I have thevsame question on how to measure the beeswax in its solid form. Ibtoo have one ounce solid bars. Thank you!
If you bought the solid beeswax, use a grater to grate it so that it will melt.
This looks like a great recipe, but want to know if it’ll work without the Vitamin E? I have Celiac’s disease & have problems with Vitamin E.
I get the best Shea Butter and other products from
Sheaterraorganics.com They are made by women and it is so cool to read the sight learn how they pick the nuts, make theutter and other products. its like Lucy and Ethel making wine or chocolates!
I made this and its a lovely consistence and goes on so nice. Although it does not come off my glass cookware. Any tips on removing it. Soap or scrub or boiling water soaked have not worked and I cannot use them now.
Maybe baking soda? It did take me a while to get it off of my glass bowl!
Hi! Tnx for the recipe! Is it safe to use on our faces?; specifically, around our eyes and on our eyelids? Thanks so much!
VitaMix??? Healthy food – FAST and YUMMY! I want to be able to quickly process and consume all the vitamins and fiber of fresh, REAL FOOD, hot or cold. PRONTO!! And there’s no better way than VITA-MIX!!! GO VITA-MIX! GO ME! GO REAL FOOD!!!!
I think you meant this to go on the Vitamix giveaway page?
Oooh, I’m pinning this to my 2014 Projects to do! Thank you for posting this recipe, I love them in the heart mold. Adds a nice touch. 🙂
What can be added to create a higher SPF?
How often is re-application needed when swimming in a pool or ocean?
Very frequently – at least every 30 minutes.
My sister doesn’t make bars she puts it all in a jar. Less messy that way and if it melts it wont be wasted