Making your own homemade sunscreen stick allows you to know what’s in your sunscreen. And you’ll love this convenient travel-ready stick!
Sunscreen has become so controversial lately. You’ve probably seen all the conflicting advice:
Wear sunscreen…No, don’t wear sunscreen, it’s evil…avoid the sun in the middle of the day…wear long sleeves…actually, soak up all the sun!
It’s so confusing, isn’t it? We know that sunshine is essential for Vitamin D uptake, better quality sleep and so much more.
At the same time, there is clearly a need to avoid sunburns and skin damage from the sun.
But even my go-to natural sunscreen brands have been criticized by the crunchy-powers-that-be for additives and questionable chemicals.
The great thing about making homemade sunscreen is that you can control the ingredients and still get the sun protection you need, thanks to non-nano zinc oxide.
Enter the Homemade Sunscreen Stick
What’s even better than homemade sunscreen? A homemade sunscreen stick, of course.
Thick, goopy sunscreen is just no fun to apply whether you’re working in the garden or playing at the beach.
You can throw a sunscreen stick in your bag to use on the go, without worrying about messy spills.
Read on to see how easy it is to make a homemade sunscreen stick with just a few ingredients.
Supplies for Homemade Sunscreen Stick
You won’t need any fancy supplies for making this sunscreen, but you will need four twist-up containers.
The 2-oz deodorant stick containers work best for this project.
I’ve used both the “biodegradable” kind made out of heavy brown paper and the plastic tubes, and I prefer the plastic.
The plastic kind have a twist mechanism on the bottom; the paper kind pushes up which is just a little less convenient.
If you use the cardboard containers, the black coated cardboard tubes are a little more durable.
Ingredients for Homemade Sunscreen Stick
You might call this a minimalist sunscreen recipe. It’s just what you need, and nothing more.
Coconut oil
Whether I’m eating it or slathering it on my skin, I try to pick unrefined, organic coconut oil. Sam’s Club has large containers that last forever for these DIY projects!
Beeswax Pellets
You can use white or yellow beeswax. The small pellets are the easiest to work with as they melt quickly.
Shea Butter
This unrefined shea butter is a good option; you will only need 1/2 cup.
Non nano zinc oxide
Use a good quality non-nano zinc oxide that has large particles to provide a barrier (without being absorbed by the skin). It is gentle enough to use on sensitive skin, including the face.
Non-nano zinc oxide reflects both UVA and UVB rays, and it doesn’t breakdown in sunlight like other chemical-based sunscreens. (source.)
Zinc has skin-healing properties and can be used in so many recipes including diaper rash cream!
You only need 2 tablespoons for this recipe, so this zinc oxide is another good option if you want a smaller quantity.
Essential oils
Essential oils are always optional. However, you add them, make sure they are NOT phototoxic!
This means you want to avoid EOs that increase skin damage in the sun. In general, this would include (but isn’t limited to) most citrus oils.
You can find a list of phototoxic essential oils here.
Safer options that actually have sunscreen benefits would be: Raspberry seed oil, wheatgerm oil, pomegranate seed oil, and carrot seed oil.
Some of these – raspberry and wheatgerm – are not really considered essential oils, but nonetheless are natural oils with plant-powered benefits and a nice, light scent.
These are likely not the most common oils you’ll have in your oily collection (not in mine, at least), but you can take them or leave them in this recipe.
You can also reap the benefits of coconut oil in this recipe, which is a natural oil with its own SPF of about 10.
Of course, the zinc oxide provides the greatest protection against the sun in this recipe, so adding the plant oils are really up to your preference (scented or non-scented).
See the recipe card below for the full instructions for Homemade Sunscreen Sticks.
Homemade Sunscreen Sticks (with Zinc)
A simple sunscreen using non-nano zinc oxide for skin protection and natural oils for a convenient roll-on formula. This makes approximately four 2-ounce sticks.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup organic coconut oil
- 1/2 cup beeswax
- 1/2 cup shea butter
- 2 Tablespoons non-nano zinc oxide
- Essential oils or other plant oils (see notes; avoid phototoxic essential oils)
- Four twist-up deodorant containers (2 oz)
Instructions
1. Add the shea butter, coconut oil, and beeswax into a heat safe glass container. Slowly melt it on a double boiler or in the microwave, stirring in between. (You can also put your glass bowl over a saucepan as a double boiler.)
2. Once completely melted, allow to cool a few minutes before adding in your essential oils (optional; see notes).
3. Then, mix in your non nano zinc oxide. Make sure to mix it thoroughly.
4. Pour the mixture into your containers. As it cools down, continue to stir with a stick occasionally to help mix in and disperse all of the zinc oxide.
5. Let harden for several hours or overnight; then it's ready to use!
Notes
**Take caution to only use essential oils that are NOT phototoxic to prevent skin damage. Do your research. Other plant-based oils like red raspberry oil may be a better option and offer added skin protection.
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