My earlier post discussed sun protection and an easy way to make sunscreen with zinc oxide. Those lotion base are fine for daily use, but if you want more of a water-resistant sweatproof formulation for active outdoor use, try this barrier cream with beeswax. Using a beeswax/borax emulsifier combination helps the cream stay on better. Makes a 5.5 oz batch (5 oz cream, 0.5 oz zinc oxide).
- Ingredients:
- 1.8 oz water
- 1 oz aloe vera
- 0.5 oz zinc oxide
- 1.6 oz olive oil
- 0.5 oz beeswax
- 0.04 oz borax
- 0.06 soy lecithin
Follow the instructions outlined in the lotion-making 101 section. For the zinc oxide, measure and blend it to the melted oil mixture before adding the water mixture.
Variation
For a thicker cream, increase the amount of beeswax by up to 0.5 oz and decrease the water content by the same amount. So if you’re using 0.8 oz beeswax, use only 1.5 oz water and so on.
I have not tested this thicker cream variation as our pool days here in Austin are numbered so if you do try it, share with us your results! I will revisit this recipe next summer!
16 Comments
Hi, I tried making basic lotion using beeswax, but the water separates! can you suggest any changes? is borax essential? also can you give the recipe in terms of spoons/ cups because it is difficult to use oz in india
I find that borax and soy lecithin help emulsify the creams better. When using beeswax, it is more accurate to weigh the ingredients. Volume measurements vary too much and beeswax is not very forgiving. Try my lotion recipes using emulsifying wax if you want to use volume measurements.
hi WSB, what is borax emulsifier?
WSB is borax safe to use in lotion? I read that borax though used in many lotions can be lethal and irritant because it is toxic.
-Ridhwan
Borax has a wide variety of uses including as an insecticide. Ingesting 0.15 oz (about 4 times the amount in this recipe) can be lethal to pets and babies. As long as you’re not eating large quantities of this lotion, it is safe to use in this application. As with many synthetic and natural ingredients, borax can be a skin irritant so stop using it if you think it’s causing the itchiness (it could also be other ingredients).
I would like to know where do i buy zinc oxide for making sunscreen and how would i know if it is okay for use in sunscreen
Hi should i use alo vera butter or alo vera gel for sunscreen
I get mine from Liberty Natural but read through the comments to find where others are purchasing.
gel.
Thanks for your recipe!! I would like to try this one, and would like to know oz you mention in this recipe is oz by weight or is it fluid oz?
@Tanya
Recipes are by weight. Good luck!
Tender thanks you championing details. It helped me in my task
Do I need to keep it the fridge? What’s the shelf life of this recipe?
Thank you so much for the recipe! My kids burned this weekend in the pool after using a sunscreen I suspect wasn’t water-resistant enough. What has been your experience with using this recipe? Does everyone stay burn-free? How much of a white sheen does this give the skin when wearing? How often do you reapply? Sorry for the many questions, I just feel so bad after my kids’ first burn and I am frustrated after not finding a good solution that doesn’t cost 4$ and ounce or contain toxic ingredients. Thank you!
What is the SPF on this homemade sunscreen?
I am only interested in making waterless lotions so I can avoid preservatives. I saw on the MakingCosmetics.com store it recommends adding Zinc Oxide to a water phase so does that mean it only goes into solution with water? I was hoping to use this waterless barrier cream recipe from AsonomaGarden and just add the Zinc to it. http://asonomagarden.wordpress.com/2011/09/19/how-to-make-an-easy-beeswax-lotion/#comment-8670
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