Water-resistant Sunscreen Recipe
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!
Tags: cream recipes, lotion making 101, sunscreen, tips and technique
Comments: 13
Comments
Comment from Wabi Sabi Baby
Time December 6, 2008 at 9:48 pm
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.
Comment from Ridhwan
Time December 27, 2008 at 2:29 pm
hi WSB, what is borax emulsifier?
Comment from Ridhwan
Time December 27, 2008 at 2:42 pm
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.
Comment from Wabi Sabi Baby
Time January 1, 2009 at 10:45 pm
-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).
Comment from sanju
Time July 24, 2009 at 1:56 pm
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
Comment from sanju
Time July 24, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Hi should i use alo vera butter or alo vera gel for sunscreen
Comment from Wabi Sabi Baby
Time July 25, 2009 at 9:52 pm
I get mine from Liberty Natural but read through the comments to find where others are purchasing.
Comment from Wabi Sabi Baby
Time July 25, 2009 at 9:52 pm
gel.
Comment from Tanya
Time November 9, 2009 at 3:33 am
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?
Comment from Wabi Sabi Baby
Time November 9, 2009 at 8:46 am
@Tanya
Recipes are by weight. Good luck!
Comment from awaishamp
Time November 25, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Tender thanks you championing details. It helped me in my task
Comment from Antonis
Time June 4, 2010 at 5:28 am
Do I need to keep it the fridge? What’s the shelf life of this recipe?
Comment from ajita
Time December 5, 2008 at 8:51 pm
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