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This coconut oil sunscreen recipes is made with 3 all natural ingredients. No harmful chemicals needed!
I don’t wear sunscreen..
I’ve actually never needed to wear sunscreen since I was blessed with skin that doesn’t burn… ever. BUT some of my babies inherited their daddy’s skin so sun protection lotion has been needed for my family occasionally. I avoid body care products for a lot of reasons, but mainly because I can’t pronounce the name of half the ingredients listed. A simple search online or looking at the ingredient list of sunscreen lotion in your home will show a concerning amount of hard to pronounce chemicals that my little ones don’t need…at all.
Enter COCONUT OIL.
Coconut oil has a natural SPF of 4-5 and contains antioxidants that help protect the skin from harmful radiation from the sun. Natural sunscreen!
Obviously that low amount of SPF isn’t sufficient for a long day in the sun, so we add red raspberry seed oil and essential oils. Red raspberry seed oil has an SPF of roughly 25. Zinc oxide (we use non-synthetic) is also known for it’s ability to protect the skin from both UVA and UVB rays.
Shop Ingredients:
There is no way to know exactly how much SPF is in the lotion since there are varying sources of information about how much SPF is in carrier oils and essential oils. If you have fair skin that burns easily you may need to add more zinc oxide. This recipes is intended for educational purposes only. Please test out the recipes and change it up to suit the needs of your skin.
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PrintCoconut Oil Sunscreen – Easy 3 Ingredient Recipe!
Ingredients
- ½ Cup Virgin Coconut Oil
- 2 Tablespoons Non Nana Zinc Oxide
- 1 Tablespoon Red Raspberry Seed Oil
- Optional: 10 Drops Essential Oils (I used Carrot Seed & Lavender)
Instructions
- Whip coconut oil up in a mixer or food processor.
- Carefully add the zinc oxide (you don’t want to inhale it!), red raspberry seed oil and essential oils.
- Once the oils and zinc oxide are mixed well pour them into a small container.
Sources
Last Updated on
Denice Zanella
July 9, 2019 at 6:25 pmWhat is the SPF value of using these ingredients?
Pamela
March 18, 2019 at 7:35 amHi, can you use cream zinc instead of the powder? If you can what would be the amount of cream you would put into this recipe. If I took the zinc out completely what would you use for the best sun protection?
Jessie
July 28, 2018 at 4:37 amHow do you remove the sunscreen from your face? Do you still need make up remover?
The Coconut Mama
July 28, 2018 at 2:05 pmI use a cloth towel to rub it off. Then I wash my face with cleanser.
LEN
July 4, 2018 at 7:49 pmHi,
Can i use zinc oxide cream(normally used for diaper rash) as a replacement to zinc oxide powder? How many tsp or tbsp should i use for this recipe?
Roberta
May 12, 2018 at 5:04 pmloved it! doubled the coconut, added 1/2 cup of cosmetic grade bees wax (to make it waterproof), added another tablespoon of red raspberry seed oil & an extra tablespoon of zinc
Tamar
January 11, 2018 at 11:40 pmWill give you skin cancer. That oil does not has an spf of 25. It’s been disproven and you can easily google the debunking of this myth.
★
Sandy Weiner Tobias
February 18, 2018 at 7:43 pmCoconut oil all over your body and sun screen on the face.
Teresa Jordan
June 20, 2018 at 12:01 pmWhich oil gives skin CANCER?
Rena Wilkins
July 2, 2018 at 9:34 pmActually a lot of store bought sunscreens have been recently shown to be toxic so…I’ll take my chances using something all natural versus chemical infused store bought ones. I read a report today that a lot of the ones for kids are deemed unsafe. Just take a look at EWF’s website.
Michael
November 30, 2018 at 6:09 pm@Tamar If coconut oil gives you cancer, what does toxic sunscreen give you? : P
Rhonda
January 26, 2019 at 10:18 amMy sentiments EXACTLY. I’ll take my chances with this recipe over a bunch of toxic chemicals!
Lynn
July 1, 2019 at 6:02 amMy dermatologist told me that the sunscreens can cause cancer also. She said to use an all natural one. I choose to make my own so I know what is in it.
Laurie Nash
February 13, 2019 at 2:59 amThat is very true Lamar. The myth about red raspberry seed oil spf levels has been debunked. And a spf of 6 is very low, not much protection at all. Sunscreen is one product I would never diy. Not worth the risk.
Stephanie Dwyer Fortney
May 29, 2019 at 8:18 amCoconut oil does not “give” you cancer. Alone it is not an effective sunscreen, but when combined with zinc oxide and other oils, as mentioned in the blog above, it can be an effective natural replacement for commercial sunscreen.
Nat
January 10, 2018 at 4:31 pmHi, do you use essential or carrier oils in this sunscreen?
Carol Simpson
May 1, 2017 at 11:38 amI’ve got coconut oil, the zinc oxide and some carrot oil which has a high SPF. What I want to do is whether or not this is white on the skin like the stuff lifeguards used to put on their noses?
shan
January 16, 2019 at 9:22 pmYou can use some cocoa powder to help with the white
Lynette bangert
April 26, 2017 at 9:30 amHi Tiffany I just tried your recipe and I have a question for you how do I store it since it’s coconut oil and I live in the desert and it’s pretty warm here and I think it might melt so do I put it in the fridge raider is it OK to do that thank you for answering and thank you for the recipe sounds amazing can’t wait to use it
Sheila
April 11, 2017 at 2:37 pmdoes this go on white?
★★★★
Heather
April 11, 2017 at 9:15 amIs this safe to use on a child under 2 years old? Are raspberry seed oil and carrot seed oil essential oils?
Rosemary
April 6, 2019 at 10:03 amyes raspberry seed oil and carrot seed are both essential oils.
S
June 5, 2019 at 7:38 amNo guarantee of safety of essential oils on children. Really more of an inhalation risk (inhaling oils not good for alveoli in the lungs and can cause significant inflammatory reactions..more so with use of diffuser) That being said, a few drops of fragrance in a sunscreen probably wouldn’t be horrible. Or…skip the fragrance part. Kid sunscreens have zinc in them now, and typically are not scented.
Jenn
April 5, 2017 at 7:11 pmCan’t wait to try but why aren’t we supposed to breathe in the zinc?
Michelle
April 1, 2017 at 1:24 pmHow long will this keep and do I need to store it in any special way (refrigerator or ?) I am made it and am using it today and LOVE it!
★★★★★
Jill Freedman
January 4, 2017 at 1:05 pmI was wondering if the zinc is white and if so, does that make it difficult to rub into the skin? Do you know where to find clear zinc?
Thanks!
Google user
August 10, 2018 at 11:37 amWell, it should not be transparent as this is the problem with chemical off the shelf sunscreens. Those sunscreens contain chemicals alongside zinc oxide in the form of nanoparticles (basically the materials are broken down into tiny particles that can be absorbed by your skin and Is no longer only on the surface, which is why the sun screen turns transparent).
Now the problem with this is the chemicals and zinc oxide are pretty harmful inside the body, so being absorbed by the skin means all the bad stuff goes into your body. Thus you must ensure you use non nano uncoated zinc oxide which will remain on your skin and block UV radiation. And that zinc oxide is white.
Lil
November 26, 2016 at 4:25 pmThis is awesome, thank you for the recipe!
★★★★★
Heyo
October 11, 2016 at 8:24 pmMake sure you dont use a citrus essential oil as they are phototoxic as in the cause burns in direct sunlight. Carrotseed oil and lavender probably the best to use like it says in the example.
Marie-Louise
September 12, 2016 at 6:40 pmHi, can I use zink oxide cream in in stead of powder?
AL
July 16, 2016 at 3:33 pmI was so excited to make this, so I made it today and I doubled the Zinc because I burn so easily. I was hoping to use this as an everyday sunscreen for the whole exposed body, but it leaves a mild white film on the skin. Not sure, if it’s because of the extra Zinc or if this is for swimming only. I haven’t been outside to try it out yet and I most likely won’t. I also have had it on my skin for about 15 minutes and it is not absorbing. I have a white film all over, including my palms. However, there is a plus side, after washing my hands it didn’t seem to come off, so definitely for swimming!
★★★★
Kim Hinkel
July 10, 2016 at 6:09 pmCould this be used on infants under 6 months?
Nanner
July 2, 2016 at 1:21 pmI live in a warm climate, so my coconut oil is always liquid in the summer. Is the whipping step necessary, or is that just to soften it enough to mix the other ingredients? Can’t wait to try this. Thanks for the recipe!
Amy
June 28, 2016 at 2:31 pmI have been experience a burning sensation around my eyes and on my cheeks from my current sunscreen. I am a really fair redhead who loves the outdoors, but I want to protect myself at the same time. I am going to give this a try and see how it works for protection. Any other thoughts or suggestions of sunscreens that I can use?
Thanks for the recipe Coconut mama
Julie
June 19, 2016 at 5:46 amThank you, very much for this all natural recipe. As you noted, it is difficult to know what level of sunscreen is in the finished product because of varying reports; this is noted for OTC products as well, no matter what the label says. Manufacturers fudge on ingredient labels (shock! not really?), poor quality control messes with purity and strength (just think of all the processes ingredients go through until they make it into a product and the product gets to the shelf, and then… gets to your skin!). All that being said, before my concerns arose about the ingredients in all OTC products, I was in the habit of reapplying, often, to my kids and my skin, keeping all of us from burning. I would consider that step (reapplication) a wise decision for this product as well. Also, with the lovely pure and natural ingredients, my skin will be so soft! Thanks, again. Nice, simple, easy natural recipe!
★★★★★
Anna
June 6, 2016 at 2:38 pmI am just curious, why carrot seed oil? I don’t know anything about carrot seed oil, that’s the main reason for my asking.
Heyo
October 11, 2016 at 8:25 pmIt has a high SPF on its own
Ceilidh
June 5, 2016 at 8:06 amI love the idea of the coconut sun cream!
Lisa
May 9, 2016 at 1:24 pmAny idea of the shelf life?
Will it last 1 summer? 2 summers?
Wondering if I make large batches, will it “go bad”, before it gets used?
Brenda
May 8, 2016 at 3:44 amDo you know if the Beauty Counter sunscreen will melt in the car? I am looking for a sunscreen that I can leave in my car on days I forget and I take the top off.
I am definitely making the other for days I am sure I am going to be in the sun.
Grace
March 16, 2016 at 5:53 pmWhat age can use this ? How young ..thanks !
Tonia
March 16, 2016 at 7:29 amI am a very fair skinned freckled person. Sunburns are the story of my life.. Until I started supplementing with Vit D and also using coconut oil on my skin. Anymore when I go out I usually use my face oil mix and I haven’t had a major burn in several years. We farm so I am outside a lot. It works for my kids too. 🙂
Amy
June 28, 2016 at 2:34 pmHI Tonia,
I am also a fair skinned person. Curious what are you using on your face for your face oil mix?
Cheers Amy 🙂
Sharry Pebley
May 27, 2018 at 9:51 amTonia… eating coconut oil has also seed to help me not burn.
I also travel with Young Living’s sunscreen.
It amazed me! Between that & their after sun I DID NOT BURN!!!
I actually tanned. Love it!
But expensive ao I use this recipe at home & on my gkids.
Olga
February 1, 2016 at 11:46 amHi Tiffany, I am thinking about making this sunscreen for my 6 month old. Is it safe for babies this young? It has essential oils as ingredients, that makes me wonder.
ann
November 9, 2015 at 10:32 amI was with a dermatologist recently who kept INSISTING that because coconut oil smells like coconut it contains fragrance and is therefore not natural and has chemicals in it. Ugh! {shaking my head}
Ginny
April 27, 2018 at 9:33 amI’m a former healthcare professional and have seen many medical and dental professionals who shouldn’t have licenses! It’s disgusting!
Karyn
October 11, 2015 at 8:27 pmHi, thanks for this recipe, it looks great! I’ve often worried as the spa in commercial sunscreens increases, if we might be trading skin cancer for a worse health horror.
My question is regarding my son who has some sensory issues, do you think I would maintain the spf properties if I was to add beeswax… Like your lotion bars? He’s quite happy to use the stick-style sunscreen… What sort of quantity should I try to start with? Cheers 🙂
Bovinelover
September 9, 2015 at 9:30 amCurrently on holiday in Ialy, temps in the 30s, hot and sunny. I have a typical European fair skin. Have only used this sunscreen for the last six days and not a single burn. Love it. Will NEVER used commercially prepped sunscreen ever again.
Shiela
August 26, 2015 at 6:40 pmHi, I assume this is safe for babies.
fabby
August 20, 2015 at 5:53 pmWhat store do we get each ingredient from?
Barbara
August 10, 2015 at 5:50 amTy. ..where can I buy carrot seed oil? I haven’t been able to find it. .
Carol Simpson
May 1, 2017 at 11:41 amI bought some organic carrot oil via Amazon.
Kaydensmum
August 10, 2015 at 5:15 amHi coconut mama!
I read most of your posts but I am especially excited about this one, my almost two year old seems to be allergic to sunscreen and has very very pale pasty skin.
I would love to make this recipe but I have no idea where to buy zinc or the essential oils; where do you buy yours?
Thank you!
Terri
August 15, 2015 at 1:35 pmAmazon.com is where I bought my ingredients
Ali
July 16, 2015 at 2:03 pmHi could I use cocoa butter instead of the coconut oil?!
Gen
July 16, 2015 at 9:13 amThanks for the recipe! Just one question: once it is made how long is it good for?
I mean, would it turn bad after a while?
Kerri
July 9, 2015 at 1:59 pmMy son had eczema & I’m worried the raspberry seed oil will irritate his skin. Would just coconut oil & zinc oxide work?
The Coconut Mama
July 9, 2015 at 7:49 pmYes! You could also use sweet almond oil in place of the raspberry seed oil.
Abby
July 9, 2015 at 8:21 amDo you have a hard time rubbing this lotion into your kids’ skin? In other words, does it absorb or is it thick and pasty? That’s not a deal breaker for me; I just want to know what to expect!
The Coconut Mama
July 9, 2015 at 7:50 pmIt’s pretty thick and pasty, but after a while the coconut oil absorbs into the skin and it’s not so pasty.
Will
July 9, 2015 at 7:15 ami hear myrrh is a good sun protectant too. You could add that EO to the mix. Be careful of zinc it can be harmful if the particle size is too small. Better to use the oils. Safer.
The Coconut Mama
July 9, 2015 at 7:51 pmYes, Myrrh is wonderful for protection too! The zinc I linked to above is the kind that’s considered safe to use on the skin.
Thanks for commenting! 🙂
Charlotte
July 9, 2015 at 6:51 amAmy tips for cleaning the zinc oxide out of equipment used to make it?
The Coconut Mama
July 9, 2015 at 7:52 pmI soaked them in hot water before I hand washed them.
Kristen
July 7, 2015 at 9:09 pmDoes this turn to liquid or get all runny in the heat because of the coconut oil?
The Coconut Mama
July 8, 2015 at 12:16 pmYes, it’ll melt if left in the heat.
Benita
July 7, 2015 at 12:17 pmHi!
Thanks for the sunscreen recipe. I really need it because I am allergic to any and all products that have sunscreen in them. I don’t know for sure what it is that’s in the sunscreen that I am allergic too, but I can’t use anything with sunscreen in it or touch things with sunscreen on it or ppl that may have sunscreen on. So you can imagine me at the beach or pool wiping down surfaces like a germiphobe and screaming at ppl to get away from me. lol
Angie
May 31, 2019 at 6:09 amIt’s called PHOTOTOXICITY. It’s nit a true allergy, but essentially the sunscreens burn your skin more than bot having anything on. I became phototoxic to ALL Sunscreens after a diagnosis of a chronic illnes that requires a daily medication. I tried everything…..kids, baby, natuaral mineral, etc and even zinc oxide would burn!!
It felt like someone took a cigarette and was birning my skin. Literally as soon as the sun hit my skin I was in pain. I am fair too, but now I burn not in 15-29mins of being out, but half that.
Everyone please look into sun shirts!!! Especially for kids. People have been using them to fish, exercise, etc and not burn. I have two types on order. Ones is a long sleeve hoody so I can work in my garden and not get a burnt neck.
This recipe is a nice idea, but if you really burn or are out in the sun a lot these shirts work. Ladies look at men’s shirts as the price on comparable women’s shirt is often double the men’s price.
Lisa
July 5, 2015 at 11:23 amCould I skip the zinc and just use the coconut & raspberry oils? It seems like that might be enough spf, right?
The Coconut Mama
July 6, 2015 at 9:57 amYou sure can! The zinc adds a lot more protection for those who need it.
Sarah
July 3, 2015 at 6:19 pmDo the carrot seed and lavender offer any spf or are they purely for fragrance?
The Coconut Mama
July 6, 2015 at 10:01 amCarrot seed and Lavender EO are optional but they are both very beneficial to the skin.
Sarah
July 2, 2015 at 12:21 pmDo you have a natural sunblock with out zinc?
Jenay Green
July 2, 2015 at 12:13 pmI , like you do not burn easily and the coconut oil has been great for me. I love it and use it every day for moisturizing as well as sunscreen. I have four boys and three of them tan easily, but my youngest is a red head and burns, so I needed this recipe! Thanks Tiffany looking forward to trying this!
PaytonB
July 5, 2015 at 11:21 pmEven allowing your children to tan is setting them up for skin cancer later. It isn’t just burns that cause skin cancer. Don’t doom your children.
The Coconut Mama
July 6, 2015 at 9:57 am1) My children don’t burn, they tan and 2) there’s a ton of research that suggests lack of sunlight and Vit D plays a huge role in skin cancer.
http://www.medical-hypotheses.com/article/S0306-9877%2808%2900599-9/abstract
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/11/20/deadly-melanoma-not-due-vitamin-d-deficiency.aspx
ChristyP
June 17, 2016 at 9:11 amThis was taken from the website you listed… Your children still need protection from UVA rays…
“There are two primary types of UV rays from sunlight, the vitamin-D-producing UVB rays and the skin-damaging UVA light. Both UVA and UVB can cause tanning and burning, although UVB does so far more rapidly. UVA, however, penetrates your skin more deeply than UVB, and may be a much more important factor in photoaging, wrinkles and skin cancers.”
“A study in Medical Hypotheses suggested that indoor workers may have increased rates of melanoma because they’re exposed to sunlight through windows, and only UVA light, unlike UVB, can pass through window glass. At the same time, these indoor workers are missing out on exposure to the beneficial UVB rays, and have lower levels of vitamin D.”
Iris
July 2, 2015 at 10:29 amLove this as I only use sunscreen that has a zinc oxide base and would love to be able to make my own. I do have a question – what is the role of the Raspberry Seed Oil?
Thanks for all you share and thanks in advance for your reply,
Iris
The Coconut Mama
July 2, 2015 at 4:05 pmHi Iris! The red raspberry seed oil has a high SPF of 25 which is why I use it in this recipe. 🙂
Anonymouse
July 2, 2015 at 7:21 pmActually, red raspberry seed oil, carrot oil, and coconut oil don’t have any SPF rating (source 1, source 2). The SPF for your sunscreen would come completely from the zinc oxide. I mean, there’s nothing wrong with any of the non-zinc ingredients (and the coconut oil is a good way to get the zinc on your body, imo), but they have never been shown to have much, if any, sun protective properties.
Old n Wise
July 6, 2015 at 11:25 pmAnony Mouse, I have used coconut oil on it’s own for sun protection on myself for years as well as on children. I know that there is a protective factor as when I’ve used it, I don’t burn. Proven many times. I don’t need ‘sourcery’ to tell me what I find out for myself. Try it Anony Mouse, you may be pleasantly surprised.
Monica
August 10, 2015 at 7:42 amI too use coconut oil, and it has kept me from burning for years. I am fair, and would burn easily otherwise.