Time to get the sunscreen's ready.

So, we've had really bad weather here in Ireland and are only starting to see a bit of a change this weekend. I mean if we hit 20° Celsius here we are having a good "Summer" :-)

I started some time ago looking for some herbal sunscreen's but my local health shop does not strangely provide any which got me thinking about some recipes if you will to make my own without all of those harsh chemicals.

Now what people don't realise is that we need Vitamin D which we get naturally from sunlight. Places, like Scotland and Ireland produce people who are more likely to have a Vitamin D deficiency. Now, years ago Doctor's thought that Vitamin D was mainly good for maintaining healthy bones but this Vitamin also plays a role in the functioning of the human body and helps reduce the risk for certain illnesses.

For instance, did you know a lack of Vitamin D can contribute to;

Flu, Psoriasis, Muscle weakness, Chronic Kidney Disease, Diabetes, Asthma, Periodontal Disease, Cardiovascular Disease and even Cancer (some studies show).

So as you can imagine, many people turn to supplements to get their Vitamin D. However, many supplements like these can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to get into your system and start taking effect. The easiest way for us to get Vitamin D is through natural sunlight.

But, we must protect our skin when out in the sun. I'm not talking about the hottest of days but even when it's a bright day out. You must wear an SPF (Sun Protection Factor)

Now, say the sun is splitting the rocks as we say here in Éire and you need a quick sunscreen so you can go outside. You can whip up a quick remedy. Here goes;

Grab your favourite lotion. Note: make sure there are no citrus oils in it

Add a few tablespoons of Zinc Oxide (DO NOT INHALE THE POWDER- Wear a mask if you have one)

Mix together and hey presto you're ready to go.

If you have time ahead and want to make up a batch of some really yummy smelling sunscreen that has an SPF of around 20 (although you can increase with more Zinc Oxide) then here you go my dears;

You will need;


1/4 cup of Coconut Oil (ah the smell of Summer with a natural SPF of 4)

1/2 cup of Olive oil or Almond Oil (make sure you do not have a nut allergy for Almond oil, pictured below)

1/4 cup of some Beeswax (you can buy online or in some herbal health stores)

2 Tablespoons of Zinc Oxide (you can get this at your local pharmacy)

Method;

Mix everything except the Zinc Oxide in a jar or glass bowl. If you have a empty jar from say Beetroot, Pickled Eggs or Onions, that kind of size, you can use that. Place the lid loosely over the jar.

Grab yourself a pot and fill with approx 3 fingers of water and put on a moderate/medium heat.

Now take your jar and pop it gently into the pot. The ingredients will all start to melt and mix up so stir them up every now and then until there are evenly mixed together.

Get the Zinc Oxide, again be careful with this ingredient, and stir it in well.

Then pour your mixture into whatever jar you are planning on keeping your sunscreen. I don't recommend a bottle with a pump at all. The mixture will not pump well. It will actually just clog the pump and create more hassle for you.

Stir the mixture as it cools to make sure that the Zinc Oxide is incorporated to the mix.



This sunscreen is good for Six Months.

Options;

You can add 1 tsp Vitamin E oil as an extra to your sunscreen,

or 2 tsps of Shea Butter (gives you an extra 4-5 SPF).

You may also add essential oils if you wish. Vanilla is good, Lavender is a good insect repellent as well. It's up to you.

NOTE: If you just want a lotion, remove the Zinc Oxide and you have a nice body lotion. If you want a thicker sunscreen add more beeswax, less for a smoother one.

Store in a cool, dry place or even the refrigerator. Make sure you label so someone doesn't come along and try to eat it :-)

There you have it, home made sunscreen with an SPF to suit you best.

Remember to take care of your skin when you're young. Your body will thank you as you age, and your skin. You don't want UV (ultra violet) damage. Always use your SPF, it will prevent early signs of ageing, liver spots, wrinkles and crow's feet.

Get yourself into a daily routine at an early age and pass this wisdom on so you can enjoy healthy skin for longer.

As always guys Stay Safe! :-)