Fun in the Sun
With summer in full swing, many of us are wondering about sunscreens. The Environmental Working Group recently published their study of 800 brands of commercial sunscreens and found that 25% of the brands are safe. To view the list of recommended sunscreens, see the EWG's 2012 Sunscreen Guide.
Maintaining a healthy balance of omega-6 and omega-3 oils in your skin is one of the first lines of defense against sunburn.
Why not try a homemade sunscreen? The following recipe can be adapted to suit a variety of needs:
- 2.5 oz. sesame oil
- 1.5 oz. coconut oil
- .5 oz. beeswax
- 4 oz. filtered water
- 2 tbsp. zinc oxide
Melt the oils and beeswax in a double boiler over medium heat. Remove from heat, add water, and mix with a stick blender until creamy. Add zinc oxide.
To maintain shelf life, add vitamin E oil, vitamin C powder, and/or grapefruit seed extract.
For added benefit, mix in 1-2 capsules of astaxanthin. Astaxanthin serves as a natural sunscreen for certain types of microalgae and can do the same for us!
