We have it in our heads that coconut oil burns us from the days of the Reef coconut tanning lotion. What we don’t realise is that the coconut oil in these products is no the oil that burns us. It is the main ingredient, mineral oil. Mineral oil is a synthetic oil distilled from petroleum. Just like baby oil. According to Wikipedia “there is not enough evidence to suggest that mineral oil is harmless”. They also kindly add a fragrance so we smell coconut and our brain automatically thinks of it. Since our sense of smell is directly linked to our emotional centre in our brain, coconut oil can remind us of burning or tanning.
The ingredients in commercial sunscreens are generally all synthetic. We have no way of knowing the actual direct harm that they have on our bodies. We know that at least 60% of anything we put on our skin penetrates the surface, goes through the bloodstream, through the liver and gut. What affect do these chemicals have whilst in our bodies? What affect do they have on the surface of our skin. With rates of melanoma rising in many countries, yet our sun safe awareness is higher, maybe commercial sunscreens are not doing the job we think they are. When you look at the following ingredients, do we know if any of them pose any harm to our bodies? PABA, Octyl-methoxycinnamate (OMC), Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene, Homosalate.
Doing my own research, I discovered that there were many natural ingredients that had their own SPF. Coconut oil, Shea butter, almond oil, carrot seed, red raspberry seed oil and more. Plus they all have their own vitamin and mineral benefits. When making your own sunscreen you are not able to determine the SPF so please be mindful of how long you go out in the sun and at what time of the day it is.
Sun safety is so important. It’s advisable not to be out in the sun for long periods of time from the hours of 10am to 2 or 3pm. Wear a hat, sit in the shade, reapply suncream after a swim or every 2 hours.
I have made a sunscreen that I have used over the very hot summer months here on the East Coast of Australia. It works really well. I have used it on the kids also.
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 Cup organic, extra virgin coconut oil THE BENEFITS OF COCONUT OIL
- ½ Cup shea butter
- ¼ Cup almond oil
- ¹⁄³ Cup bees wax, finely chopped or grated (this helps firm it) ( I get my bees wax and organic raw honey from Mirannie Honey in the Hunter Valley.
- 2 tsp. Vitamin E oil or red raspberry seed oil (to help preserve it)
- 5 heaped Tbsp. zinc oxide powder
- 4 drops pure lavender essential oil LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL
- 4 drops pure frankincense essential oil FRANKINCENSE ESSENTIAL OIL
- 4 drops of Aborvitae pure essential oil
METHOD:
- I use the double boiler method to gently melt the ingredients. Place a small saucepan of water on the stove top on medium-high heat.
- Place coconut oil, shea butter, almond oil, bees wax and vitamin E oil in a large glass bowl and sit it on top of the saucepan. When the water below boils it will gently heat and melt the ingredients. Use a small whisk to constantly stir.
- Once all of the ingredients are melted, remove the bowl from the top of the saucepan.
- Add in the zinc oxide powder carefully, it is a fine powder so you don’t want to breathe it in or get it everywhere. Whisk gently until it is totally combined with all of the ingredients.
- Allow to cool slightly, then add the essential oils.
- Using a funnel, carefully pour into a glass jar. Don’t use plastic as the essential oils will draw the toxins from it.
- Before using the suncream, give it a good shake. Store in a cool dry cupboard.
If you would like to now how to get the amazing essential oils used in this recipe, click the link below and go to join and save.
http://www.mydoterra.com/naomishomehealth
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