DIY Sunscreen stick SPF 25

This is a variation on the lotion bar, with some zinc oxide powder, eucalyptus oil and colorant added.

First, the reasons;
1) I wanted to make a solid sunscreen, in a twist-up tube, so I could apply it without getting it all over my hands. (Especially important at archery practice or meets, where I need clean hands.)
2) I know what's in it. BTW, I have used other ZnO based products and gotten good results.
3) I use non-nano zinc oxide powder, because this particle size is too large to get into your pores; it just sits on the skin & reflects UV rays away.
4) The eucalyptus oil is an insect repellent. (Plus I like it, & hate the smell of most sunscreens.)
5) Some colorant is added to compensate for the white cast caused by the ZnO.

Materials
Scale
Measuring spoon
Small pouring pot
2 ounce twist-up tube
Stirring spoon (if you don't want to dirty up a household spoon, a pop stick will do.)

Ingredients
16 g. Shea butter
16 g. Beeswax pellets
16 g. Sweet almond oil (or other skin-safe oil)
12 g. Non-nano zic oxide powder
5 ml (1 teaspoon) eucalyptus oil
Lip-safe brown colorant (Some recipes use cocoa powder for this, though I haven't tried it.)

Directions
1) Weigh out beeswax, oil & shea butter. Melt over lowest possible heat, stirring constantly.
2) Remove from heat.
3) Stir in eucalyptus oil.
4) Slowly stir in zinc oxide powder, until well-mixed.
5) Add a pinch of brown colorant. Add more, if needed, to get a color that is close to your own skin tone. (This will take some experimentation.)
6) Pour into twist-up tube and allow to cool.

 

If you double the amount of zinc oxide, do you get spf 50?

 

I am not sure it will work that way. I really can't find info for SPF above 25%. You can add more zinc oxide, but I don't know what is the maximum amount that will mix into the lotion stick.

 

I was just curious. From some of the research I was reading, there's a lack of return on anything over 30, i.e. just because you double your spf doesn't mean you double your protection.

 

That's the impression I have gotten as well,

 

Hi Sara-s! After using and being so happy with your PSO recipe I may have to give this a try! Was never a big sun screen fan but it's the kind of thing you worry about as you hit ancient status and the wife needs it badly being of heavy Irish ancestry!
Any ideas on where to obtain some of the ingredients like eucalyptus oil and zinc oxide?

 

I know you can get zinc oxide at Amazon.com, becuae I got it there. Amazon also has eucalyptus oil, but they are a bit pricey. I order mine from www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com or www.brambleberry.com.

Here's a link for the zinc oxide.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L4KYA9C/?tag=thshde-20

 

This was a nice recipe, I must try it sometime =) doesn't seem very expensive either

 

I got pretty good results, though next time, I need to add more colorant & a little more oil. The ZnO makes it a bit harder than a typical lotion bar, so it needs a little more oil, to soften it.