DIY: Natural Sunscreen with Essential Oils

Jul 23rd, 2013 | Category: Young Living Product Blog

Nothing can put a damper on summer fun like an uncomfortable sunburn. So why, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, do 42 percent of us still get burned at least once a year? Although a variety of reasons and excuses come to mind, it is safe to say that the proper use of sunscreen would dramatically reduce the number of sunburns. However, choosing the right sunscreen and then using it correctly can be intimidating. Questionable ingredients and numerous brands further complicate our choice.

As part of the Young Living family, we do not need to worry about triggering unwanted illnesses from overexposure to the sun or controversial ingredients. Instead, we have 100% pure, therapeutic-grade essential oils and all-natural ingredients as solutions. These give us the ability to create a custom “formula” that we can individualize for our skin.

Following are suggested ratios for customizing a do-it-yourself sunscreen with Young Living essential oils. Remember that the ingredient ratios will depend on your skin. As you tweak your formula, always test it on an area to check for any reaction.

  1. Begin by using ½ cup of Young Living’s V-6 Enhanced Vegetable Oil Complex.
  2. Add a combination of myrrh (4–5 drops), carrot seed (4–5 drops), and lavender (20 drops) essential oils.
  3. Blend well and store in a dark-colored bottle.
  4. To use: Liberally apply sunscreen over exposed areas.
  5. Remember to reapply every couple of hours throughout the day, especially when participating in water activities.

When out in the sun for any amount of time, remember to avoid citrus essential oils that are photosensitive and can create discoloration of your skin. In addition, do not forget your lips. Keep Lavender Lip Balm, or any of the other Young Living lip balms, handy to keep your lips supple and moist. Be sure to also keep LavaDerm Cooling Mist on hand in case you do get burned.

For those willing to share a sunscreen recipe or tip, we will randomly select 30 commenters to receive a free Lavender Lip Balm.

—Gloria Russo, YL Product Marketing Manager

 

  • Nothing but unfiltered, organic coconut oil. Apply when skin is damp 3

  • I use avocado oil and lavender for sunscreen and it works wonderfully! 4 oz avocado oil and 40 drops YL lavender oil

  • Thanks for the sunscreen formula! We always use Lavender Oil to care for
    any burns we get… sunburn or flash burns. It is wonderful to have a
    way to prevent them now!

  • I am a redhead…does this formula work as good on fair skin? What would I add more of?

    • Carrot Seed oil is a natural SPF of I think 30 or 45 so you could add more of that. For my very fair kids, I use 10 drops Carrot Seed and 10 drops Lavender.

  • I heard about we can make sunscreen with Essential Oils, but I did’t know how to do it.
    That’s what I want and I need! I will make it and share with my family and friends. Thank you, Young Living!!

  • Thank you, this is wonderful! cocoa butter, olive oil and YL Lavender is what I use sometimes. XO

  • I use coconut oil with lavender and frankincense. I will try adding carrot oil!

  • My husband works outside most of the time… he also is bald. He uses a blend of V-6, coconut oil and lavender to help protect his scalp. I’m excited to add the Myrrh and Carrot Seed to his mixture! Thanks!

  • Im going to try this today!

  • Thanks for the recipe!! LOVE the ways we can use our oils in all aspects of our lives! This is also great info to share w/others who need encouragement in their many uses in their daily lives!

  • Love it ! Especially for small children !

  • Honestly I do appreciate this information, but you need considerations for our eyes. Please put common sense to use and not have a blog so difficult to read in that colored font. No one does this, it’s very hard on our eyes. Please don’t make me strain my eyes to read your blog. Thank you.

    • Thank you for mentioning about the color of the font. I have also written to Customer Service about the color of font because some of my older customers were letting me know they could no longer read the YL website and blog posts I was sharing with them. Please consider writing to corporate about your concerns too… Its such a beautiful site and I would hope YL would want Everyone to be able to see and read it! 3

  • I have made sunscreen using coconut oil, carrot seed, myrrh, and lavender. It has held up wonderfully to my kids playing in the sprinkler in the middle of the afternoon! Reapplication only every hour or so. Granted we live a bit farther north, but I’ve been thrilled with it!

  • Thanks for the recipe. I worry about the chemicals used and our small children. They have enough to grow up with that they can’t control so thank you again.

  • Definitely going to try this!!

  • Could you put the oils in coconut oil?

  • Coconut oil with lavender and frankincense works for us! @maryhughett:disqus , i am of Hispanic decent and have thicker skin, my husband is Caucasian and has very fair skin. Every year since we met(8 yrs) we go to the 4th of July parade, which is a water parade. He bathes in sunscreen and yet still burns really bad every year. This year he applied the oil once in the morning, and then once after swimming in the afternoon, NO BURN! No peeling! Just a nice tan. My whole family “oils up” in the morning and that’s enough to protect them the whole day. Not one of us has burned all summer!!! We use the same recipe for our lotion, and my daughters eczema so we only have to use one product for many reasons. We reapply as needed depending on the activity for the day. I am getting carrot oil this month to enhance the spf. Try it, You’ll love it!!!! Make sure your coconut oil is 100% organic,

  • I love using the recommended oils in the Genesis Hand and Body lotion as a base. Ratios I use are 1 x 5 ml bottle of Carrot Seed oil to 1 bottle of Genesis. Can also add 40-80 drops of Myrrh oil to increase SPF factor. The Genesis lotion gives a “suntan lotion” experience, and the additional ingredients make it more powerful than V6, especially the MSM component. Cost is a bit more than a V6 base but well worth it for the extra benefits.

    • have you ever tried putting lavender in it as well? Love these ideas!! Thank you

  • Here is a graphic

  • I add 5 drops Myrrh,5 drops carrot seed and 10 drops Lavender oil to a bottle of Lava Derm that’s still about 1/3 full and then fill it up with V6 oil.Shake well before each use.And for my lips, Lavender lip balm.

  • This is a great recipe!! This really works We have also used the Myrrh, neat, on occasion for sun screen. And, for the times we did not use a sunscreen…. lavender and myrrh are great to soothe and heal the burn

  • I like to use myrrh and lavender! And sometimes using coconut oil if I am out of v6. Thanks for the tips! Love the blogs!

  • I added the carrot seed to claraderm. The V6 would be much cheaper and I could make more of it.

  • I’ve been using a blend of organic coconut oil with Lavender and Frankincense. It is wonderful for our skin whether in the sun or not. However, I’m happy to say I have not burned or had dry peeling skin at all this summer. Thank you YL. . .love our oils!

  • Totally natural and with no worries about what it contains. Thanks for sharing!

  • Coconut oil is supposed to have some sun protective properties too.

Article source: https://blog.youngliving.com/diy-natural-sunscreen-with-essential-oils/