A Recipe for Natural Homemade Sunscreen

With spring here, and the anticipation of outdoor adventures on the horizon, now’s the perfect time to start talking about natural protection from the sun! We all know that protecting our skin — the body’s largest organ – from the sun is super important; but sadly, so many of the commercially-prepared sunscreens on the market are laden with harmful chemicals that could actually end up exposing us to the very toxins we are trying to protect ourselves from. The good news is…there are ways to make your own natural sunscreens at home – not only will this save you money, but it will give you greater peace of mind in knowing exactly what has gone into making it. Tips for Natural Sun Protection One hundred years ago the majority of jobs involved working outdoors yet the sunscreen craze was no where to be found – neither was skin cancer. As just a little side note, my goal here is not to persuade you in your thinking but rather I want to challenge you to begin the research on your own. The Recipe

Are Sunscreens Safe? Tips on finding a sunscreen that guards from UV rays but does not contain potentially dangerous chemicals Dear EarthTalk: Are sunscreens safe? Which ones do you recommend that will protect my skin from the sun and not cause other issues?-- Bettina E., New York, NY Getting a little sunshine is important for helping our bodies generate Vitamin D, an important supplement for strong bones, and for regulating our levels of serotonin and tryptamine, neurotransmitters that keep our moods and sleep/wake cycles in order. Getting too much sun is bad because of ultraviolet radiation, 90 percent of which comes in the form of Ultraviolet A (UVA) rays that are not absorbed by the ozone layer and penetrate deep into our skin. On supporting science journalism If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. Yet while most sunscreens block out at least some UVB radiation, many don’t screen UVA rays at all, making their use risky.