DIY Reef Safe Sunscreen

-
I have been on the lookout for an organic, reef and water safe sunscreen for so long now, and I have FINALLY found a homemade recipe that works for me and that is not too expensive!

I can make it zero-waste, with the exception that I ordered the Zinc Oxide from Amazon but at least it came in a recyclable bag.
I can't say 100% for sure that the bag is actually going to be recycled, but the good news is that you really don't need a lot of this stuff, so it will last a really long time at least.

As for the base, I just used some body lotion that I was gifted for Christmas, but next time I am going to my local refill store and getting some organic, all natural lotion. They let you bring your own jar and fill it up!

I personally tried this recipe thinking that I could omit the cocoa powder, but trust me, you want at least a little bit in there. The Zinc Oxide leaves a slight white tint to your skin, and the cocoa power just helps make it look more skin colored rather than pasty white.
I promise regardless you're not going to look like a ghost, but if you look closely in the mirror after applying it, you'll know what i'm talking about.

What you will need:
  • 1 cup body/face lotion 
  • 4 tbsp of Zinc Oxide (non-nano for reef safe)
  • 1 tsp cocoa powder
*Please note that I have a very light skin color so if you have darker skin than me you will want to add some more cocoa powder. Start with a little and test it on your arm to see the color results. 

Directions:
Mix the Zinc Oxide into the lotion slowly, then sift the cocoa powder into it to avoid lumps.


There are many other ingredients that you can find online to add more SPF, but I have very sensitive skin and I haven't found that to be necessary. Whatever you choose to add, please keep it reef safe, even if you are not near the oceans! Our ecosystem depends on this greatly.






Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Why Low Waste?

-
Image
I want to touch base on why I live a low waste lifestyle. Aside from making me feel better about my personal impact on the planet, there are a number of reasons why I, and you, should live a low waste lifestyle. First things first, a lot of people wonder why the low waste movement is even a thing. You may think that my efforts are going wasted, and that everything I do is so minimal that I will never make a difference. However, when I was little, I was always stressed out about the environment, I always felt like I wasn't doing enough. Every time I threw something in the trash, I felt so guilty and ashamed because I knew as a society we could be doing better, I never even considered that my individual action could make that much of a difference. I never even considered that I could make all the changes that I wanted to see, and encourage others to change small things in their every day life, like taking a to-go cup to get your morning coffee. Nowadays, I still produce some wast
Read more

Quinoa Stuffed Peppers (Vegan)

-
Image
I made these a while ago with some red and yellow peppers, and let me tell you, it doesn't matter what color pepper you've got on hand (or was on sale at the grocery store) it will be BOMB either way. Like, the best thing you will ever put in your mouth (except for maybe minimalist baker's jalapenos cheese dip). Seriously though, this recipe is a must try, its packed with protein, fiber, iron and is so filling! It's cruelty free, and very low waste. The only waste I created for this meal was the packaging for the vegan cheese, which I always use very minimally and consciously. Ingredients: 4 peppers that can sit upright (red is my preference) 1/2 cup of quinoa  1/4 cup of dry black beans or kidney beans  2/3 cup of tomato sauce (you can totally add more if you like it saucy) 1 1/2 cups of mixed vegetables (I did mushrooms, zucchini and onions) Salt, pepper, paprika, and chili powder. Hot sauce (optional) *Be creative! Feel free to mix and match di
Read more

Homemade Hemp Milk

-
Image
I didn't even know hemp milk existed until about a year ago, and now I swear by it. What's even more amazing about being able to make it yourself is that it's way better than buying it in store for so many reasons. 1. It's zero waste (just buy your hulled hemp seeds at the bulk store) 2. It's healthier since there are no added preservatives or sweeteners. 3.You can make however much you need so never have to throw out a barley used carton! The seeds have a super long shelf life so you can always have hemp milk on hand, just takes about 3 minutes of preparation, a blender, and a fine cloth of some sort. You can also use those reusable produce mesh bags, or even a fine cloth that you have kicking around (an old t-shirt would probably do the trick)  As long as water can get through it, it'll do, there is no need to buy fancy new equipment. Ingredients: 1/4 cup of hulled hemp seeds  2 cups of water  1 tsp maple syrup or dates to sweeten *I personal
Read more