Buzz
Searching online for a DIY sunscreen recipe is easy, with Pinterest offering plenty of guides on how to mix natural oils with zinc oxide for sun protection. However, this homemade solution is unlikely to be as effective as you might hope.
Zinc oxide is a key ingredient in many DIY sunscreen recipes, as well as in many store-bought sunscreens, because it works to reflect and absorb the sun’s harmful rays. Since it's also found in diaper creams, it’s often viewed as safe. Despite some fearmongering, the reality is that most sunscreens available pose no significant health risks.
However, as chemist and educator Michelle Wong of Lab Muffin Beauty Science points out, the true effectiveness of sunscreen isn’t just about the active ingredient. For a sunscreen to work well, the zinc oxide needs to be properly spread throughout the formula, it shouldn't interfere with other ingredients, and the overall formula must have the right chemical balance to ensure long-lasting protection, both in the bottle and once applied on the skin.
Creating an effective sunscreen is a more complex chemistry challenge than it seems. Cosmetic chemists at The Beauty Brains have examined this, noting that even though diaper cream contains more zinc oxide than most sunscreens, applying it directly to your face won't provide sufficient sun protection. The key lies in how the product is manufactured and its inactive ingredients. Wong highlights one sunscreen brand that achieves SPF 50 with just 15% zinc oxide, while another uses 19% to reach only SPF 15.
So, why not just try a DIY sunscreen and see if you end up with a sunburn? Well, experiencing a burn one day doesn’t provide conclusive evidence of sunscreen effectiveness. Sunburn risk is influenced by many factors, such as the time of year, UV levels, and how much time you spend in the shade. Moreover, an improperly formulated sunscreen could make your skin more vulnerable to damage, potentially making DIY sunscreens worse than no protection at all.
“Would you wear a radiation suit you found on Pinterest if you were about to enter a nuclear zone?” Wong poses in her video. While this is an extreme scenario, her point is clear: if you want real protection, it’s better to use products that are scientifically formulated and tested for the job.
