Protect Yourself

A couple weeks ago I was contacted by a spa called Skana in Upstate NY.  They were on a mission to reach out to some bloggers and spread some skin care knowledge. 

 One of the most recent discussions has been the dangerous effects the sun has on our skin. Most people understand that the sun can cause damage, but aren't aware of the chemicals in sunscreen's that might be harming your skin too.

The ladies at the Skana Spa have came up with an all-natural sunscreen that I'd love to pass on to you ladies. 

 Make Your Own Zinc Oxide-Free Sunscreen

EWG.org reports that oxybenzone is the most harmful chemical in U.S. sunscreen. The substance is found in 80 percent of sunblock products, and the website suggests that buyers avoid sunscreens that contain oxybenzone. The chemical gets into the skin's pores, which can cause an allergic reaction and interrupt hormone levels and production. (Calafat 2008, Rodriguez 2006, Krause 2012).

 

The Organic Authority website also reports that natural oils can provide protection from the sun without the harsh chemicals found in most store-bought sunscreens. Oils that can shield you from the sun's damaging rays include red raspberry seed oil, which has an SPF between 28 and 50, carrot seed oil, with an SPF of 38-40, wheat germ oil, which provides your skin with SPF 20 sun protection, soybean oil, which naturally has SPF 10, naturally occurring SPF 6 in macadamia oil and jojoba oil, with an SPF of 4. Oils like coconut, olive, sesame and hempseed, along with shea butter, also offer low SPF protection, but they are ideal ingredients for homemade sunscreen, since they moisturize the skin and have a pleasant scent.

Here's an all-natural recipe for sunscreen from the experts at Skana spa of the New York resort Turning Stone. It will give your skin a healthy glow while providing you with safe sun protection.

 

Here's what you'll need

1 ounce of red raspberry seed oil

1 ounce of coconut oil

1 ounce of beeswax

5 to 10 drops of your favorite essential oil (this step is optional)

 

Put all the contents in a glass bowl that has been positioned atop a pan of boiling water. Add essential oils like lavender, which also serves as a natural and fragrant insect repellant if you prefer a floral scent, or make the sunscreen with drops of bergamot or lemon oil for a fresh, summery fragrance. Allow all the ingredients to melt together. Let the mixture cool, then store it in the fridge or in a cool, dry place to keep it from melting.

This all-natural recipe doesn't have any harmful chemicals in it, and if you make a batch of the sunscreen without essential oil, it's safe to use on babies or children with sensitive skin. The sunscreen is also waterproof, so it's perfect for a day at the beach. Try it to today for completely safe and effective protection from the sun.

Sources:

http://www.ewg.org/2013sunscreen/the-trouble-with-sunscreen-chemicals

http://www.organicauthority.com/delicious-beauty/diy-homemade-natural-and-safe-sunscreen.html

In today's times, we all have to be extra careful about how we take care of our skin.  I hope this helps someone!  Please let me know!  And thank you to the ladies at Skana for the hard work!