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These DIY sunscreen lotion bars are simple to make and made with all-natural ingredients. Having a solid sunscreen bar makes applying sunscreen so much easier, especially for the face.
Making your own sunscreen may sound overwhelming and hard, but I promise you it is not! I have been making my own sunscreen for years and love it. To make the whole process easier, I make a large enough batch to last all summer.
When you have kids, it can feel like a full-time job just applying sunscreen to their little faces, necks, arms, etc. If your kids are anything like mine, they absolutely hate when I put sunscreen on their faces.
These sunscreen lotion bars are the perfect solution! They are easy to apply and far less messy than a lotion, since the solid bar glides right on.
COCONUT OIL SUNSCREEN RECIPE
To make your own sunscreen lotion bar, you will need coconut oil, cocoa butter, beeswax, and non-nano zinc oxide. These ingredients will make an SPF lotion bar that will leave your skin moisturized and help protect it from the sun.
This recipe uses equal parts of coconut oil, cocoa butter, and beeswax, making it easy to adjust the amount that you need to make. I suggest making enough for the season as the bars will last for one year.
You will also need non-nano zinc oxide; this is the part that will make it SPF. To make a sunscreen lotion bar, you will also need some type of mold.
I use silicone molds. They are the best for almost any type of bar because they simply pop out when hardened.
HOMEMADE SUNBLOCK INGREDIENTS
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COCONUT OIL
Coconut oil is often said to have a natural SPF of around 5, though that isn’t a lab tested or guaranteed number. It also contains antioxidants that can help protect your skin from UV rays.
While it may offer a little natural SPF, coconut oil alone isn’t going to be the best solution for sun protection. However, adding coconut oil to your sunscreen will be a good idea!
Not only does it have a natural SPF, but it also has amazing benefits for your skin.
Coconut oil is very moisturizing, can cleanse the skin, has antibacterial properties, and can improve skin tone. If you are allergic to coconut oil, you can make these sunscreen bars without it.
COCOA BUTTER
Cocoa butter has a beautiful aroma and will give the sunscreen a smooth texture. Similar to coconut oil, cocoa butter has great benefits for your skin.
It can restore dry, chapped skin and provides a protective layer on the skin.
Cocoa butter is very moisturizing and can help reduce signs of aging. When used on the skin, cocoa butter can smooth and tighten the skin as well as reduce skin blemishes and scars.
In this recipe, you can substitute mango butter or shea butter for the cocoa butter using equal parts.
BEESWAX
The beeswax plays two important roles in this recipe. It is the ingredient that will make the sunscreen a solid bar, and it will make the sunscreen water resistant.
Beeswax forms a protective barrier on the skin, allowing the water to run right off. It also has many great benefits for the skin.
Beeswax is essential in fighting against chapped or dry skin with its antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties.
NON-NANO ZINC OXIDE
The non-nano zinc oxide is the ingredient that makes the sunscreen SPF. The more non-nano zinc oxide added, the higher the SPF will be.
Non-nano zinc oxide can be anywhere from 2-20 SPF, depending on the amount you use. Keep in mind that a homemade bar like this hasn’t been lab tested, so treat any SPF as an estimate, not a guaranteed rating. This will be something you will want to experiment with in order to get the desired SPF.
HOW TO MAKE A SUNSCREEN BAR
- Measure out the coconut oil, cocoa butter, and beeswax and add them to a double boiler. Using a double boiler will keep the ingredients from burning and sticking to the pan.
- Set the double boiler on the stove over low to medium-low heat. Allow the ingredients to melt fully, then remove from heat.
- Add in the non-nano zinc oxide and stir to combine it into the melted ingredients.
- Store in an airtight container for up to one year. I keep mine in a glass mason jar.
HOW OFTEN SUNSCREEN SHOULD BE APPLIED
This is not a one size fits all type of answer. Everyone has different skin tones and it depends on the time of day. Noon sun is much hotter and brighter than evening sun. It also depends on the amount of zinc you add to the recipe.
If you are swimming or doing intense workouts causing sweat, it may need to be applied more often.
IS HOMEMADE SUNSCREEN DANGEROUS?
I know I will be getting some wrath from posting this, so I am going to address it now. When it comes to homemade anything, it will not be the exact same as store-bought. The main reason why I make my own skincare is to avoid putting toxins and chemicals onto my skin.
When you take those toxins and synthetics out, you may notice that the soap isn’t as sudsy or the toothpaste isn’t as foamy. Things may seem greasy or thicker. This is OK and, most of the time, completely normal.
When it comes to homemade sunscreen, it is next to impossible to know the exact SPF as it has not been tested. However, it is also made from all-natural ingredients that will nourish your skin instead of filling your body with toxins.
Making your own sunscreen is something you will need to do your own research on and make your own informed decision as to what is best for your exact situation.
SAFETY AND LIABILITY DISCLAIMER
This is not intended to be a substitute for a commercial sunscreen with a known SPF rating. These bars haven’t been lab tested, so treat any SPF as an estimate and not a guaranteed rating.
They do not offer the same protection as a conventional sunscreen. Limit your time in direct sunlight, reapply often, and take extra measures if you plan to be out for an extended period of time.
ESSENTIAL OILS SUNSCREEN
You do have the option of adding essential oils to your homemade sunscreen if you want. Several essential oils can benefit the skin, and they will add a lovely scent.
Be sure to stay away from citrus essential oils as they can be photosensitive. Some of my favorite essential oils to add are lavender and peppermint.
Lavender is very gentle and safe for sensitive skin. Peppermint has a cooling effect and can soothe sun-kissed skin.
If adding essential oils to this recipe, you can add them while adding in the non-nano zinc oxide. You will want to use about 5 drops of essential oil per 1 cup of sunscreen.
After a long day out in the sun, be sure to follow up with a soothing homemade after-sun lotion or homemade after-sun spray.
If you made this recipe and loved it, consider leaving a review below!
And if you like this type of recipe, you may like my newest post, homemade tanning oil.
What to read next
Sunscreen Lotion Bar Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup coconut oil
- ½ cup cocoa butter
- ½ cup beeswax
- 4 tablespoons non-nano zinc oxide
- 8 drops essential oils, optional
Instructions
- Measure out the coconut oil, cocoa butter, and beeswax and add to a double boiler.
- Place the double boiler over low to medium-low heat. Allow the ingredients to melt fully and remove from heat.
- Add in the non-nano zinc oxide and mix well.
- Store in an airtight container for up to one year. I keep mine in a glass mason jar.
Hello I made these bars measured exact….they looked great as drying and two days later when i tried to get them out of the mold they broke. More beeswax? I really want to make these and for them to stay together. Please advise when you can.
Thanks for all your recipes love them all!
Hi Sherry! For the next batch, try increasing the beeswax by ¼ cup (from ½ to ¾ cup) for firmer bars, pop the molds in the freezer for 20–30 minutes before demolding, and make sure you’re using silicone molds — they release much more cleanly than hard plastic.
Do I need to put these in the freezer or anything for them to set up? Just didn’t want to mess anything up with the recipe!!
Everything I make from this site is AMAZING!! Thanks for sharing all of your recipes with us ❤️❤️❤️
Hi Muffyn! Thank you so much for the kind words! No freezer needed — just let the bars sit at room temperature and they’ll set up on their own within a few hours (or overnight if your kitchen runs warm). If you’re in a hurry, you can pop the molds in the fridge or freezer for 20–30 minutes to speed things up, but it’s not required. Hope you love them!
When making the sunscreen bars, how much in grams is a tablespoon of non nano zinc oxide. I find lots of different measurements for a tablespoon. I would like to be more accurate in my measurements.
Hi Cynthia! One tablespoon of non-nano zinc oxide is roughly 10–12 grams (density varies by brand), so 4 tablespoons is about 40–48 grams. For real accuracy, a small digital kitchen scale is the way to go — weighing powders is always more consistent than measuring by volume. Hope this helps!
Does any zinc oxide powder work so is the non-nano zinc oxide the only one that will work?
Hi Britt! Non-nano zinc oxide is what you’ll want for this recipe. Non-nano particles sit on the skin’s surface, while nano particles are small enough that there are ongoing concerns about absorption — so non-nano is the safer choice for skincare. You can find it on Amazon or from specialty suppliers like MakingCosmetics or LotionCrafter. Hope this helps!
Super excited to make this. Your recipes are tried and true!
Thank you so much, Shelley! That means the world to me. I hope you love the sunscreen bars. They have become a summer staple in our house!
Thanks for sharing
these allsoundgreat,,imdefinitelygoingtotry