August is the hottest month of the year, meaning we’ll be in the sun much, much more — so, if you’re like me and feeling the ravages of sun worship, it’s time to whip up an easy batch of DIY sunscreen — the natural kind!

Unlike the toxic chemical-based sunscreen, this one nourishes and protects the skin at once. Deeply healing shea butter and hand-selected base body oils (grapeseed, jojoba, coconut, etc.) and lavender rejuvenate and restore skin while zinc oxide provides an amazing barrier.

Play with the recipe and find your perfect sunscreen. The cocoa tint can be reduced or maximized for pale beauty to ultra bronzing, all with a non-ghost-like finish! Slather away and kid safe (approx. SPF 15).

DIY Mineral-Based, Essential Oil-Infused Sunscreen
1/4 cup Almond Oil (or a blend of Jojoba, Olive, Grapeseed, Sesame, or Castor Oils, etc.)
1/4 cup Shea Butter
1/4 cup Organic Virgin Coconut Oil (cold-pressed and unrefined)
10-15 drops Vitamin E
1/4 cup Beeswax Pellets
3-4 tbsp Non-Nano Zinc Oxide Powder (I use Life-Flo) — more ups the SPF
20 drops Lavender Essential Oil
1-6 tsp Raw Cocoa Powder (adjust for tint — can also use your favorite mineral-based bronzer or foundation powder)

1. Combine ingredients (except cocoa, zinc, and shea butter) in pint-sized glass canning jar.
2. Put jar into 2″ of water in a saucepan with lid lightly atop.
3. Use a glass stirring rod to stir while mixture begins to melt.
4. When fully melted, turn down heat and add shea butter — stir — remove from heat.
5. Add zinc oxide and cocao — stirring continuously until zinc is fully blended.
5. Continue to stir until mixture reaches room temperature.
6. Close jar and refrigerate or store in a cool place.

This sunscreen will survive 6-9 months. Voila!