Sunscreens went beyond the DIY movement into the realms of skincare, being applied based on ideas involving coconut oil, shea butter, or essential oils as a base ingredient to create sunscreen. While homemade recipes are top-rated because they are natural and green, this does not constitute substantial UV protection. What makes for a successful sunscreen is an especially formulated application with lots of rigorous testing to ensure it's safe and to block the UV rays the DIY approach cannot match.

This article explains why the most popular homemade sunscreens, such as coconut oil, do not protect skin enough and why it is safer to use tested, FDA-approved sunscreens.

Homemade sunscreens need more proven UV filters.

Effective sunscreens contain UV filters like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which reflect or absorb UV radiation. For sunscreens that work to provide broad-spectrum protection, both UVA and UVB rays, the precise concentration of these filters has to be measured. Various DIY recipes that strive to add zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to them cannot offer an even distribution in the skin, thus providing varied protection.

DIY methods also heavily rely on natural oils such as coconut or olive oil. Even though these oils do have an SPF value, they are still quite far from reaching the mark. Studies indicated that coconut oil, for example, has an SPF of around 4-7, far below the minimum recommended SPF 30 set by dermatologists.

Coconut Oil Isn't a Reliable Sunscreen

Coconut oil gets rave reviews for its moisturizing properties and is heavily implemented within the skincare range. About sun protection, however, it comes up wanting. Far removed from being potent enough to serve as an effective sunscreen-SPF 4-7, this protection may prevent minor burns over short intervals. Still, it will not protect against the more profound skin damage that causes conditions for premature aging or skin cancer.

A sunscreen product must block at least 97% of UVB rays, and this can be achieved only if the SPF is 30 and above. Coconut oil substitutes not only expose you to unhealthy skin but even make you prone to more severe conditions, including melanoma.

DIY Sunscreens Not Tested for Safety

Commercial sunscreens undergo rigorous testing to guarantee that they are safe for different types of skin and will not harm the skin or cause an allergic reaction. Homemade sunscreens are not subjected to rigorous testing, so their safety and effectiveness have yet to be discovered. Blending several oils and other concoctions with no set recipe presents pore-clogging potential and irritation and can make the skin burn more easily.

Even if the at-home sunscreen is made with safe ingredients, it could still cause harm without controlled testing. For instance, sensitive-skinned individuals may react negatively to essential oils or other DIY additives that could harm more than reasonable.

At-Home Sunscreens Can't Match Broad-Spectrum Protection

Effective sunscreen is supposed to provide broad-spectrum sun protection. Broad-spectrum sunscreens protect the skin from UVA rays associated with aging, long-term damage, and UVB rays that cause most sunburns. This requires a delicate chemical balance of a specific percentage of UV-blocking ingredients, which a do-it-yourself recipe could never recreate.

Homemade sunscreens can attempt to emulate this balance but only offer the protection of merely UVB rays while leaving the rest of the skin exposed to the others from UVA, which is also damaging. With proper formulation, homemade sunscreens give complete and reliable coverage.

Essential Oils Can Make Sun Damage Worse

Most DIY sunscreen formulas include lavender, peppermint, or citrus essential oils. Some of them smell nice, but they're also photosensitive-meaning instead of protecting your skin from the sun, it becomes even more sensitive to it. Citrus oils provide the perfect example of how something designed to block the devastating rays of UV light will heighten the chance of burns and skin irritation due to exposure to this lethal energy. Concentration levels among the various essential oils vary; therefore, the resultant homemade sunscreens have unreliable strength and lead to patchy or irregular protection.

Low SPF Accrues Damage to the Skin

Most individuals forget that UV rays cause gradual damage to the skin over time. Sunburn, tanning, and even temporary periods of exposure without protection can lead to pre-aging, dark spots, wrinkles, and increased risks of skin cancer. The SPF rating of a sunscreen is an excellent marker for how well that sunscreen will prevent UV radiation to the skin. One cannot make effective DIY sunscreens with an SPF rating over 30.The SPF scale is not linear. For instance, SPF 15 protects your skin from about 93% of UVB rays, while SPF 30 protects it from about 97%.

Sunscreens Must Have the Refined Ingredients and Formulations

The FDA and other agencies regulate commercial sunscreens worldwide to ensure that they go beyond DIY movement into the realms of skincare, being applied based on ideas that involve coconut oil, shea butter, or essential oils as a base ingredient to create one's sunscreen. While the homemade recipes are top-rated because they are natural and green, this does not constitute substantial UV protection. What makes for a successful sunscreen is an especially formulated application with lots of rigorous testing to ensure it's safe and to block the UV rays the DIY approach cannot match.

Conclusion

is one area where DIY products fall short of their promises. From too little SPF to no broad-spectrum coverage and the risk of irritating essential oils, DIY sunscreens could be more reliable and effective for proper UV protection. Using homemade sunscreen may leave your skin open to the dangers of sunburn, premature aging, and even skin cancer.

To skillfully and safely protect your skin, you should choose a known and approved sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. It should also provide broad-spectrum protection and, if this feature is essential, be resistant to water. Invest in quality sunscreens for your health and prevent long-term damage due to exposure to UV.