Homemade Tallow Sunscreen Recipe Without Coconut Oil

Homemade tallow sunscreen protects you from the sun’s rays while healing and nourishing your skin. You won’t need to worry about harmful chemicals in commercial sunscreens because this homemade sunscreen is made with natural ingredients that your skin will love! Thanks to the added essential oil, it doesn’t have a beefy smell. 

Beef tallow is very popular in natural skincare because it contains many nourishing vitamins, such as A, D, E, and K. It is similar to the oils naturally found in human skin, which makes it highly nourishing, especially for problem skin like eczema and psoriasis. For these reasons, grass-fed tallow has become my favorite skincare ingredient. It absorbs into my skin without feeling heavy or greasy and doesn’t leave a sticky or tacky residue as some commercial moisturizers do.

 I like to make my own tallow by rendering grass-fed beef fat. I use this tallow to make tallow balm and a yearly batch of DIY sunscreen. In my kitchen, I use tallow to saute and fry foods in place of coconut oil and olive oil. 

Why make your own tallow sunscreen?

1. Most commercial sunscreens aren’t considered safe for babies and small children. By making your own, you control what goes into it, so you’ll know it’s completely safe for your little ones. 
2. Our skin is our largest organ, absorbing toxins and chemicals found in conventional sunscreens. Making your own sunscreen can be a valuable step toward safer, healthier skincare for you and your family!
3. You can customize your homemade tallow sunscreen to fit your skin’s needs. Feel free to use different oils based on what you have on hand or what your skin loves! Just be sure to keep the amount of zinc oxide powder the same so it still offers adequate sun protection. 

Chemical vs mineral sunscreen 

Chemical sunscreens use ingredients like oxybenzone, which absorbs UV rays and converts them into heat. Oxybenzone is a known endocrine disruptor and can mess with hormone levels in our bodies. 

Mineral sunscreens, also known as physical sunscreen, use active ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to create a barrier on the skin to deflect the sun’s rays. This is a safer option because, unlike oxybenzone in chemical sunscreens, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide are reef-safe and do not harm ocean life. 

Supplies needed to make tallow sunscreen: 

• Double boiler or make your own by setting a stainless steel or glass bowl over a saucepan of water. 

Ingredients: 

• Grass-fed beef tallow – Acts as a moisturizing base that protects and supports skin health. 
• Red raspberry seed oil – Has natural SPF levels, is rich in antioxidants, and contains anti-inflammatory properties.
• Non-nano zinc oxide – Sits on top of your skin as a protective barrier, reflecting harmful rays instead of absorbing them. This is the main active ingredient and has been approved by the FDA for use in sunscreens. 
• Carrot seed essential oil – Has anti-aging and cell regenerative properties, which means it heals sun damage and scars and reduces the appearance of fine lines. 
• Beeswax – This will help make the sunscreen waterproof so that it doesn’t just wash off as soon as you get into the pool.

Instructions:

1. Put the oils in a double boiler and heat on medium-low until melted. If you don’t have a double boiler, set a bowl over a saucepan with a few inches of water in the bottom.
2. Remove from heat and add the zinc powder. Be careful not to inhale the powder as it can be irritating to the respiratory system. Mix until thoroughly combined.
3. Add the carrot seed oil and whisk to incorporate.
4. Pour into glass jars. The zinc will settle to the bottom of the jars, so be sure to stir every 15-20 minutes until the sunscreen has cooled.
5. Store in a dark place out of direct sunlight for one year.

Application:

Apply liberally whenever going out into the sun. Reapply every 3-6 hours.

Storage:

Store in glass jars out of direct sunlight for one year.

SPF rating for homemade tallow sunscreen:

This tallow sunscreen recipe has an estimated SPF or sun protection factor of approximately 30. 

Substitutions:

Red raspberry seed oil – Red raspberry seed oil has a natural SPF of 25-50. Substituting it for another oil will lower the SPF level in this DIY sunscreen recipe. Popular alternatives are olive oil, coconut oil, and shea butter, although the latter will give you a more solid end product.