This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Rest assured, I do not get paid or compensated in any way to promote any specific products. Read my full policy here.
Hey, y’all! It’s almost summer!
Okay, wishful thinking here in the cold and snowy mountains, but it will be here before we know it! (I promise!) And with summer comes bugs, including the bane of my existence: mosquitoes.
Today I’m going to share with you something I wish I’d had on my recent trip back home to Mississippi, land of the killer mosquitoes: DIY all-natural sunscreen and bug repellent recipes.
I came back from way down South with a few “souvenirs” in the form of itchy, painful bites. The kind of souvenirs I would much rather not have gotten!
Below are three recipes that you can whip up fast and easy in your own kitchen! One of these fun and easy to make DIY bug repellents would have been super useful to me on my trip, and I hope you will like them, too!
First, let’s talk about why you’d want to use a DIY natural sunscreen or bugspray. Why not just grab it off the shelf in the store? If you want to go natural, there are natural options, but I like the idea of making my own, as well as saving money! Here are a few reasons to give DIY a try.
Reasons to use DIY natural sunscreen and bug repellant:
- Recent research shows that conventional products may actually be harmful to your skin!
- Using DIY natural products reduce your exposure to potentially harmful chemicals found in conventional products.
- Save a ton of money: DIY products tend to be very budget-friendly.
- If you swim in the ocean, sunscreen products can be harmful to the coral reefs. It stands to reason that ingredients in these products could be harmful to the environment and wildlife.
Sunscreen and bug spray are essential to have on hand for all your outdoor activities this summer.
I’m a firm believer in using natural products before store bought chemical stuff, so I found some great natural, DIY alternatives. Research shows me that there are many essential oils with sun protection and bug repelling properties.
Essential Oils
There are many brands of essential oils. I have used both DoTerra and Aura Cacia 100% Pure Essential Oils and they are both wonderful. Other brands that are certified organic include Plant Therapy, Rocky Mountain Oils, and Garden of Life. I recommend researching to determine which oils you might like. To help you start your research, one great site to start with is mindbodygreen.
It’s pretty easy to combine oils to make some great beauty and skin care products. Essential oils are highly concentrated, so always dilute them with carrier oils like jojoba, olive oil, or grapeseed.
There are many oils that might be harmful to use around or on pets and kids, so please do your research! I’m not a medical professional, and it’s up to you to research and choose wisely. And as with all things you put on your skin, do a patch test to check for allergic reactions. You don’t want to mix up a batch only to find out you can’t use it!
Natural SPF can be found in shea butter, jojoba oil, carrot seed oil, and zinc oxide. Natural bug repellents include lavender, lemon eucalyptus, citronella, geranium, and tea tree (melaleuca) oil.
Again, research for the best options for you and your family. And don’t forget about your furbabies, because pets can have extreme sensitivity to some oils. For more information, take a look at New Direction Aromatics, the ASPCA, and Chewy.
Now, on to the fun stuff: recipes!
Recipe 1: DIY Sunscreen + Bug Repellant
- ½ cup shea butter (Some very good natural and cruelty-free options can be found on Amazon here.)
- 2 Tablespoons of jojoba oil
- 1 teaspoon of carrot seed oil
- 1 tablespoon non-nano zinc oxide powder which you can buy here on Amazon. (Non-nano zinc oxide will not absorb into your skin.)
- Optional 15-20 drops of essential oils of your choice.
Throw it all in a bowl and mix it up thoroughly with an electric mixer! That’s it, no heating, no cooling, you’re done.
Recipe 2: Super-Simple Sunscreen
- 4 oz of your favorite non-toxic lotion or moisturizer (My favorite moisturizer is Pur Cosmetics’s 4-in-1 Cloud Cream.)
- 1 oz non-nano zinc oxide, available on Amazon.
- 12 drops of carrot seed oil
Add the zinc oxide and oil to your lotion, mix well, and store in a glass jar or pump bottle.
Seriously, can you get any easier than that?
Recipe 3: Easy DIY Mosquito Repellent
- 1 oz lemon, eucalyptus, or lavender essential oil
- 10 oz witch hazel (Find some great organic options here on Amazon.)
Mix the two (only TWO!) ingredients in a glass spray bottle and shake gently before spraying on your skin or clothes.
There you have it, 3 easy recipes to protect you from sunburn and bugs all summer long! Which ones will you try? Do you have other DIY recipes? Let me know in the comments how these formulas work for you!
If you want more natural skincare and beauty tips, read my post here.