Tallow Sunblock

Our Sunscreen Story

I began researching the best sunscreen for our first child about 12 years ago when she was still a baby. I discovered that there were very few sunscreens available that were advised for infants younger than one year old. 

What was in these products that weren't considered safe for babies but were suddenly just fine by the time they were 18 months old? Huh?

I started digging deeper. Sunscreen is definitely something you want to do your research on before just believing the claims on a bottle. Through my own personal research over the years I’ve found commercial sunscreens contain potentially harmful chemicals that can disrupt hormones, damage the brain and nerves, and even harm unborn children with some studies even suggesting a link between certain sunscreen ingredients and increased skin cancer risk. 

How We Protect Our Skin From Sun Damage

I came to the conclusion that for us, the best option would be to prioritize responsible sun exposure, as sunlight is very healthy for our skin! We mainly avoid extreme sun and use shade and clothing for protection. We also allow our skin to build a healthy tan gradually. 

We use a homemade sunblock when we can’t avoid those extreme sun situations. Just yesterday I applied my homemade tallow sunblock on my toddler when she kept pulling her sun hat off at the beach when the sun was high. 

Did you know that diet significantly impacts skin health? Industrial seed oils, often labeled as vegetable oils, can react with sunlight, potentially contributing to skin cancer.

If your new to this idea I recommend reading this article written by my online healthy mama mentor: Why You Should Never Eat Vegetable Oil or Margarine

She also has a great article titled How I Eat My Sunscreen

Our Homemade Tallow Sunblock Ingredients 

You can't test and control homemade sunscreen in labs like you can with store-bought products. By using ingredients that protect against the sun and are safe and good for the skin we feel more confident about using this homemade sunscreen safely and effectively.

Although the SPF protection of this sunblock has not been formally tested,
several mineral sunscreens use similar formulas for broad spectrum protection from UV rays at a rating of 15 and 20 SPF. You shouldn't need anything stronger if you've eliminated the majority of seed oils and harmful processed foods from your diet.  

Our main active ingredient is non-nano zinc oxide which effectively protects the skin from the sun's rays. Besides non-nano zinc oxide I also enjoy using a mix of fats and oils that each offer special benefits for the skin.

Non-nano Zinc Oxide- Zinc oxide has been found to be the most effective mineral ingredient to combat both the sun’s UVA and UVB rays. 

But what is the significance of non-nano zinc oxide? This relates to the size of the particles. Conventional zinc oxide consists of particles that are exceedingly small, classified as nanoparticles. The issue with these particles is that their minuscule size allows them to penetrate the skin more readily, potentially entering the bloodstream.

Non-nano zinc oxide, on the other hand, features larger particles that cannot penetrate the skin. This characteristic ensures that the zinc oxide remains on the skin's surface, providing protection against the full range of the sun's rays. This specific type of non-nano zinc oxide is what we utilized in our tallow sunblock. 

Tallow- Tallow has a natural SPF of 4; however, beyond its sun protection capabilities, it provides a multitude of advantages for overall skin health. Tallow is our preferred ingredient for skincare applications. Below is a brief overview of the skin benefits associated with tallow:

- Abundant in vitamins A, D, E, K, and B12

- Rich in essential minerals

- Contains conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which possesses natural anti-inflammatory properties

- Palmitoleic acid serves as a potent antimicrobial agent and is a fundamental component of our skin

- Palmitic acid enhances the functionality of the skin's protective barrier

- Stearic acid aids in the repair of damaged skin while improving its flexibility and suppleness

Coconut Oil- Although the precise SPF of coconut oil is not well-defined (estimated to be approximately SPF 5), there is substantial evidence indicating that coconut oil offers protective benefits against the sun's rays. Additionally, coconut oil delivers numerous other advantages for the skin, which include:

-Moisturizing properties

-Providing antioxidants

-Containing antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial characteristics

-Reducing inflammation

Jojoba Oil-  Similarly, to coconut oil, the spf protection of Jojoba oil provides is up for debate. But it is likely around an spf of 4 along with providing many other benefits for skin health.

Beeswax- Beeswax serves as a natural and vital ingredient that provides the sunscreen with an optimal creamy texture, and the wax plays a crucial role in keeping this homemade sunscreen waterproof.

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