Hi everyone!
So I’ve been meaning to post this recipe for a while, and now that it’s Sunday morning and I’m sitting here with green tea in hand, I think that now is the time!
I’ve posted quite a bit in the past about DIY skincare and improving my skin, and I have posted a sunscreen tutorial in the past too. This Rose Sunscreen recipe is simply a refining of that original sunscreen recipe. Rose sunscreen is very thin, spreads very easily, doesn’t leave a white cast , and actually gives you a little bit of coverage too. I sometimes just wear it as a base on its own because it makes my skin look so healthy. I think this would have to be the best sunscreen formula I’ve ever made, and blows any commerically available product out of the water. It’s also 99% natural (as a little preservative is a necessary evil, I fear).
Other than sunscreen, at the moment I’m using a simple but potent skincare routine of:
am
‘Easy rinse’ oil cleansing method
10% MAP (vit c) serum
Shea butter as moisturiser
Rose sunscreen
pm
‘Easy rinse’ oil cleansing method + tanaka massage
Kinetin serum
Shea butter as moisturiser
Exfoliation with a microfibre or muslin cloth when needed
My skin reacts very well even to this quite simple skincare routine because all the serums have potent, fresh ingredients. It also costs me a fraction of what it would cost to buy in store. I’m hoping to add an eye serum and another face serum to my routine in the coming weeks 
Before I get to the recipe, let me share some pics of what the Rose Sunscreen looks like. These were taken a while ago in readiness for this post (better late than never!):
In the photo above I am wearing Rose sunscreen, blush, lipgloss, mascara, and that’s it. It makes my skin look really healthy!
This sunscreen also adheres well to the skin, works with makeup, and is so much cheaper than buying a ready made product in the shops.
So here is how to make it:
- ZnO (coated) …………………. 24%
- Rosehip Oil …………………… 24%
- H2O ………………………………. 20.5%
- HA @1% ……………………….. 10%
- Sea Emollient ……………….. 5%
- Vit E Powder ………………….. 3%
- Lecithin …………………………. 8%
- Sclerotium Gum @1% …. 4%
- Grape Seed Extract ………. 0.5%
- CoQ10 ………………………….. 0.5%
- Phenox. ………………………… 0.5%
- Rose EO
- Warm oil in warm water, and dissolve the CoQ10, then lecithin. Blend.
- Add ZnO bit by bit and really work it into the formula. I blend and then use a spoon to scrape down the sides and vigorously stir so that the ZnO is evenly distributed. Do this about three or four times, then pour the ZnO mixture into a container and put to the side. Clean blender.
- Place water and Vitamin E Acetate into the blender. Then add Grape Seed Extract and continue to blend until there are no lumps. Pour into a container and set aside. Wipe out/ clean.
- Place Sea Emollient in blender. Add hyaluronic acid, and blend, then Sclerotium Gum and blend.
- Slowly add the water/ Vit E/ Grape Seed Extract mix from earlier and blend.
- Slowly add the ZnO/ Oil/ CoQ10/ Lecithin mixture and continue to blend.
- Blend the entire mixture, pausing every now and again to scrape down sides and mix the formula yourself. Blend until the formula becomes nice and smooth. Do this for as long as you can.
- Add phenoxyethanol and Rose Geranium essential oil and blend a little more.
- Place sunscreen into a plastic bag, cut off a corner with scissors, and pipe into an airless pump bottle.
- You should have a light, milk-coffee coloured sunscreen that disappears into the skin and gives a healthy glow.
I’ve kept the measurements as percentages so that you can make this recipe in whatever quantity you wish. To make the process easier, you can use SEA’s batch calculator here.
Zinc Oxide is obviously really good for sun protection, but if you have skin that is acne/ blackhead prone, or is just in need of repair or calming, zinc oxide is a great ingredient. If my skin is ever a bit wind-bitten I just wear my sunscreen to bed and my skin is fixed the next day. This recipe also functions as a serum because it contains lots of antioxdiants (partially to mop any free radicals around, partially for your skin) and skin-loving ingredients in general.
I still buy all my ingredients from Skin Essential Actives because they have the best quality ingredients for the cheapest price. If you want to talk more about DIY skincare, head here.
I hope you try out this recipe!
I had no idea you could use a sunscreen like this as a serum or acne treatment! The ingredients sound absolutely lovely.
@Stacey Oh definitely! When our sheep got sick I was washing my hands a lot and they got really chapped, so I was using sunscreen on my hands as a treatment too
Fantastic for acne prone skin, and a great way to get more actives into your skincare 
Thanks for sharing this recipe! My skin needs all of the help it can get, so the added benefits are really appealing.
@Aubrey No problem! Hope you like it!
Yay! So glad you posted another recipe. I’m currently using the MAP serum too, recipe from you and I love it so thank you. This may seem like a really stupid question…how do you work out the weights? If it’s 24%, does that mean 24 grams…I feel a bit silly asking!!
@Ali Hi there! Thankyou! I’m so glad you love the MAP serum – it’s still my fav. My skin loves it!
Your question is not stupid at all! If you were making, say, 100 grams, then yes 24% would mean 24 grams. However, if you want to fill a 30 gram pump bottle (or 35/40g to account for any that clings to the beakers etc) then you will have to convert each percentage. For example, if you need 24% of Zinc Oxide, and you’re making 40 grams, you would calculate: 24 x 40 divided by 100 = 9.6 g. 5% of Sea Emollient would be 5 x 40 divided by 100 = 2g. SEA used to have a batch calculator available to make this process quicker, but I can’t seem to find it at the moment. Will add it to the comment here if I do though!
@Ali Found the batch calculator to make your life easier, courtesy of SEA
http://skinessentialactives.blogspot.tw/p/batch-size-calculator.html
Thank you so much. Am looking forward to having a go!!
Hi,
I was just wondering whether you’ve tried making this sunscreen without preservative. I find most of my homemade products are fine without it if I make them in small batches and keep them in the fridge if I’ve had them for more than 2 or 3 weeks but I’d love to hear your opinion!
Thanks
@Anna I haven’t, but I think if you kept the sunscreen in the fridge and sterilised everything I think you could skip the preservative quite comfortably
Hi, so glad to see another post from you! I have missed them! This looks awesome, I will try to give it a go as soon as I can afford to order the ingredients. Does it sink in well? I can’t handle feeling sunscreen on my skin during hot weather. Also wondering, how big does the batch need to be to work in a blender? Thanks! Juliette
Hi! I’ve really been enjoying your blog. The gorgeous improvement in your skin has been pushing me closer and closer to undertaking DIY myself
… I was wondering, though, do you find that a sunscreen with so much ZnO can cause problematic flashback in photos? Personally, I swore off physical sunscreen after one particularly Joker-like driver’s license photo. Is this a problem for you, or do you find that the anti-aging benefits are worth such (potential) drawbacks?
Thanks!
@Juliette Thankyou! I’m glad my posts are of some use
I think this sunscreen formula is easily the best formula I’ve ever used, but I am biased I suppose
It sinks in as much as a zinc oxide sunscreen would be expected to. As it provides a physical barrier on your skin there will always be a little sitting on top of the skin, but no more than any standard foundation. The size of the batch depends on the size of your blender. I have one of those magic bullet type blenders so it’s quite small, but I usually double the recipe anyway as I go through a lot of sunscreen 
@Sophie Thankyou! You ask a good question too. I find this sunscreen makes my skin looks really good, so even if I go out at night I apply it and just add a little concealer where I need more coverage. I’ve never had a problem with flashback and it seems to photograph really well. I haven’t rigorously tested it in this respect, though. To be honest, I’d wear it anyway
Do you still use the idebenone serum? was contemplating buying both the idebenone & kinetin kit from skin actives & layer them on top of each other at night.
@Andrew Hi there! Yes! I’m not using the Idebenone serum right now, but that’s only because I haven’t got around to making it (Christmas/ NY being what it is). As both serums contain the prized NAG/ B3 combination, I usually alternate them (Kinetin one night, Idebenone the next) and that seems to work well with my skin. In fact, now that NY is over I should start that routine again!
thanks for the skincare update!!! i just love it… i was wondering if you still used retin a from time to time… i’ve been following your skincare journey for a while and your skin looks amazing… not only in brightness but also overall texture and firmness. the tanaka seems like it’s doing its thing!!! thanks again for taking the time to write down all the recipes, etc… happy new year!
@Rose No problem! To be honest I haven’t been using Retin A recently because I’ve found it a bit drying on my dry skin during an Australian summer (it’s been so hot here!), so I thought I might buy some Vitamin A from SEA and make a serum instead. Any form of Vit A is fine, as long as your skin *gets* some Vitamin A. Also, I want to start dermarolling in the new year and you have to prep with Vit A for six weeks, so I’d better get on that!
Thankyou so much for the lovely comments. I feel so much more confident now that my skin has improved. Makes the world of difference, and makes you look at aging very differently. Happy new year!
Hi! I just started reading ur blog and I have to say I absolutely love reading what you have to say and of course thank you so much for posting your DIY recipes!!! I just wanted to ask you what would the SPF be on this rose sunscreen?
@De Thankyou! I’ve never formally tested this sunscreen, but let me give you an idea of the SPF rating by looking at other brands and their percentage of zinc oxide:
Pratima = 18% ZnO
Cancer Council of Australia Sensitive Sunscreen plus Mineral Zinc Oxide = 22% ZnO
Devita Solar Body Block = 19% ZnO
Badger = 18.75% ZnO
All of these brands state that they provide SPF 30+ protection, so I think anywhere in this range should be fine. I put 24% ZnO in my rose sunscreen to just give a little bit more protection
If buying commercially, I would look for a minimum of 18% ZnO though, and more if possible 
Thank you so much for your reply, that does help because I try to buy an SPF of 30 or higher whenever I can=) I think once I get the courage and supplies, I might try to make your sunscreen and give it a try. I finally did have time to read and follow most, if not ALL of your pictures of your skin from the start of your diy skincare and you have terrific skin before but now, your skin is evern better =) I hope mine will show at least a fraction of the improvements you have had. Have a great Day!!
Your skin looks absolutely beautiful Dempeaux! I’m kind of ashamed to admit this, but I’ve been lurking your blog for awhile now without commenting haha…….I have a question for you: Reading your old posts, I noticed that you also changed your diet/exercise routine around when you started your skincare journey. Would you say that changing the way you eat/exercise had more of an impact on your skin, or was it your skincare routine? I am trying to eat healthier and cut sugar out of my diet, but it’s hard. By the way, thank you so much for your awesome skincare recipes and wise advice!
@De That’s great! I’m sure DIY will help your skin out too. It’s crazy what companies charge for creams and serums that don’t do anything – this is a way to really do something that is anti-aging! Good luck if you decide to make the sunscreen. It’ll be great fun
@Rue Haha! That’s okay, thanks for taking the time to read it!
Yes! I’d say diet and exercise made a big difference to my skin too. I think good health is reflected in the skin (and sugar/ refined carbs break down collagen in the skin and accelerate wrinkles!) so there’s extra motivation to eat healthy and exercise. I think having good skin is down to a combination of factors: good diet, DIY skincare, minimal stress, good zinc oxide sunscreen, and no smoking. All of these factors are equally important, and far more potent than anything La Mer will try to sell you
Good luck with your healthy living – what a great way to start 2013!
Hi Dempeaux, thanks for sharing this recipe. I’m going to give DIY skin care a go quite soon, im just doing alot of research before I go ahead with though. Quick question: I notice you use shea butter for your routine and was interested to know of shea butter actually clogs pores??
@Woody No worries! I have no problem using shea butter and it doesn’t clog my pores, but remember that I have very dry skin. I also like using the MuLondon moisturisers, which contain shea butter but are a bit lighter in consistency. Good luck on your DIY journey!
hay dempeaux… thanx for the reply on the retin a… i’m currently using a retinol and hope to eventually transition to retin a. i’m also thinking of trying some sort of facial exercise for my NL folds (the line that runs from nose to mouth). I’m 26, losing a ton of weight and i’m noticing the line, especially on my left side (the side i’m sleeping on). I know you had issues with NL lines and you were doing a combo of tanaka and a youtube video… can you please share what that video was? what facial workout would you recommend that worked for you for the NL lines? thanks again…