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Sunscreens at home: recipes
We all love to bask blissfully in the rays of the sun. After all, a healthy, even tan is the best summer decoration. The surest way to get it is to follow the basic safety rules and take care of the sun protection with your own hands.
How not to “burn out” on vacation
It does not matter whether you go to the beach, to the office or for a walk with the whole family — in the summer, the skin needs protection all the time. We are talking, of course, about sunscreens. For normal days, light creams with an SPF filter of 15-20 are suitable. If you are body and soul on vacation, stock up on creams with an SPF filter of 30-40, ideally water-resistant. Otherwise, stick to a simple principle: the lighter the skin, the more powerful protection it needs. This also applies to the owners of a generous scattering of moles, freckles and age spots. You can get a full set of protective products in any cosmetics store. And also-use home recipes for sunscreens, which will be discussed below.
In order not to shock the skin with a sharp change in climate and reduce the risk of sunburn, you can visit the solarium before your vacation. Once on the beach, do not lose your head and especially keep an eye on the children. For a trial session of sunbathing, limit yourself to 15-20 minutes, then immediately move into the shade. Calculate the correct time for sunbathing: from early morning to 11 o’clock and from 16 o’clock to sunset. Remember, the first ones to burn are the face, shoulders, arms, and back. So, after splashing in the sea to your heart’s content, don wide-brimmed hats and pareos. And don’t let the cloudy weather mislead you. In the summer, you can get burned without the scorching heat. And don’t forget to drink regular water as often as possible. Its lack quickly affects the skin and is especially harmful if you overheat in the sun.
Getting ready to go public
Widely advertised sunscreens amaze the imagination with their variety. But it is impossible to guess how this or that ingredient will affect the skin. In addition, the price of such cosmetics is often overstated because of the brand and exclusive, but absolutely useless aromatic additives. Meanwhile, sunscreens made with your own hands are much more affordable. And they are not inferior in efficiency.
You can start with a nourishing mask that will protect the skin from burning and chapping. We offer a simple recipe for normal and dry skin. Whisk the raw egg yolk with 1 tsp olive oil and 1 tsp lemon juice. Apply the mask to cleansed skin, leave it to dry completely and rinse with warm water. It is recommended to do it half an hour before going out in the sun.
If you have a combination or oily skin type, a tincture of cucumber seeds will help you. Fill them with vodka in a ratio of 1: 10, keep them for 2 weeks in a cool, dry place and dilute with water in the same ratio. We rub the lotion into the skin in the morning and evening, as well as before going outside. It will protect the skin from the sun, lighten freckles and age spots.
Various oil masks are very useful. Avocado, sesame and raspberry seed oils reflect the sun’s rays. Karite, jojoba and coconut oil protect the skin at the cellular level and give a smooth, beautiful tan. Almond and hazelnut oil protects the deep layers of the epidermis from aging. Simply apply the appropriate oil to the skin until it is completely absorbed, and remove the remnants with a damp cotton pad.
We master cosmetic cooking
There is a universal recipe for sunscreen at home. It is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive and problematic ones. In an enameled saucepan, pour a cup of olive oil and heat over low heat. Carefully put in it 30 g of beeswax, broken into pieces. Stir the wax continuously so that it melts evenly and mixes with the oil. Next, add 1-2 tablespoons of zinc dioxide to the heated mixture. This powder can be purchased at a pharmacy. And although it is not toxic, so that small particles do not accidentally get into the eyes or respiratory tract, it is better to wear a protective mask and gloves. Without stopping to stir the oil, gradually pour the powder — it is important not to let it settle to the bottom. When the consistency becomes uniform and the cream cools, you can pour it into a glass or ceramic jar with a tight lid.
If you only trust natural ingredients, prepare a cream made from aromatic oils. We take 10 g of coconut oil, 25 g of cocoa butter, 60 g of shea butter and 5 g of beeswax — all in solid form. Melt the ingredients in enameled dishes in a water bath. Cool the mixture to 40 °C and, stirring gently, add 15-20 drops of carrot essential oil. The cream should also be stored in a glass jar with a lid, or even in the refrigerator. And although it will harden there, at a temperature of 35-37 °C it will quickly become liquid. Note that such creams are stored for only 2-3 months, so stick a label with the date of preparation on the jar.
Before using sunscreens for the face, prepared with your own hands, try them on a separate area of the skin and make sure that they do not cause allergies. We wish you and your loved ones a warm sun and a pleasant holiday!