Making Love in the Kitchen

May 20th, 2010 by Meghan Telpner

Natural Body Care Week! Wahoozle gazoozles! Be sure to get your copy of the new tutorial.

I make no secret or excuses about my love for the sunshine. The other night over dinner, my gentleman caller inquired as to what I would be called if I weren’t called Meghan. Despite people’s tendency to call me Rachel when they don’t know my name (I think it’s the Jewess thing), I would go with Sunshine. I fear for the future of my unconceived children.

The point being I love the sun and sun bathing and it would take a massive hole in the ozone directly above me and being buck-naked at high noon for me to put any kind of sunblock on. Has sunscreen helped reduce rates of skin cancer? Nopers. Is it nearly impossible to find a safe rated sunscreen? It sure is. This leads me to believe it’s best to avoid using it as much as possible. Now, if you are in a situation where you will be exposed to a load of rays mid-afternoon, cover up and be sensible. But think about these things:

We need the the sun’s rays to produce Vitamin D from sunshine. Sun block, block’s this reaction.
UV radiation increases free radicals in the body. Anti-oxidants counter act the negative affects of free radicals. More sunshine = increase in anti-oxidant rich foods (the new tutorial talks ALL about this!)
Too much sun will turn us into a leather hand-bag. Too much sunscreen increases our toxic load. I would say use both in moderation.

Did you get point 2? An increase in healthy food helps ward off the negative effects of too much UV. Imagine food being healing and protective! (Can you read my sarcasm here?)

Now, of course I am going to give you a solution. Despite my new tutorial containing over 55 Natural Body Care recipes, this one is not in there. Consider it a bonus, or maybe an incentive to buy!

If you have bought it, you know that I go into great details about oils and herbs that are naturally protective against the sun’s harmful rays. If you want those deets, you need the book.

Natural Sun Screen
Adapted from here

3 tbsp. unrefined sesame oil
1 tbsp. unrefined avocado or olive oil
1 tbsp. unrefined jojoba oil
1 tbsp. walnut or almond oil
1 tbsp. shea butter
2 tbsp. cocoa butter (or 3 Tbs if you don’t have shea butter)
1 tsp. beeswax
2 tbsp. aloe-vera gel (take it right from the plant if you have one!)
2 tbsp. rose, lavender or plain water
1/2 tsp. borax powder
15 drops carrot-seed essential oil
5 drops essential oil of choice for fragrances (optional- though I like peppermint or lemongrass as both help to keep the skeeters away)

Melt the first oils (not essential oils!), butters and beeswax in a double boiler over medium heat until just until they melt then remove from heat.
In a small saucepan on low heat, mix together the aloe gel, borax and water
When the oil and water mixtures are still warm to the touch and about the same temperature, set the small saucepan into a bowl of ice. Drizzle in the oil mixture while mixing rapidly with a small whisk; a cream will quickly form. A spare blender could come in handy here too!
Add carrot-seed essential oil and fragrant essential oil if desired; blend thoroughly.
Store in a clean, airtight jar or bottle, and refrigerate.

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