This is a simple recipe, once you get the ingredients together. I include insect repelling essential oils because I usually go for walks in nature, and the bugs seem to like me!
½ cup coconut oil, unrefined*
½ cup shea butter, unrefined
3 tablespoons zinc oxide powder (non nano)**
30 drops of mixed essential oils; mix as you like: cedar, lavender, rosemary, geranium, eucalyptus (insect repelling). See Bug off recipe.
2–3 drops vitamin E oil
Melt coconut oil by placing container in bowl of hot water. Once melted, pour out required amount into 2-cup measuring cup. Add shea butter in chunks until you reach 1-cup; it is harder than the coconut oil.
Place measuring cup in top section of double boiler. Heat and stir occasionally until melted.
Once shea butter is melted, remove from heat. Add zinc oxide. (Wear a mask so as to not breathe in the powder,) Whisk with hand-held mixer until zinc oxide is well blended.
Add essential oils. Blend to combine. Pour into jars.
NB: I tried a squeeze-like tube, which is handy for application, but it is very difficult to clean and reuse.
*Unrefined butters and oils have higher healing properties for the skin.
**Zinc Oxide at 20% gives SPF 20+; available from Voyageur Soap and Candle or Amazon.
