Natural Oils as Sun Protection

The sun is out full time these days, at least here in the desert! Most of us, especially those of us with children, are spending more and more time outside, soaking up the Vitamin D and filling our cups with warmth and solar energy.

Certain natural oils offer SPF protection from the sun that is better than protection found in any commercially produced sunscreen. (Chemical free too!) Combine one or more of these oils and you have created a divine concoction of safe sun protection that anyone in your family can confidently use. I have linked to those oils I like best.

Here is a list of the natural oils that can be used as sun protection

Red Raspberry Seed Oil – Red raspberry seeds contain high levels of omega 3 and omega 6 essential fatty acids in addition to antioxidants and natural vitamin E. According to Anthony J. O'Lenick, author of “Oils of Nature,” red raspberry seed oil has a natural SPF between 28 and 50 and may also contain clinically significant anti-inflammatory properties. I like this brand.

Carrot Seed Oil – Carrot seed oil is an essential oil with significant antioxidant, antiseptic, antifungal and fragrant properties with high levels of vitamin A. When applied topically to the skin in the form of a diluted carrier oil, carrot seed oil also provides natural sun protection. Carrot seed oil has a natural SPF of 38 and 40. I like this brand.

Wheatgerm Oil – Wheatgerm is one of the best sources of natural vitamin E and is also a good source of vitamin K, B vitamins and choline. When applied to the skin, wheatgerm oil helps to moisturize tissues and acts as an antioxidant to prevent free radical damage. Wheatgerm oil has a natural SPF rating of 20. This is a good deal and you get a lot of it.

Soybean Oil – Properly fermented soybeans are a rich source of essential fatty acids, protein, lecithin, iron and calcium in the diet. When used topically on the skin, soybean oil is a cost-effective moisturizer compared to other oils and has a natural SPF of 10. I like this non-GMO soybean oil.

Shea Butter – While not an oil, shea butter is derived from the fat of the shea nut. Shea butter melts at body temperature and absorbs rapidly into the skin without leaving a greasy feeling. It contains the antioxidants, vitamins A and E both of which enhances skin cell regeneration and promote blood circulation below the skin's surface. Cinnamic acid in the oil provides vital protection against harmful UV rays. Its rich emollient quality makes it excellent for very dry skin. SPF 6-8. I only get my shea butter through here.

Macadamia Oil – Macadamia is known as the” king of nuts” and its oil is known to have almost the same properties as sebum. Sebum is the oil produced by our sebaceous glands to protect the skin from dryness and in a way makes skin and hair waterproof. Macadamia nuts provide vitamins, minerals and antioxidant fatty acids. Good sources of magnesium, iron, phosphorous, potassium and vitamin E, the oil from Macadamia nuts also contains a natural plant chemical called cinnamic acid which provides a variable SPF level of 6. This is a good buy on this oil.

Hemp Seed Oil– The oil extracted from hemp seed is said to closely resemble the body's natural lipids. Lipids refer to molecular compounds considered important for cell growth due to their large carbon and hydrogen content. Lipids do not easily mix with water because their properties are more related to fat substances, although not all lipids are fats. As sunscreen protection, it is easily absorbed by the skin to provide the essential fatty and essential amino acids as well as other nutrients. All these are needed for proper keratin formation in the skin, teeth, nails and hair as a major protein component. Hemp seed oil has an SPF rating of 6. I love this oil.

Coconut Oil – Coconut oil has an amazing ability to heal the skin and block the damaging effects of UV radiation from the sun. One of the reasons why it is so effective in protecting the skin is its antioxidant properties, which helps prevent burning and oxidative damage that promotes skin cancer. There have been several recent studies done on the use of coconut oil as a sunscreen but there are fluctuations in the SPF rating of coconut oil. One study “proved” a rating of only 4 while another rated coconut oil at a 10. The best deal on coconut oil is through Tropical Traditions.

Jojoba Oil – Jojoba is a desert shrub effective for treating eczema, psoriasis and dry skin.Jojoba oil is more correctly described as liquid wax. Like Macadamia oil, the properties of jojoba oil are akin to that of human sebum or the skin's natural oil. As a sunscreen ingredient, jojoba oil not only provides natural moisturizers for the skin but also provides healing and anti-inflammatory elements through its natural substance called myristic acid. Myristic acid is a form of fatty acid naturally occurring in plant oils. This oil has an SPF rating of 4. I love this brand of jojoba oil.

Sesame Seed Oil – Sesame seed oil is said to be composed of 20% protein and 50% lipids which gives the gamma tocopherol (Vitamin E) content. Tocopherol provides stable anti-oxidative mechanisms which include eliminating free radicals. UVR rays are said to be capable of activating the release of free radicals in skin cells. The characteristic of being stable means they do not easily breakdown under the sun's UVR or when kept in storage. As a sunscreen ingredient, it has an SPF rating of 4. I like this oil.

Grapeseed Oil – This oil is said to be rich in oligometric proanthrocyanidins or OPC. These are like the sesame seed oil components which hunt down free radicals that cause aging, with the purpose of eliminating them from the body system. Studies show that the OPC in grapeseed is twenty times more effective than vitamin C in eradicating free radicals in its function as an antioxidant. The antioxidating capabilities also promote the self-repair process of cells, which is important when the skin becomes affected by the sun's UVR rays. The SPF rating for this oil as a sunscreen ingredient is 4. I like this oil.

Avocado Oil – This fruit is highly regarded by the Aztecs of Mexico for its high nutritional content. Avocado oil is rich in vitamins A, B, D and E , fatty acids and lecithin. Avocado oil has quick-acting capacity to be absorbed by the skin tissue and provides the skin with emollients that can hydrate, nourish and regenerate the epidermis or the outer skin layer. Avocado oil has an SPF rating of 4. I like this oil.

Sea Buckthorn Oil – The fruit or berries of the sea buckthorn plant appear to be an unsurpassed natural source of vitamins A and E, carotenes and flavonoids. They are also rich in several other vitamins, including B1, B2, K and P as well as in more than two dozen microelements. Sea buckthorn oil is known for reducing the damaging effects of the sun's radiation. The restorative action of sea buckthorn oil may be partially due to the high content of fatty acids and essential fatty acids, carotenes, tocopherols and phytosterols, all important for the maintenance of healthy skin. The fatty acid content of seabuckthorn berry oil is 80 – 95%. The major fatty acids contained in sea buckthorn oil are oleic and linoleic acids. It has an SPF of 2-4. This is a top-shelf brand of sea buckthorn oil.

Rice Bran Oil – Rice bran oil contains gamma oryzanol, a naturally occurring plant byproduct. The chemicals in gamma oryzanol suppress the rising melanin levels thereby blocking the transmittance of ultraviolet rays through the surface of the skin. This process whitens the skin a slight amount and has historically been used in Japanese culture to produce a glowing complexion. It has an SPF of 2-4. You can grab some here.

In addition to using natural oils as sun protection, there are many, many foods you can consume that will provide protection from UV and free radical damage.

Here are a few of my favorites:

• Egg yolks
• Green and black tea
• Peanuts
• Kale
• Cabbage
• Broccoli
• Mustard greens
• Collard greens
• Yams
• Salmon
• Tomatoes
• Blueberries, blackberries, goji berries
• Grapes
• Yellow, red or green peppers
• Fermented Cod Liver Oil

I need to say a little bit more about Fermented Cod Liver Oil(FCLO). FCLO is a natural anti-inflammatory rich in omega-3 acids. These are the fatty acids that your skin needs to protect itself from the sun. FCLO is also an excellent source of vitamin D itself (after sun exposure, fish are considered the most significant source of vitamin D). Multiple studies have now been performed revealing that regular supplementation with FCLO can reduce sun damage, in some cases as much as doubling a user's resistance to sunburn.

FCLO does not block the sun's rays from hitting your skin. Instead it works by increasing your skin's ability to ward off the dangerous effects caused by those rays. The omega-3 fatty acids in FCLO reduce the excess inflammation induced by UV tissue damage. This inflammation, visibly seen as sunburns, can otherwise cause further damage to your skin cells, much more so than the UV damage itself. By inhibiting the production of inflammatory agents, FCLO in effect minimizes the damage to your skin.

Eating the above mentioned foods and supplementing with FCLO will not magically protect you on day one. There is a body serum level that needs to be reached before you will be fully protected. This takes about 8 – 12 weeks of every day consumption of foods and supplementation.

Another tip for getting the most protection while out in the sun… DO NOT BATHE before going outside of an extended period of time. What we are doing to our skin by washing off natural oils is causing it to be more susceptible to the sun's rays. We are leaving our largest organ with no protective barrier. Human sebum has a natural SPF of 6-8. Why would you want to wash that off?

In addition, try not to bathe immediately after coming in from a day in the sun. Your body needs time to finish processing the Vitamin D and UVA/UVB rays. Try to wait at least an hour before showering.

I recently wrote a great post which discusses the best way to build a gradual base tan. I also explained different skin types and how the sun effects each. Head on over to Coconut Oil and Sun Protection to read more! And don't forget to check out the many other awesome uses for coconut oil.

How do you protect yourself from too much sun? What are your favorite products for natural sun protection?