Scroll skincare content for long enough and you will meet a confident-sounding video: someone blending beef tallow, coconut oil and a bit of zinc in their kitchen, calling it "natural sunscreen." It looks wholesome. It is also one of the more genuinely risky trends going around — because a homemade mixture cannot be tested for the one thing sunscreen exists to do: block UV.
Why "Natural" and "Homemade" Are Not the Same as "Protective"
Sun protection is not a vibe; it is a measured performance. A finished, regulated sunscreen has been tested to confirm how much UV it actually blocks and how evenly it does so across the spectrum. A jar of blended oils has not — and there is no way to check it at home. Plant oils and butters have almost no meaningful UV protection on their own, and even recipes that add a mineral filter like zinc or titanium dioxide cannot verify that the filter is dispersed properly, at the right level, in a way that stays put on skin.
The result can look and feel like sunscreen while offering a small fraction of the protection people assume they are getting. That gap is invisible until a burn shows up.
The Specific Trends to Be Wary Of
- DIY tallow or oil "sunscreen." Blends of beef tallow, coconut, carrot seed or raspberry oil circulate with SPF claims that have no testing behind them.
- "Sunscreen is toxic" reframes that push people away from tested products and toward untested homemade ones — swapping a known, measured tool for an unknown.
- Unregulated "tanning accelerators" and similar products that are not reviewed the way sunscreens are.
There is nothing wrong with plant oils or ingredients like tallow in a well-made formula. The problem is treating them, unmeasured and unregulated, as a stand-in for broad-spectrum sun protection.
What Dermatology Bodies Actually Say
Skin-health organisations are consistent on this: regulated, broad-spectrum sunscreens used as directed are one of the most effective everyday tools for protecting skin, and homemade substitutes are not a safe swap because their UV protection is unproven. Sunscreen also works best as part of a wider habit — seeking shade, hats, protective clothing and UV-blocking sunglasses — rather than as the only line of defence. This article is general education, not medical advice; for personal concerns, a qualified professional is the right source.
How to Choose Something You'll Actually Trust — and Use
- Pick a finished, broad-spectrum product. "Broad-spectrum" means it is made and tested to cover the range of UV, not just part of it.
- Choose a texture you like enough to wear daily. The most protective sunscreen is the one you will actually reapply. If it feels greasy or leaves a white cast, you will skip it — so finish matters.
- Prep skin so it sits well. A hydrated, settled base helps sunscreen apply evenly; if yours pills, our guide on why sunscreen pills covers the fix.
- Reapply through real sun exposure. Protection wears down; topping up is the part most people miss, covered in how to reapply sunscreen through the day.
Where skincare fits is the step before sunscreen — a calm, hydrated, comfortable base. Choosing that base by feel rather than hype is the theme of picking a routine by feel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does homemade sunscreen actually work?
There is no way to confirm it does. UV protection has to be measured, and a homemade blend cannot be tested at home for how much UV it blocks or how evenly. Plant oils offer very little protection on their own, so a homemade mixture can feel like sunscreen while providing far less than people assume. A finished, regulated broad-spectrum product is the reliable choice.
Do natural oils like coconut or carrot seed oil protect against the sun?
Not meaningfully. Some oils are quoted with tiny SPF-like figures, but these are far below what is needed for real protection and are not reliable or evenly distributed on skin. Treating plant oils as sun protection leaves skin far more exposed than it seems.
Is beef tallow sunscreen safe to use?
Tallow is fine as an ingredient in a well-made formula, but a homemade tallow "sunscreen" has no verified UV protection, which makes it an unreliable substitute for a tested product. The concern is not the ingredient itself but using an untested mixture in place of measured broad-spectrum protection.
Is sunscreen toxic or bad for you?
Regulated sunscreens used as directed are widely considered safe and effective by skin-health bodies. Claims that sunscreen is "toxic" are not supported by the evidence, and acting on them by switching to untested homemade products removes a proven tool. For individual concerns, ask a qualified professional rather than social media.
What does "broad-spectrum" mean on a sunscreen?
Broad-spectrum means the product is formulated and tested to protect across the range of ultraviolet light rather than only part of it. It is the baseline to look for, alongside a finish you like enough to wear every day and reapply.
If I use a facial oil, do I still need sunscreen?
Yes. A facial oil is a skincare step, not sun protection, and does not block UV in any reliable way. Keep your oil or moisturiser as part of your routine and apply a finished broad-spectrum sunscreen as the final daytime step over the top.
This article is general education about sun protection. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose, treat, or claim to cure any condition, and Klairs skincare products are not sunscreens. Individual experiences vary — use a finished broad-spectrum sunscreen as directed, and consult a qualified professional for personal sun-safety or skin concerns.
