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Can't help on the product side, but I will say this. Since starting with a more "proper human diet" last year I found that I do not sun burn as easily as I used to, and when I do get a light sun burn, it heals within a day or two and my skin doesn't peal.

Also, I have a common skin condition called Keratosis pilaris (commonly called chicken skin) which dramatically improved with my change in diet. I now use AmLactin moisturizer and the condition is pretty much gone. I had been told my multiple Dr's. growing up to just "deal with it, it's nothing and not curable". My arms were so bad that in HS shop class a classmate rubbed 180 grit sandpaper on my arms "to smooth them out".

I am still consistently amazed at what 'ailment' has been treated/cured/reduced by changing my diet and flabbergasted by how much Dr's don't first try diet changes vs just giving another pill.

 

Today's Doctors don't make money by suggesting changes outside their specialty. Anymore, they're almost always pushing patients towards surgery (if they're a surgeon) or pills to "manage" a condition. They aren't interesting in curing the patient, as then the patient won't keep coming back for that complaint, i.e. - paying them.

 

With the number of things I've been exposed to, over the past 40+ years since joining the Navy out of high school, I tend to just use the commercial stuff, and not worry about it. Heck, if sunscreen kills me, that would ironic as hell!
That being said, the "BullFrog" brand, that has insect repellent & 30 SPF sun protection, is pretty darn good.

 

We have a plant called Broom weed that will keep ticks, ants, chiggers, and other creepy crawlers from crawlers going up your legs.

Just crush it up and beat it around the cuffs of your jeans. It has a creosote component. You might be able to create something from that hint.

 

There is a plant(s) in every region that can be used to keep insects at bay. As a prepper, I have insect repellents in my stores, but they have to be replaced regularly, and the same goes for sunscreen. I'm sure that you can make sunscreen using clay or zinc oxide as a base, and both would have a long shelf life. Another option to sunscreen is to cover up when working in the sun...before y'all say anything l live in ALABAMA, where it is hot and humid! I'm also a Civil War reenactor and wear a gray wool uniform...in the summer! So, it can be done!

 

The wool uniforms are not as hot in the summer as you might thing, nor are they all that warm in the winter. Although, I can only vouch for Confederate gray, as I have NEVER worn Yankee blue! Once you get buttoned up and start sweating the wool fibers wick the sweat away from your skin and evaporation keeps you relatively cool, but it takes about an hour, and you have to keep hydrated. Over the course of an hour or two I will drink a gallon of water...and sweat every bit of it out! At almost every event someone will go down, but it is almost always due to their health problems/conditioning and/or lack of water! Many times, after battles I have spoken to spectators that are suffering more from the sun and heat than I am, and they are wearing t-shirt and shorts. There is one other factor that keeps me in the field despite sun, heat, cold, rain and mud, and that is SOUTHERN PRIDE!

 

I m never likes to use any sunscreen products for my skin, because already my skin is well and good. I never travel in the hot sunlight.

 

Wool socks are great! Yes, they are hot and sweaty, but you will NEVER get a blister while wearing wool socks...even when your leather brogans are soaking wet. Cotton just gets wet and stays wet, and is very uncomfortable in hot and humid conditions!

 

There is an insect repellent that I have added to my preps, and that is Permethrin. You don't spray it on your skin, instead you apply it to your clothing. It's supposed to last for 6 weeks, so spray it on a hat or long sleeve work shirt, and enjoy the out of doors again.

 

I was on a river trip when the motor failed. We had to paddle a jonboat while drifting the Trinity for 30 miles. August in Texas weather.

One of the guys was fair skinned and used river mud for a sunscreen. He let it dry and it looked smart. The next day he washed it off and had the most gawdawful looking burns and pustules I've ever seen. Zombie movie bad. He took weeks to heal.

Keep that in mind if you try it. Maybe it should have stayed wet? Maybe rinsing and freshening was required? I don't know.