Dandelions often get a bad rap. Many people view them as unsightly weeds ruining a perfect lawn. However, for me and many pollinators, dandelions are amazing flowers.

Not only are dandelions edible and packed with nutrients, but they also have fantastic healing properties for the skin. They’re great for treating chapped and rough skin, healing burns, and tackling acne. When combined with the skin benefits of coconut oil, you get a super moisturizer suitable for all skin types.

When harvesting dandelions, remember they are a crucial food source for many pollinators. If you’re picking them from your yard, don’t take them all—leave most behind so they can seed and grow more. If you’re gathering them from somewhere else, ensure it’s a chemical-free area.

Once you’ve harvested the flowers, let them sit on a towel-lined tray for a few hours to allow any bugs to crawl out. Then, set them out in the sun to dehydrate, which should only take a few hours on a hot day. An electric dehydrator works too if you have one.

Here’s what you need:
– ½ cup of organic coconut oil
– ¼ cup of dried dandelion flowers
– 6-8 drops of lavender essential oil (optional)
– 1 pint canning jar
– Small saucepan
– Hand mixer

First, infuse the coconut oil with the dandelion flowers. Place the coconut oil in the canning jar and put the jar in a small saucepan. Fill the saucepan with enough water to reach a couple of inches up the side of the jar. Set the pan on low heat until the coconut oil melts.

Once the oil is melted, add the dried dandelion flowers. Let the flowers steep in the oil on low heat for about two hours, keeping an eye on the water level to make sure it doesn’t evaporate completely. After two hours, turn off the heat and let the jar cool enough to handle. Strain the flowers out of the coconut oil.

The result will be a bright, sunny yellow oil, just like the dandelions. Add the lavender essential oil if you’re using it. Put the infused coconut oil in the fridge until it firms up (but doesn’t solidify). Using a hand mixer, whip the firmed oil until it looks like whipped butter or frosting.

Store the whipped oil in a tin container or glass jar. If your house is warm, keep it in the fridge. It melts quickly upon contact with your skin. You can use it as a lip balm, on dry elbows and feet, to relieve sore muscles and aches, to ease acne flare-ups, or even as an aftershave. This will soon become your go-to moisturizer!