Whipped Dandelion & Coconut Oil Moisturizer

66 Comments

1. I may have to try this! I bought some coconut oil b/c it seemed to be the thing to do and now I never use it. It’s kind of overwhelming how limitless the possibilities are!

   1. I agree! There are so many great things attributed to coconut oil and I’ve not tried a fraction of them. I do like how silky this makes my skin feel though! :)

2. This sounds wonderful! I may have to make it this year!

   1. I think you’ll like it! :)

3. This sounds amazing! My kids and I were planning on gathering some dandelion blooms today! I also won a large jar of coconut oil a few months back. I cannot wait to try this. My husband suffers from skin problems. Thank you!

   1. Sounds like the perfect thing to make with your bounty of coconut oil! :)

4. Just wondering. How how many months would this be good for?

   1. If you store it in a cool place, it should last for several months at least. I always keep six to twelve months in mind as a general guideline for how long infused oils will stay fresh, but it depends on oil type, handling, moisture level in the flower/herb, etc. Additions of vitamin E and rosemary antioxidants will delay the rancidity process in oils. If whipped coconut oil gets too warm and melts a few times, it’s still fine to use. You can rechill and rewhip it, if needed. If it repeatedly gets hot though, shelf life will likely be shortened.

5. If you had an allergy to coconut oil, do you think substituting mango butter would work?

   1. You could try that out, for sure. One thing to watch with mango and shea butter though is that if they’re overheated, they become grainy. I also make a whipped dandelion cream by using: 3.5 oz mango butter, 1.25 ounces of dandelion infused sunflower oil, and a teaspoon or so of arrowroot (or cornstarch.) Whip the mango butter until fluffy, add the dandelion oil, and starch (and any essential oil for scent you’d like) and then whip it all together until fluffy. This avoids heating those sensitive butters like mango/shea, gives you the benefits of dandelions, & still gives you a light texture.

6. I am confused. You put the dandelions in a jar in a pan with a little bit of water in the pan and nothing in with the dandelions in the glass jar. You never said when to add the coconut oil or where to put it. In the picture the dandilions are in a strainer over a glass jar with yellow liquid in it. The dandilions where in a glass jar..when you heat the dandilions in the glass jar does it produce a liquid you can then strain out? Where do you put the coconut oil and when, and when fo Mr. Dandilions and Mrs. Coconut meet?

   1. Hi Julie, That information is under the third picture down:
      “Measure out:
      1/2 cup coconut oil
      1/4 cup dried dandelion flowers
      and add them to a heat proof glass jar. Set this jar down into a saucepan that contains a few inches of water in the bottom. This will create a make-shift double boiler of sorts.”

      The coconut oil goes in the jar with the dandelions together. Then that jar is set down into the pan of water. Next, the pan goes on a burner to keep the water warm. The indirect heat from the hot water in the pan will gently warm and melt the coconut oil so the dandelion flower properties (and color) are transferred to it. This turns it a really pretty yellow liquid as shown in the picture, but once it cools, it sets back up to more of a solid. I hope that helps!

7. Hi and thank you for the recipe! I can’t wait to try it out! I was wondering why they have to be dried dandelions and not fresh? I thought you can get more of the natural oils out of fresh. Thanks for any help you can give me :)

   1. Looks like I found the answer in your Dandelion Salve Recipe. I didn’t know they hold so much water. I will be sure and make up a batch of that as well since my yard is abundant in beautiful dandelions! Thank you so much for sharing :)

      1. I’m glad you found the answer Michelle! Have fun making dandelion goodies! :)

8. I so want to try this recipe…dadelion-coconut-oil moisturizer. I have severely dry skin. Thanks for sharing!

   1. Hi Cheryl, I hope you get a chance to try it out!

9. What healing benefits does the dandelion have for the skin?
   I am goi.g to make it, but just wanted to know lol.
   Thank you for posting!

   1. Hi Anhel, I talked about it a bit in this post on Dandelion Salve: https://thenerdyfarmwife.com/dandelion-salve-recipe/ but dandelion oil is traditionally used for achy, sore muscles and chapped skin. The flowers are reputed to have mild analgesic properties. It’s really cool how many people have written to tell me how dandelion salve has helped them. The best part is that the ingredients are inexpensive and readily available to the masses. :)

10. I put coconut oil in a small flip-top bottle (spoon into jar, melt in microwave, and then a funnel helps for pouring into the bottle) and put the bottle in the bathtub. The oil melts during my hot shower and then is perfect to put all over my skin. Love it!

    1. What a wonderful idea – thanks for sharing! :)

11. Thank you Jan for your responce!! I have a yard full of the flowers. I usually make dandelion flower tea with them but i want to try this too!!
    I get chapped lips easy so i thought about adding some vitamin E and some bees wax to make lip balm.

    1. Oh yes, dandelion lip balm is lovely! Enjoy your bounty of dandelions! :)

12. I would love to have the lip balm recipe as well if you would like to share it.

    1. Hi Christy, You can use almost any lip balm formula and just put the dandelion oil in place of the liquid oil portion. (I count coconut as a liquid oil, since it melts when applied to the lips.) Here’s a whole post on designing your own lip balm. :) https://thenerdyfarmwife.com/how-to-create-custom-lip-balms/

13. I love whipped body butter. I just made some using mango butter, Shea butter, coconut oil, and almond oil.

    I have found that straight coconut oil can be drying. Do the dandelions help with this? Could mango or shea butter be added?

    1. Hi Loretta, Some people find straight coconut oil to be too drying for their skin type, while others have skin that loves it. If you find the plain version drying, then the dandelions aren’t likely to change that much. You could definitely use dandelion infused oil in a whipped body butter recipe though; I’ve done it many times and love it! :)

14. Pinning this! Looks lovely!

    1. Thank you Daja; I appreciate the pin!

15. Hi!

    This may be a silly question, but I have dandelion tea bags….do you think I could steep them and use instead?

    Thanks!

    1. Hi Tanya, That’s a great question. Dandelion tea is made from the roots (at least I think so – correct me if I’m wrong), whereas we are going for the benefits of the flower. Having said that though, it’s quite possible that the roots have enough similar properties to work in dandelion oil recipes. I’m just not sure, but you could do a test batch and see how you like it! The benefit of using tea bags is that you can just put them straight in the oil then pull them out when done infusing. No messy straining involved (which is always nice!)

16. I have never dried flowers beforeand was wondering do you use the ones that turn white to?

    1. Hi Deb! If some dandelions turn white while they’re drying inside, then I still use them. However, I don’t use the ones that are already white fluffy seed heads out in the field. I just leave them to reseed the area.

17. Two questions. Mayhaps i wish to try this with wild roses instead? Theyre abundant where i live. Would it work? Would it be the same process?

    And then, the dandelions are also insanely abundant here, but turn white quick. would i be able to collect and freeze them for future use? Or does thatjust not work as well. Thank you!!!

    1. Hi Nicole, You sure could use it with wild roses, same process. I made some with dried rose petals before; it’s very nice. It didn’t tint the oil pink like I was hoping for, but still – it works!

       You could try freezing dandelions for future use, but when they thaw out they’re a little icky. I find it better to freeze dandelions for water based things I want to make (jelly, soap infusion) where they can be used directly while frozen and use dried ones for oil based things. You can dry your dandelions for a few days, infuse them in your coconut oil, and the oil should keep for some time. I might would refrigerate it for longer term storage, but you don’t have to whip it right away. One thing you could try – that I haven’t done yet, but should work in theory – is dry the dandelions and THEN freeze them. Perhaps layered between paper towels? I’m just thinking out loud with that idea, but it’s worth a small experiment at least!

       1. Oh thank you so much!!! Ill definately try drying them out. And the freezing. I live in alaska and it gets humid in summer so just drying and storing doesnt always work, especially when you open the container over and over.

          And i will definately be trying this with the wild roses!!!! Theyre making my house smell lovely right now!!!!!

          1. So i need help??? Im following the instructions to the T, but everything keeps coming out smelling like fried food. (which is a wonderful smell :b, if i wasnt using it for moisturizer.).

             1. Hi Nicole, It sounds like your oil is getting much too hot. Try lowering the heat (or using a sunny windowsill makes for a nice, gentle infusion too!)

                1. Ok that makes sense. I have my burner down pretty low, but my stove is a bit messed up too, so that could be it. Thank so much for the help. Gonna keep trying this till i get it right!!!!

18. I love this recipe. it is so simple and I always have coconut oil and dandelions in my yard. One question, do you cover the saucepan when you heat up the oil with dandelions?
    Thanks!

    1. Hi Kim! I keep the pan uncovered. You don’t want any condensation getting into your oil, since water + oil is where the potential for early spoilage comes into play. I hope you enjoy the recipe! :)

19. I love all your recipes. I just have one question. Where can I get dried dandelion flowers. I don’t trust the area where I live because it used to be an old cotton field before they build homes on it. Thanks in advance for any help in finding a place to buy.

    1. Hi Olivia! I’ve yet to find a good place to buy dried dandelion flowers. I think it’s because they so easily go to seed when dried too long. I have had people write me that’ve purchased wild crafted ones though. You could ask around local health food stores or whole foods type places (the produce manager) and see if they can connect you with a local forager. I hope that helps!

       1. Thank you. That did help.

20. This is an awesome recipe. Made a trial batch for myself. But decided to make it as a gift for a bridal shower. I’m running out of dried dandelions. Can I reuse them after I strain them.

    1. Hi Christina, I never seem to have enough either! Fortunately, a few will pop up here and there until fall and I collect them a couple at a time over the summer to help stretch my supply. You could try reusing them once and see how you like the final product. I would think you could judge the strength somewhat on how yellow the second batch turns. The color should be carried along with the health benefits. (At least that’s my theory!)

21. Would it be possible or even advisable to mix different herbs to make an ointment for skin problems: ie: Calendula, Dandelion, Plantain maybe and perhaps a bit of Lavender for antiseptic qualities? Presumably this would be made the same way as the above ointment and salves.
    Struggling to get Calendula ointment in any local Oldham shops.
    Just getting over Seborrhoeic Dermatitis.
    Any advice much appreciated.
    Thank you
    Colin Sturch

    1. Hi Colin, Yes, absolutely! I’m currently using coconut oil infused with violet leaves & calendula and have another batch infused with goldenseal & plantain I use on a spot on my dog’s leg that she scuffed up. You can combine a variety of herbs as needed. A salve with calendula, dandelion, plantain & lavender sounds wonderful. Some people find coconut oil dries and irritates their skin after using for a while, so you might want to use a base of sunflower oil, if you can get that, instead. (I read a study before how it’s better on broken and damaged skin than olive oil. Olive still works too though.) My absolute favorite oil for skin conditions is tamanu oil, it’s wonderful stuff, only pricey and harder to get. Here’s some info on it: https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/products/tamanu-oil/profile If you could add that to your salve, you might find it helpful, but if not – I still like the combination you suggested. I hope you’re able to create something that works well for you!

22. Can you do this with dried lavender or dried chamomile flowers?

    1. Hi Liz, You sure can! It won’t turn a pretty color like the dandelion does, but you can use all sorts of herbs and flowers with this idea.

23. I am still in the process of collecting dandelions and letting them dry so that I can make this recipe. Right now there are not many dandelions so I’ve only collected about 10 so far. The way mine look as they dry are not like yours in the pictures… Mine closed up. I ended up peeling away all the green parts and notice there is HARDLY ANY yellow left. All the petals are so shrunk, you hardly see them. I would take a picture for you, but don’t see a way to attach a picture here. Did you just take a picture of yours when they looked nice and open for the sake of posting this recipe or is that how yours looked after drying for several days? I am wondering because I am thinking mine the way they are wont give a nice yellow color.

    Also, when making this, do you remove ALL of the greenery or only the stem part, but leave the tiny green pieces around the flower?

    Lastly, if I collect dandelions and press them in a flower press, would that work, too, since technically they are still dried that way? When I press dandelions, they turn out super flat, but are still full of color. I was thinking that pressing them would be an easier way to collect and save them till I have enough to make the recipe or a larger batch.

    Sorry for so many questions >.<

    1. Hi Christine, Questions are great – that’s how we learn! :) I think sometimes it depends on when you pick your flowers – if they’re about spent and not far from turning to seed, they’ll dry up a lot smaller and may even develop the white seed heads while drying. Early in the season too, the flowers are small, so dry up like you describe. When at their peak, a lot of the flowers are huge and gorgeous and they dry out pretty, like the photo. All of that is okay, the dandelion goodness is still in there, just in a harder to see form! You don’t have to peel the green off either, especially if you’re making salve. I like your idea of pressing the flowers though – I would definitely give that a try!

24. It is really hard to dry dandelion flowers, most of mine went pooffy too.

    1. Hi Linda, They can be finicky! Some batches seem to do better than others.

25. could you use a dehydrator to dry the flowers? or is air dry on the counter best?

    1. Hi Jennie, I haven’t tried that yet, but it seems to me it should work well. I’d try a small test batch out and see how it goes!

26. Can this dandelion infused oil can it be used as a carrier oil? Can it be used in bath bombs, bath melts?

    1. Hi Valerie, It sure can! I JUST made bath melts with some today, in fact. It has lots of uses I haven’t had time to cover here yet and probably plenty more to be thought of!

27. It’s too bad dandelions are used considering they are a great flower that helps bees

    1. Hi Jenn! As a natural beekeeper, I absolutely agree that dandelions are an important flower for bees. If you read the article, you’ll see I mention not picking any one area clean. In most places there’s more than enough flowers for the bees AND people to share, as long as they harvest mindfully. Plus, these types of crafts get the attention of people that normally don’t give second thoughts to dandelions and might otherwise spray them. Dandelion awareness is a good thing! If you don’t want to use dandelions though, you can use calendula instead. (Another flower that my bees love!)

28. Can I use dandelion tea instead of the dried flowers?

    1. Hi Nancy!
       Do you mean dried dandelion tea, like these?
       http://amzn.to/1qxQENA
       If so, you probably could, but you won’t get the same bright yellow shade.
       If you want to keep the pretty color, along with skin benefits, then you could try dried calendula flowers instead.
       Chamomile flowers usually tints oil a pale yellow, so you could also try testing out a dry chamomile tea, to see how it does.

29. Im getting ready make this when my flowers dry but curious if it has the nice dandelion smell??

    1. Hi Crystal! I find that it doesn’t have much of a smell – perhaps a little herby & plant-like, but not floral.

30. Our yard and field is full of dandelions (we live in the country and have acres!). My husband was getting ready to go out and spray weed killer on them and then run the lawn mower over them. I had heard of dandelions having a lot of benefits and shouldn’t treat them as a pesky weed. I came across your site by googling what to do with these flowers (I don’t think I’m ready to ingest them quite yet, but won’t mind trying the oils and creams). But I have a question. We have a really small farmhouse and I don’t have anywhere to really lay them out to let them dry. Instead of letting the flowers dry naturally over the course of several days, would it be ok to put them in a dehydrator? If so, have you ever tried that and how long would you recommend to dry them? Thanks.

    1. Hi Cindy! I’ve not dried them in a dehydrator, but I’ve heard of others who have done so successfully. I’m not sure of an exact time frame, but if you check them fairly frequently, you should be able to get them just right.
       How wonderful to have so many dandelions available to use! I hope you enjoy the projects!

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