Benefits of Dandelion Oil Lotion Bars for Skin
I suspect that if you are here reading this post, that you already realize the value of dandelion. And you know that it is so much more than the nasty weed which it’s been labeled.
But did you know that:
- dandelion oil can relieve sunburns
- the oil can reduce skin inflammation
- dandelion infused oil can treat and prevent dry skin
- dandelion oil can relieve minor pain and can help ease the pain of sore muscles because it is rich in muscle relaxing magnesium
One easy way to get some of those benefits for your skin is to infuse the dandelion flowers into oil. And then use that oil to make dandelion oil lotion bars.
Be Sure You’ve Properly Identified Dandelion
Dandelion, or Taraxacum officinale, is a perennial plant. The above ground growth dies back in the fall, but the root system stays very much alive. It continues to grow for many seasons.
The Dandelion Flower
What appears as one flower is really a composite of hundreds of tiny individual florets. Each one of these individual flowers looks like a petal. The yellow flower heads are generally about an inch in diameter. If you are observant, you’ll notice that they close at night.
The stem, actually a flowering stalk called a scape, has no leaves and is hollow. Each of the individual flowers form a seed and combined they make up the puffy white seed head that children are so fond of blowing.
Dandelion Leaves
The leaves of the dandelion plant form a basal rosette – they all come up from the ground at a central point. The base of the leaves is often tinged red and generally grow about 6 – 8” long. The margin, or edges of the leaves, have a jagged edge with pointy lobes and smaller teeth.
The Root
Dandelion has a deep taproot which exudes a white, milky substance called latex.
Be sure to know how the dandelions you are harvesting were grown. I think it would be safe to say that no flower has been sprayed with more toxic chemicals than dandelion.
How to Make Dandelion Infused Oil
By steeping dried dandelion flowers in oil, many of its chemical properties can be extracted and preserved for future use in dandelion oil lotion bars, healing salves, balms, and even herbal soaps.
Time and warmth are needed to allow the volatile oils in the dandelion flowers to become infused in the oil.
Fresh flowers contain water which can potentially cause mold so drying the dandelion before infusing is a must.
Harvest your whole flowers including the sepal, which are the green petals below the flower, and dehydrate in a dehydrator for a few hours, or lay them to dry on a dish towel in a single layer for several days.
Olive oil is a good choice for making infusions since it itself is nourishing and does not easily go rancid. You may also use sweet almond oil, or avocado oil.
To make dandelion infused oil, loosely fill a 1 cup canning jar about 3/4 full with dried dandelion flowers. Fill the jar with olive oil, or the oil of your choice. Place a lid on the jar and allow to infuse for 6 weeks in a dark area.
After infusing, remove the flowers by straining and compost them. Reserve the oil to make homemade Dandelion Oil Lotion Bars for Dry Skin and Sore Muscles.
If you need some quick methods of making your infusions, see my post Five Ways to Make an Herb Infused Oil.
More Than Weeds
A Foraging eCourse for Beginners
Are you interested in foraging, but a bit hesitant because you don’t trust your own abilities? I created a mini eCourse just for you. In More Than Weeds: 5 Common Plants to Forage for Food and Medicine you’ll learn that identifying plants is all in the details.
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Ingredients
- 1/2 cup beeswax pellets, or grated
- 3 tablespoons cocoa butter
- 3 tablespoons mango butter
- 6 tablespoons dandelion infused oil
- 40 drops essential oil of choice optional
Instructions
- Following directions in post, make dandelion infused oil.
- Place several inches of water in the bottom of a double boiler.
- Combine beeswax, cocoa butter, mango butter, and dandelion oil in the top of a double boiler.
- Heat gently on stovetop, stirring occasionally, until all ingredients are melted.
- Remove from heat and add essential oil if using.
- Pour into lotion bar molds.
- Allow to cool completely before removing from the mold.
- Store in tins, or other container.
- To use, simply rub the lotion bars between your hands. The warmth of your hands will melt the bars.
Notes
Thank you for visiting Learning And Yearning. May "the LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." Num 6:24-26
Anu says
Definitely going to try this recipe.It is dandelion season now in Finland.
Susan Vinskofski says
Wonderful!
Sandi says
Looking forward to making this. Thank you.
Susan Vinskofski says
You’re so welcome!
Karen says
Thank you so much!! I love your website!!
Paula Goodwin says
Thanks to the Garden Bundle, I have found you! I love the contents of your site and look forward to diving deeper. Have you tried making the dandelion bar with fewer ingredients?
Susan Vinskofski says
Thanks for the sweet compliment! I haven’t tried, but you could certainly just use the dandelion oil and beeswax. You would have to play around a bit to get the right proportions, though. Enjoy!
BJ says
I have tried to dry fresh picked dandelion flowers but they always shrivel and close up and/or quickly go to the puffball stage, usually within a day or two. Can I use the flowers after they closed up while drying? Any suggestions on how to prevent this? You have a great website and fun easy recipes. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and skills with us.
Susan Vinskofski says
Hi BJ, why don’t you try cutting the flowers in half before drying, and also set your temperature to a lower temperature. That should help.
Stover says
I use dandelion oil in my baby wipes, scar cream, and… everything! It’s so nourishing. These bars come out so silky because of it!
Roxsan says
Can you use coconut oil? Just keep at a warmer temp area to stay liquid until finished with infusing?
Susan Vinskofski says
Yes, liquid coconut oil may be used. The final product may be a little harder than if you were using olive or almond oil. You could experiment with using slightly less beeswax to compensate.
Colleen Gray says
Hi! I love the idea of using dandelions in soaps and lotions. I don’t have mango or cocoa butter. Can I use just shea butter for all the other two butters?
Thanks!