This Coconut Oil Trick Might Solve Winter Skin Woes for Good

When temperatures drop, snow isn’t the only thing that flakes. Ashy skin, a windburned face, painfully cracked palms—it’s not pretty.

And when it’s cooler out, your trusty jar of coconut oil sets up into solid form, leaving it not-so-easy to slather on. But we discovered a brand new way to use solid coconut oil—and it just might solve winter skin woes forever.

The secret: Whip out that jar and whip it. Seriously. This simple practice will keep the oil from hardening—and transform it into the perfect, super hydrating moisturizer to use all season long.

In fact, coconut oil has to be solid first in order to properly achieve a whipped texture, so when your jar sets up, you’re already halfway there. Scoop some solid pieces into a mixing bowl and whip with a hand or stand mixer—fluffy, luxurious coconut body butter will be yours in 5 to 10 minutes flat. (Don’t attempt to use a blender or food processor; the high speed will essentially melt the coconut oil rather than whip it.)

Are you freaking out yet? Get ready to lose your mind—we put together four easy DIYs that make the most of whipped coconut oil to take parched skin from dull to dreamy.

Whipped winter scrub

Peppermint gives this easy three-ingredient scrub a wintry scent, but you’ll want it in your regimen all year long. Use it in the shower to slough off dead skin and get glowing.

½ cup coconut oil, solid
1 cup sugar
10 drops peppermint oil

Whip coconut oil with a hand or stand mixer for 5 to 10 minutes. In the last minute or so, add sugar and peppermint oil.

Tip: To make this minty scrub even more seasonable (and giftable!), add one drop green food coloring.

Whipped body butter

A bit of vitamin E oil gives an antioxidant boost to this simple body butter, while peppermint oil lends a subtle candy-cane scent without the sweetness.

1 cup coconut oil, solid
1 teaspoon vitamin E oil
5 drops peppermint oil

Whip coconut oil with a hand or stand mixer for 5 to 10 minutes. In the last minute or so, add peppermint oil.

Whipped cocoa body butter

Cocoa butter takes center stage here, adding extra hydration and scar-fading properties. Sweet almond oil and citrusy orange oil add a yummy scent and round out the concoction with even more moisture.

1 cup cocoa butter
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup sweet almond oil
10 drops orange oil

Heat cocoa butter and coconut oil together over a double boiler, just enough to melt, mixing them together. Put in the refrigerator for a few minutes to re-solidify. Once solid, whip the mixture with a hand or stand mixture, adding in the almond oil while continuously whipping for 5 to 10 minutes. In the last minute or so, add orange oil.

Whipped coconut oil mask

Don’t forget the face—it’s gonna be all over those holiday photos. Set aside some of the whipped coconut oil from any of the recipes above and give yourself a moisturizing, decadent winter facial. The raw honey is antimicrobial, helping to detox the skin, while the whipped coconut oil deeply hydrates. Orange and clove oils are the icing on the cake—the scent will have you reminiscing of holiday clove oranges as you relax and rehydrate.

1 tablespoon whipped coconut oil
2 teaspoons raw honey
1 drop orange oil
1 drop clove oil

Mix all ingredients, apply directly to face, and leave on for 10 minutes while you catch a few scenes from Elf. Rinse off, apply moisturizer, and face the winter cold with the best skin ever.

Photo credit: Alicia Cho