Is there anything that coconut oil can't do? Well, it may not rocket you to the moon, or give you the ability to travel through time… but the list is pretty short. It is becoming increasingly well known that raw organic, extra-virgin coconut oil is one of the healthiest foods you can add to your diet. There is no reason to fear the fact that it's composed of mainly saturated fats—these are healthy fats that support the function of all of your body's systems.

The benefits of coconut oil are so multifaceted that some of them continue to surprise us. In particular, coconut oil is just darn good for your skin. Cultures that have been using it for thousands of years can testify to this. Their skin is beautiful, wrinkle-free and so healthy. Many will tell you it's because they use coconut oil on their skin every day.

Here are just four reasons why we love coconut oil for our skin:

Keep your skin protected and hydrated—no matter what the season

You may have heard that coconut oil is the perfect light moisturizer, but did you know that it can be used throughout the seasons? In the summer, it's great because it's light and non-greasy, and blocks about 20 percent of the sun's harmful rays.

In winter, applying a layer to your face and lips before you go outside can protect you from nasty windburn… and also soothe those dry spots when you get home.

Soothe minor wounds and irritations

Coconut oil has been found to have antiseptic, antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. Applying a thin layer to canker sores, acne, insect bites, minor burns, and other small wounds and skin irritations may help to heal them up faster, naturally.

Fight skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis and acne

Coconut oil is natural, and that means that not many people want to conduct extensive research into its benefits. However, a study conducted in 2008 at the Skin and Cancer Foundation in the Philippines, compared virgin coconut oil and virgin olive oil in moisturizing dryness and removing bacteria from colonized atopic dermatitis skin. The study, a double-blind controlled trial, found that coconut oil was more effective than olive oil in killing bacteria, mostly because of its lauric acid content.

A 2009 study at the Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, looked at the antimicrobial properties of lauric acid and its potential to heal acne. The results were favorable for using lauric acid in place of antibiotics for the treatment of acne.

Reduce wrinkles

Not only is coconut oil an amazing moisturizer, but it can also help keep free radicals at bay—you know, those nasty things that promote wrinkles. Coconut oil could just be the perfect anti-aging serum you have been searching for. The anti-inflammatory properties help reduce puffiness while the antioxidants help you maintain that youthful glow you have always wanted. For best results, rub a little bit of coconut oil into the skin day and night.