Despite its alarming pore-clogging potential, olive oil has several advantages:
It’s naturally high in squalene, an oil that resembles your skin’s natural sebum, so it’ll leave your skin barrier exceptionally smooth and silky, and it’s also high in antioxidants, which work hard to protect your skin from environmental harm.
On the other hand, it’s still olive oil, my friends. Sure, it’ll retain moisture for more hydration, as many face oils do, but there are plenty of other products on the market that are more effective at hydrating—and designed to be applied to your skin.
What type of olive oil should you use on your skin?
If you’re going to use olive oil on your skin, be sure it’s cold-pressed, unrefined, and extra virgin (aka EVOO).
Using one cold-pressed guarantee that you receive most of the healthy things (such as the antioxidants above) and none of the additional preservatives.
Do you want the best of the best?
Look for the International Olive Council’s certification mark.
NAOOA (North American Olive Oil Association) Quality Seal; Origin/Specialty Seals: PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) in Spain and Greece, DOP (Denominazione di Origine Protetta) in Italy, PGI (Protected Geographical Indication); USDA Organic; and COOC are all seals that will help you sort through the riffraff of inferior OO’s (California Olive Oil Council).
What Exactly Is Olive Oil?
Olive oil is a nutrient-dense oil obtained by crushing olives and then extracting their oil. It contains antioxidants and healthful monounsaturated fats, which may help the skin when applied straight to it.
Olives, like peaches and plums, are classified as soft fruits. As a result, they bruise readily, lowering the quality of the oil. To ensure a high-quality product, look for olive oils that say “hand-picked olives” on the label.
After picking the olives, they are placed in a stainless steel roller that grinds them into a paste. In a procedure known as malaxation, this paste is gently combined with water. This aids in the extraction of the oil molecules. The olive paste is centrifuged to separate the solid components from the water and oil.
Because olive oil aids in retaining moisture, it may be applied to the skin for further moisturization and dry skin treatment. Several cosmetic products, such as soaps and lotions, have incorporated olive oil into their compositions for skin advantages.
Olive Oil Skin Advantages
Olive oil is high in beneficial vitamins, lipids, and antioxidants, all of which can help younger-looking skin. It hydrates the skin by retaining moisture, and its antioxidants can aid in reducing the appearance of aging.
Currently, we are aware of the following olive oil skin benefits:
1. It eliminates traces of makeup and sunscreen.
Remember that, in addition to everyday sun protection, cleaning your skin should be one of the crucial elements in your skin care regimen. These two actions should suffice if we were to restrict our routine to a bare minimum.
As a result, when cleaning our faces, we should avoid harsh surfactants that end up worsening the dryness and sensitivity of our skin in the long run, instead opting for more effective chemicals.
You may indeed use washing soaps or gels that include moisturizing ingredients.
However, the most efficient technique to remove traces of sunscreen and makeup (for those who wear it) is to use balms or oils that will emulsify these materials left on the skin and thoroughly remove them. That’s where olive oil (particularly extra virgin olive oil) comes in.
Olive oil is completely safe to use on reusable pads or straight on your skin. When you massage it into your skin in gentle circular motions, you will see that it emulsifies with the makeup and sunscreen traces left on your face, breaking them down.
To fully remove all of this from the skin, use a warm-water-dampened washcloth. After you’ve removed it, use a non-stripping second cleanser to ensure your face is fully bare and ready to apply the following stages in your skincare routine, which can also include olive oil.
2. It moisturizes and protects even the most delicate skin.
Extra virgin olive oil has excellent moisturizing and nourishing characteristics that help to moisturize the skin on both the face and the body.
Its high vitamin A and E concentration and D and K concentration make it a great product for protecting (particularly during colder seasons) and nourishing even the most sensitive skins.
Extra virgin olive oil can be used as a night moisturizer after using other treatments or water-based serums in your routine. Apply three drops of oil to your hand, warm it, and gently massage it on your face as the final moisturizing step.
Another method to use it is to combine it with your current night cream. Be advised that you should avoid using it if you have extremely oily skin.
3. It aids in the restoration of damaged skin tissues.
Our skin is our greatest organ, protecting us from external influences and UV harm. As a result, you must take careful care of it and always safeguard it.
Extra virgin olive oil can also help restore damaged skin tissues thanks to the same therapeutic characteristics we stated previously.
On the one hand, because of its vitamins’ regeneration and therapeutic characteristics, a few drops of this product are great for treating regions with dry and cracked skin, such as elbows and knees, or even on superficial wounds.
Furthermore, its healing capabilities and capacity to regulate the emergence of specific germs on the face make it a valuable ally in the fight against acne.
The vitamin D in this oil might aid you if you have other skin diseases like rosacea or psoriasis since it reduces inflammation.
4. It revitalizes and enhances the tonicity of the skin.
Extra virgin olive oil, with its high concentration of vitamins and minerals and natural fatty acids, may also help you refresh your face, giving it smoothness, shine, and tonicity.
On the one hand, the vitamins in this product, particularly vitamins A and E, enhance the skin’s firmness, even encouraging collagen formation. On the other hand, its high oleic acid content promotes skin cell renewal, giving it suppleness and a natural shine.
5. It is an antioxidant ally in the fight against aging.
We age as we age, and while this is a natural process, there are extrinsic influences such as damaging sun rays, pollution, stress, and other bad behaviors that may hasten the process.
Again, because of its high polyphenol content, extra virgin olive oil contains antioxidant and antiaging qualities that aid in the fight against free radical production, which is directly responsible for cell aging.
For the same reason, this oil is an excellent ally against the detrimental effects of the sun, aiding in the lightening of spots and the slowing of the emergence of fine lines and wrinkles (particularly those around the eyes), which give the face a more aged aspect.
Olive Oil Side Effects
While olive oil has several health benefits, it is not suitable for everyone. Excess oil on your skin can block pores and cause acne outbreaks. It may also cause skin irritation.
According to 2012 research, olive oil topically can disrupt the skin’s barrier, resulting in sensitive skin and atopic dermatitis. If you have sensitive skin, use olive oil with caution. It should also never be used on neonatal skin.
Who should not use olive oil on their skin?
Acne-prone individuals should avoid using olive oil on their skin. It’s comedogenic, which can clog your pores and cause acne.
Is olive oil beneficial to acne?
The fundamental dispute is whether olive oil clogs pores or causes acne. And, well, I understand—I don’t want to burst out either. If you’re determined to use olive oil on your skin, keep in mind that it is mildly comedogenic (i.e., it has the potential to clog pores). Because olive oil is naturally heavy oil, it serves as a breeding ground for bacteria that can block pores and cause acne.
Of course, everyone’s skin is different, and although some acne-prone people may have no trouble slathering on olive oil every night, others may find it causes breakouts.
It’s also worth noting that when olive oil is used with other skincare components, its pore-clogging properties might vary or even disappear. So don’t dismiss your new face cream because it contains a trace of olive oil.
How to Apply Olive Oil to Your Skin
If you decide to use olive oil in your beauty routine, ensure it is 100 percent pure and contains no additional additives. Also, when it comes to olive oil, less is more—you don’t need much!
- Use your regular moisturizer.
- Use your fingertips or a cotton ball to apply a little olive oil.
- Massage onto your skin gently.
- Remove any excess oil from your skin using a cloth or cotton ball.
Other Uses for Olive Oil
Perhaps olive oil will not become your new moisturizer of choice, but it may be possible to incorporate it into another area of your skincare regimen! From your hair to your nails, there’s certain to be an olive oil application that you may make use of.
Remover of Makeup
Even the most difficult waterproof eye makeup may be removed with olive oil! Gently remove your makeup with a cotton ball after applying a tiny quantity to the cotton ball. Wash your face as usual after removing your makeup! Also, avoid getting any in your eyes.
Exfoliator
A modest amount of olive oil combined with sugar may be used to produce a fantastic all-natural scrub that exfoliates and hydrates. Remain gently massage dead skin cells on your face or body to eliminate them. Just be sure to rinse fully!
Treatment for Hair
Oils, including olive oil, have been used for millennia to restore gloss and hydration to dry hair. Massage the oil into your hair, paying specific attention to particularly dry areas.
While you’re at it, give yourself a scalp massage! Leave for 30 minutes (or while sleeping), then wash as usual. If you have fine hair, you may need to shampoo twice to eliminate all the oil.
Treatment of the Cuticles
If you’re getting a manicure and your cuticles need some TLC, apply olive oil to them! It will maintain your nail region soft and healthy.
Shave cream
Olive oil may be used as a shaving cream. Both men and women can use olive oil to shave instead of foam or gel shaving cream. With this natural lubricant, you can avoid razor burn and pimples.
Cleaning with oil
Oil cleaning is an excellent technique to remove makeup, grime, sunscreen, and pollutants from your skin without removing its natural oils. However, cleaning oils are exorbitantly priced! Try olive oil to reap the advantages of oil washing at a fraction cost.
Oil-based cosmetics and sebum will dissolve in olive oil. As a result, olive oil may be used to wash the skin.
Place a hot, moist towel on your face for 20 seconds to open your pores before oil cleansing with olive oil. After that, rub olive oil into your skin for 30 seconds. Wipe away the oil with a hot towel.
Also, remember that depleting your skin of its natural oils might aggravate acne. People with oily or acne-prone skin tend to over-cleanse and dry up, causing the skin to overcompensate for dryness by creating more oil.
Your acne might be caused by an allergic reaction to a fragrance or another chemical in your skin care products. Olive oil is preferable to perfumed skin oils.
Babies’ moisturizer
You can apply olive oil to your baby’s skin. Olive oil may be used as a massage oil and can assist with dry skin, eczema, and cradle cap. You don’t have to worry about your kid consuming olive oil because they continually put their hands in their mouths. It’s beneficial to them!
Olive oil may also be used to clean the bottoms of newborns. If your infant is prone to diaper rash, consider using a washcloth and a combination of olive oil and water instead of diaper wipes. For a diaper rash ointment, try this recipe for olive oil balm.
Hand moisturizer
When cooking, rub a few drops of olive oil into your hands. You don’t have to worry about putting bad-tasting lotion in your food, and you don’t have to keep a bottle of moisturizer in your kitchen.
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