Olive oil is great as a dressing or finishing touch on our food, but it’s also beneficial when applied directly to your skin. A high-quality olive oil is both a superfood and great skin treatment.
The Benefits of Olive Oil on Skin
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Antibacterial
Olive oil is naturally antibacterial, so applying a little directly to the skin may help reduce acne. The oil is also a good defense against any illnesses floating around the office or pollution the air. When applying to your face, keep the amount minimal and blot off any extra oil so it doesn’t pool on your chin or cheeks.
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A Dose of Vitamins
A tablespoon of olive oil contains almost 2 milligrams of vitamin E, which helps minimize damage to your skin cells from age or exposure to sunlight. It also contains vitamins A, D, and K, three key ingredients to great skin. Vitamin A keeps your skin firm while vitamin D helps regenerate cells and vitamin K helps improve circulation and helps skin heal from wind burn, sunburns or inflammation
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Moisture
Like many high-priced beauty products, olive oil is a wonderful moisturizer. It creates a barrier on the surface of the skin to hold moisture in and help smooth and plump skin. Massage it into your skin after showering or before bed, blotting off any excess oil to avoid staining your clothing.*
Incorporating olive oil into your daily regimen is easy. Here are a few simple, DIY beauty products you can make in a few minutes.
- Exfoliate
Olive oil can slough off dead skin with the help of some sea salt. Combine one cup of sea salt with ¼ cup of olive oil and combine them in a jar or bowl. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes to let the salt soak up the oil. Feel free to add a few drops of lavender or rosemary essential oil or use it unscented. Massage onto legs, feet, arms, and hands and the nape of the neck and shoulders for a deep, relaxing rub.
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Moisturize
A luxurious skin jelly to penetrate pores and rejuvenate skin cells is easy to make at home. This recipe calls for beeswax pellets, (easier to melt down), or grated beeswax and coconut and olive oil. It calls for an optional Vitamin E oil if you want to give your skin an additional boost.
Melt all the ingredients together at a low temperature and store in an airtight jar. Use it before applying makeup or before going to sleep at night.
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Pucker Up
Turn chapped, dry lips into a soft and sweet pair with this easy mix. Combine a tablespoon of brown sugar with one tablespoon honey and one tablespoon olive oil. Mix them thoroughly, then apply to your lips and let it sit for about two minutes. Gently rinse with water to remove. Your lips will be lush once again.
*Note – It is recommended that anyone with dermatitis, a family history of eczema or excessively oily skin should not use olive oil as a moisturizer.