Is Olive Oil Good for Your Skin?

One of the latest trends in skincare is putting various types of oils on your face, and that includes olive oil. Understandably, you may be wondering how and why an oil that you use to fry up vegetables is beneficial for your skin. Below, we explain whether or not olive oil is good for your skin and offer some suggestions for incorporating it into your beauty routine.

Benefits of Olive Oil for the Skin

Olive oil is not just good to put into your body. It is also great for putting on your body. Here are some benefits of olive oil for the skin:

It contains many vitamins: Olive oil contains vitamins A, D and K, as well as vitamin E, all of which have different benefits for your skin.

It prevents water loss:When your skin does not have enough water, it becomes dry and dehydrated, resulting in skin that is dull, flaky and slower to heal. Oils create a barrier on top of your skin that seals in the water, keeping the moisture from being drawn out into the air.

It protects against environmental damage: Extra virgin olive oil contains high levels of antioxidants, which protect skin against pollutants and environmental damage. This can help fend off premature aging, redness and irritation.

It removes makeup: The same properties that keep makeup in place for flawless coverage make it difficult to remove. Oil-based cleansers are your best bet for removing stubborn mascara, eye makeup and more. The oil breaks up the pigments and separates them from your skin while moisturizing your face.

To get the maximum benefits, use California extra virgin olive oil, which has not been altered by heat, chemicals or other sources. Extra virgin olive oil has the highest levels of antioxidants, vitamins, polyphenols and other beneficial compounds.

Side Effects of Using Olive Oil for the Skin

There are some potential side effects to keep in mind when using olive oil on your face and body. The fatty acids present in olive oil are the perfect fuel for acne-causing bacteria. If you have acne-prone skin, you might not want to use olive oil on areas that tend to break out. Olive oil may also aggravate certain skin conditions, such as eczema, so only use it on healthy, unbroken skin. Also, keep in mind that if you already have oily skin, then putting on any oil — including olive oil — may contribute to greasiness. On the flip side, olive oil can be very soothing to dry skin.

How to Use Olive Oil for Your Face and Body

If you are wondering how to incorporate good olive oil into your beauty routine, here are some ideas to get you started:

Makeup remover: Take a teaspoon or so of the oil and massage it gently all over your face, being careful not to tug or press on the skin too hard. Rub it all over until the pigments are completely broken up and then wash it off with water. Follow up with your regular cleanser to remove any last traces of oil.

Lip scrub: Mix together a 1:1 ratio of olive oil and sugar and then gently rub it all over your lips. Rinse off the sugar crystal and enjoy your newly exfoliated, moisturized lips.

Moisturizer: Try mixing two to three drops of olive oil into your facial lotion and then apply it as the last step of your skincare routine (you can also do this for body lotion as well). You can also pat a thin layer of oil over your face after applying moisturizer. If the oil makes your face shiny, do this at night when there is no one around to see you.

Face mask: For a really intense moisturizing treatment, slather your face in olive oil and leave it on for a few minutes until your face has absorbed most of it and then wash or wipe off the excess. If you want, you can add a few drops of another oil to add some scent or get more benefits.

Hair mask: You can also use olive oil for your hair. Coat the strands liberally with oil and then put it up into a shower cap and leave it for 15 minutes. If you have an oily scalp, then only put on the ends. Conversely, if you have a dry scalp, you can rub the oil into it as well. After the 15 minutes are up, hop in the shower and commence the rest of your hair care routine.

Ready to try olive oil in your skin and hair care? Check out our popular olive oil set!