The Benefits of Olive Oil For Your Skin — Plus How to Use It

When you first think of olive oil, perhaps cooking comes to mind. However, it isn’t just good for our health but also for our skin and hair. Olive oil contains vitamins and antioxidants that prevent premature aging and sun damage, plus it helps to moisturize your skin on your face and body.

This popular cooking oil has also been used for thousands of years, so if it’s good enough for Cleopatra’s beauty routine, then you know it must do some good! Here we break down the benefits of olive oil, what skin types it should be used on, and how to apply it.

The Benefits of Olive Oil for Your Skin

Olive oil’s antioxidant properties work to defend your skin cells against any external damage or inflammation. This in turn works against premature aging or redness.

It’s a great way to keep your skin healthy and moisturized as it reduces water loss. The oil increases the water content within your skin which gives it a radiant appearance.

A study published in the Journal of Food Protection showed that olive oil has beneficial antibacterial properties. However, there are not many studies that prove the oil’s ability to regulate bacteria on your skin. Nevertheless, it may sometimes be used to treat bacterial infections on other parts of the body such as healing foot ulcers.

As olives are rich in vitamins D, A, K, and E the oil can help in decreasing oxidative stress on the skin which can lead to aging skin. Throughout history oils rich in vitamin E are used to treat skin conditions such psoriasis and eczema.

What is the best olive oil for skin?

Organic extra virgin olive oil will be the best as it is made in a way that enables the oil to retain more of the olives’ minerals and vitamins.

Is olive oil good for dry skin?

Olive oil is generally beneficial to all skin-types. However, if you have sensitive or acne-prone skin it is not recommended to use it. “While olive oil generally has high safety and low comedogenic ratings, for people with very sensitive, dry, or eczema-prone skin, it can incur further damage to the skin barrier,” says Ming Zhao, CEO of PROVEN Skincare, a company that creates tailor-made beauty products.

How to Use It

You can use it as a make-up remover as it can break down water-resistant substances such as eyeliner or mascara. The oil will break it down and help it to wipe away more easily. To use the oil, add a few small drops to a cotton pad and gently wipe the area.

It may also reduce aging skin and wrinkles as it has a high antioxidant content. To use as a wrinkle treatment, dab the oil around your eyes at night. It locks in and conditions eyelashes just like it would nourish your hair. Use a small drop and massage lightly onto your eyelashes before washing off.

Olive oil treatments don’t need to be limited to the face but can be used on the whole body too! Use the oil to massage yourself or someone else. It can help calm down any inflammation on the body.

You can use it on your dry lips by creating a mixture of 1 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil with 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 teaspoon honey in a small bowl. Massage this onto your lips then wash away with warm water.

Olive oil can work as a scar oil treatment as the vitamins and antioxidants may help the scar fade and the skin cells regenerate. To use the oil as a treatment massage a small amount of oil onto the scarred area. You can also add a bit of lemon into the mixture to lighten the darkened scar area. You can also use it as a treatment for stretch marks.

If using as a moisturizer it is recommended to use organic extra-virgin oil. If using regular cooking olive oil, it will not have the same benefits as it does not have all the E and V vitamins that will benefit your skin. You only need a couple of drops otherwise your pores may end up getting too clogged and cause acne breakouts.

Many face masks use olive oil as a substance to hydrate your skin. If you have dry skin, you will see benefits from using an olive-oil based face mask.

You can use it on cracked heels, or on your feet when they need a little love and care. You can use it to exfoliate your feet with a pumice stone and a little drop of oil. Do this before you go to sleep, and you’ll wake up to softer feet.

Our End Verdict

While olive oil is a natural substance to use on your skin, we believe the quality of the oil really matters. If you decide to use it on your skin or hair make sure to be using organic extra-virgin olive oil as that contains all the good vitamins and antioxidants.

For sensitive or acne-prone skin, we would recommend not using it on your face as it could irritate your skin, clog your pores, or cause acne breakouts or current acne to worsen.

Of course, there are many benefits of using olive oil, but it is not just limited to your face. We give this natural treatment a thumbs up as you can use it on your hair even on your body!

This article originally appeared on our sister site, Woman’s World.