While we’ve discussed the nutritional benefits of Olive Oil at length. We know it is high in antioxidants, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats and is one of the healthiest oils for cooking. Being part of the heart healthy Mediterranean diet, it is synonymous with good heart health the world over. There is however another facet to Olive Oil that we have not touched upon. This has to do with the value Olive Oil holds in the maintenance of one’s skin. So in this post let us take a look at the cosmetic benefits of Olive Oil.
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The potential benefits of Olive Oil’s high antioxidant content for your skin
Olive Oil in itself acts as an antioxidant, which means it helps combat oxidation. Oxidation is a process where free radicals, that are harmful chemicals, attack skin cells and can cause irreparable harm to otherwise healthy skin. When olive oil is applied to the skin, it helps prevent skin wrinkling and ageing. There is also evidence to prove that olive oil acts as an excellent skin salve after UV exposure from the sun.
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A treasure trove of nutrition
Olive Oil is an important source of fat soluble vitamins like A, D, E and K. These vitamins have been known to be beneficial to the skin. For instance Vitamin E has historically been used in the treatment of eczema and psoriasis across the world. By disrupting the breakdown of collagen, which maintains skin elasticity, Vitamin A prevents sun damage. Calcitriol, a form of Vitamin D, acts as a skin repair agent. For treating specific skin conditions like spider veins and stretch marks, Vitamin K is highly effective.
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Antibacterial properties and skin benefits
Olive Oil is a known antibacterial agent. Over the years it has been used to treat certain skin issues such as diabetic foot ulcers caused by bacterial strains. Staphylococcus aureus bacteria which can cause all sorts of skin breakouts including acne, boils and furuncles has shown a particular aversion to olive oil, and the latter is thus used in the treatment of some cases.
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An excellent moisturizer
Oleic acid, one of the main chemical components of olive oil, is an excellent moisturizing agent. Oleic acid penetrates deep into the skin, restoring and maintaining the body’s natural moisture content. It also acts as an anti-aging agent by opening the pores, allowing the skin to breathe freely.
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Using olive oil as moisturizer and after sun treatment
Olive Oil applied directly onto one’s skin, after blotting out the excess oil is one way of using it as a moisturizer. However a more effective way of using olive oil as a moisturizer is to massage it into damp skin to avoid the heavy, greasy feel. Apply olive oil directly to your skin after sun exposure for effective after-sun treatment. What this does is that it reverses any contact the skin has had with the sun’s harmful rays.
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Using olive oil in makeup removal
Olive Oil has the ability to break down any waterproof cosmetic, like transfer resistant lipstick, waterproof mascara etc. and is therefore an effective makeup remover.
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Using olive oil as an exfoliating agent
A wonderful way to use olive oil is to mix it with sea salt and use it as an exfoliant. This mixture gently scrubs the dead skin layers off and brings healthy, new skin cells to the surface, thus improving the quality of skin health.
We hope this article was informative and useful to you. We have some of the world’s best olive oils sourced from the two leading olive oil producing states in the world, Italy and Spain. Do check out our shop section for more information.