If you ever thought olive oil is just for consumption in your salad or drizzled-over pasta, you couldn't be more wrong. Olive oil is an edible oil that has been a part of the traditional Mediterranean diet for a very very long time. But since ancient times, it is also well-known for its medicinal and beauty-enhancing properties. Olive oil can help you achieve smoother, younger and healthier skin. So, let us learn the best olive oil for skin uses which can help you gain that radiant glow right at your home.
Olive Oil Benefits for Your Skin
Moisturises skin and prevents water loss
Olive oil greatly helps to plump out your skin by preventing water loss from its surface and sealing the moisture in. This way your skin stays hydrated for a long time.
Shields your skin from environmental damage
Olive oil is packed with numerous antioxidants which protect the skin cells from environmental stress and damage. They prevent inflammation and reduce redness, irritation and signs of ageing such as fine lines and spots.
Prevents premature ageing
Since olive oil is rich in nutrients like vitamins A, D, E and K, and squalene, it not just nourishes the skin but also moisturises it to prevent premature ageing whose first sign is usually dryness. Moreover, since it has antioxidants it also fights against free radicals, thereby reducing oxidative stress that if left unchecked, accelerates the skin’s ageing process.
Deeply cleanses skin
Olive oil is a wonderful cleanser that can actively dissolve dirt and break down waxy and waterproof makeup like mascara or eyeliner. Not only does it beautifully dissolves and makes it easier to wash off or clean it but also moisturises and nourishes the skin at the same time. It hydrates the delicate undereye area and conditions the eyelashes the same way it conditions the hair. You can gently massage the oil into your skin to melt down the makeup and then follow this up with a foaming cleanser or micellar water to remove it completely.
Heals wounds and repairs skin
Owing to the anti-inflammatory properties of olive oil, it can greatly aid in the healing of skin. A substance called ‘triterpenes’ found in most plant oils is prominently present in olive oil and aids in multiple biological reactions which are required for healing wounds and repairing damaged skin. This includes cell migration, cell proliferation and most notably, collagen deposition which also helps to keep your skin young and supple.
How to Choose the Best Olive Oil for Skin
Although EVOO is the best olive oil that you must put on your skin, pomace olive oil is quite good for the purpose too. If you already have it in your pantry to cook food for your family then you can very well use it to make different skin care potions at home. Or you can also use it as is for various skin care purposes such as to lift makeup and impurities from your face and massage it into your skin. You can also make use of different olive oil products in India made specifically for your skin or skip the unnecessary expense entirely and use the same extra virgin, virgin or pomace oil available in your kitchen in your daily skincare regime. Many people are afraid of using pomace olive oil on their skin and prefer only virgin oils for their face and body. But it is entirely safe to use the former as the logic dictates, ‘if it is safe enough to put it in your body, it is safe enough to put it on your face’. The only thing you need to take care of is to pick superior quality products. Choose a reputed brand such as Leonardo Olive Oil to ensure good quality as you do not want to put anything mediocre or harmful in your food or on your skin either.
You can also use olive oil for your hair. While there are some great olive hair oils available in the market, you can also use extra virgin olive oil and pomace oil for your hair. They work as well as the former and sometimes even better as the latter are free from any additives or fillers. You can simply warm up a little olive oil of your choice and use it to massage your scalp and apply it all over your tresses and then wash it off after half an hour. This time is enough to moisturise and nourish your hair from within.
How to Use Olive Oil for Skin
You can find a variety of skincare olive oil products in India such as face wash, moisturiser, cleansing oil or balm, massage oil, night creams, undereye creams and so on. You can pick any of them from a trusted brand to satisfy your specific needs in your skincare or to address a skin-related issue.
But alternatively, you can also choose to use olive oil already available at your home and make your simple skin care home remedies. The best way to use olive oil for the skin is as a moisturiser/ massage oil. Since olive oil is an emollient and has occlusive properties, it works best when your skin is hydrated enough and the moisture is sealed into your skin. So, the ideal way to use it is as the last step of your skincare routine but if you are using it in the daytime, it should be used just before you apply sunscreen. You can use it after a water-based moisturiser or even mix a few drops of olive oil for an ultra-hydrating effect. Also, remember that as is the case with all moisturisers, it is best to apply it when your skin is still slightly damp from the shower.
It is one of the best olive oil for skin use. It is cheap, uncomplicated and effective. With regular application in this form, you can find your skin getting smoother as the fine lines and wrinkles start decreasing, more glowy as your skin gets well-nourished and moisturised and younger as olive oil has antioxidants which help fight free radicals that are responsible for premature ageing.
Takeaway
It doesn’t matter which type of olive oil you choose for your skin, virgin or pomace, but choose quality. A good brand such as Leonardo Olive Oil can be used directly put on your skin as a moisturiser or as a cleanser or face pack. Once you begin using it in your skincare, your skin is surely going to transform for good and win you envious glances. So, pick a bottle today and change your skincare game.