3 Ways Olive Oil Improves Your Skin

Olive oil is a staple ingredient in our society. From cooking, to haircare, to commercial manufacturing, olive oil comes in many forms and uses. A lot of us use olive oil for cooking our food in or perking up a salad. But did you know olive oil is widely accepted as an ancient beauty hack? This powerful liquid is found in a lot of skincare products - namely facial moisturizers - because of how lubricant it is. As people continue to focus more and more on ways to keep their skincare routine as natural as possible, olive oil will surely become a popular oil to choose from.  It is important to note, however, that olive oil is a heavy liquid. It doesn’t absorb quickly on the skin so for those who have oily skin or suffer from cystic acne, use sparingly by blotting off excess oil or avoid altogether.  

Furthermore, be wary of olive oil blends. These products have a host of other ingredients that may cancel out the benefits of olive oil. Look for pure olive oil and make sure to do a skin patch test before continual use in case of any irritation or adverse effects.  Other than that, there are a host of reasons as to why you should start using olive oil for your skin. Here are our top three:  

Photo by Ekaterina Bolovtsova from Pexels.

Olive oil is an antioxidant 

Olive oil is considered an antioxidant. What this means is that it has the ability to help prevent or cancel out damage from ultraviolet radiation, thus lowering the chances of skin cancer. A study was found that, when applying olive oil to the skin of mice that were exposed to cancer-causing ultraviolet rays, this powerful natural oil began to fight off the cancer-causing cells that occurred as a result of this exposure. The percentage of tumors were less in the mice that had olive oil applied to their skin compared to those mice that did not.  

In addition to this, olive oil offers plenty of squalene in its properties compared to other kinds of fats and oils that we usually eat. Squalene is the reason why olive oil is so highly antioxidant, and thus will continually help fight against cancer-inducing cells at a faster rate than any other type of natural oil.  

Olive oil is highly moisturizing and antibacterial 

According to this study, olive oil is known for fighting and killing off bacteria, including those that cause acne. Using olive oil-based soaps to clean your face or applying as a moisturizer on a clean face may help in decreasing the level of bacteria growing on the skin, thus helping people in their fight against acne.  

Moreover, if you’re someone who suffers from dry skin or eczema, olive oil is a good place to start. It’s highly moisturizing and hydrating due to its lubricant nature. This may help to keep your skin refreshed and supple in the long run.  

Olive oil is packed full of vitamins 

Olive oil provides plenty of vitamins. Vitamins A, D, E and K are found abundantly in olive oil, and are seen as beneficial for the skin.  Vitamin E is used often medically for many skin conditions, such as psoriasis and eczema. If you’re someone who suffers from these conditions, olive oil may help you alleviate some of that struggle and clear up your skin texture quicker than other oils.  

Up Next, The Basics Behind A Great Skin Care Routine