Olive Oil: The Pantry Ingredient You Can Use on Your Skin Right Now
April 8, 2020
Spring is here! But your skin still thinks it’s winter. The cold months dry out the skin and the conditions this time of year create fine lines and wrinkles—also known as premature aging. Fight the onset of premature aging with the age-old skincare remedy and pantry staple, known as olive oil. Here’s why it needs to be your very next purchase!
The How & Why
Olive oil (any kind) acts as an antioxidant for your skin. Why? Olive oil prevents oxidation in your skin. Some studies suggest that putting olive oil on your skin after sun exposure might fight off cancer-causing cells. Not only that but a little EVOO possesses hydrating squalene which is a lot like your skins natural sebum. Note: I wouldn’t slather it on your face. Olive oil is a heavy oil that isn’t great for your complexion.
It is, however, perfect for applying to the skin on your body, hair, and nails. I can attest to that last one too. For the last few weeks, I’ve been dealing with an ingrown toenail. Olive oil to the rescue! Applying it to the skin around my toenail after my shower and before bed has slowly healed the ingrown nail and eliminated the need for me to see my doctor. That’s a total win!
Beyond Salad
What other ways can you use olive oil? Check out the multitude
of options and test and try the best one for you.
- How about dry nails? Place a drop or two per hand on each fingernail and rub it in. The oil will moisturize your cuticles and nail bed while adding shine.
- Pour some sugar on me. Use olive oil combined with sugar and use it as a lip scrub. Your wintery chapped lips will thank you.
- Moisture heels and toes. Pumice your heels and rub in the EVOO into cracked, dry heels. As a bonus” do this before bed and then put on socks to lock in the oil’s moisturizing properties.
- Clean those makeup brushes using two parts soap and one part olive oil. Then repeat once a month for optimal use and to avoid breakouts caused by bacteria.
- Going natural with your medicine cabinet? Use olive oil as an antibacterial treatment instead of Neosporin. DIY it with lavender, calendula, and tea tree oil to prevent germs and scarring.
- They say that like attracts like and this is true when it comes to oil-based products like eye makeup. Remove your eye makeup each night with olive oil on a cotton pad and then wash with warm water to eliminate pore-clogging.
- Add shine to your hair and condition it at the same time. Place a few drops of olive oil into your palm and rub it between your hands. Run your hands through your hair for taming and shine.
There’s not a lot this cooking ingredient can’t do. Always test it out in small doses to see how it works for you before making it part of your daily routine.
Do you use olive oil or other pantry staples in your beauty regime?
