Olive oil is an excellent anti-aging, emollient and soothing, perfect for mature skin, for dry and dehydrated skin, to calm skin irritations and to restore life to damaged hair. Well tolerated even by the most sensitive skin and baby skin and also suitable during pregnancy, olive oil can be used by everyone.
Olive oil is ideal for treating dry and dehydrated skin as it has a strong emollient action and counteracts the loss of water from the epidermis, keeping it hydrated and soft. Thanks to its soothing and repairing action, olive oil is also excellent for chapped skin or to calm irritation, inflammation, redness and dermatitis and is well tolerated even by the most sensitive skin.
However, applying extra virgin olive oil directly to the skin in large quantities can have a more comedogenic effect, clogging pores and even causing acne. As a result, dermatologists recommend applying raw EVOO to the skin with a dropper before gently massaging it.
In addition to being rich in antibacterial properties and many skin-friendly vitamins, olive oil is also an emollient, making it an excellent moisturizer.
When the top layer of the skin doesn't contain enough water, the skin cells become scaly and can fall off or break. This leaves spaces between the skin cells, which can allow dirt and bacteria to build up.
Emollients fill these gaps with lipids, isolating them from bacteria and relieving the irritation associated with dry, flaky skin.
Extra virgin olive oil, like many other emollients, is also an occlusive, which means that it traps water under a thin oily film.
Dermatologists recommend applying extra virgin olive oil - or creams that incorporate EVOO - while the skin is still moist to trap water inside the cells.
Olive oil rejuvenates and heals damaged skin
In addition to their antibacterial properties, the vitamins and antioxidants found in extra virgin olive oil have a number of other benefits.
Vitamin E also helps protect the skin from ultraviolet rays. Some evidence even suggests that extra virgin olive oil may reverse some of the damage caused by ultraviolet radiation.
Antioxidants also help trap free radicals and prevent them from damaging the skin. In addition to keeping the skin healthier, this also helps reduce the effects of aging.
Additionally, the anti-inflammatory properties of extra virgin olive oil have been shown to help heal damaged skin tissue. Although some doctors claim that EVO is more effective in achieving this when ingested than topical use.
There is also some evidence to suggest that ingesting extra virgin olive oil can help heal burnt skin tissue . However, dermatologists warn against applying EVO to burns topically.
Olive oil for the face
While extra virgin olive oil acts as an effective moisturizer and perfect ingredient for soap or lotion, it can also be used on the face, but not as generously as on other parts of the body.
One of the most popular uses of extra virgin olive oil is as a makeup remover. Instead of using a harsh toner to remove makeup, which can dry out or damage the skin, olive oil works well to break down the waxy substances that make eyeliner or mascara waterproof.
Although the EVOO cannot completely remove makeup, it is a good first step in lifting it from the skin. Additionally, antioxidants, including squalene, can help moisturize the sensitive skin around the eyes and relieve some of the oxidative stress that causes wrinkles.
