It turns out it may be beneficial for our skin as well.
Olive oil is rich in antioxidants and has been linked to improved skin moisturization and anti-aging appearance effects.
This article discusses the benefits and risks of applying olive oil to your skin.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
Verywell / Jessica Olah
What’s in Olive Oil?
Olive oilis a nutrient-packed oil made from pressing olives and then expressing their oil.
It is rich in healthymonounsaturated fatsandantioxidants, which may benefit the skin when applied directly to it.
Several beauty products like soaps and lotions have added olive oil to their formulations for their skin benefits.
Olives are considered a soft fruit, much like peaches and plums.
That means they can bruise easily, which affects the quality of the oil.
Look for olive oils that list hand-picked olives on the label to ensure that you have a high-quality product.
It moisturizes skin by locking in moisture, and its antioxidants can help to improve signs of aging.
Excess oil on your skin can lead toclogged poresandacne breakouts.
It may also irritate your skin.
Olive oil should be used with caution if you have sensitive skin.
It should also generally be avoided for infant skin since it may interfere with their skin barrier.
How to Use It
There are two ways to start incorporating olive oil into your skincare routine.
First, you could invest in products that list olive oil as an ingredient.
There are now many facial cleansers, soaps, and moisturizers that use olive oil as an ingredient.
The other option is to use the olive oil sitting in your pantry right now.
Apply a few drops to your current moisturizer after cleansing.
Olive oil helps to lock moisture in, so use it before makeup.
It naturally lifts the makeup off of your skin, making your regular cleanser much more effective.
Its best to always wipe away excess oil and avoid using it on sensitive skin to avoid reactions.
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