OLIVE OIL IN BODY CARE

Scientific research and “grandmother’s remedies” have shown that olive oil is very useful for body care, specifically for:

• face and skin
• dermatitis
• hair
• stretch marks
• hands and nails

Now we will explain the multiple benefits in detail.

Face and Skin

Olive oil, thanks to the presence of oleic acid, minerals and a powerful antioxidant such as vitamin E, provides emollient, moisturizing and nourishing properties. It prevents skin aging and is useful in combating dryness, chapping, irritation and sunburn. It is also ideal for caring for babies’ skin, as it is a delicate and hypoallergenic ingredient.

A famous and well-known YouTuber, Clio Makeup, recommends using this Mediterranean ingredient as a solution:

• makeup remover: simply pour a drop of oil on a cotton pad and gently remove makeup by delicately massaging the most sensitive areas;
• moisturizer: useful if you have dry skin by using it instead of moisturizing cream before going to sleep, although the sensation will not be very pleasant, in the morning you will find yourself with super soft skin.
• scrub: by mixing sugar with oil and using this mix to massage the face.

It is also well suited to be used as a base ingredient to make a moisturizing mask: put two tablespoons of honey in a bowl and heat. Add a tablespoon of olive oil, mix and apply to the skin. Leave on for 5 minutes and rinse! For dry skin you can also add a tablespoon of plain yogurt, while for oily skin you can incorporate a couple of teaspoons of white clay, which tightens pores.

A scientific discovery has also reported the benefits of oil in the treatment of psoriasis, a very common skin problem characterized by extremely dry and chapped skin located mainly on the elbows, knees and scalp. This is because the biophenols, which extra virgin olive oil is rich in, inhibit metabolic problems and thanks to their anti-inflammatory properties are able to combat the effects of psoriasis.

Dermatitis

Dermatitis is a generic non-contagious skin condition characterized by inflammation, often due to allergies, dietary deficiencies or excesses, or contact with irritants. The most common forms are atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis and contact dermatitis. They have in common some characteristic symptoms, such as redness of the skin and the appearance of small swellings or itchy blisters.

In particular:

• atopic dermatitis is an allergic reaction of the entire body that manifests through the skin; it is often associated with other allergies, such as hay fever, asthma, hives or food allergies;
• seborrheic dermatitis is caused by an altered activity of the skin glands that produce sebum.
• instead, contact dermatitis is triggered by contact with irritating substances, such as detergents and cleaners, cosmetics, animal saliva, metals such as nickel, latex.

Since the time of the Egyptians, olive oil has been considered, in addition to being a food, a natural remedy with multiple properties, precious in case of dermatitis.

In the majority of cases, the most common dermatitis presents itself in its mildest and moderate form, causing only aesthetic consequences and social embarrassment.

To gently cleanse skin affected by dermatitis in its mild-moderate form, olive oil is very useful because, thanks to its emollient properties, it leaves the skin soft, nourished and protected. Olive oil nourishes and moisturizes the skin, thanks to the presence of valuable vegetable fats rich in triglycerides and natural antioxidants, and is particularly suitable for preventing dehydration and skin flaking, typical effects of dermatitis.

Hair

Olive oil is the household ingredient par excellence, useful as a practical and quick remedy to revitalize and restructure dry, damaged, dull, dyed, weak and frizzy hair. Obtaining an emollient and detangling effect. It can be applied to any type of hair. Olive oil is applied to hair through convenient packs, real masks that can also be enriched with other elements, such as essences or fruits, giving your hair a delicious fragrance as well.

Making a home pack is very simple: fill half a teacup with extra virgin olive oil and add about five drops of your preferred essence (such as citrus or lavender). Then apply it using a comb or brush, the mask will then be applied to the hair starting from the root and reaching the tips. Once the distribution is complete, wrap the hair in a soft and resistant cloth: the oil tends to slip easily from the hair, risking staining clothes and other fabrics. The pack can be left on for about twenty minutes, after which an abundant rinse will be necessary, using soaps and shampoos that are as gentle as possible. More than one repetition may also be necessary if the hair still appears too greasy.

Clio Makeup also recommends an anti-dandruff remedy by mixing two teaspoons of: olive oil, lemon juice and water. The lemon juice helps remove dry flakes, while the oil nourishes and moisturizes. The mixture should be applied to damp hair before shampooing; leave on for 30 minutes and then proceed normally with washing.

Stretch Marks

Olive oil is an excellent remedy to prevent or get rid of stretch marks. They form on the skin when it suddenly extends beyond its elastic limit and its natural growth rate. The middle layer of the skin breaks, making the lower layers visible. “New” stretch marks are red or purple and tend to fade to white over time. This rarely affects men and more often women, as this blemish can occur during pregnancy or in adolescence as a consequence of rapid body development or significant weight fluctuations. A natural remedy is olive oil which, thanks to its vitamins and antioxidants, when applied locally to the areas where stretch marks appear, in the same amount as a normal body oil, exerting light pressure during massage, its soothing and emollient effect will be immediately felt. Obviously with this method and with constant application over time it is possible to remove only “new” stretch marks and during treatment you can also mix a few drops of lemon to give a radiant appearance to the skin.

Hands and Nails

If you have very fragile nails that tend to break, flake or bend, it is a symptom of a deficiency of some components, such as vitamins, which are instead present in olive oil. The famous YouTuber Clio Makeup recommends a weekly manicure and pedicure treatment based on olive oil. After soaking your nails in warm water for a few minutes, she recommends drying them and gently massaging the cuticles with oil to soften them. Instead, if after removing nail polish you find your nails stained, she recommends soaking them in a mix of oil and lemon, also guaranteeing a strengthening and detangling action.

In winter periods, when due to cold and freezing temperatures you find yourself with dry and chapped hands, the classic moisturizing cream can be validly replaced by olive oil which will give you soft and velvety skin in a short time.

It is good to remember that olive oil is a precious element and that by using it with care, attention and knowledge it can be a valid remedy for the most common beauty problems.