Can olive oil help regenerate my skin?

Olive oil has been used in body care since ancient times. Even in ancient Egypt, olive oil was used for hair and face care.  Today’s findings show that the essential fatty acids contained in olive oil can protect the skin from drying out. In addition, the antioxidants contribute to the regeneration of the skin through their anti-inflammatory effect and can thus counteract the formation of wrinkles. Thus, it can be concluded that the valuable olive oil can help regenerate the skin. But how exactly does it work?

Five reasons why olive oil plays such an important role in cosmetics

1. Olive oil consists of 85 % essential fatty acids. These can also be found in our skin. Linoleic acid, a component of our skin, enables us to easily absorb the essential fatty acids of olive oil. The absorbed fatty acids thus form a protective coat which protects our skin barrier from external influences such as germs.
2. Olive oil can protect the skin from dehydration and help dry skin to become more elastic and supple. Antioxidants play an important role here. Our skin is exposed to free radicals, which lead to oxidative stress. Free radicals can, for example, damage cell structures and thus cause diseases such as cancer and rheumatism. Antioxidants, such as vitamin E, can neutralise these free radicals and thus make them harmless. In addition, antioxidants have an anti-inflammatory effect by neutralising the radicals. Olive oil can help regenerate cracked and chapped skin by slowly absorbing into it.
3. The high proportion of unsaturated fatty acids in olive oil enables a long shelf life in cosmetic use. The higher the number of unsaturated fatty acids, the slower an oil oxidises.
4. When choosing an olive oil for cosmetic use, one should go for high-quality oils, just as in nutrition.  Why? Because especially the unrefined oils, such as the “extra virgin” variety, contain the important antioxidants. The better the quality, the better the effect.
5. Another plus, olive oil is a purely plant-based product. Thus, olive oil and olive oil soap, unlike curd soap, is a good alternative for those seeking a regenerative, plant-based lifestyle. 

Of course, this list does not reflect all the aspects through which olive oil positively influences our skin, but this overview gives us a small insight into some significant aspects. But how can olive oil be used in body care?

How do I use olive oil in body care? 4 tips to make it yourself

Plant oils have played an important and varied role in cosmetics for many centuries. Olive oil in particular has played an important role in cosmetic use in Mediterranean countries since ancient Egypt. In ancient Egypt, olive oil was used for hair care and to prevent wrinkles. Over the centuries, in addition to the positive effects for skin and hair, the health benefits and positive aspects for diets were discovered. In order to understand how and in which areas olive oil can be used for body care, we will give you an overview with 4 tips to make it yourself in the next points.

Olive oil as facial care

The use of olive oil for facial care is diverse and has a long tradition. Olive oil can be used as a pure oil on the skin to counteract dehydration and wrinkling and thus help regenerate the skin. Often this positive effect is only proclaimed for dry skin, but olive oil can also be used for oily and blemished skin. For these skin types, however, it should be used in small amounts. Olive oil can help to unclog the pores and thus prevent the development of pimples and acne, without at the same time leading to oily or too dry skin. For pimples, the antibacterial effect can help reduce redness and swelling. Mixed with brown sugar, olive oil also helps to brighten the skin as a natural exfoliant. Many also swear by olive oil as a makeup remover, mixed with aloe vera for extra moisture.

Olive oil as soap

Olive oil is processed as soap to cleanse the skin in a caring way. Olive oil soap is also a natural product with a long tradition. In its present form, olive oil soap was probably first produced in the Middle East in the 7th century. The Arabs brought the knowledge of soap to Europe with their conquests and to this day France and Spain are considered centres of soap production. Olive oil soap is made like other curd soap. Here, a sodium hydroxide solution is prepared, which is mixed with olive oil and possibly other fats in a pot with a mixer at 45 degrees Celsius. Other aromatic oils (e.g. essential oils, flowers, herbs) can be added at will. For a sustainable use of our leftover stock from 2019, we have found a partner together with the Dutch soap producer Werfzeep to also use our leftover olive oil in soap production. Here, Werfzeep uses only natural ingredients to produce the delicious smelling and beautiful soaps. What was especially important to us: despite recycling the leftovers, we were able to agree on a fair price for both parties in order to stay true to our principles. Click here to learn more. Olive oil in soap ensures that the skin is not only cleansed but also nourished. Olive oil soap is suitable for almost all skin types due to its gentle and mild character, but especially for sensitive skin.

Hair care

Olive oil can also be used for hair care. Although the oil is not suitable for every hair type and every hair structure, it can replace a purchased care product in many cases.

• It protects the hair and helps to maintain moisture in the hair. It is therefore particularly beneficial for dry and straw-like hair that needs to be protected from drying out. It can also help prevent split ends and itchy scalp. Dull and matt hair can be given a new shine with olive oil.
• As a hair treatment, olive oil can be massaged directly into damp hair. After it has taken effect, it should be washed out again with a natural shampoo (without silicones to allow the olive oil to penetrate the hair).
• If the scalp is itchy, the oil can also soothe the irritated skin and can be used here in a similar way to the hair treatment.
• If only the tips are affected by dryness, olive oil can be rubbed in directly. The important thing is: use it sparingly! Too much olive oil in the hair and on the scalp can make your hair look stringy and greasy. So it is better to use only small amounts and wash it out thoroughly.

You can get really good olive oil here, if you feel like trying out these tips.