Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Benefits for the Skin

“Has he ever taken five hundred punches in the face in one night? It irritates the skin after a while.”

Even Rocky Balboa clearly cared about his skin, and who knows whether, between one fight and the next, he may have prevented irritation with some extra virgin olive oil. Hard to believe, in truth, although skincare treatments are something of an obsession for everyone: men and women, young and old.

And yet extra virgin olive oil, in addition to seasoning our food, also lends itself to alternative uses, offering numerous benefits for the skin thanks to its beneficial properties. When analysing extra virgin olive oil, it is possible to find many chemical compounds, such as phenolic compounds, carotenoids, sterols, triterpene alcohols, chlorophyll, squalene, and Vitamin E, all very useful in skincare. Just try, for example, our “Favola Moresca”, from an early-ripening cultivar that produces an oil characterized by delicate sweetness.

ITS ROLE IN SKIN HYDRATION

Its emollient property, meaning the reduction of water loss that helps hydrate the skin, is undoubtedly one of olive oil’s strengths in the cosmetic field. It is no coincidence that extra virgin olive oil is widely used to help prevent ageing. To achieve effective hydration, it is always best to massage the skin while it is still wet, for example immediately after a hot shower. The water-oil combination, in contact with body heat, will generate partial evaporation of the water, while part of it will be absorbed by the skin: olive oil’s ability to retain water is its added value for the skin.

Since EVO oil is rich in fats, it can be mixed with other, more penetrating oils, such as macadamia oil, to prevent the skin from remaining greasy. After all, it can already be found in numerous body products, mixed with other ingredients: face and hand creams, Aleppo soap, Marseille soap, and bath oils. There is also a small trace of extra virgin olive oil in products that protect the lips.

USEFUL FOR HAIR AND HANDS TOO

The properties of extra virgin olive oil mean that, when combined with other substances, it can also be used in scalp care. It can play an important role in protecting the brightness and shine of hair, and is highly recommended when hair looks dull. Simply use two tablespoons of olive oil and mix them with four tablespoons of shea butter in a bain-marie. Once the mixture has cooled, add fifty drops of cypress essential oil. The same properties can also be applied to hand and nail treatments, by adding chamomile, lemon, and rosemary essential oils.

Olive oil is also ideal as a makeup remover, for example to remove sunscreen, eyeliner, or waterproof mascara, without ever irritating the eyes. The “trick”, in this case, is always to gently massage the oil onto the face.

AGAINST REDNESS AND IRRITATION

Thanks to its antioxidant properties, olive oil has a soothing effect on irritation and redness. It is excellent for treating chapped, irritated, dry, and mature skin, or in the presence of eczema, herpes, or psoriasis, thanks to its action against free radicals. It is therefore perfect for protecting the skin from external aggressions: wind, cold, sunburn, or burns.

One of olive oil’s most effective properties in protecting the epidermis, however, is found in squalene, which strengthens the skin barrier and also protects it from UV radiation. Squalene, together with other vitamins, is also a powerful fighter against oxidative stress in the skin, one of the main causes of premature ageing.

THE ANTI-AGEING EFFECT

Now we come to one of the key benefits of extra virgin olive oil for the skin: its anti-ageing properties. First of all, from this point of view, in addition to applying it to a specific area of the skin, daily consumption of olive oil is also beneficial, as its phenolic compounds help protect DNA from oxidation in post-menopausal women.

As for its anti-ageing benefits when applied to the skin, its antioxidants have an anti-ageing effect by revitalizing more mature skin. Antioxidants contain polyphenols and Vitamin E, which, by neutralizing free radicals, help keep the skin smooth and protect it from premature ageing.

EVO OIL AS A COSMETIC PRODUCT

In conclusion, the best remedy to protect our skin from heat, cold, or ageing may already be found in our kitchens, where it keeps for a long time and offers excellent value for money.

For those who wish to use it exclusively for cosmetics, our “Favola” gift box with three 0.10-litre ceramic bottles, all glazed in different colours by local artisans, has packaging reminiscent of the finest bath salts, while also containing delicious extra virgin olive oil. If used wisely, perhaps together with other products, it can become our elixir of youth and freshness.