A beauty secret worth sharing: Olive Oil

Many in our society are beginning to realize that simplifying life is a goal worth reaching because we are over extended mentally, physically, and economically.  Combine this sentiment with eco-awareness, and we find a whole population of people looking for DIY  resources (do it yourself), and  natural, less processed or refined, and organic products/materials that directly affect our lives in a wide variety of ways; from home repair to beauty products.  My thirst to discover, experiment, and learn combined with a positive and creative nature, allowed me to explore whatever caught my interest.  I began by making natural beauty products as a teenager and it appears I never out grew out of that phase because today, many years later,  I make soap, lotion, body & lip balms, massage oils, bath salts and scrubs!  My next adventure will be making castor oil shampoo and shaving soap.

I discovered a long time ago that olive oil is a wonderful product to have in my home.  For health conscious folks this mono-saturated oil is ideal for healthy cooking and eating.  For the beauty conscious it has proven it’s worth over centuries of use by many and varied cultures.

I want to share with you an excerpt from “The Olive Oil Source” webpage discussing the benefits of olive oil in beauty.  There are some suggestions for skin and hair care included that I think you might find useful.  For your convenience, I added the link to my favorite links if you’d like to visit the site directly.

From The Olive Oil Source.com…… what many consumers don’t realize is something that people living millennia ago in ancient Greece took for granted; that extra virgin olive oil, all by itself, is one of the best beauty secrets. In addition to being a natural, hypoallergenic way to moisturize skin, extra virgin olive oil has the added advantage of providing strong antioxidants, like Vitamins A and E that help repair and renew skin that has been damaged from overexposure to sun, air pollution, and other modern-day environmental hazards – like cigarette smoke and fast food. These antioxidants have the natural ability to stimulate cells and return skin to a firmer, smoother, and healthier state.

To provide a slightly more scientific explanation, this damage is related to the destructive activity of oxygen-related free radicals produced by skin cells. Polyphenolic components of olive oil have been compared to traditional antioxidants, such as tocopherols, used by the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry to prevent skin damage. There are a number of simple and inexpensive ways to get the best skin care and beauty benefits out of a single bottle of extra virgin olive oil. The rich emollients in olive oil allow just a little to go a long way.

SKIN CARE AND OLIVE OIL

Skin Moisturizer
Whether applied to face or body, olive oil will penetrate deep into the skin and provide a long-lasting shield of moisture to keep skin smooth and supple. Used either as a night cream or daily moisturizer, it is best applied to damp skin, when water can help reduce any feeling of greasiness. We recommend using extra virgin olive oil.

Our readers have also suggested that a little lemon juice mixed with olive oil can provide a more bracing and refreshing feeling. In her best-selling book The Passionate Olive, Carol Firenze suggests making a moisturizer made of Italian parsley, water, and extra virgin olive oil.

Expect the natural benefits of olive oil to take a bit longer to be absorbed into the skin than most lightweight packaged skin products. But the advantages can be longer lasting too.

Exfoliator
If dry and scaly skin is a problem, Carol Firenze also suggests mixing olive oil and sea salt in a rub and massaging it into the affected area to slough off dead skin and enrich the healthy layer beneath it. Or add a few tablespoons of olive oil with a drop or two of lavender essential oil in a bath. This is a luxurious way to relax, soothe and moisturize the whole body.

Nail and Cuticle Care
Extra virgin olive oil makes the perfect, simple solution for dry nails and cuticles. Simply rub a few drops into the cuticle area and around the nail. Cuticles stay plump and moist, and nails respond with a natural shine.

Eye Makeup Remover
Just a drop or two of extra virgin olive oil on a cotton pad is all it takes to gently and effectively remove eye makeup without irritating the delicate skin around the eye area. The biggest added advantage is that when used consistently, olive oil can soften the skin around the eyes and smooth out wrinkles.

HAIR CARE AND OLIVE OIL
When used on hair and scalp, olive oil can be considered two products: a deep conditioner and a dandruff controller. After shampooing, massage a mixture of equal amounts of olive oil and water into your hair. Leave on for 5 minutes, then shampoo and rinse. Your scalp will benefit from healthy conditioning; your hair will respond with more shine and strength.

SOURCES
Carol Firenze: The Passionate Olive: 101 Things to Do with Olive Oil

Olive Oil soap I made at home using a calla lilly mold! Luxury and beauty enhancement in one home-made product. That's what I call a Life's Simple Pleasure.A beauty secret to share: Olive Oil

Hope these beauty tips incorporating Olive Oil will bring a simple pleasure to your household and beauty routine.  Be adventurous!  You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on manufactured products to have beautiful skin and hair.  It is well within your reach and your budget if you have the courage to give it a try.