Using and consuming olive and olive oil dates back thousands of years. Due to the many benefits, olives provide the olive producing regions in particular those bordering the Mediterranean Sea have been using olive for many purposes for thousands of years.
These obviously include the most common ones which are for cooking. But in addition, olive and olive oil have been used for other reasons when it comes to improving the health. One of the healthy benefits of olive oil has to do with the benefits it provides the skin. The benefits olive oil provides the skin are due to its compositions which includes antioxidants, vitamins, and antibacterial properties. Let’s now have a closer look at each of these properties that compose olive oil and are beneficial to the health of the skin.
Antioxidants
Oxidation involves a process that produces free radicals. These free radicals which are chemicals are harmful for the skin due to their capability to damage cells and ultimately contribute to many harmful skin conditions.
Olive oil has antioxidants which helps to combat the process of oxidation. Due to it acting as an antioxidant olive oil can be applied to the skin to help with issues such as premature aging. Some also believe in applying olive oil after sun exposure to prevent sun damaged skin. Those who apply olive oil to their skin after sun exposure do so since they believe of health benefits it provides to the skin such as fighting off cancer causing cells.
Antibacterial effects
In addition to acting as an antioxidant olive oil also acts as an antibacterial agent. There are less studies to back this theory than there are those that are conducted when it comes to backing the use of olive oil as an antioxidant.
For example, there have been some studies that were conducted comparing the antibacterial properties of olive oil and coconut oil. The final results showed that both olive oil and coconut oil had antibacterial properties. Although the final results showed that the antibacterial properties of coconut oil were more.
Vitamins
Olive oil contains an array of fat-soluble vitamins. The vitamins that olive oil contain include vitamin A, D, E & K. Some of these vitamins may have benefits for the skin. The use of vitamin E for example has shown to have benefits for the skin. These benefits include treating skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
Moisturizing effects
As well olive oil is also a popular moisturizer that is used for serval purposes. These purposes include the use of olive oil to moisturize the skin and hair. But we must mention that there are very few studies that are conducted to back this theory.
How to apply olive oil to the skin
Olive oil is an ingredient in many personal care products we use daily. These products include soaps, face washes, body washes and lotions. But people can also apply olive oil solely to treat their skin.
Applying olive oil as a moisturizer
The use of olive oil directly on the skin is because of its moisturizing benefits. Some even apply olive oil to their damp skin to help prevent with a greasy feeling. As we mentioned earlier there are studies that have shown the benefits of applying olive oil directly to the skin after sun exposure to prevent skin issues that may be caused due to sun exposure.
Applying olive as a face mask
Those individuals who suffers from dry skin can also benefits when it comes to the use of olive oil as a face mask.
