Olive Oil Skin Benefits: What Dermatologists Have to Say?

What is Olive Oil?

Know about the olive fruit, surely you do! Olive Oil is derived from pressing the oil out of the olive fruit. The oil is rich in mono-saturated fatty acids- a healthy form of fat that helps in dealing with skin health and cosmetic benefits. Olive oil has skin-loving antioxidants that make it best for healthy skin. "Plant oils have been used for medical and cosmetic purposes because they have a multitude of benefits," explains board-certified dermatologist Sandy Skotnicki.

Facts of Olive Oil

• It is emollient loaded with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Olive Oil moisturizes the dry skin, protecting it from sun damages and early or premature signs of aging.
• Also, Olive oil helps in maintaining skin health but those with sensitive or acne-prone skin should be staying away from this oil.
• Olive oil can be used daily but with a little care as it is heavy oil.
• It works well with humectants like hyaluronic acid, glycerine, and other skin-benefiting amino acids.

Olive Oil Skin Benefits

Olive Oil is brimming with benefits for the skin- from moisturizing the dry patches on the skin to the breaking down of stubborn makeup.

1. Prevents Water Loss

Olive oil has the prime benefit of moisturizing the skin by reducing transdermal water loss. Moreover, it helps in retaining the skin’s natural moisture and hydration to ensure a fresh and natural look. The cosmetic chemist and founder of an Australian-based skincare Gop & Cotton, Ee Ting Ng, says that "This moisturization increases the water content of the skin, improving its health and appearance."

2. Protects Against Environmental Damage

Olive Oil has the power to protect the skin from the damages and inflammation caused due to environmental damages- pollution and the Sun. This also implies that the skin gets protection against the premature sign of aging as well as redness or irritation.

3. Prevents Premature Aging

Being rich in vitamin A, D, E, K, and squalene (an organic compound), olive oil helps in managing and treating premature signs of aging. The compounds help in catering to the oxidative stress that the skin faces that accelerate the skin aging process.

4. Heals Wounds

Olive Oil has special properties to heal the distress on the skin because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Sandy Skotnicki, a board-certified dermatologist, explains "Triterpenes, which are present in many plant oils and in particular olive oil, aid in many biological reactions like those necessary for wound healing: cell migration, cell proliferation, and collagen deposition. They enhance wound repair by reducing the length of time for wound closure.”

How to Include Olive Oil in your Skincare Routine?

The Olive Oil from your kitchen is now found in various skin care products- serums, creams, moisturizers, and facial oils. "Being an emollient with occlusive properties, olive oil will work best when maximum moisture is sealed into the skin, which is typically at the last step of the routine (in the day, use just before sunscreen)," exclaims Ee Ting Ng. If you want you can use olive oil first, or you may mix it with your moisturizer. And, as with any moisturizer, the best time to apply olive oil is when your skin is a little damp from your shower. The oil or the moisturizer enters the skin deep bringing the desired results. There is no need for you to walk around with olive oil dripping from your skin in order to receive the promising benefits. In fact, if you use too much of it, you can end up clogging the pores. With all said above, does Olive Oil qualify to be part of your skincare routine? What’s your say in this- let’s discuss!