The word is out regarding the health benefits of olive oil in our diets. The type of fat it contains is called “monounsaturated fat”, also known as “good fat”. But olive oil is also one of nature’s wonders when it comes to skin care use. One of it’s most highly touted properties is that it contains vitamin E, an antioxidant that helps to protect skin cell membranes from damage by free radicals. Olive oil penetrates the skin deeply and is naturally hypoallergenic. Extra virgin olive oil is the least processed, purest form of olive oil and is therefore the best choice for skin care. Following are 3 easy ways to use olive oil on your skin to keep it healthy and looking beautiful.
Crow’s Feet: This is a very simple and extremely effective treatment for crow’s feet. Dab a small amount of olive oil onto your finger and apply it to the crow’s feet areas on your face. Massage in gently until some of the oil has been absorbed. Do this 2 times per day, once in the morning and once at bedtime. The deep penetrating and moisturizing qualities of this oil will help to reduce the appearance of crow’s feet over time.
Leg Shaving: If you’ve ever shaved your legs and afterwards noticed how dry your skin was, then you’re going to love this! Add 4-5 drops of olive oil to the shaving cream or soap used to shave each leg. Rinse off as you normally would and revel in the beauty of your silky soft legs without a hint of dryness.
Hand Moisturizer: You’ve probably heard of applying lotion to your hands and wearing gloves overnight as a moisturizing and softening treatment. But by using olive oil, the results will be more dramatic. You can apply oil olive directly to your hands, rub in well and cover them with gloves for the night. But if you find the olive oil to be a bit messy, simply add a dab of hand lotion to the olive oil, rub your hands together well and slip on some gloves. In the morning when you take the gloves off, your hands will be incredibly soft and moisturized.
Another benefit of using olive oil on your skin is the cost; it’s inexpensive. A $5 bottle of olive oil can easily last for months! Compare that to the cost of over-the-counter moisturizers. And even though olive oil is readily available in grocery stores, chances are you already have it in your kitchen.