What Are the Benefits of Virgin Olive Oil for Skin Care?

What Are the Benefits of Virgin Olive Oil for Skin Care?
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Virgin olive oil can be an effective alternative to commercial beauty products. The Safe Cosmetics organization reports that over 50 percent of over-the-counter personal products contain ingredients that can penetrate deep within the pores, causing potential irritation. Using the natural properties of olive oil delivers healthy skin without the added cost or side effects of novelty beauty items. Always consult with your dermatologist prior to changing your skin-care regimen.

Moisturizes

Adding olive oil to your nighttime skin-care regimen helps to soften and moisturize the skin as you sleep, reports the Healthy Skin Care website. When mixed in equal portions with vinegar and water, it can also help to lighten skin discolorations as a mild exfoliant. Its traditional use by the Romans and Arabs required administering it to the feet of athletes to circumvent cracking, dryness or other common skin ailments. Virgin olive oil also helps to dissolve comedones, skin obstructions such as whiteheads and blackheads, while regulating sebum, or oil, consistency without clogging pores, reports the Disabled World website.

Protects

Virgin olive oil contains high amounts of antioxidants, especially vitamin E, according to the American Chronicle. Both eaten or topically applied, olive oil helps to safeguard cellular structures of the skin from free radical damage that can increase aging, acne and other skin ailments. Vitamin E, for example, helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, scars or other unsightly blemishes present on the skin, reports Medline Plus. Drizzling it on a salad or applying directly on the face is beneficial to the skin.

Heals

The Healthy Skin Guide website states that olive oil contains healing properties that can help alleviate skin conditions such as eczema when applied. Inflammation, redness and itching are common symptoms associated irritated skin. During post-surgery recovery, for example, olive oil helps reduce and ease inflammation that occurs, helping to stimulate healing, affirms Natural News. Many popular products use olive oil as an active ingredient due to its immense influence on the skin.

References

Article reviewed by David Penick Last updated on: Jul 17, 2010

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