At dinner, drizzle a tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil into a small bowl, and dip whole-grain bread in it to improve your skin from the inside out.
Probably, there is only one reason for the absence of olive oil in your kitchen: you’ve already finished it and need to go to a supermarket for another bottle. And if you use it only for food, you are missing a universal, 100% natural, head-to-toe, and the most affordable cosmetic product. When it comes to healthy skin, hair and nails, olive oil is a superstar, irreplaceable component in your routine DIY beauty care.
What does olive oil contain?
Olive oil contains antioxidants, squalene and oleic acid, which our skin needs to hydrate and protect against aging and environmental damage. Olive oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids and vitamins A, D, E, K, which nourish and improve the complexion, while maintaining skin turgor and moisture. Finally, olive oil has anti-inflammatory properties and soothes irritated skin (including sensitive skin).
From pharaonic times to nowadays
For ages, olive oil has been used for smoother and more radiant skin. You can apply it directly on skin, or add a bit to a warm bath for a good soak.
- To moisturize skin: Apply daily to dry spots or stretch marks.
- To prevent hair loss: Massage the scalp with olive oil every evening for eight days. Let it work overnight and wash it out in the morning.
- To make nails strong: To build strong fingernails and soften cuticles, before going to bed, soak your nails in a mixture of warm olive oil and lemon juce. Put on soft cloth gloves and let the oil penetrate overnight. Your nails will gradually become more resistant to breaking and chipping.
Best recipes with olive oil for your DIY beauty care
Today, the Internet is full of info about the benefits of olive oil for health and beauty, with all sorts of recipes and tips. We’ve decided to select the simplest, fastest and most affordable ways to use olive oil in your home beauty care.
Guacamole – eat it or wear it: pit an avocado, puree the pulp, squeeze a half of lime, and add olive oil. Don’t forget to apply part of it on your face.
Eat it or wear it
- Include olive oil in your daily menu. At dinner, drizzle a tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil into a small bowl, and dip whole-grain bread in it to improve your skin from the inside out.
- Applied topically, olive oil has a long history of being used as a home remedy for skincare. You can apply it directly on skin, or add a bit to a warm bath for a good soak. To prevent hair loss, massage the scalp with olive oil every evening for eight days. Let it work overnight and wash it out in the morning.
- Make guacamole – an avocado-based dip first created by the Aztecs in what is now Mexico. Pit an avocado, puree the pulp, squeeze a half of lime, add herbs you like, and olive oil. Don’t forget to apply part of it on your face.
Moisturizing face mask
Ingredients:
- 1 medium avocado (you can use 1 banana instead of avocado)
- 1 tbsp of olive oil
Pit an avocado and puree the pulp. Add olive oil. Apply the mask on cleansed skin, spreading evenly. Keep for 15 min, and then rinse with warm water. The mask is suitable for dry and sensitive skin. It’s especially good in the autumn-winter period: it moisturizes and restores the skin well. It is optimal to repeat twice a week during a month.
Mask for thick eyelashes and eyebrows
Ingredients
- A small bunch of parsley
- 1 tbsp of olive oil
Grind a small bunch of parsley in a blender, add olive oil and stir. Apply the mask on the eyelids and eyelashes (it is best to use a special eyelash brush for the application; you can press the mass with cheesecloth on top so that it does not spread over the face). Rinse with water after 5-10 minutes. Olive oil promotes the hair growth due to the deep nourishing of the hair follicles: the eyelashes become more elastic and shiny. Use the mask once a week.
Mask for shiny hair
Ingredients:
- 3 tbsp of olive oil
- 1 tbsp of honey
- 1 egg yolk
Place all ingredients in a small bowl and stir nicely. Apply the mask on the roots of dry hair and spread over the strands. Cover your hair with a plastic bag and wrap with an old towel (not to spoil the new one). Keep for an hour, and then wash with shampoo. Make the mask once a week for two months.
Body scrub with olive oil
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp of olive oil
- 4 tbsp of cane sugar
- 2 tbsp of natural ground coffee
- 2 drops of your favorite essential oil
Place all ingredients in a small bowl and stir nicely. Use the scrub while taking a shower: apply it on a damp, clean body and rub it for about 10 minutes with circular massaging movements then wash your body with warm water.
Mask with olive oil, egg yolk and lemon juice
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp of olive oil
- 1 tsp of lemon juice
- 1 egg yolk
Place all ingredients in a small bowl and stir nicely. Apply the mask to clean face and keep for 5-10 min. Rinse with warm and then cold water (to narrow the pores). In this case, the yolk will act as a moisturizer, and lemon juice will whiten and even out the complexion.
Masks for dry skin
- Mask with mustard, yolk, honey and oil. Mix 1 tbsp of dry mustard with 1 tbsp of liquid honey, 2 yolks and 1 tbsp of vegetable oil. Stir thoroughly. Warm up the mix in a water bath. Apply the first layer on your face, wait 5 min, then apply the second layer. Keep for10 minutes.
- Mask with honey, yeast and oil. Mix 1 tbsp of dry yeast with 1 tsp of honey and 2 tbsp of vegetable oil. Warm up the mixture in a water bath. Apply the mask warm for 15-20 min.
For your eternal beauty, introduce extra virgin and cold pressed olive oil into your daily diet and beauty care.
