How to Use Olive Oil as a Natural Skin Care Product

Use olive oil as part of a natural skin care regimen.

Olive oil has been used and revered as a natural skin care product for centuries. Cleopatra, considered one of the most beautiful woman in history, is reputed to have used olive oil on her skin and hair, as have millions of women ever since. And don't just limit it to topical uses. As a monounsaturated fat, olive oil can be consumed as part of a healthy diet featuring all kinds of Mediterranean recipes.

Things You'll Need

• Lemon juice
• Plastic wrap
• Cotton swabs

Instructions

1. Use it as a moisturizer for dry skin. Olive oil is similar to the natural sebum that human skin secretes. It is also thought to be effective in combating wrinkles when used in place of store-bought anti-aging products. To use olive oil as a facial moisturizer, simply massage a small amount onto your face after cleansing. There is no need to rinse the olive oil off -- just splash your face with water and gently pat it dry. The olive oil absorbs quickly and locks in moisture.

2. Apply olive oil to hands and nails. To remedy the problem of stained fingernails, simply add a few drops of lemon juice to a small amount of olive oil and soak the tips of your fingers. Or, if you omit the lemon juice, a relaxing soak of slightly heated olive oil does wonders for your nails, helping to fortify weak and brittle nails while softening cuticles.

3. Use olive oil to soften the roughest feet and make them smooth and touchable. For an intensive overnight treatment, massage a generous amount of olive oil onto clean, dry feet. Wrap plastic wrap around each foot, and then slip your feet into a pair of thick socks. Allow this treatment to soak in while you sleep, and wake up to amazingly beautiful soles.

4. Use olive oil for other skin issues. For instance, it can be used in place of shaving cream for a particularly close, luxurious shave. The olive oil nourishes the skin and leaves it supple -- something that will benefit women and men. Use olive oil as a makeup remover by pouring a small amount onto a cotton ball and use it as you would a store-bought makeup remover. Olive oil can also be massaged into scars to help reduce redness and soften the scars' appearance. A couple capfuls of olive oil added to the bath helps calm minor skin irritation. Lastly, to soothe a painful sunburn, gently apply a mixture of olive oil and white vinegar to affected skin.

Tips & Warnings

• Olive oil truly is a miraculous skin care product with countless uses- far more than I was even able to cover in this article. Do an internet search to find more uses for olive oil in nutrition, health, beauty, and even housecleaning!

• Be very careful when using olive oil in the bath or shower, as it is slippery.

References

• Natural Skincare Secrets: Olive Oil Skin Care