For centuries, sweet oil (or olive oil, as most people know it) has been used by people in the Mediterranean who recognize its full range of benefits. It's both healthy and delicious when eaten, but it's also inexpensive, natural, calming and moisturizing if used as part of a regular skin care beauty routine. Extra virgin oil is even more effective as it has been processed the least and retained its full nutrients and benefits.
Moisturizing Benefits
Sweet oil is known for its moisturizing benefits. There are many ways to incorporate it in your beauty routine and take advantage of its natural emollients. For example:
Add several teaspoons of oil to your bath water and soak.
Massage 1 tsp. of oil into dry skin.
Rub a tiny amount of oil onto your lips at night for conditioning.
Soak your nails in oil for at least 5 minutes. It will moisturize and soften cuticles while also strengthening nails.
Warm 4 tbsp. of oil and rub it into your hair and scalp. Massage your scalp for 3 minutes, then cover hair for 20 minutes. It will moisturize and soothe your scalp and condition your hair.
Antioxidant and Anti-irritant Benefits
Sweet oil is not only moisturizing, but it has a lot of anti-irritants and antioxidants. It contains a lot of vitamin E, which is essential to healthy skin and skin cell regeneration.
If you rub the oil onto your skin directly after you have had a lot of exposure to the sun, it can reduce the risk of skin cancer. It will also relieve any pain or swelling after you’ve been sunburned. Sweet oil also relieves pain and swelling on other wounds, bug bites and blemishes.
Health Benefits
Because sweet oil has a lot of antioxidants, it's not only good for rubbing on the skin, it's healthy to eat as well. It has been known for centuries to make skin appear younger and preserve health, especially for the heart.
Sweet oil is very high in vitamin E, monosaturated fatty acids and omega 9. People who have a lot of this oil in their diets have found they have a decrease in their gastrointestinal problems like gastritis because it’s light on the stomach and increased the production of bile and pancreatic hormones. It also has been shown to prevent colon cancer, and can reduce risk of strokes and heart attacks if eaten daily because it increases the elasticity in arteries. Sweet oil also improves memory and helps prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
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Writer Bio
Tobias Starr has been writing professionally since 2010. Her specialties include fashion/beauty articles, literary analysis pieces and the occasional commentary on cultural issues. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in speech communication and a Master of Arts in secondary education, both from Morehead State University.