Recreation of actual events that recently took place in my home:
Guest: I see that you have two soap dispensers in your bathroom, one has soap in it, what's in the other?
The Hoff: Olive Oil
Guest: Ummm, you do a lot of cooking in your bathroom? (chuckle)
The Hoff: No, that's where I moisturize. (no chuckle)
Guest: What are you up to now, Hoff?
Yeah, that's right I use straight up Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Least processed oil and highest nutrient value) as a face and body moisturizer.
After reading the laundry list of ingredients in my moisturizer, I decided that I needed one that was a little more natural. By definition we want moisturizers to soak into the skin, but I can do without the dyes, the perfumes and whatever else those ingredients are that I can't pronounce or spell. So, I hit the Internet and I found the natural beauty secret of Olive Oil.
Using Olive Oil as a moisturizer is not a novel concept, woman from Egyptians (Hello - Cleopatra!), Greeks, Phoenicians, Romans, Europeans and Mediterranean women (then and now) have been using Olive Oil for it's moisture benefits for over 5000 years.Topical Olive Oil:
- Promotes a smooth, radiant complexion
- Helps maintain elasticity of skin
- Provides anti-aging effects (score!)
- Restores a natural moisture balance
- Easily absorbs into human skin
I know what you're thinking and no, Olive Oil will not clog your pores and cause breaks-outs. I would however, save this routine for when you are going to bed; the oil absorbs into the skin, but not enough to put your make-up on and face the world.
I store my Olive Oil "moisturizer" in an opaque glass bottle, away from heat and light to prevent it from going rancid.
For those of you who are Shallacing, I suspect that this oil works just as well as Solar Oil (a blend of Rice Bran oil, Jojoba oil, Vitamin E Oil and Sweet Almond oil) in keeping your nail beds hydrated.
Uh, please don't lube up in the shower, I don't want any nasty comments about trips to the ER.
Cheers!
The Hoff
I LOVE the olive oil because it's far cheaper by ounce, and so I feel less guilty making oil infusions with it.
ReplyDeleteFor daytime use on my face, and as a hot oil treatment for hair, I still prefer a dab of jojoba--structurally it is closer to the skin's natural oils than any other and absorbs a bit more quickly, and is far less heavy (for me, at least)
But for heavy duty moisture (now that I've finally stopped being such a slacker) after working outside or getting windburned, I bust out the olive oil, too. It's been of much greater benefit to my nails (which break easily), and I use a St. John's Wort infusion for my sunblock when I can get away with it. It may just be me, but I think it's also softening my crow's feet a bit. (YAY to that!)