Nowadays, it’s difficult to sort truth from fiction when it comes to our health. With the enormous amount of information available at our fingertips, headlines constantly trying to grab our attention with the latest bizarre health trend, and simply not having the tools to be able to wade through all the noise and decide what is really good for our health, it’s no wonder that people get confused! But there is one ingredient that has stood the test of time and has continuously been proven to be extremely beneficial for our health: olive oil. In this article, we will tell you why olive oil is not only good for your physical health, but also for your skin health. We will explain what’s so special about extra virgin olive oil and why you need to start using olive oil for your health.
Olive oil for health
Use of olive oil for health dates back to ancient times, with olive oil being a big part of the diets of Ancient Greeks. Since then, its nutritional value has been validated by studies which have shown that it can be helpful in reducing inflammation, reducing the risk of chronic diseases, preventing strokes, reducing the risk of heart diseases and more. Recent buzz around the Mediterranean diet, a diet inspired by Italian and Greek eating habits during the 60s of which extra virgin olive oil is a big part, has led to further research on the use of olive oil for health which has found that there is a link between following a diet rich in extra virgin olive oil and a lowered risk of chronic diseases. Many of the fantastic benefits of olive oil observed in these studies come from its high content of antioxidants. Antioxidants are compounds that combat the effects of chemicals called ‘free radicals’ which cause damage to cells in your body and increase the risk of a multitude of different diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes. The prevention of these chronic diseases is just one reason why so many people are using olive oil for health.
Olive oil for skin
The main antioxidants found in olive oil are tocopherols, β-carotene, lutein, squalene, lipophilic and hydrophilic phenols. You may have heard of some of these antioxidants as they are used in skin and hair care due to their ability to help our skin repair damage and prevent aging. Tocopherols, some of the most important nutrients in olive oil, are compounds with high levels of antioxidant activity and extra virgin olive oil is extremely rich in α‐tocopherol, commonly known as vitamin E. Vitamin E works on the skin in the same way it works on the body: by fighting against free radicals which cause damage to skin cells, ultimately creating fine lines, wrinkles and other forms of premature ageing. So by using olive oil skincare you are arming your skin with the antioxidant defences it needs to keep yourself looking young and healthy. In addition, studies have shown that naturally occurring forms of vitamin E, like those found in extra virgin olive oil, are more beneficial than synthetic forms of vitamin E as they are more easily absorbed into the skin and stay in the cells for a longer period of time. So it’s important that your skincare includes ingredients with naturally occurring vitamin E, such as extra virgin olive oil, and that they’re not just fortified with a synthetic form of vitamin E as they are less effective.
What’s up with extra virgin olive oil?
It’s important to understand the difference between regular olive oil and extra virgin olive oil to get the most out of using olive oil for health and in skincare. Extra virgin olive oil is unrefined meaning it’s never not treated with chemicals. This is important because when treated and made impure, olive oil loses some of its amazing skin and health benefits. Extra virgin olive oil is considered to be the highest grade of olive oil and retains the lovely taste and as much of the nutrient benefits as possible. Not only is our olive oil skincare made with quality extra virgin olive oil, but this olive oil is also farm grown and cold pressed. We cold press our olives (mechanically instead of with heat) so to retain the nutrients that would be lost with heat treatment. Growing the olives in Victoria means that we are able to control their growing environment and eliminate the need for using shelf stabilisers that taint the quality since we grow, cold press and bottle the olives seasonally and all within a small distance.
The olive oil product you need in your skincare routine
Our Olive Balm provides intense hydration for luscious lips, healthy cuticles, soft elbows, smooth heals and relief for any other area effected by dryness or cracking. It can also help with inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis, tender and cracked nipples associated with breastfeeding, and painful nappy rash. The amazing properties of extra virgin olive oil that we’ve listed above are put to use in our Olive Balm, with our farm grown, cold pressed, extra virgin olive oil being the main active ingredient in our soothing balm. In addition to extra virgin olive oil, our Olive Balm is enriched with ingredients that moisturise dry and damaged skin. These ingredients include ingredients which have been shown to reduce water loss from the skin barrier such as beeswax, tocopherol (liquid vitamin E) and soybean oil. All of these ingredients work in harmony to help achieve skin that is soft, smooth and luscious.
You can purchase our 80g tub of Olive Balm here.
You can purchase our 15g tube of Olive Balm here.
See the full list of Olive Balm uses here.
Happy balming!