Why We Love Olive Oil in Our Skincare Products

Step into any kitchen and we’d be willing to bet there’s a bottle of olive oil somewhere. It’s a “go-to” staple ingredient for a good reason. Rich, emollient, and full of beneficial properties, olive oil is what we reach for when creating our goat milk soaps, milk bath, and body scrubs. 

If it’s good enough for the Queen...

Olive oil has long been used as a natural skincare aid. It’s said that the queen of beauty, Cleopatra, took olive oil baths (as well as milk and honey... Mmm!) Bathing in olive oil and milk is kind of what we had in mind when we created our milk bath. After one soak, you’ll emerge from the bath looking as regal as Cleopatra and feeling ready to rule! Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of olive oil in your skincare routine. 

The Benefits of Olive Oil in Skincare

Olive oil is one of our favorite skin superfoods. Full of antioxidants, olive oil can help soothe the skin from irritations like rashes, breakouts, and dryness. It's antifungal properties have also been known to help prevent infections. Olive oil even contains some great-for-your-skin vitamins like vitamin A, E, D, and K. These vitamins encourage the regeneration of cells, brighten the skin, and offer protection from the harmful effects of UV rays. 

Let's not forget two pretty amazing compounds found in olive oil: squalene and oleocanthal. 

Squalene 

Squalene is a natural antioxidant and olive oil is chock-full of the stuff! Our skin actually contains squalene, but due to exposure to UV light and other environmental stressors, our natural supplies of this free-radical fighting antioxidant get depleted. By using products that contain a pure source of olive oil, you can keep that layer of protection up. 

Olive oil contains 300% more squalene than other oils and up to 500% more than other antioxidant-rich foods. Squalene is also a natural emollient, keeping skin soft and supple. One study found that olive oil might help fight skin cancer. In this study, it was applied to the skin of mice after exposure to ultraviolet cancer-causing rays. The results showed that the application of olive oil helped to fight off the cancer cells on the skin. This is believed to be because of the high concentration of squalene.

Oleocanthal

Oleocanthal is part of the polyphenols family which basically means it contains antioxidants that originate from vegetables. It’s also a pretty powerful natural anti inflammatory. Oleocanthal has a similar effect on the body as ibuprofen, without the common side effects. Oleocanthal is also being researched in terms of reducing cancer-causing cells from exposure to UV rays. There's still a lot to learn about these compounds, but based on the research done so far, they’re proving to be rich in benefits for the skin.

Olive Oil Takeaways

Olive oil is great for all skin types, but if you have naturally oily or acne-prone skin, you may want to proceed with caution. Olive oil is comedogenic, meaning that it has the tendency to clog your pores and potentially cause breakouts. If you want to add olive oil to your skincare routine, a light application or using natural products that contain olive oil (like our bars of goat milk soap!) is recommended.  

• Olive oil is a natural ingredient that we use in our products that is one of those “power ingredients.” It has multiple benefits for the skin all packed in one powerful oil! 
• Olive oil is antibacterial. If you have acne-prone skin, you’ll love our Tea Tree or Vienna Rose Goat Milk Soaps, as these bars have essential oils with additional astringent properties to help reduce breakouts. You can also try our salt and sugar scrubs to slough off dead cells, increase circulation, and cleanse all in one step. The olive oil in these scrubs will leave your skin soft, keep bacteria at bay, and help calm your skin. 
• Olive oil is one of the few oils that are naturally GMO-free, and it’s unlikely that olive oil will be genetically modified in the future, so if you are looking to cut GMOs, olive oil is a safe bet.
• In early research, olive oil may help reduce cancer-causing cells that occur as a result of exposure to UV rays. One more reason to get excited about lathering up with our goat milk soap! 
• The chemical structure of olive oil most closely matches that of the natural oils that are on your skin’s surface which maximizes moisture and absorption. If you have dry or sensitive skin, we recommend trying our ultra-moisturizing and essential oil-free Oatmeal & Honey Goat Milk Soap. In addition to the many benefits of olive oil, this bar soap contains real honey to repair and hydrate the skin with the help of powerful antioxidants also known to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles for a radiant complexion!

Back to You

Ready to try out some all-natural skincare products made with olive oil? Grab a bar of our goat milk soap, milk bath, or one of our salt or sugar scrubs and discover how amazing this powerhouse ingredient is for your skin. 

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