Olive oil is a delicious cooking oil. But did you know that olive oil benefits your skin, hair, and fingernails when used in a beauty routine?
Researchers have found olive oil benefits related to skincare, hair, and other health-related things. Olive oil is in many skin and hair products already, but you can take it a step further than that.
Make sure that you get extra virgin olive oil because it retains antioxidants and bioactive compounds from olives. Sometimes you will find an olive oil that says “extra virgin” but is diluted with refined oils. You will want to read the label to know for sure.
Olive oil is packed full of health benefits, is delicious on food, can prevent disease, and treat ailments. With the many olive oil benefits, it’s a staple you should always have in your cupboard.
21 Incredible Olive Oil Benefits
Try using this naturally healthy product to reap these many benefits.
1. Protects Your Hair From Hard Water
If you have hard water, olive oil can be a pre-shampoo treatment. Apply a little to your hair before shampooing, and your hair will have a layer of protection. The minerals in hard water can make your hair brittle, but the oil will make it softer and less likely to break.
For the best results, put the oil on and leave it overnight before showing in the morning. If you can’t wait that long, leave it in your hair for at least 30 minutes.
2. Clears Ear Wax Build Up
Putting a few drops of olive oil in your ears before bed can help clear ear wax buildup. If you have ear wax buildup, you will likely notice a feeling of fullness inside your ear, pain, ringing, or partial hearing loss. Using olive oil in your ear before irrigation seems to help remove it, as well.
3. Repairs Dry, Cracked Lips
If you use olive oil in a homemade lip scrub, you can experience quick relief from dry, cracked lips. Mix the oil with sugar and use it as an all-natural lip remedy. To switch it up a little, you can even add a little lemon juice to the mixture.
Olive oil is effective for lip care because it has skin barrier repair and moisturizing properties. It also promotes cell turnover rates, allowing for the growth of new and healthy skin. Additionally, olive oil holds moisture in, keeping your lips from drying out.
4. Fends Off Razor Burn
Razor burn is uncomfortable and painful, but olive oil offers a natural solution to that problem. It works just as well as regular shaving cream, but it doesn’t cause bumps or razor burn. When you use olive oil, your blade will glide smoothly over your skin while moisturizing it, as well.
5. Adds Shine To Your Hair
Hair products can cost quite a bit of money and not work as well as you’d like. Olive oil is beneficial for hair, inexpensive, and has many uses, though. Rather than splurging on name-brand products, consider using this natural product that you might already have.
Olive oil adds shine to your hair, giving it a glossy finish after you style it. Apply only a few drops to the ends of your hair to avoid making it look greasy.
You can also add shine to your hair with olive oil by using it as a conditioner. Mix equal parts oil and water, and then apply the mixture to your scalp. Leave it on for 10 minutes, and then wash with shampoo for a shiny finish.
6. Effective Natural Makeup Remover
While you might think that using oil on your face is a bad idea, extra virgin olive oil is an exception. This oil offers an all-natural and affordable makeup removal option. It easily removes oil-based products from your skin, allowing for a gentle removal option.
Use a little bit of olive oil on your skin before using your regular facial products. You will still want to wash your face with a cleanser after you remove your makeup. Not only is olive oil affordable, but it also doesn’t contain harsh ingredients that other makeup removes have.
7. Conditions Nail Cuticles
If you suffer from brittle nails, it could be that your cuticles are dried out. Using olive oil on your cuticles after washing your hands will help them stay soft, allowing your nails to be healthier. Healthy cuticles lead to nourished, strong nails.
One of the reasons that olive oil is so beneficial to your cuticles is its vitamin E content. The vitamin E is easily absorbed into your nail bed, hydrating and healing your cuticles. Conditioned cuticles also mean that they are tight, which prevents painful hangnails.
8. Repairs Cracked Heels
Olive oil works wonders on dry, cracked heels. Start by exfoliating your feet and then applying a little oil. Put a pair of socks on over the oil, and leave the socks on overnight.
As you sleep, the moisturizing oil will soak into your skin, repairing the damage on your heels. Without intervention, your feet will continue to dry out because they have no oil glands.
9. Rich In Monounsaturated Fats
Since it is full of monounsaturated fats, olive oil is one of the healthiest oils you can use. It reduces inflammation and can even reduce your risk of cancer. Since it is rich in monosaturated fat, olive oil can help reduce bad cholesterol in your blood, too.
10. Helps Treat Eczema
Olive oil has moisturizing properties and is beneficial for treating eczema. Just a little bit of this oil on dry patches of skin will make a huge difference. If you want to remove dead skin cells as you moisturize your eczema breakouts, add a little sea salt to the olive oil.
11. Holds Real Anti-inflammatory Powers
Extra virgin olive oil has many anti-inflammatory properties, making it beneficial for treating inflammation. It reduces inflammation markers in your body, and as a result, can ease symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune diseases.
12. Has Lots Of Antioxidants
The antioxidants in olive oil reduce your risk of developing chronic diseases and prevent cholesterol oxidation. With over 30 types of antioxidants, you will have protection from free radicals. Between free radical protection and decreased risk of chronic disease, antioxidants prove essential to maintaining your health.
13. Reduces Your Chance Of Stroke
Since strokes are one of the leading causes of death, anything that reduces your chance of having one is beneficial. Implementing olive oil into your diet reduces your chance of having a strong exponentially.
14. Prevents Split Ends
Using olive oil on your hair nourishes it, repairing and preventing split ends. If your hair is damaged, give yourself a hot oil hair massage. You will have to heat the oil up for this, so be careful not to make it too hot.
Start by putting a small amount of olive oil into a heat-safe container. Then, place that container inside of a larger one that is full of hot water. Once the oil heats up, apply the oil all over your scalp and then comb your hair with a wide-tooth comb.
Leave the oil on your hair for 15 to 30 minutes. Once the time has passed, wash your hair with shampoo and apply conditioner. This process is sure to prevent split ends, giving you a beautiful head of hair.
15. Protects You From Heart Disease
Consuming more extra virgin olive oil can help prevent heart disease. With heart disease being the number one cause of death, implementing this oil into your diet is essential.
Olive oil protects you from heart disease because it lowers inflammation, decreases bad cholesterol, and improves the lining of your blood vessels. Studies show that it could even prevent blood clotting and lower blood pressure.
16. Fends Off Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease begins with a buildup of beta-amyloid plaques in your brain cells. Luckily, research shows that olive oil can help remove that plaque, helping prevent the disease from setting in. While more research is necessary for this area, what scientists have discovered so far indicates a positive effect on your brain.
17. Has Anti-cancer Properties
Cancer is a terrifying disease that seems to hit when least expected. Using extra virgin olive oil can help prevent cancer from taking over your life. The anti-cancer properties are directly related to the antioxidants found in olive oil and their ability to reduce free radicals.
18. Reduces Risk Of Developing Type 2 Diabetes
Extra virgin olive oil can help maintain normal blood sugar levels and increase insulin sensitivity. Studies show that implementing this oil in your diet can reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes by up to 40%.
Olive oil can also help those who already have type 2 diabetes. Consuming about two tablespoons each day can reduce fasting blood sugar and 2-hour blood sugar to normal levels.
19. Reduces Dandruff
If you have dandruff, extra virgin olive oil can help moisturize your scalp while relieving inflammation and itching. The rich fat content of olive oil will help keep your scalp soft, smooth, and hydrated as it penetrates your skin.
To use olive oil for reducing dandruff, apply the extra virgin olive oil directly to your scalp. Wash your scalp first, and apply the oil while your skin is still damp.
20. It Is Antibacterial
The antibacterial properties of olive oil can fight off bacteria that cause cancer and stomach ulcers. Studies show that olive oil fights off bacteria that even antibiotics can’t fight. Consuming 30 grams of this oil each day can eliminate the infection in just a couple of weeks.
21. Treats Wrinkles
The moisturizing and antioxidant properties of olive oil led it to be one of the best ways to treat wrinkles. All you have to do is apply a few drops to your skin before bed, and anti-aging genes are activated. It reduces cellular stress and oxidative damage while reducing the activity of enzymes that cause collagen loss.
Final Thoughts on Olive Oil Benefits for Skin, Hair, and More
With the wide variety of olive oil benefits for skin, hair, and other health-related issues, it is a must-have in your cupboard. Keep it stocked in your home, and use it for cooking and for any beauty-related problem you encounter.
As you learn all the olive oil benefits, you will quickly see why you should always have it on hand. Natural treatments like this one can replace many of your daily products and save you money at the same time.
