Olive oil, in addition to cooking, is an excellent oil for skin, hair and nails; readily available and not too expensive, it is also an oil that keeps for several months.
It can be applied pure or mixed with other oils to favor its absorption or with essential oils to strengthen its repairing action.
After-sun soothing oil and post-hair removal
Here are the ingredients and quantities to prepare a simple soothing after-sun oil :
> 30 milliliters of extra virgin olive oil
> 20 milliliters of Jojoba liquid wax
> 50 drops of lavender essential oil
The same oil can be massaged after waxing to soften the skin and calm redness due to epilation.
Ever tried the natural hair removal do it yourself?
Olive oil for hair
As well as for the skin, olive oil is also used for the treatment and beauty of hair and nails.
In the case of dull hair and scalp irritation, a soothing mask can be prepared with:
> 20 grams of extra virgin olive oil
> 40 grams of shea butter
> 50 drops of cypress essential oil, or alternatively of rosemary or chamomile, which can be purchased in herbal medicine
After heating the shea butter in a bain-marie, add the olive oil and leave to cool, stirring; once warm, the essential oil is added.
The mask is applied to damp hair before shampooing and is left to act for at least fifteen minutes; it has a nourishing action, protects the color and shine of the hair and soothes the scalp.
Olive oil for nails
To reinforce fragile nails and to reduce stains on the skin of the hands, simply mix:
> two drops of lemon essential oil with
> a teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil.
The oil is then massaged onto the hands in the evening before going to bed and left to act overnight.
Cosmetic properties of olive oil
Thanks to the content of oleic acid and Vitamin E, olive oil has antioxidant properties, protects against the harmful action of free radicals and therefore prevents the effects of aging.
It is a rich and emollient oil that deeply nourishes the skin and regulates its natural hydration system.
It also has a soothing effect on redness and irritation and is well tolerated even by the most sensitive skin; you can also use olive oil on reddened skin of newborns and during pregnancy, to prevent stretch marks.
Olive oil is also used in case of cracking, for the care of lips and hands, to hydrate dry and mature skin or in case of sensitive skin with eczema, psoriasis, herpes.
