Most homes have a trusty bottle of olive oil sitting in a kitchen cupboard, but there are beauty uses for the oil too.
Olive oil is packed with vitamins A and E making it the perfect solution for dry winter skin. Plus, it has anti-ageing properties as it contains hydroxytyrosol which helps prevent cell degeneration.
If you’re thinking ‘wouldn’t olive oil cause breakouts?’, the answer is no. It can actually treat acne and pimples as it’s a natural antibacterial, cleanses out the toxins that blocks up pores. Find out more unusual uses for olive oil below:
Olive oil bath
Italian actress Sophia Loren swears by this beauty trick. To enjoy a bath for soft, smooth skin just add 5 tablespoons of olive oil to the tub, and voila!
Eye make-up remover
Gently remove the toughest of eye make-up, like waterproof mascara, by simply adding 1 tablespoon of olive oil to roughly 80ml of water.
Pictures: iStock.
Nail soak
A mini olive oil bath for your nails can do wonders. It will help strengthen your nails as well as moisturise your cuticles. Slightly warm up a bowl of olive oil to room temperature for a soak.
DIY lip scrub
Mix 1 1/2 teaspoons of brown sugar with a teaspoon of olive oil to create a scrub for your chapped winter lips. You can also add a squeeze of lemon juice to enhance the exfoliation.
Anti-ageing face wash
Reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, and firm up your skin with this simple face wash. Apply olive oil to your face and neck, then place a heated cloth over your face for 30 seconds to create a steam. Gently remove the oil with a warm cloth.
ALSO SEE: 7 Ways To Include Turmeric In Your Beauty Routine
PLUS: 13 Ways To Use Coconut Oil In Your Home
Lash and brow conditioner
Dip a cotton bud into a capful of olive oil and apply it generously to your eyelashes and eyebrows before you head to bed. The result? Longer and thicker lashes and brows.
Make-up brush cleaner
Clean your brushes without fear that you’ll dry out the fibres. For soft make-up brushes all year round, add 1/4 cup of olive oil to 1/2 cup of anti-bacterial liquid soap. Then, dip your brushes into the mixture and swirl on the back of your hand or a textured cleaning mat. After all the dirt has been loosened, rinse your brush under lukewarm water and lay down to dry on a clean towel.
Stretch mark remedy
Olive oil has skin regeneration properties and it can help increase skin elasticity. This makes it a great choice to use as a body oil after a shower at night to help reduce the appearance of stretch marks.
Deep conditioning hair treatment
Create a hair treatment at home if your locks are looking lackluster and dry. To prepare the DIY nourishing hair mask, warm up a blob of hair conditioner in the microwave until it’s more fluid, then add 1-2 teaspoons of olive oil. Apply the mask generously to ends of your hair and leave it to do its magic. To remove oil make sure you shampoo your hair well.
DISCLAIMER: Before trying new beauty treatments, it is advised that you speak to your doctor or dermatologist. You must not rely on the information on this website/newsletter as an alternative to professional advice from your doctor or dermatologist. ALSO, please take caution when handling heated oil and don’t apply if warmer than room temperature.
