6 DIY Ways To Use Olive Oil For Your Skin

Olive oil has earned its place in every kitchen. How often do you find an ingredient that’s healthy and can make anything it’s drizzled over delicious? But if you’re using extra virgin olive oil only in your salad dressings, you’re not making full use of this incredible oil. Olive oil is just as beneficial in your beauty cabinet and your cleaning caddy as it is on your kitchen shelves. Here are seven creative ways to use olive oil that have probably never crossed your mind.

# As A Shaving Cream

If you have very sensitive skin, then you might be breaking out in a rash every time you shave. Harsh shaving creams and aftershaves don’t helps things much either since they both contain ingredients that could irritate your skin. If you’re looking for a more gentle way to get a clean shave, rub your skin with olive oil first. Olive oil softens your hair, making it easier to shave. But most importantly, it protects and moisturizes your skin so you won’t break out after shaving.

# As An Exfoliator

Every once in awhile, your skin needs some extra help shedding dead skin cells. Dead skin cells can make your skin look dull and lifeless. Exfoliating twice a week helps slough away dead skin, giving way to radiant, new skin. To make your own exfoliator, combine 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil with a tiny bit of salt. The salt scrubs away dead skin while olive oil moisturizes your skin and prevents it from drying out. This DIY natural exfoliator is a lot safer to use than store-bought ones if you have sensitive skin.

# To Grow Your Nails

Are your short, brittle nails the bane of your existence? Weak nails might be because your nails are too dry to be able to grow properly. Every night before you go to bed, massage your nails and cuticles with olive oil. It’s important that you don’t forget about your cuticles because this is the bed from where your new nails start to grow. If you nourish them from the early stages, they’re more likely to grow long and strong.

# To Soothe A Sunburn

Nobody’s perfect, there comes a time when even the best of us forget to put on sunscreen. If you have sunburn after a long day outside, then it can feel very dry and itchy. Commercial moisturizers might irritate your broken skin even further because they contain harsh chemicals. The gentlest and most effective way to moisturize your skin when it’s sunburned is to slather it with olive oil. Olive oil reduces itching and speeds up your skin’s recovery. It even contains a compound called oleocanthal which some studies suggest might be able to prevent cancer.

# To Remove Your Makeup

Going to sleep with your makeup on is one of the biggest cardinal sins you can commit. If you’re relying on just your face wash to remove your makeup, then you’d be surprised by how much makeup is still left behind in your pores. You don’t need to buy expensive makeup removers when you have olive oil. Olive oil effortlessly dissolves makeup, so you can wipe it all off in one sweep. It also nourishes your skin, so you can go to bed with healthy, clean skin.

# For A Relaxing Bath

In the cold winter months especially, your skin can become very dry. Even if you’re using moisturizers after a bath, your skin might still feel stretchy and start to flake off. The best way to tackle dry skin is to start right from the time you step into a bath. Add half a cup of olive oil to your bath water the next time you have a bath. Olive oil moisturizes your skin and prevents soap from drying it out. It also releases a soothing aroma that can melt all your stress away.