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Olive oil has been used in the cooking industry as well as the beauty industry. This attribute makes olive oil has one of the most significant oils in regards to skin beauty. Despite the good use of olive oil, it also possesses some side effects that are majorly overlooked completely. Therefore, if you are using olive oil as part of your skincare routine, then you need to know more about this. Continue reading this article to find out more about the cosmetics side effect of olive oil.
3 Types of Olive Oil
Olive oil is an extracted oil from olive fruit. It constitutes various essential products required for the skin as well as the body as a whole. It contains different kinds of fatty acids, antioxidants which have proven to be quite useful to the skin. It also contains moisturizing agents which are primarily found in most the skincare products.
As an organic oil, it can be used by virtually everyone. There are different types of olive oil you need to know about, these include
Pure Olive Oil
Olive oil in its pure form is highly acidic. This particular is refined and it is suitable to be used
Extra Virgin Oil
If you want the best for your skin, extra virgin oil is the best. It is not refined and hence good for use. Although it seems costly
Virgin Olive Oil
This type of oil is commonly used for cooking because of its low acidic content
Lampante Olive Oil
Some olive oils are used as fuel and lampante is an example of such olive oil. It should be used for cooking.
Despite its numerous characteristics, it can also be a source of nightmares for some people. Read on to find out more!
What Are the Benefits of Using Olive Oil on the Skin?
In case you are just exploring olive oil and you wish to add it to part of your skincare routine, then you need to know some of the benefits olive oil has to offer. Here are some of the benefits!
1. Moisturizing Agent
Moisturizing is an essential part of your day-to-day skincare routine and a good moisturizing agent is an olive oil. It helps to hydrate some dry parts of the body such as the hands, legs, ankles, and so on. Using olive oil in these areas can help prevent some skin problems. However, it is not exactly applicable to the face except if used with some other skincare products. Only a limited portion of it should be applied to the face to maintain the face’s smoothness and glow.
2. Makeup Cleanser
There is some oil-based cleanser that is commonly used on the face to remove make up. In most cases, the active ingredient in those cleansers could be olive oil. It is an excellent removal of your foundation, mascara, eyeliner, and so on. In case, you find it difficult to remove your stubborn makeup, get yourself an olive oil!
3. Antioxidant Property
Olive oil is rich in various antioxidants. Antioxidants such as vitamin A, D, E, and K prevent skin aging, wrinkles, fine lines and protect your skin from free radicals. If you are looking forward to smoothing your body, olive oil could just be the answer.
4. Unclogs Pores
Olive oil is greatly absorbed by the body by opening up pores. Blackheads and whiteheads are majorly reduced by olive oil due to this beneficial property. It penetrates deep into the skin to prevent the possible occurrence of blackheads and whiteheads.
5. Hair Care
Olive oil is also used in the production of most hair products. It makes the hair looks brighter and smoother. In case you are planning for a DIY hair product, you can add an appropriate amount of olive, egg yolk, and paste together which can then be used on the hair leaving it shiny, smoother, and brighter.
6. Therapeutic
Another benefit of olive oil is its therapeutic nature. It has some basic anti-inflammatory properties that act as a natural remedy for the skin. When you have black spots, scars as a result of pimples, olive oil is one of the best oil you can use to clear up those spots and scars. Consider olive oil as a “natural healer”.
7. Shaving Cream
Another good thing about olive oil is its use in shaving. Forget about developing burns and bumps, when you use it. The antioxidants present in it will help prevent such occurrences
What Are the Side Effects of Olive Oil?
There are some side effects of olive oil that are mostly overlooked. These side effects on skin type and the level of usage. If you have very sensitive skin, then, olive oil might not be quite good for you. For this reason, this section will talk primarily about the downside of using olive oil.
1. Causes Acne
Olive oil contains fatty acids. As such fatty acids can lead to the breakout of acne. Acne can be caused when there is excessive use of olive oil on the face. It clogs the skin upon excessive usage making it not absorbed by the skin readily and hence creating some sort of thick layer over the face and results in acne. While the face is in this condition, it becomes attractive to dirt, dust, particles which will cause the high production of sebum and finally result in acne as well as pimples.
As a tip, you should apply olive oil twice in a week to prevent excessive use that could lead to the breakout of acne.
2. Skin Rashes
People with oily skin types are quite prone to developing skin rashes. This is because of the oily nature of the skin – uncontrolled sebum production. With the high use of olive oil and high production of sebum, it can lead to break out skin rashes.
3. Allergies
Olive oil can also irritate the skin leading to certain allergies such as eczema, contact dermatitis, and so on. Allergies occur upon the topical usage of the oil or when you ingest food that contains olive oil. Therefore, if your skin is prone to reaction, then you should stay away from olive oil as far as possible.
4. Not Good For People with Dry Skin
Olive oil is known to contain oleic acid which has been shown by research that it can strip the skin of its natural moisturizing abilities. This is not good for people with very dry skin. You don’t want your skin to go any dry again, hence you should as well stay away from using olive oil. Furthermore, it could also lead to inflammation of the skin. This is associated with the oleic acid which can lead to the overproduction of lipopolysaccharide. When lipopolysaccharide is present in large quantity in the bloodstream, it could result to inflammation
5. Causes Blackheads
In some individuals, the use of olive oil can lead to the growth of blackheads on the skin. This is associated with the fact that olive oil could lead to the formation of some thick layers over the face. These thick layers make the skin retain more dirt, dust, and particles than usual and hence could lead to the growth of blackheads.
6. Cannot Be Used For Infants
Infants are more prone to the side effects of olive oil due to their sensitive skin. The oleic acid present in olive oil can increase the risk of developing dermatitis. Its sticky nature can form a thick layer of their body which will lead to the accumulation of dirt, dust, and particles that can result in skin rashes and some other allergies. Therefore, avoid the use of olive oil on infants completely.
How You Should Use Olive Oil?
Due to the adverse effect that olive oil can have on the skin, you should know how to apply olive oil on your skin. The best olive oil you can use on your skin is the non-refined type. An example of the non-refined type is the extra virgin oil. This type of oil contains most of the beneficial properties of olive oil.
Likewise, you also use your olive oil as a moisturizer or you could mix it with your regular moisturizer. When using oils, ensure to put them at the last stage of your skincare routine. Also, when using skincare especially if you have sensitive skin, be sure to use it as recommended. Apply it to your skin in small quantities. Avoid using an excess of it over the face to prevent the occurrence of skin-related conditions such as acne, contact dermatitis, eczema, and so on
Conclusion
The use of olive oil in cosmetic products is of great benefits. It offers benefits such as moisturizing, makeup remover, therapeutic effects and much more. However, it could also be a nightmare to some people depending on skin types and level of usage. It could result to frequent breakouts, allergies and some other cosmetic problems. Although, its benefits outweigh its disadvantages if used with care.
