Is there any reason not to use olive oil as a moisturizer?

It is expensive.

I am a cosmetic formulator. If olive oil works for you then, use it. Some people find it sticky. Rice bran oil might be an option or even something as cheap as Canola oil (which is a semi-dry oil) ... most people find using a 100% fat too oily…. so they most often choose a cream that is a combination of water, mixed with a emollient to bind it to an oil or other fat. Because of the water content, there also, then, needs to be a preservative and then the masking fragrance. Don’t be afraid to use what works for you, regardless.

When I use it on my face, it makes me break out. On my body is totally fine, though it’s more oily than shea butter (which I prefer), so it’s longer before I can put clothes on after a shower.

@deni The first time I heard of olive oil as a moisturizer I thought it was strange. But every time I use it, say for a pizza or similar dish my hands come out really soft. Go for it. It’s great stuff.

Someone might try to eat you!

Should be fine. I personally use coconut oil. Olive oil makes me break out, but everyone is different.
I also like to wash my hair with baking soda instead of shampoo. In fact, if you like the idea of using foodstuffs for personal beauty care, there’s a blog you might like.

There’s nothing wrong with it @deni. Mediterrean women use it all the time.

For me, I prefer organic coconut oil as it absorbs into the skin quickly, smells great and doesn’t leave you oily or sticky. Grapeseed oil is fantastic for skin, absorbs quickly and is perfect for sensitive or allergic skinned people. (I love the stuff for my feet!!!)

Would you be surprised to know that olive oil is sprayed on a freshly baked pizza?

It gives the pixxa a “freshness glow” and keepts it fresh-;looking for hours.

If it can go into your body, it should be safe to apply it on your body.

I use it on occasion, when I feel like pampering myself. It’s too much for my combination skin to use all the time, though. There was a time I was using EVOO instead of hair conditioner. My hair looked great. My face looked like a nerdy teenager on Prom weekend. Not cool.

I’d love to find a natural moisturizer for skin that is oily on the T-zone, otherwise dry, and prone to blackheads. Anyone with a suggestion?

@Seek_Kolinahr I also have sensitive combination skin with black heads. The only thing I can use to moisturize my entire face is pure aloe.

Almond oil is also nice for the body, the face, a hair defrizzer, and as a bonus, a finishing oil for the cook.

A threefer, or possibly a fourfer.

It makes your skin feel, well, oily.

@lonelydragon It doesn’t make me feel oily. I have dry skin to begin with though and now that I live in an especially dry climate I started using an olive oil and salt scrub in the shower to moisturize so I figured, why not use it out of the shower as well! Minus the salt. So I think it doesn’t feel oily to me because I’m more dry than average.

I did assume one reason people don’t use it is cause it makes them break out….that’s why I’m hesitant to use more than a tiny bit on my face but…..we’ll see! THanks yall.

Oh and whoever suggested Grapeseed Oil….I’ve been meaning to look into getting some, I’ve heard great things. Thanks for the reminder.

Nope. It’s close to your skin’s pH. Of course, don’t use too much if you have oily skin.

@Seek_Kolinahr have you tried organic extra virgin coconut oil? I have similar skin issues and it works really well for me. It’s expensive, but it WORKS!

Olive oil is also a fantastic make-up remover.

You lotion up in front of others? I know of no reason to stop using olive oil. I use it in my hair as a treatment.

It’s kind of expensive though…

Olive oil is a great moisturizer. If you ever want to smell as delicious in another way, try coconut oil. My wife buys it. It liquefies at room temperature, and it is great for your hair as well.

@MollyMcGuire Well I do my arms at work (it’s a restaurant) and my hands get really dry from the terrible soap we have to use all the time. I have no choice really. But at home when my roommates see me do it they look at me like Huh? But they’re guys, so of course.

Fractionated coconut oil is liquid at room temperature. Whole coconut oil is solid at room temperature. Some brands smell of coconut, others do not. I think extraction method has something to do with this, else they are scented artificially.

@deni Maybe my skin just isn’t dry enough for the oil to completely soak in.

@lonelydragon Seems entirely possible! So I guess my dryness is a bit of a lucky charm in a way lol. For me at least, cause I do enjoy the glow of the olive oil.

@cazzie

Which would you recommend for direct topical application, fractionated or whole?

Whole, organic, and virgin.

@Seek_Kolinahr You said you have combination skin? Coconut oil is quite heavy, but it is incredibly stable, as in it won’t oxygenate quickly, so it doesn’t go rancid as quick as many other oils. I wouldn’t put whole coconut fat on my face every day. I know it would clog my pores and make my blackheads worse. I don’t do much with the fractionated, but I have heard it makes a good massage oil, so, that tells me that it doesn’t absorb into the skin and likes to sit on top.

In absolute honesty, the best thing to put on your face is a well formulated sunblock. With your fair skin and living in Florida, there is nothing else that will lessen the look of aging better, (unless you smoke, in that case stop smoking) Not smoking, enough sleep and sunblock are the three of the four things that we can control that lessens the signs of aging. The fourth thing we have no control over, and that is who are parents are and our genetic make up.

I live at 63 degrees north latitude and our winters are so dry and cold, we plaster our faces with non-water bonded fat of some sort. My personal preference is shea butter with rice bran oil.

If you are going to put a straight oil directly on your face, I would make it rice bran oil. They have been doing this for centuries in Japan. Rice bran oil is full of vitamin E and other pretty amazing anti-oxydent properties. It is good to eat and good to put on your skin. Canola oil is also good because it is a semi-dry oil, absorbs well, doesn’t feel sticky and there have been studies done on it’s effectiveness in assisting the healing process on irritated skin.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8746332
“The observed effects of canola oil and its fraction of unsaponifiable lipids on SLS-induced irritation suggest the possibility that they assisted the skin in supplying the damaged barrier with adequate lipids.”

This is why the salt scrubs I make are so amazingly popular. They contain canola oil and almond oil. They condition the skin and the salt exfoliates.

Canola oil is so ‘unsexy’ but when you study long chain fatty acids, lipids and unsaponifiable fats, humble canola oil gets a lot more sexy.

If you read up on rice bran oil, that is some pretty sexy stuff, too.

I know I say this often, @cazzie, but I love you. Fantastic advice as usual. I do need to invest in a good sunscreen.
^_^

And I only smoke when I’m on fire. Too bad my mom looks like Rod Stewart.