Olive oil for body care
Made from the fruit of the tree of the gods, extra virgin olive oil was reputed from antiquity to be as good for the body as a skincare product as it was as a food. Since then, many scientific studies have shown its health benefits. For body care, olive oil was, and still is, used to cleanse, protect and heal.
Cleansing
It is the basis of many soaps, including the famous Marseille soap, which is supposed to contain more than 70% of it. It is also used in shampoos and perfumes.
For soft, radiant skin
Pour 3 or 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil into your bath: you will come out with soft, moisturised, very lightly scented and healthy-looking skin.
A natural make-up remover
Simply apply it with a cotton pad: its make-up removing power will surprise you. The thin film it forms around whatever it is applied to is remarkably effective, even on the most stubborn mascara.
Protecting
Olive oil has useful cosmetic properties: it is emollient (it softens the skin), soothing, prevents dryness and is antioxidant. It is therefore found in many moisturising products (creams, lotions, lip balms…) and massage oils.
In antiquity, women used it to moisturise their bodies and hands and to protect their hair, making it silkier and easier to untangle. Its antibacterial, lubricating and moisturising effects have long been known, and its vitamins E and D and many antioxidants help strengthen the hair and scalp. Some researchers also credit it with an effect against hair loss.
Greek athletes rubbed it on to loosen their muscles before exercise, to protect themselves from blows, sun, wind and cold, and to limit sweating.
Limiting stretch marks
Skin is elastic, but pregnancy usually stretches it beyond its natural capacity, leaving crack-like marks known as stretch marks. By regularly massaging your belly and upper thighs with extra virgin olive oil from the second trimester until the end of pregnancy, you can help reduce this effect: the oil improves the skin's elasticity and helps it renew thanks to its vitamins D and E.
For silky, shiny hair
Before washing your hair, apply a few tablespoons of slightly warmed extra virgin olive oil directly to it. Massage your scalp well, leave for half an hour, then rinse thoroughly with cold water. The oil cleanses, moisturises and softens hair and scalp.
For even softer, shinier hair, try an ancient Egyptian recipe: mix 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, 1 egg yolk and 1 tablespoon of honey, warm slightly and massage well into your hair. Leave for 15 minutes and rinse thoroughly.
Healing
It was taken as a potion to soothe stomach aches, applied as an ointment to soothe burns, irritation and itching, and used as warm drops with a little garlic for earache. Olive leaves were used as an astringent and purifying base; preparations of leaves and olive oil treated all kinds of inflammation, brought down fever and purged the gall bladder.
No more nappy rash
Simply apply a little extra virgin olive oil to your baby's sore bottom after cleaning it: it soothes pain and itching, moisturises the skin and helps prevent nappy rash from getting worse or coming back.
Preventing and repairing excesses
The best remedy, of course, is not to overindulge and to follow the Mediterranean diet! A teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil, even more effective on an empty stomach, coats the lining of the oesophagus, stomach and intestine with a protective layer against acidic food and drink, and coats food, aiding transit. A short course of dried olive leaf tea will then relieve a somewhat overloaded liver and gall bladder.