Beauty On A Budget

Hello. I’m Jessica, a woman who happens to love George Michael, peaches, and most of all, skincare and makeup. Now let me introduce you to my skin, which is quite a different creature. My skin is a temperamental toddler who quickly shifts its mood without warning. It’s oily. It’s dry. It’s broken out. It’s clear. I was once the parent who overindulged this volatile kid with expensive products to keep its sudden tantrums at bay. That is, until I realized I was broke. This worrisome revelation forced me to become resourceful. My skin, I discovered—just like a child who thinks a mundane item, such as a box, is a fun toy—could be placated and fooled with inexpensive alternatives.  

Olive oil came to be my first love in my quest to substitute my expensive products with affordable ones. I remember trying a product from DHC, a Japanese company that uses olive oil as a major part of its brand and product components. I thought their moisturizing oil and cleanser were great—they left my skin feeling smooth and clean. Then this bizarre idea hatched in my head: what if I used olive oil by itself to get the same effect? After doing some research, I came across the numerous beneficial elements and uses that extra virgin olive oil promises for the skin.

First things first—it is important to purchase extra virgin olive oil, as it has the highest level of antioxidants. These eliminate skin cell-damaging free radicals.The oil cleansing method (OCM) is an extremely effective way of removing both makeup and sebum that is trapped within the pore. Remember: like removes like. Excess oil from the skin can be eliminated using extra virgin olive oil because the squalene in it is very similar in composition to sebum, and keeps oil production at normal levels. The OCM is a great way to cleanse skin in a way that won’t ever dry it out. If you have dry skin, you can make this your main cleanser. Those with oily skin can use it initially for a deep clean, afterward using a gentle cleanser to take away the feeling of any residue.

Extra virgin olive oil also makes a wonderful nighttime moisturizer that offers more benefits than just hydration. You might think that it would clog pores when left on the skin, but it absorbs wonderfully in a few hours (plus, the squalene mentioned earlier helps to eliminates excess oil production and moisturizes simultaneously). Squalene also inhibits the growth of microorganisms and creates a barrier against environmental irritants, and oleic acid softens the skin. The plant-derived phenols in olive oil also help to reverse and prevent UV damage. In addition, it contains numerous antioxidants, including vitamins E, K, and A. Vitamin E helps to boost healing and promote collagen production, vitamin K increases healthy blood circulation (especially focus the olive oil under the eyes, as it will help to lessen the appearance of dark circles. Blood can become trapped under the epidermis and oxidize, turning the area dark, and vitamin K helps to correct this), and vitamin A acts as an anti-aging ingredient, sloughing off dead cells and inducing collagen synthesis to create firm skin.

You’ll be hearing a lot more from me, not only about money-saving skin care, but also about how to get the most of your makeup. Until we meet again, dear readers, happy olive oiling!

Sources:

The World’s Healthiest Foods: Extra Virgin Olive Oil: 

The Source Skincare: Olive Oil Skin Care – Using Olive Oil for Skin: