Filed Under: Botanicals

Olive Oil for Skin: Is Olive Oil the New Argan Oil?

In the world of social media, health and beauty trends seem to change overnight. A product can dominate the market one week and drop off the face of the earth the next. In a world where even dermatologists can’t keep straight which products are best for your skin, it can be hard to maintain a skincare routine. 

But if there is one thing you can be sure of, it’s this: no matter your skin type or tone, oil is essential to every skincare routine. 

How Do Natural Oils Benefit Skin?

Your skin is at constant war with the world around it, from dirt floating through the air to the harsh parabens in your beauty products. But luckily, your skin has a natural defense: oil. 

Natural oils like sebum coat your skin, creating a natural barrier against buildup. Your body depends on these oils to protect your skin, but too many cleansers and face washes degrade this coating, leaving your face defenseless against breakouts and irritation. To prevent this damage, it’s important to select natural skincare products that will reintroduce these healthy oils back into your skin. 

Argan Oil Is Old News: Meet Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Though argan oil has long been used to help ease skin and hair woes, extra virgin olive oil is the skincare star of today. 

Argan oil does contain some polyphenols and nutrients, but our extra virgin olive oil here at Furtuna Skin takes this one step further with an unmatched nutrient profile.

Our extra virgin olive oil is single source, hand-picked and timed for the best quality, and derived from the best 12 olive varieties on our farm each year.

Extra virgin olive oil is overflowing with nourishment for your skin. The Mediterranean delight has ample doses of vitamin a and vitamin e, plus a high content of squalene, a natural lipid found in plant and skin cells. And if it couldn’t get any better, extra virgin olive oil boasts large percentages of oleic acid — conventional argan oil only contains around 46% oleic acid, while extra virgin olive oil can contain up to 83% oleic acid

Oleic acid is an omega-9 fatty acid that supports health. Common to fruits like olives and avocados, the acid is popular among nature. Even animals benefit from oleic acid: the human body naturally produces the acid, though in smaller quantities than plants. 

Full of natural oils and nutrients, one can’t help but wonder about the skin and health benefits of olive oil. 

What Are the Benefits of Olive Oil?

Your skin depends on natural oils to keep its surface supple and strong. With aesthetic benefits bursting from the seams and health benefits just as abundant, the substance begs the question: what can’t extra virgin olive oil do? 

Skin Benefits 

Not only is olive oil an excellent natural makeup remover, but the natural substance has dozens of benefits that will leave your skin glowing long after your mascara is gone.

  • Daily Dose of Hydration: Olive oil is a natural skin moisturizer. Designed to supplement your skin’s natural hydration, olive oil helps support the skin by replacing sebum oils stripped away by harsh cleansers. And with additional antioxidant benefits that lift skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines, olive-based lotions and face oils are your number one defense against dry skin.
  • Natural Glow: Olive oil is like liquid gold that reintroduces healthy oils to the skin and can reduce signs of aging. In addition to hydrating your skin, this oil’s natural antioxidant properties brighten skin and can even help reduce unwanted pigmentation over time. So, say goodbye to dark spots and say hello to naturally glowing skin.
  • Fewer Breakouts and Blemishes: Though olive oil has many welcome benefits for beautiful skin, its primary purpose is to reinforce your skin barrier against the outside world. Without this protection, your skin is vulnerable to buildup, which can have negative side effects ranging from minor pimples to major skin conditions. To prevent both cases, olive oil supplements your natural oils to block clogged pores on even the most acne-prone skin. 
  • Sunscreen Supplement: On its own, olive oil is not a replacement for sunscreen. However, thanks to its protective qualities, the substance may make a great supplement to your SPF. For extra defense against sun damage, add an extra layer of olive-based oil, like our Biphase Moisturizing Oil, before hitting the beach.

Health Benefits

But olive oil is good for more than just guarding against skin impurities: it has just as many health benefits when ingested as it does aesthetic ones when applied topically. 

  • First Defense Against Skin Conditions: Preventing buildup means more than just reducing small breakouts: your skin’s natural oils are also responsible for protecting against more serious skin conditions. Olive oil’s antioxidant properties defend against skin ailments while remaining gentle on even the most sensitive skin. 
  • Anti-Inflammatory Properties: Olive oil is more than just an antioxidant – the substance is also known for its anti-inflammatory properties when ingested. Supported by inflammation-fighting oleic acid, pure olive oil does more than soothe skin: the product naturally reduces irritation across your body and may help support you against certain illnesses and ailments. Argan oil certainly can’t do that. 

How Can I Incorporate Olive Oil into My Skincare Routine?

Ready to ditch argan oil and let olive oil help nourish and nurture your skin? Thanks to clean beauty’s dedication to all-natural ingredients, it’s never been easier to find high-quality skincare products taking advantage of the fruit’s natural oils. 

Moisturizers 

Whether you prefer lotions or balms, incorporating the hydrating power of olive oil is as simple as swapping your moisturizer. For nourishment you can feel, try our olive-oil based Replenishing Balm. Made with five wild-foraged plants and olive oil, this reparative balm soothes stressed skin while delivering a dynamic dose of hydration unmatched by any argan oil product. 

Face Oils

Another great way to introduce extra hydration to your skin is by adding face oil to your skincare routine. Our Biphase Moisturizing Oil is clinically proven to block free radical damage by 100%, making it a powerful protectant against collagen breakdown. And with a 99.9% natural formula designed to plump and replenish skin, this face oil offers a level of hydration you can’t beat. Our formula contains extra virgin olive oil alongside olive leaf water to serve as an effective hydrator.

The Bottom Line

Though argan oil has had its time in the spotlight, the subpart moisturizer is old news. For high-quality hydration riddles with other health benefits, make the change to pure olive oil. Your skin will thank you for it. 

Sources:

Argan Oil: Chemical Composition, Extraction Process, and Quality Control | Frontiers

Squalane (Olive) | SynBioWatch

Oleic Acid - MeSH | NCBI

Fatty Acid Composition of Cosmetic Argan Oil: Provenience and Authenticity Criteria - PMC) | NCBI.

The Oleic/Linoleic Acid Ratio in Olive (Olea europaea L.) Fruit Mesocarp Is Mainly Controlled by OeFAD2-2 and OeFAD2-5 Genes Together With the Different Specificity of Extraplastidial Acyltransferase Enzymes | PMC.

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