Olive Oil Face Mask - Recipes, Properties & Benefits

Stress, pollutants, foods, drugs and exposure to ultra-violet rays are all factors that abuse the skin and contribute to premature aging of the face.

Is there a natural remedy to counteract the daily abuse of the skin? The easiest and most economical is regularly applying a facial mask with olive oil. Have you noticed that many cosmetic products such as soaps, lotions, night creams, anti -wrinkle creams, shower gels, shampoos, etc. contain olive oil ?

The extra virgin olive oil is an ideal cosmetic ingredient to nourish, repair, moisturize, and protect your face. Today I propose a very simple anti-aging mask recipe, suitable for all skin types, regardless of your gender or age (Men can enjoy it too!). Follow a description of the properties and benefits of olive oil in cosmetic use.

Homemade Olive oil mask recipe

Composition :

½ teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
1 egg
1 tablespoon unrefined flour
¼ teaspoon sea salt
1 tablespoon whole milk

Method of preparation of facial mask with olive Oil :

Whisk the whole egg in a bowl. Add the olive oil and flour. Mix well to form a smooth paste without lumps. Finally, add salt and milk.

Homemade olive oil mask :

First wash your face with warm water and dry. Apply the mask with olive oil on the face and massage, gently exfoliating the skin. Leave the beauty mask on for about 20 minutes before rinsing your face with warm water.

Properties of olive oil in cosmetics

Olive oil is extracted from the fruit of olive (Olea europea) growing in olive groves.

The extra virgin olive oil is an unrefined olive oil containing monounsaturated (oleic acid) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic acid and alpha linoleic) fatty acids. These fatty acids are precursors of prostaglandins and help to moisturize the skin, making it supple and firm.

Oleic acid has proven to be an excellent regenerator of skin cells, beneficial in delaying the onset of wrinkles.

Olive oil contains antioxidants, including three that help to delay skin aging: squalene, squalane, and hydroxytyrosol.

Squalene and squalane provide some protection against free radicals and prevent the oxidation of lipids in our skin. Squalene is naturally present in the oils produced by the sebaceous glands of the skin, but decreases with age.

Squalane is a major component of the hydro-lipid film that has the property to protect the skin from external aggressions.

The hydroxytyrosol (phenolic compound) is one of the most powerful antioxidants known today. It neutralizes free radicals and prevents the proteins of the skin from being damaged. When applied to the skin after exposure to the sun, olive oil reduces the risk of developing certain cancers of the skin.

Studies on mice have shown that the application of the olive oil immediately after exposure to UVB radiation has a preventive effect on the formation of tumors and skin cancers.

The hydroxytyrosol also has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties and is beneficial for treating sunburns and other minor burns.

In addition to their anti-aging action, these three natural ingredients protect the skin from dehydration (emollient) and provide the skin with flexibility, elasticity and softness.

Vitamin E (tocopherol) contained in the olive oil is an antioxidant agent which also has the virtue of promoting the cutaneous microcirculation, which increases the intake of nutrients and waste disposal to the skin. The skin becomes healthier and more beautiful.

Olive oil penetrates the skin without clogging pores and without leaving an oily film on the skin’s surface. It soothes dry and sensitive skin and relieves itching caused by dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis.

Olive oil is an excellent natural cleanser, especially for sensitive skin and for the eye area. Olive oil can also help reduce stretch marks from losing or gaining weight.

Olive oil is also used in cosmetics as a nourishing, soothing and healing male shaving oil. Its application prevents razor burn and soothes irritations due to daily shaving.

Italian women in the Calabria region regularly use olive oil for external use to take care of their hair and their hands.

Jeanne Calment, who died at the age of 122, attributed her longevity and relatively youthful appearance to the medicinal properties of olive oil. She used to, in fact, sprinkle it on all of her food and rub it on her skin regularly!

Properties of the ingredients in the mask with olive oil

The egg is a common and natural ingredient which has the cosmetologic property of tightening the pores of the skin.

In fact, the egg yolk is composed of albumin which slightly dries the skin, refines skin texture, and tightens pores. Although the effect is short-lived, the sensation is pleasant, the egg stretches the skin and smoothes wrinkles.

Egg white, meanwhile, soothes sunburn and gently removes excess fat from the surface of the skin.

Unrefined flour is used to give consistency to the face mask.

Sea salt stimulates blood circulation and helps stimulate cell regeneration. Salt also has exfoliating properties that helps to remove dead skin cells and improves the symptoms of acne, psoriasis and eczema.

Whole milk contains lactic acid and has the virtue of soothing and softening dry and itchy skin. Milk has the property to moisturize the skin while helping in smoothing wrinkles and tightening the skin pores, the same way that the egg yolk does.

How can one benefit from all the virtues of olive oil ?

To receive all cosmetic benefits of olive oil, it should not just be applied to the face in a homemade mask. It should also be consumed internally by incorporating it into the diet daily. There are many olive oils on the market, but only virgin olive oil has all the virtues we have just enumerated.

Author : Alexis ROGER

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