Olive Oil: Your Best Beauty Secret for Beautiful Skin

Olive oil has long been known to have a number of important health benefits when included in our diets; however, this great little oil can also be one of your best beauty secrets. Olive oil is rich in antioxidants that help to combat free radicals. This is important because these agents can cause damage that leads to the signs of aging. Additionally, olive oil is a great source of vitamin E which is essential for healthy skin, it can be a great natural moisturizer that softens your skin for a beautiful, healthy glow. 

There are several options for using olive oil to moisturize your skin including:

• Adding to the Bath: Use about a quarter of a cup of olive oil either alone, or as a base for essential oils such as lavender for a soothing and moisturizing bath. You will be amazed at how soft and hydrated your skin feels afterwards. (Of course, as with any bath oil, be sure to take percautions for a slippery surface.) 
• Apply Directly as a Moisturizer: Olive oil can be applied directly as a standard moisturizer, especially at night when you have time to let the oil get fully absorbed by your skin. It even works great on rough elbows.
• Heal Cracked Heels: Apply a few drops of olive oil at night before bed, using enough to cover cracked, dry feet then throw on a pair of old socks over it to help heal those dry cracks and you'll have beautiful feet in time for sandal season.  Adding a tablespoon of olive oil to a foot bath works great to.
• Treat Chapped Lips: Just rub a drop of olive oil on your lips to help them to be soft and supple.
• Soften Eye Lines: Gently dabbing a few drops of olive oil on the fine lines around your eyes can help to soften and hydrate the eye area while diminishing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Just be careful not to get any in your eyes.
• Treat Your Nails and Cuticles: Soaking your nails in olive oil for a few minutes can also give you strong and healthy nails while softening the cuticles.

When using straight olive oil is not convenient you can find a variety of natural skin care products made with olive oil that you can easily toss in your purse or gym bag such as the Olive Oil Greenscape Somerset Organic All Over Body Moisturizer by Asquith & Somerset or Avon's PLANET SPA Mediterranean Olive Oil Hydrating Body Wash. However you choose to use it, olive oil can be your best skin care secret.