Olive Oil For Acne | 4 Weeks Ultimate Plan To Help You Out
Acne is a very common skin problem that affects adolescents, pregnant women or women around their menopause. Therefore, many of them swear by olive oil for acne. You can also use it. But before that know some facts about these silly bumps.
Statistical information tells us that 80% people between the age of eleven and thirty are affected by acne. 80% of adults affected by acne are women. Most interesting fact is that 90% of people having acne seek treatment, see only 50% improvement even after three months.
Very few people are aware that a very effective treatment is possible from a very common ingredient of their kitchen : Olive Oil.
Is Olive Oil for Acne? Good or Bad?
High quality extra virgin olive oil contains large quantities of polyphenols which are good antioxidants and remove free radicals. This cleanses toxins and dirt from skin pores. Extra oil that is secreted by our skin clogs pores and causes acne.
Olive oil dissolves this oil, removes it from the pores and hydrates the skin. This also reduces outbreak of acne dramatically. Following are some amazing benefits of olive oil for acne that make it one of the best skin care products:
- Antioxidants present in olive oil remove free radicals, cleanse pores, hydrate skin and help removing acne scars.
- Antibacterial properties help in killing harmful bacteria from the clogged pores curing acne effectively.
- Anti-inflammatory properties reduce inflammation of the affected region stopping acne from worsening.
- Vitamins D, E, K and beta-carotenes present in olive oil replenish skin and increase blood circulation keeping it healthy and glowing.
- It is non-comedogenic, which means it doesn’t clog skin pores making it an ideal remedy for acne.
All About Acne
Acne is a small red swelling or bump on the skin caused by inflammation of the sebaceous glands (sweat glands). Oily secretions from this gland fill the small pores below hair follicles.
This further gets clogged with dead skin and dust particles making it perfect for bacterial growth. This gives rise to acne also known as pimples.
According to researchers, acne mostly occurs on the facial area but can also occur on shoulders, chest or neck. It can leave scars if not treated in time.
Treatment of acne is simple but it needs immediate attention and perseverance to avoid long term effects. There are many home remedies for acne but olive oil is the best and simplest among all.
You’ll be glad to know that this magical oil is also effective in treating stretch marks, dandruff, to tame the frizz, and get manageable hair and also to dislodge water from your ears.
Olive Oil Uses for Skin
1. Moisturizes Your Skin
Olive oil contains a great amount of vitamin E, which is an antioxidant that protects your skin from various external factors.
Therefore, olive oil can be used as a moisturizer, especially by those with dry skin, to reap its benefits.
2. Cures and Prevents Hangnails
Olive oil is excellent for preventing and treating hangnails.
Simply slather your hands in olive oil several times a day however, pay more attention to the area around your nails.
If you feel that it works for you, then take a bottle wherever you go. You can also mix it with a little bit of sandalwood if you want an extra deep softening.
3. Combats Dry Skin
Part of why olive oil is good for your skin is because it’s a “humectant” which means it draws moisture into your skin.
Just rub it on your body after the shower. It’ll take a little while to be absorbed completely so make sure to give yourself time before getting dressed.
4. Soothes Itchy Skin
Every winter, I rub this magical oil all over my body whenever I have super dry and itchy skin.
After using it every day for about a week my skin becomes soft and smooth again.
Simply lather it on after shower or while binge-watching Netflix to see then difference it can make to your skin.
5. Prevents and Diminishes Wrinkles
Olive oil can actually help in preventing acne with its antioxidant super powers.
If used directly on your skin twice a week, it will do wonders by keeping your skin super soft, smooth, and wrinkle-free a bit longer.
The oil can definitely soften the appearance of wrinkles, however once the fine lines start kicking in, it’s a sensible idea to start a more intense natural treatment. You can make a cream or serum by mixing olive oil with Argan oil or aloe Vera gel.
6. Removes Makeup
We spend a lot of our hard-earned money on products to help us remove our make-up. Interestingly, any olive oil does just as good and often a better job in a cheaper way.
Here’s how to do it:
- Dab a few drops of olive oil on a cotton ball and wipe your face until your make-up is completely removed.
- As olive oil is quite greasy, make sure you rinse your face with rose water or witch hazel.
A Weekly Plan To Use Olive Oil for Acne
Olive oil can be used in several combinations to treat acne and here is a week-wise routine to use it in different ways throughout the week to facilitate the healing process.
Repeat this routine on day 1, 3 and 5 of the respective week. On the rest of the days keep using olive oil and rose water wash twice or thrice since morning as given in the table. You may also build your own routine based on the mixtures mentioned below as per your choice or preference.
Most of these preparations are products of extensive study and research. Most often than not, they have been successful in curing acne. But do refer to your doctor before using any of these and follow his advice.
Week 1 | Morning | Olive Oil -Baking Soda Mask | Ingredients | 1 table spoon baking soda
1 table spoon olive oil |
How to make | Mix the ingredients | |||
How to use | Wash your face and tap dry. Apply mixture all over the face. Leave it for 15 minutes to dry. Wipe it off with warm damp cloth and then wash your face with cool water. | |||
How it helps | Exfoliates skin, removes excess oil and helps remove scars. | |||
Afternoon or Evening (after work) | Olive Oil – Sea Salt Scrub | Ingredients | 1 cup sea salt and ¼ cup olive oil | |
How to make | Mix the ingredients and store in a jar with lid. | |||
How to use | Wash your face with a light cleanser and clean water. Apply the mixture on your face in light circular motion. Wash it off after five minutes with warm water. Rub in olive oil until absorbed in the skin. | |||
How it helps | Unclogs pores, improves pH balance, kills bacteria, removes dead skin and moisturizes skin. | |||
Night | Olive Oil Warm Massage | Ingredients | Good quality extra virgin olive oil, warm water and wash cloth. | |
How to use | Wash your face clean. Dab olive oil all over the face. Wet the wash cloth in warm water, wring it and place on your face. Let it stay till cloth cools down. Wet it with warm water again and use it wipe off extra oil. Apply oil on face before it dries up and rub it in. | |||
How it helps | Moistens skin providing favorable environment to cure acne, removes scars and dead skin. | |||
Week 2 | Morning | Olive Oil – Honey Mask | Ingredients | 1 table spoon honey
1 table spoon olive oil |
How to make | Mix the ingredients | |||
How to use | Wash your face and tap dry. Apply mixture all over the face. Leave it for 15 minutes to dry. Massage your face in upward motion with wet fingers. Then wash off with cool water. | |||
How it helps | Removes dirt from pores, kills free radicals and helps heal scars. | |||
Skip the afternoon scrub. Instead wash your face with rose water and olive oil mixture. Add a few drops of olive oil in rose water to make this mixture. This can be used twice or thrice a day. | ||||
Night | Olive Oil – Rose hip Oil Massage | Ingredients | 2 table spoon olive oil
1 table spoon rose hip oil |
|
How to use | Wash your face clean. Massage your face with this mixture for five minutes. Wash it off clean. | |||
How it helps | Moisturises skin by penetrating deep, removes particles that clog pores and heals scars. | |||
Week 3 | Morning | Olive Oil – Aloe Vera Mask | Ingredients | 2 tea spoons olive oil.
2 table spoon aloe Vera. |
How to make | Mix the ingredients in a bowl. | |||
How to use | Wash your face and tap dry. Apply mixture all over the face with the help of a cotton ball. Leave it for two to three hours ill it starts to dry. Wash it off with warm water. | |||
How it helps | Accentuates healing process by moisturizing skin. | |||
Use rose water and olive oil mixture to wash face. | ||||
Night | Olive Oil Massage | Ingredients | Antioxidants good quality extra virgin olive oil. | |
How to use | Wash your face clean. Massage the acne area with oil on tips of your fingers. Leave it overnight. Wash it off in the morning with warm water. | |||
How it helps | Moisturizes skin and deep cleanses the pores. | |||
Week 4 | Morning | Olive Oil –Lemon / Orange Peel Mask | Ingredients | Peel of one lemon or orange, dried or fresh 3 tea spoon olive oil |
How to make | Blend peel in a blender. Mix olive oil in it to make a paste. | |||
How to use | Wash your face and tap dry. Apply paste generously all over the face. Leave it for thirty minutes to one hour to dry. Wash off the mask with cool water. | |||
How it helps | Vitamin C from the peel helps in killing bacteria and unclogging pores, reduces inflammation. | |||
Afternoon or Evening (after work) | Olive Oil – Brown Sugar Scrub | Ingredients | 1 table spoon brown sugar
1 table spoon olive oil. |
|
How to make | Mix the ingredients for use. | |||
How to use | Wash your face and apply the mixture in light circular motion for two to three minutes. Wash it off with cold water. Use this scrub only twice a month to avoid excess production of oil in skin. | |||
How it helps | Unclogs pores, kills bacteria, reduces inflammation and prevents infection. | |||
Night | Olive Oil – Turmeric Powder Massage | Ingredients | Few drops of olive oil
2 teaspoons of turmeric powder |
|
How to make | Mix turmeric powder and olive oil to make a paste. | |||
How to use | Wash your face clean. Apply the paste in face and gently massage for few seconds. Wait for ten minutes. Massage again with wet fingers and wash it off well with cold water. | |||
How it helps | Soothes acne, kills bacteria, heals skin faster and deep cleanses. |
This routine can be repeated again after a break of one month. During the break keep using rose water and olive oil wash, two to three times a day. Once or twice during the break use olive oil and lemon juice mixture to massage your face. Wash off and smooth in olive oil.
There are many other ways in which olive oil can be used to heal acne and maintain healthy skin. One good way is to include extra virgin olive oil in your diet. Pour it on your salads or use it in cooking.
Some More Magical Concoctions
1. Olive Oil – Tea Tree Oil Massage:
Mix one teaspoon tea tree oil with two teaspoons of olive oil. Use this mixture to massage your face in circular motion. It can be most effectively used after exfoliation.
Antimicrobial properties of tea tree help in disinfection of pores and reduce inflammation. This massage is good for deep cleansing of skin.
2. Olive Oil – Chickpea Flour Scrub:
Add one tablespoon of olive oil to two tablespoons of chick pea flour to make a paste. Apply this paste on your face and let it dry for fifteen minutes.
Gently massage with wet fingers and wash off with cold water. This scrub helps in brightening the skin and removing excess oil from the pores without altering its pH level.
3. Olive Oil Steam:
Pour a few drops of olive oil in hot water. Take this hot mix in a large bowl and bend over it. Let the steam warm your face for about ten to twelve minutes. Wipe your face with a towel and massage some olive oil one your moist skin.
Wash your face well after fifteen minutes. This treatment helps in reducing inflammation. Steam opens up pores making it easier for olive oil to penetrate and unclog them. Use this method when your acne is in the last stages of healing.
Olive Oil For Skin Has Its Downside
There is no doubt that olive oil is a fabulous oil for many people, however it should not be used by everyone. You should keep olive oil at an arm’s length if you have:
- Oily skin because oily skin and olive oil doesn’t make a good mix.
- Rosacea, it’s probably the best that you stay away from olive oil.
- Avoid using it on your face regularly. To be on the safe, use it a maximum of 2-3 times a week only.
Precautions While Using Olive Oil To Cure Acne
Olive oil is one of the safest products to use on the skin but in moderation. It is always safe to consult your doctor or dermatologist before using olive oil.
In addition to use of this oil ensure that you maintain good habits like using good quality cosmetics, washing them off properly from your face after use, not sleeping with make-up on and healthy food habits.
Drinking a lot of water helps in washing off toxins of your body naturally in turn preventing acne.
One common fad related to acne is that it can be cured by stripping the skin of natural oils completely. It is important to clean the pores of the skin and remove extra oil but moisture is required to treat acne properly.
A lot of products like face wash, cleansers, scrubs, etc. available in the market claim to cure acne by removing natural oils from the skin.
Most of them contain harsh chemicals that harm the skin and fail in long term treatment of acne. So, if you want to use them, then chose wisely.
You also need to pay attention to the type of olive oil used for such treatment. A good quality extra virgin olive oil is the most natural and purest form of extraction from olive fruit. No chemicals or heat is used in the process.
It is devoid of any type of harmful chemical or particles that may affect the skin adversely. Acidic content of this variety of olive oil is less than 1% thus it prevents skin irritation.
Most of the antioxidants and vitamins are retained during the process of extracting extra virgin olive oil making it more suitable for skin care. You can easily find extra virgin olive oil online or beauty section of grocery stores.
Conclusion
Olive oil acne treatment helps in treating acne and can be strategically used to keep them away.
Acne is a very common problem but now you can use olive oil for acne to keep your skin healthy and acne free.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What's the Difference Between Olive Oil and Extra-Virgin Olive Oil?
It contains no more than 1% oleic acid and has a golden-green color and a light peppery finish.
Olive oil or pure olive oil is a blend of virgin olive oil and refined olive oil. It is of lower quality than extra-virgin or virgin olive oil, with a lighter color with 3-4% oleic acid.
How to use Lemon Juice and Olive Oil for Acne Scars?
How to Buy and Store Olive Oil?
Therefore, store olive oil at room-temperature in a cupboard or refrigerator to keep it cool.
I have been using different natural remedies for the past three months to cure pimples and black spots but have not seen any better results and has even worsen the case now i have dry face with a lot of pimples and dark spots all over my face. Please help me, what do i do to cure this in a month cos i have to go to school. Thanks