Olive oil face mask: homemade or ready-made?

Expand your collection of homemade beauty recipes. But only after you answer the question of whether it is worth getting carried away with homemade cosmetics at all, or is it better to trust ready-made formulas.

Benefits of olive oil masks

Oiling the skin with olive oil is far from a new trend, but an old tradition that will outlive us and our great-grandchildren. The ancient Greeks rubbed olive oil on the legs and arms of athletes to relieve muscle pain. The Romans healed the wounds of their soldiers after battles. And the women of the Mediterranean at all times used it as the main (and sometimes the only) remedy for moisturizing, nourishing, protecting the skin and combating premature wrinkles.

When technology made it possible to study the composition of the oil, the magical properties of the olive found a scientific justification.

The main component of olive oil is fatty acids. The largest share (80%) is omega-9 oleic acid. The ability to penetrate the upper layers of the epidermis relatively easily makes it a good vehicle for delivering beneficial ingredients. Oleic acid itself is also excellent at softening the skin.

In addition, olive oil contains:

  • vitamins A and E;

  • antioxidant polyphenols;

  • restorative squalane.

Which mask is right for you? Answer the test questions to find out.

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Mechanism of action on the skin

Neutral in composition, olive oil serves as a base in aroma oil blends.

The penetrating ability of olive oil is also its disadvantage: with long-term use, fatty acids “wash out” their own lipids in the upper layers of the skin. As a result, instead of moisturizing and nourishing, it gets the opposite effect.

So let’s say right away: it is better to use olive oil on an ongoing basis as part of ready-made formulas.

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Who is the olive oil mask for?

First of all, dry skin. Olive oil products are used:

  • with peeling;

  • after sunburn.

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Homemade mask or ready-made product?

Here’s what he says about it expert dermatologist Garnier Marina Kamanina: “Olive oil masks are known for their caring and nourishing effect.

  • They are suitable for almost all skin types, but especially for dry skin and hair.

  • Restoring the protective properties, olive oil gives a feeling of comfort: the skin looks radiant and the hair is shiny.

Ready-made formulas are more balanced, taking into account the needs of different skin types. In addition to oil, such masks contain moisturizing, caring ingredients. In addition, they are more convenient to use.”

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Olive Oil Mask: Recipes and Remedies

Scrub mask with sugar and olive oil for oily skin

Owners of oily skin are wary of oils for a reason, fearing clogging of pores and increased greasy shine. However, there are non-comedogenic oils, although olive, alas, is not one of them. So with oily skin, you should not get carried away with masks based on olive oil. Scrub is the best option.

Act: natural abrasives, including sugar, have uneven, rather sharp edges. But if you mix sugar with oil, it will not scratch and injure the skin, exfoliating dead cells.

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar (white or brown);

  • ½ tablespoon of olive oil.

How to prepare and use:

  • mix both ingredients until smooth;

  • after removing make-up and washing, apply the mixture on a dry face in a circular motion;

  • wash off with plenty of warm water;

  • apply tonic.

Editorial opinion. This scrub is good because even an inexperienced cook can easily prepare it. But I want to get more pleasure from cosmetics. If you have already decided to polish the skin with sugar and nourish with oils, try the following option.

Illuminating Sugar Facial Scrub, L’Oréal Paris contains three types of sugar and acai berry powder at once. Grape seed and tiare oils leave skin feeling smooth and radiant.

Olive oil mask for dry skin

Dry skin, suffering from a lack of its own lipids, loves all kinds of oil blends that create a protective barrier on its surface that retains moisture. Add avocado pulp, rich in fatty acids, vitamins E and C, to olive oil.
Act: the mask quickly relieves dryness, a feeling of tightness, fights peeling and discomfort.

Ingredients:

  • ½ avocado (choose a ripe, soft one)

  • 1 tablespoon of olive oil.

How to cook:

  • peel the avocado from the skin, remove the stone and place in a clean glass or enameled container;

  • mash with a fork, add oil and mix well.

How to use:

  1. evenly apply the mask on a cleansed face, including the lower eyelids;

  2. leave for 15-20 minutes;

  3. remove with a warm damp towel and rinse your face with water.

Editorial opinion. Olive and avocado oils are just a godsend for dry skin. The fact that this mixture is suitable for the skin around the eyes is another plus. There is one “but” – the avocado is an exotic fruit, so the question remains how it was processed in order to bring it to our latitudes. So we vote for ready-made nutritional formulas, proven by experts and time.

Cream for the skin around the eyes with avocado Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado, Kiehl’s – The nutritional functions of olive oil are taken over by avocado oil in combination with shea butter and beta-carotene. The tool forms a protective film that prevents the evaporation of moisture and at the same time restores the skin.

Olive oil and honey mask

The simplest recipe, in which there are only two ingredients, but what! Honey is not inferior to olive oil in the abundance of useful components that moisturize, restore and nourish.

Act: moisturizes and smoothes the skin, refreshes the complexion.

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons of honey;

  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil.

How to cook

Mix both ingredients until smooth in a fireproof bowl, put in a water bath for 2 minutes.

How to use:

  1. check the temperature of the mixture on the wrist – it should not be scalding;

  2. Apply evenly to a clean face with a brush, spoon or fingers.

Editorial opinion. The composition of the mask is noble, besides, you can vary it by experimenting with different varieties of honey.

However, when dealing with honey, you should always remember that this ingredient can cause allergies.

If you really want to pamper your skin with an oil mixture with bee products, it is better to use a ready-made formula that has passed control, with proven effectiveness.

Night transforming face cream-mask “Luxury nutrition” in practice will prove the super properties of royal jelly. As an oil component, the manufacturer chose nutmeg rose and argan oils, which nourish, soften and protect dry skin no worse than olive oil.

Olive oil and yolk mask

This “dish” will appeal to normal and, of course, dry skin. By adding egg yolk to the classic oil-honey duet, you will enrich the mask with fatty acids and vitamin E.

Act: moisturizing and nourishing the skin, reducing the manifestations of dryness and discomfort caused by it.

Ingredients:

  • 1 egg;

  • ½ tablespoon olive oil;

  • ½ tablespoon honey.

How to cook

Separate the yolk from the protein, lightly beat it with a fork and mix with the rest of the ingredients until smooth.

How to use:

  1. apply to clean, dry skin with fingers or a makeup brush;

  2. spread evenly over the face, including the lower eyelids;

  3. leave for 15-30 minutes;

  4. rinse with plenty of warm water, you can use a sponge;

  5. gently pat your face dry with a towel.

Editorial opinion. It’s great that the skin can be “fed” with natural, healthy and not scarce products. But “home cooking” loses to “ready meals” both in terms of benefits and efficiency.

Yes, homemade products are cheaper, but this is a very dubious savings. Your skin deserves more.

Olive oil mask for problem skin

Olive oil has regenerative properties and can be used for blemish-prone and post-acne skin. True, the composition will have to be supplemented with ingredients containing acids, for example, lemon juice.

This mask also contains a banana – a source of vitamins and microelements. Plus, it contains vitamin C. Choose ripe (but not overripe) fruit.

Act: hydration plus a light brightening and exfoliating effect.

Ingredients:

  • ½ banana;

  • 1 tablespoon of olive oil;

  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice.

How to cook

Mash the banana into a pulp, mix with oil and lemon juice.

How to use:

  1. clean your face from make-up and wash;

  2. apply the composition to the entire face and leave for 20-30 minutes;

  3. remove with a damp sponge, rinse your face with warm water;

  4. after toning, apply a moisturizer, during the day – with SPF.

Editorial opinion. A mask containing acids is best used as part of an evening beauty routine, and the next day, apply an SPF product to prevent pigmentation. Of course, it is interesting to try this appetizing mixture, if only for the sake of experiment. But we would not place high hopes on it as a remedy for black dots and other imperfections.

Ready-made masks for problem skin include components for exfoliation and antibacterial action in the optimal dosage. They usually do not contain oils, since the task of such products is to cleanse, exfoliate and mattify, but not to nourish.

Steaming mask against blackheads and oily sheen, Garnier has a proven cleansing effect. Zinc helps to tighten pores, salicylic acid exfoliates – all in three minutes without any extra effort.

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Recommendations for use

If you are already preparing an olive mask at home, then by all means use the first cold-pressed Extra Virgin oil, which has retained all its beneficial properties. Otherwise, it just doesn’t make sense.

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Safety measures

In general, olive oil has a neutral composition and is well tolerated by the skin. But homemade masks based on it, however, like all homemade cosmetics, can cause an undesirable skin reaction.

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