Olive oil protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals are very reactive and when they choose to react with our own body’s cells and proteins, things get less than pretty. Free radicals cause the so-called oxidative stress. This is one of the main factors of skin ageing, especially premature ageing. UV radiation from the sun is what makes your skin tanner. However, it also produces free radicals that are damaging to the skin. And this is where olive oil comes in!
The polyunsaturated fats in olive oil are great at picking up free radicals. They neutralize these harmful elements and protect your skin. It is no wonder that olive oil has been used for beauty purposes for as long as history can record!
The major use of olive oil for tanning is not instead of sunscreen. Olive oil can help better prepare your skin for tanning and it can also make your skin hold onto the tan longer. One of the ways to use olive oil is in sugar scrubs. Before you go tanning, do a quick scrub in the shower. The simplest way to prepare it is by mixing plain white sugar (or brown sugar if you want to get a little fancier and harness its’ additional exfoliation properties) and extra virgin olive oil. Massage it in your skin with circular motions after showering and then rinse it off. The olive oil and sugar combo helps you get rid of the uppermost layer of dead skin and makes it easier for you to tan.
You can also do oil rubs with warm olive oil. This moisturizes your skin, reduces flake, and helps me hold onto an even and beautiful skin colour for longer. To really take this to a next level, try mixing some essential oils into your olive oil!
