Olive oil as a face moisturizer?

[torie]

I'm dryer than the Sahara. All the time. Lotions and creams don't do anything anymore. I found a non-mineral based baby oil that I love, but it says not to use it on the face.

I read that Sophia Loren used olive oil as a moisturizer her whole life and swore by it, and the research I have done had turned up hundreds of websites that swear by olive oil as an amazing little known beauty secret. They also swear that it won't clog the pores, because it's water soluble, but I can't seem to find confirmation or refutation of that fact in my googling. It's safe safe safe safe! and amazing for the face, they say.

Do any doper females (or males) use olive oil as a facial moisturizer? Is there any compelling reason one should not? If you do, what's your preferred technique? Does anyone know of any other cheap, readily available oil that I can use safely and non cloggiginley (shush. It's a word now.)?

:)

[Nava]

Olive oil isn't water soluble. You can test this easily by getting a glass of water and adding a drop of oil to it.

If a webpage claiming that olive oil is water soluble told me that the Pope wears white, I'd go to the Vatican's page to check it :p

[luv2draw]

I found a non-mineral based baby oil that I love, but it says not to use it on the face.



Any reason why? Baby oil was my first thought..... I use it to take off eye make-up.

[Girl From Mars]

I don't use olive oil, but I do use oil both as a face cleanser/makeup remover and a moisturiser. A mix of avocado, jojoba, lavender and rose for a remover (rub in in, then wipe of with a hot facewasher, and then rosehip oil as a moisturiser. I've found both excellent to keep my slightly dry sensitive skin under control, particularly in winter and through a pregnancy which has given me excema. Wonderful for removing blackheads around the nose as well.

The face oil I mix myself, but is based on the ingredients of a New Zealand oil called Hema (http://www.hemaproducts.com/), which was used by members of the cast of LOTR when they were filming in NZ.

[torie]

Any reason why? Baby oil was my first thought..... I use it to take off eye make-up.

I would guess the plant extracts in the oil. I suppose I could find just some plain safflower oil and use that, as that appears to be the base oil in the one I love.

Olive oil isn't water soluble. You can test this easily by getting a glass of water and adding a drop of oil to it.
See, that's what I was thinking, "a water soluble oil?" but then you always get those situations where something is called something but it's really not that something, they just call it that because it's related to the original something. So I figured I would at least ask. :D

[Claire Beauchamp]

If you have dry skin, one of the first things to do is stop washing with soap (if you still do) and use tepid water at most, no hot water. You want a water-soluble cleanser, like Cetaphil (bonus -- it's cheap!). (See excerpt from Paula Begoun's The Beauty Bible (http://books.google.com/books?id=bII_4h77GI0C&pg=PA164&lpg=PA164&dq=%22beauty+bible%22+begoun+cleanser&source=bl&ots=SdUFPXmAN3&sig=EPkKL1df1I9sLTIgSsYJttgSIOw&hl=en&ei=zuXDStiLKtCM8AbsjejfCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CAwQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=&f=false).) Also, sunscreensunscreensunscreen.

Paula Begoun does recommend olive oil as an option for a nighttime moisturizer. Here's a nice little article of hers that covers the basics for dry skin care. (http://www.cosmeticscop.com/skin-care-solutions-dry-skin-care-maintaining-appearance-health.aspx) (Note that she now sells skin care products, but her info is legit.)

[kitemaker_chuck]

I wonder what Popeye the sailor would say about this?

[aruvqan]

I'm dryer than the Sahara. All the time. Lotions and creams don't do anything anymore. I found a non-mineral based baby oil that I love, but it says not to use it on the face.

I read that Sophia Loren used olive oil as a moisturizer her whole life and swore by it, and the research I have done had turned up hundreds of websites that swear by olive oil as an amazing little known beauty secret. They also swear that it won't clog the pores, because it's water soluble, but I can't seem to find confirmation or refutation of that fact in my googling. It's safe safe safe safe! and amazing for the face, they say.

Do any doper females (or males) use olive oil as a facial moisturizer? Is there any compelling reason one should not? If you do, what's your preferred technique? Does anyone know of any other cheap, readily available oil that I can use safely and non cloggiginley (shush. It's a word now.)?

:)
Back in school when I was in the drama group, instead of the usual gunk, I got the theatrical makeup off with olive oil. It was about the only thing that didnt make me break out. Why not get some and try it for a few weeks. I dont think it would kill you :) If nothing else, you can walk around smelling like a salad =)

[Askance]

I'm dryer than the Sahara. All the time.
Why? Just naturally dry skin, ie no sebum from your sebaceous glands? Or are you washing your face with something you shouldn't be? I ask because of course prevention is better than cure.

I would guess the plant extracts in the oil. I suppose I could find just some plain safflower oil and use that, as that appears to be the base oil in the one I love.
But baby oil is generally mineral oil - no plant extract (unless they're been added). Whereas safflower oil is by definition a plant extract (as is olive oil). So you seem a little confused here, to say the least :)

And yes, whoever told you olive oil is soluble in water needs a bit of educatin'

[MsWhatsit]

I used to date a guy who got terrible backne from olive oil back massages. For what that's worth.

[lindsaybluth]

Have you seen a dermatologist? You may have eczema or rosacea or any number of conditions that result in excessively dry skin. You should see a professional before you clog your pores with oil.

Like Askance said, prevention is better than cure. Talk to a professional. You should NOT be needing olive oil to prevent your face from flaking.

[torie]

Why? Just naturally dry skin, ie no sebum from your sebaceous glands? Or are you washing your face with something you shouldn't be? I ask because of course prevention is better than cure.
Yeah, it's just naturally dry. I already use a cream cleanser as opposed to soap.


But baby oil is generally mineral oil - no plant extract (unless they're been added). Whereas safflower oil is by definition a plant extract (as is olive oil). So you seem a little confused here, to say the least :)
Well, looking at this oil, it's all plant based. The main ingredient is Sunflower oil, not safflower, so I was confused. It's made to be used on babies, but I was told that using lavender and jojoba so close to my eyes probably wouldn't be a good thing. It seems to me that something made to be used on babies would be fine for your face. But I'm told no, jojoba can be irritating to the eye.
So it's not plant extract in general, but this one in particular. I should have been clearer. I was in such a hurry when typing my last post. :)

I don't use traditional baby oil because I hate hate hate hate the texture of mineral oil. It doesn't absorb the way this stuff, or even the olive oil does. (I tried it last night.)

[torie]

Have you seen a dermatologist? You may have eczema or rosacea or any number of conditions that result in excessively dry skin. You should see a professional before you clog your pores with oil.

Like Askance said, prevention is better than cure. Talk to a professional. You should NOT be needing olive oil to prevent your face from flaking.

My face doesn't flake. It just feels tight and gross and not-soft all the time.

[badbadrubberpiggy]

Olive oil can be good if you're oil cleansing (http://www.theoilcleansingmethod.com/), but I've never used it as a moisturizer. It always feels too oily on my skin.

I use jojoba oil or emu oil, though. And no, they don't clog my pores - which for me is saying a lot, because most moisturizers are hell on my skin (up to and including everyone else's beloved Cetaphil products), and make me break out. Jojoba oil is available in a lot of places. I get mine at Trader Joe's, but I've seen it at regular grocery stores as well. Emu oil is harder to find, I get mine here (http://www.theoriginalskinstore.com/).

[pbbth]

Okay torie, I am going to share with you my ultra secret solution to dry/oily skin on the face. I haven't had any acne or problems with my skin since I discovered this solution but I have to warn you that at first read it may sound kind of gross. Are you ready?

Stop washing your face. Seriously. I have not washed my face for almost a year and my skin very quickly found a perfect balance. No more dry skin on my cheeks and oily forehead. No more zits showing up and marring my complexion. Keep in mind that I don't wear make-up ever so if you do this may not work for you but I swear by it for myself.

[gallows fodder]

It's made to be used on babies, but I was told that using lavender and jojoba so close to my eyes probably wouldn't be a good thing. It seems to me that something made to be used on babies would be fine for your face. But I'm told no, jojoba can be irritating to the eye.)
FWIW, I use plain jojoba oil as my eye makeup remover, and it's never caused me any irritation at all -- if anything, it's improved the skin around my eyes and it feels like it conditions my eyelashes. Jojoba oil is recommended as an eye makeup remover (and facial moisturizer) at acne.org (http://www.acne.org/jojoba-oil.php), which I've found to give good advice in general, and they and many other sources (http://tinyurl.com/ycq6kcj) claim that jojoba oil is very similar to the skin's own natural sebum (more similar than any other oil) and thus can be absorbed readily and without irritation.

[Chicken Fingers]

I have very dry skin, but most moisturizers make me break out, even as old as I am.

I do like olive oil. It doesn't make me break out. For many years I did a home mask/massage that alternated olive oil and lemon juice. The acids in each combined to make a gentle exfoliant, and left me with the most glowing soft skin. These would be things you'd do at night, before sleeping.

You should be taking fish oil, if you can, and consuming olive oil, too. When I get enough of each in my diet, it does wonders for dry skin.

[hellpaso]

I've used olive oil and never had a problem. My manicurist gave me a tip to make a great exfoliator--mix salt and olive oil.

[voguevixen]

Olive oil sounds a little heavy (and I'd think it would smell.) You might consider grapeseed oil (same area of the supermarket, upper shelf usually.) Have you tried that Neutrogena bath/body oil? That works wonders for me - I use it in the winter especially, and you can sometimes find a generic version at the dollar store. I add it to the bath but I guess a lot of people use it straight - I think it's sesame oil with a little fragrance and stabalizers.

[Helena Handbasket]

I use a sea salt scrub that I make myself (sugar works just as well as the salt) that's a mix of salt, olive oil, and any essential oil for scent to cover up the olive oil smell. I mix it to the consistency I want, so I can't you how much of everything to use.

I can tell you that when I've used lavender as the essential oil, it stings the area around my eyes like the debil... so does lemongrass.

I gently exfoliate my face with the mixture every morning in the shower and my skin is very good. I do wear makeup regularly but not every day, no smoking, a glass of wine here and there (very dehydrating) and not a lot of sun (very, very dehydrating).

I'll be 40 next month.... and I got carded a few months ago. I was tickled pink! :D

[Ferret Herder]

I'd go with sugar over salt in these scrubs if you're new to using them - salt will be a lot more painful if you happen to get it in your eye, in a sore, or if your skin is a bit more chapped than you thought in winter.

[Vinyl Turnip]

I wonder what Popeye the sailor would say about this?

"C'mere, Olive! My face needs some moiskurizin'!"

[Helena Handbasket]

I also prefer the sugar because I like the consistency better and it seems gentler on my skin, but I get ants in my bathroom. If that's not a problem for you, go with the sugar.

[ThirdOne]

I, like PBBTH, do not "wash" my face. I use a seasponge in the shower for my body and an aloe vera cleanser (Jason brand). Once rinsed (and I mean well rinsed), I use the sponge for exfoliation. I take vitamin D capsules daily (bein in the PNW, for lack of sun). I do not wear any makeup and don't need moisturizer.

I'm 55 and am told I look early to mid 40-something. I tried Cetaphil, but it was too much for my skin.

It may help that I shop organic, don't eat fast food, and use olive oil exclusively for cooking.

I *have* used a small amount of olive oil on my hair, when it seemed especially dry. That's where my problem is, flighty hair. It's naturally curly, too. I'm careful not to use too much shampoo and it's usually pretty ok. Having recently been in the care of a naturopathic doctor, I've adjusted my eating habits and my hair has been improving.

[torie]

Huh, so maybe it's the lavender I can't use near my eye, but the jojoba is fine. I'm going to stop listening to the lady who was advising me, she's not making sense. These scrubs sound interesting, I'm going to give them a try, and I think I will switch to jojoba oil or sunflower oil for my face.

[Typo]

I had very, very dry facial skin before I started taking thyroid medication that caused me to change my habits. I used to exfoliate regularly with an apricot scrub and then slather on whatever lotion I had, sometimes even resorting to Vaseline or baby oil.

I now use witch hazel to clean my face and then use aloe vera (from a bottle, not from a plant). It's worked well - so well that what I believe is rosacea on my cheeks has cleared up quite a bit. My face doesn't have quite the same "very soft" feeling as it did with moisturizing creams or lotions, but it isn't greasy or shiny, my skin doesn't feel like sandpaper anymore, and I think my skin looks better overall.

[Haunted]

My face cleared up when I stopped scrubbing it/trying to cleanse it. I don't wear makeup, either. I clean my face with water and my hands and blot it dry with a soft cloth. Sometimes at night I wipe my face with a little raw apple cider vinegar on a cotton ball. I moisturize with HomeHealth brand hyaluronic acid moisturizing cream. It has never made me break out. I have sensitive skin and lots of allergies. This "regimen" works for me. (P.S. I don't put anything else on my face, like sunscreen. Ever.)

[Snickers]

I'm another one that doesn't wash her face. At most, I rinse it with plain water in the shower. Sometimes I forget and don't even do that much. I don't have much of an acne problem either, tho' I do get infrequent pimples or breakouts occasionally.

I do wear makeup - the mineral kind. But I don't wear very much of it.

It works for me.