# Olive oil as a face moisturizer? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 30, 2009, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olive-oil-as-a-face-moisturizer/512165 "2009-09-30T22:00:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olive-oil-as-a-face-moisturizer/512165/21 "2009-10-01T16:41:04Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olive-oil-as-a-face-moisturizer/512165/22 "2009-10-01T17:01:17Z")
> [@kitemaker\_chuck](#): > > I wonder what Popeye the sailor would say about this? “C’mere, Olive! My face needs some moiskurizin’!” ---
**Author:** ![Helena\_Handbasket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Helena\_Handbasket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena_Handbasket)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olive-oil-as-a-face-moisturizer/512165/23 "2009-10-01T17:02:33Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![ThirdOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@ThirdOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThirdOne)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olive-oil-as-a-face-moisturizer/512165/24 "2009-10-01T17:03:47Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![torie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@torie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/torie)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olive-oil-as-a-face-moisturizer/512165/25 "2009-10-01T17:34:26Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Typo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5fc32e/32.png) [@Typo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olive-oil-as-a-face-moisturizer/512165/26 "2009-10-01T17:43:52Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Haunted](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/898d66/32.png) [@Haunted](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Haunted)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olive-oil-as-a-face-moisturizer/512165/27 "2009-10-01T17:49:40Z")
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.) ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olive-oil-as-a-face-moisturizer/512165/28 "2009-10-01T19:18:45Z")
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. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olive-oil-as-a-face-moisturizer/512165.md?page=1)