The Secret to Better Skin Is Sitting on Your Kitchen Counter (2024)

If you’ve ever wondered, “Is it OK to put olive oil on my face?”, the answer for most people is, yes. In fact, the antioxidants in olive oil can help prevent skin from premature aging and wrinkles (and who wouldn’t like that?). Olive oil’s vitamins enhance cell turnover, leaving your skin looking brighter and feeling smoother. Olive oil face treatments are particularly helpful in dry, cold weather because olive oil is able to penetrate the skin even better than fancy moisturizers. (And if you want to eat it, too, try this tasty olive oil dip recipe.)

Which olive oil is best for my face?

Using high-quality, extra-virgin olive oil on your face, preferably “cold-pressed,” “unfiltered” or “stone-pressed,” is important. Standard virgin olive oil has been heated, eliminating many of its vitamins and minerals, or filtered, which can introduce chemicals that may be harmful to skin. Look for certification from the International Olive Council or North American Olive Oil Association on the label. (Learn more about why extra-virgin olive oil is best here.)

Can I use extra-virgin olive oil on my face every day?

Because olive oil is a heavy oil, using it as a face mask every day could clog pores and create unwanted blemishes, especially if your skin is already prone to oiliness. Use this olive oil face mask twice weekly and you’ll achieve beautiful results. You can, however, use olive oil as a daily eye makeup remover. Simply add a few drops to a cotton ball, gently swipe the eye area, and rinse thoroughly.

What can I mix with olive oil for an effective face mask?

To boost the benefits of an olive oil face mask, I’ve added a few simple ingredients that help skin look smoother and more radiant. (As with any new skin treatment, do a patch test on your skin first to make sure it doesn’t adversely react to any ingredients.)

Raw honey(preferably Manuka honey) is anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory, which helps prevent acne. Raw honey is also a humectant, which increases your skin’s water content and reduces dryness, plumping the skin and leaving a lovely glow.

Fresh orange zestcontains vitamin C, a key ingredient that protects against skin damage from UV rays and pollution. Vitamin C helps in the formation of collagen—skin’s support system—and fights free radicals, improving your skin’s texture and reducing wrinkles.

Egg yolkhelps lock in skin’s moisture, leaving it softer and more supple. It hydrates and nourishes dull skin, making egg yolks a good choice if you have dry skin. If your skin is oily, substitute an egg white for the egg yolk.Egg whites help tighten skin, shrink pores and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. The protein and collagen found in eggs help promote skin elasticity and strength.

Vitamin E oilis an antioxidant that easily absorbs into the skin and helps reduce damage from UV rays. Applied topically, it nourishes dry skin and neutralizes free radicals that contribute to wrinkles and brown spots.

DIY Olive Oil Face Mask

Shutterstock / DUSAN ZIDAR

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 tsp. raw honey
• 1/2 tsp. freshly grated orange zest
• 1 vitamin E oil capsule
• 1 egg yolk (for dry skin) or 1 egg white (for oily skin)
• Makeup brush

Here’s what you’ll do:

1. In a small container, mix the olive oil, honey and orange zest.
2. Break open a vitamin E oil capsule and add the contents to the olive oil mixture.
3. Add the egg yolk or egg white to the olive oil mixture; whisk until well blended. (If you don’t know how to separate the white from the yolk, check this out.)
4. Using a soft makeup brush, apply a generous layer of the olive oil mask to your face and neck, avoiding the eye and mouth area. Leave on for 15 minutes.
5. Wash off the mask with warm water; rinse with cool water. Apply your favorite moisturizer to face and neck.
6. Store the remaining mask in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 4 days.

Makes 2 applications.

Tip: Apply the olive oil mask after getting out of the shower while your pores are open and your skin can benefit most from the extra hydration.

Want more homemade beauty solutions? Follow Taste of Home on Instagram (@tasteofhome) and stay tuned for more updates from the Beauty Pantry.

After making your olive oil face mask, check out these10 surprising ways you can use olive oil around the house.