Olive oil is a staple in most kitchens, and you probably have a bottle in your pantry right now. But did you know it has uses that go well beyond cooking? Olive oil is a hard-working skincare ingredient with a long history, and it happens to be the top oil in our recipes here at Madd House Hill. Keep reading to learn why this pantry staple earned a permanent place in our soap pots.

What Is Olive Oil?

Olive oil, sometimes shortened to EVOO, is pressed from olives. People around the Mediterranean have been making it for thousands of years, and the ancient Greeks and Romans used it for food, fuel, soapmaking, and skincare. The process has changed over the centuries. Today olives are crushed into a paste after harvest, then spun in a centrifuge that separates the oil, which is bottled in dark glass or stainless steel to protect it from sunlight.

In the modern age, olive oil has become a popular alternative to other cooking oils thanks to its monounsaturated fats. But the ancient Greeks were onto something using it on skin, too.

The Benefits of Olive Oil

When it comes to skincare, olive oil has a lot going for it. Read through the benefits below to see why we reach for it again and again.

It’s Full of Antioxidants

Olive oil is rich in natural antioxidants, including vitamin E and a compound called squalene. Squalene is interesting because our skin makes it too, although our natural stores can become depleted over time. Using products made with olive oil is a simple way to treat your skin to these hardworking antioxidants.

Why Olive Oil Leads Our Recipes

When we say olive oil is the number one oil in our products, we mean it literally. It is the first oil on our soap ingredient list, leading a short team of plant oils and butters: coconut oil, shea butter, rice bran oil, and castor oil, saponified with raw goat milk from our own herd.

That short list is the whole recipe philosophy. Every ingredient has a job, everything is recognizable, and there is nothing synthetic along for the ride. It is the reason a simple bar can do so much.

It’s Calming and Comforting for Skin

Those same antioxidants help skin look and feel calm and comfortable. Olive oil has long been valued for soothing the feel of dry or sensitive-feeling skin, which is one reason it shows up in so many gentle skincare recipes.

Note: Because olive oil is, well, oily, we recommend using skincare products made with olive oil on your skin instead of the oil directly, especially if you have naturally oily skin.

It’s An Excellent Moisturizer

Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids that soften and nourish skin and help lock in moisture. It also contains fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K that give skin an extra boost of nutrition. It is no wonder this oil has stayed a skincare favorite for thousands of years.

Easy Ways to Work It Into Your Routine

Start in the shower. A bar made with olive oil as the lead oil gives you the benefits without any extra steps. Follow with a lotion stick on dry spots like elbows, hands, and heels. A little goes a long way with solid formats.

Give it time. Skin often needs a week or two to adjust when you switch routines. Stick with it and let the simple ingredients do their work.

Store bars dry. Let your soap dry between uses on a draining dish or soap lift and it will last much longer.

Soak it in. Stir a goat milk bath soak into warm bathwater for a full-body version of the same simple care.

Key Takeaways

Will olive oil make my skin feel greasy? In a well-made bar or lotion, no. The oil is balanced with other ingredients, so skin feels soft and nourished, not slick.

Is olive oil good for sensitive-feeling skin? Many people with easily reactive skin do well with simple olive oil formulas. If your skin is highly reactive, choose unscented or naturally scented products and patch test first.

When it comes to taking care of your skin, you really can’t go wrong with olive oil. While it can be applied to skin on its own, that gets messy fast, so we recommend products that feature pure olive oil as a key ingredient. If your skin is on the sensitive side, stick to unscented or naturally scented products, since artificial fragrance is a common irritant. (And as always, check with your dermatologist if you have serious skin concerns.)

If you’re interested in trying products made with olive oil, check out our goat milk soap, lotion sticks, all-natural deodorant, or goat milk bath soaks! At Madd House Hill, olive oil is the number one oil we use in our skincare products, along with rich goat milk, other nourishing ingredients, and pure essential oils. Our products are pure, handcrafted, and all-natural, so everyone can experience what this hardworking ingredient can do for skin.

That is the whole idea behind everything we make on the Hill: fresh goat milk from our own herd, nourishing plant oils and butters, pure essential oils, and nothing synthetic. Simple ingredients, made with care, that let your skin feel like itself.

Until Next Time,

Madd House Hill