Olive Oil "Liquid Gold"

As well as being the basis of a healthy Mediterranean diet, olive oil has many uses as a natural skincare remedy that you might not realise.

In fact, olive oil is closer in chemical structure to your skin’s natural oil than any other naturally occurring oil and it is an excellent moisturiser.

Here are a few suggestions for using olive oil other than putting it in your salad bowl.

• If your hands need a moisture boost, cover them in olive oil and put on some cotton gloves before bed to lock the moisture in.

• Smooth and moisturise dry feet by making a foot scrub of equal parts olive oil and sea salt or sugar.

• Olive oil can be used as natural massage oil and it may very well be the world’s oldest massage oil. In ancient Greece, it was used during massage to prevent sports injuries and relieve muscle fatigue.

• Massage olive oil into your hair and scalp about half an hour before washing your hair to condition and moisturise your scalp and to strengthen and condition your hair.

• Olive oil can be used instead of mascara to strengthen, darken and shine your eyelashes and eyebrows.

• Apply olive oil on a cotton bud to moisturise and condition your cuticles.

The list of skincare uses for olive oil is pretty much endless but hopefully this will give you a flavour (excuse the pun) of why it’s such a great natural skincare resource.

So in addition to the wonderful flavour it adds to food, next time you reach into your kitchen cupboard for the olive oil think about what else you might be able to use it for but don’t forget to leave some for your next cooking session!