The Beauty of Olive Oil (and all its dirty little secrets)

Did you know that olive oil fights wrinkles? How about that it can be used as a sunblock?

I am a huge advocate of using olive oil on your skin and hair. It may sound strange just because when you think of olive oil all you think of is using it in the kitchen. Now you have other uses for that huge bottle of olive oil you probably purchased at Costco just because it was such a great deal. 

Extra Virgin Olive Oil plays so much into the beauty industry you would be shocked. Many of the best $200 bottles of wrinkle creams have olive oil in the ingredients and you probably never even realized it. 

 I've been swearing by this stuff for years and without exception every single time I've told someone that I put olive oil on my face and in my hair regularly they laugh, make some joke about smelling like food and continue to think I'm crazy for using it the way I do.

  The thing that they don't know is extra virgin olive oil has up to 83% oleic acid in its composition which means it is able to penetrating the outermost layer of the skin to help heal whats underneath.

  This "liquid gold" as many people call it contains  antioxidants like polyphenols, vitamin E, A, K, D and B complex, Squalene (also used in cosmetics) and other nutrients. It is 100% natural, non-toxic & hypoallergenic.

  To go back into more detail about the oleic acid it has in it, this alone helps to heal the damages, to improve skin tissue and color, to reduce lines and wrinkles.

  On top of that, olive oil offers sun protection and will reduce the risk of skin cancer. But make sure that you use EXTRA VIRGIN olive oil (Refined olive oil has lost most of its antioxidants in the refining process so all it would be good for is cooking).

The Ways To Use It:

1.  ON YOUR FACE. 

    I personally take about a teaspoon of olive oil and rub it all over my face (try not to get it in or near your eyes. I experience a little burning or irritation but that may only be my type of reaction to it and not affect you at all).  Then once its in just leave it on and let it soak into your skin, I would advise to leave it on for at least a few hours.

       I usually like to put it on at night, lay a towel over my pillow so there's no mess and then sleep with it on. When I wake up in the morning I wash my face and get off any excess oil and my face looks and feels moisturized, smooth, healthy and like I took at least 6 months to a year off the age of my face.  If you do not feel like keeping it on overnight then simply just leave it on for a few hours during the day, wash afterwards and go on about your day. 

2. IN YOUR HAIR.  

   To stimulate hair growth I like to take a teaspoon or two of olive oil flip my head upside down and massage the olive oil into the roots of my hair. I'll then leave my head flipped for a few minutes to let it soak down the strands of my hair. (Flipping your head upside down is not necessary, you can still do this without that step. I just like to do it so that the oil goes down the strands of hair equally). After doing that I will just let it sit in my hair for at least 15-20 minutes then wash out. This helps promote hair growth and strength. 

    Another option to help strengthen and repair your hair. At night I will put the extra virgin olive oil all throughout my hair, basically soaking my hair. I either put on a shower cap or just lay a towel down over my pillows and sleep through the night. In the morning, your hair will have soaked up a lot of the oil however you will still need to wash it out. I like to shampoo twice only because my hair is pretty thin and so if there is still oil left in my hair it will be laying flat and look oily all day. However after rinsing you will notice how smooth and shiny your hair is. Even throughout the day it will maintain that look. 

  I try to be pretty consistent with the treatments I do. Typically I put the olive oil on my face 1 or 2 times a week, just depending on how busy my week is.  And for the hair I do it 1 or 2 times a month. I recommend if your hair and skin is in some major help do these more often I simply just do these regimens to maintain what I have. 

   If you still are unsure about it, at least give it a try. Try it for a month and see how you feel about it afterwards. I was skeptical too when I first learned about the wonders of olive oil but now I can't live without my BIG bottle of extra virgin olive oil.

Good Luck and Enjoy Smelling Like Food!

                                                           

The battle to stay looking young.

AGING GRACEFULLY Its a very difficult thing to do, especially over matters we have no control over, such as getting those darn wrinkles and lines on our face. Some people are inpatient and want a quick fix right away without having to spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars on a solution. And then some people are more than happy to spend all that money on a long term solution to achieve the results they want.  Regardless of which option you would choose as long as they work and make you happy that's what matters.

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I've narrowed down a few problem areas that really can affect how someone looks and is judged by to determine their age and with that is a quick fix option for those of you that are looking to save money and then the long term maybe more permanent option that will make a dent in your wallet.

Nasolabial Folds

Why they happen to you: Typically as fat is lost and the skin loses elasticity the folds develop at the corners of the nose down towards the mouth. They're called "smile lines" and they can start showing up more noticeably in your 20's but usually do not become deep lines until your 40's or 50's. 

The money saving quick fix? 
   Bringing moisture to your skin is an easy way to plump up lines and folds, this is a temporary fix though. Products such as the Sisley Black Rose Cream mask is filled with skin plumbers like trace elements and vitamins to hide the look of those smile lines and give an instantly lift in minutes.

The longer term more costly fix?
  One word, Juvederm.  This wonderful injection help to minimize folds. Fillers disguises the folds, but it doesn't physically change it permanently. Another option, A face lift. When you're ready for it, is the only way to fully get rid of the folds because the tissue is re positioned.

Thinning Lashes

Why they happen to you: Whether the cause of stress, hormones or just time itself, the lashes can thin out. The follicles along the lash line become less active and the lashes can become brittle, thin and breakable.

The money saving quick fix? 
   The quickest way to get longer fuller lashes is with mascara as it swaths them in the formula to make them appear darker and more promoted.  Mascara such as Lancome Hypnose can do wonders to fake the look for fuller lashes, even after 1 application.  The brush lets you get down to the lash line making the thinnest of lashes long, dark and luscious.

The longer term more costly fix?
   According to many plastic surgeons Latisse is the best way to grow better, thicker, longer lashes. There have been so many success stories so much so that they don't even have to wear mascara.  Latisse, is an eyelash simulator that promises better looking lashes in six to eight weeks, however sometimes even as little as 2 weeks.


Crows Feet
Why they happen to you:  All those years of squinting and smiling eventually start to catch up with your face. Chronically using those muscles on top of losing elasticity causes small wrinkles to appear in the outer corners of the eyes.  The best way to prevent them? Load up on a good daily sunscreen and don a pair of big protective sunglasses.

The money saving quick fix?
    The best skincare products for crow feet are the ones that use anti-line and anti-wrinkle ingredients which help diffuse the look of lines around the eyes. AmorePacific anti-aging products for example, are very good in helping fight these lines.

The longer term more costly fix?
       Botox. It relaxes the muscles around the eyes so that the crinkling you see when you smile or squint goes away and looks completely smooth giving you that "no or very little wrinkles look" Every person's dream!

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So basically, stay consistent with whatever option you take to fight aging. There are so many options out there from just sticking with lotions, creams, serums and the like or going for a stronger more aggressive approach like botox.   Regardless of what you choose, as long as you are happy in your own skin that's what matters!