Olive oil uses don’t just stop at cooking, in fact, the health benefits of extra virgin olive oil extend far beyond the kitchen! The truth is, high-quality extra virgin olive oil has health benefits throughout the whole body – including the skin. During the summer months, it’s important to balance all our time out in the sun and in dry, hot climates with some extra skin care. So how can olive oil help? Most notably, olive oil is high in polyphenol compounds. These antioxidants, similar to the tocopherols used in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry, help prevent and repair any skin damage caused by too much sun exposure. It’s important to choose only premium extra virgin olive oil for topical use since it’s made without the use of chemicals or solvents. Just like you wouldn’t choose to eat low-quality products, don’t use them on your skin either!Our resident oleologist, Maia Hirschbein, shares her ideas for homemade olive oil skin care products that harness your everyday grocery store olive oil to deliver extra self-care and skin rejuvenation into your summer.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil Body Salve

Live somewhere dry and arid? Too much time in an airplane? This olive oil body salve will sooth cracked or super-dry skin.

How to Make:

Mix equal parts olive oil, coconut oil, and shea butter. Melt 3 ounces of beeswax in a double boiler, heating slowly. Once melted, add the beeswax to the oil mixture. Test the texture of the salve by putting a small drop on a spoon in the freezer—add more wax to harden or more oil to loosen it. Once you've reached the desired texture, add essential oil. (Hirschbein likes grapefruit or peppermint.) For extra moisture, include 40 drops of vitamin E oil to heal cracked or super-dry skin.

Calming Olive Oil Face Mask

Caught too many rays? This mixture will cool overheated skin and help a sunburn heal faster.

How to Make:

Mix together 1 tablespoon of olive oil, one tablespoon of warm honey, and one beaten egg. Once the mixture is emulsified, apply to your face with a facial brush or your hands, and let it sit for 15–30 minutes.

California Olive Oil Lip Scrub

Our lips are especially vulnerable to burns since many of us forget to apply sunscreen to them! If yours need a little burn relief, try this scrub:

How to Make:

Combine coarse sugar with a teaspoon of California Olive Ranch olive oil for a chapped-lip fix. You can also add a splash of lemon juice for added flavor and acidic exfoliating properties, or honey for a soothing boost. This scrub is good enough to eat (literally). Plus, you can use the recipe for your whole body.[video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://californiaoliveranch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/COR_SugarScrub-v2.mp4" poster="https://californiaoliveranch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/COR_sugarscrub.00_00_09_05.Still001.jpg"][/video]

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These extra virgin olive oil skin care products are great because they're 100% natural, deeply healing, and they all use extra virgin olive oil you can find at the grocery store. For more about California Olive Ranch, follow us on Facebook, or sign up for our newsletter on our homepage!*If you have sensitive skin, skin disorder or skin conditions, please consult your physician before use.