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Research Outline

Prepared for Ming | Delivered August 21, 2019

Olive Oil For the Skin

Goals

The goal is to determine whether olive oil is safe to use on the skin, what the benefits are, and what the best type of olive oil is for skin.

Early Findings

  • One reason that olive oil is good for facial skin is that it is an antioxidant. This reduces the aging that happens in skin. Some research suggests applying olive oil after sun exposure can even fight off cancer-causing cells.
  • Olive oil also contains vitamin E, which has been known to treat skin conditions such as Psoriasis and Eczema.
  • People have used olive oil on their skin for a long time, even dating back to the Egyptians.
  • Olive oil contains squalene, which hydrates the skin.
  • A study was done on mice skin which showed that olive oil reduced catecholamine levels, ROS synthesis, and protease production. The oil increased NRF2 expression and collagen deposition in the mice's skin.
  • Beauty experts recommend using only 100% olive oil on the skin to ensure there are no harmful preservatives or additives. They also recommend only using a small amount at a time to avoid clogged pores. Another expert warns that olive oil is not recommended for people who have "problematic skin".
  • Another skin care site recommends using extra virgin olive oil on skin, or EVOO, for the best benefits.
  • We were unable to find any scientific input on whether olive oil should be left on the skin overnight. There are plenty of beauty and skin experts that do so, such as PrimoDerm, so we can conclude that it is a common practice.