What is olive oil in skincare?
Olive oil is pressed from the fruit of Olea europaea and has been used on skin for thousands of years. It is roughly 70% oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid, with smaller amounts of linoleic acid, squalene and polyphenols such as hydroxytyrosol.
That fatty acid profile matters. Oleic-dominant oils are rich and occlusive but, as comparative research on plant oils shows, they can also disrupt the skin barrier rather than repair it – the opposite of what linoleic-rich oils do.
What skin concerns does olive oil treat?
On intact, dry body skin it is an effective emollient and a serviceable makeup remover, and its polyphenols and squalene contribute antioxidant activity.
It is a poor choice for the face if you are acne-prone, since it is comedogenic, and studies have found repeated topical olive oil increases water loss through the barrier rather than reducing it. It is specifically not recommended on infant skin or on eczema.
What ingredients are best paired with olive oil?
If you use it, use it on the body, over hydrated skin, and alongside ceramides and glycerin rather than on its own.
For facial use, linoleic-rich oils – sunflower, grapeseed, rosehip, hemp seed – or non-comedogenic squalane and jojoba do the same job without the barrier penalty. Squalane is in fact derived from olives, and delivers olive oil’s best component without its drawbacks. Take our Skin Quiz.
What are wrinkles?
Wrinkles are permanent folds and creases in the skin. They begin as dynamic lines that appear only with expression, then set into static lines visible at rest once the underlying support structure can no longer push them back out.
They form first where skin is thin and movement is constant: crow’s feet, forehead lines, frown lines between the brows, and nasolabial folds. Deeper folds also reflect loss of fat and bone volume, not just skin change.
What causes wrinkles?
Internally, collagen and elastin production declines steadily from the mid-twenties and the dermal matrix thins, so skin loses the scaffolding that keeps it smooth.
Externally, ultraviolet radiation does most of the damage – it activates enzymes that break down collagen and degrades elastic fibres. Smoking, pollution, sugar-driven glycation, poor sleep, sleeping position and repeated facial movement all accelerate the process.
What ingredients are best for wrinkles?
Retinoids have the deepest evidence base for stimulating collagen and measurably reducing wrinkle depth over six to twelve months. Vitamin C supports synthesis while neutralising the free radicals that break it down, and peptides signal repair.
Round it out with hyaluronic acid and ceramides for hydration and barrier strength, niacinamide for elasticity and tone, and AHAs for surface renewal. Daily broad-spectrum SPF is the most effective anti-wrinkle product there is. Take our Skin Quiz.
