Olive oil is known for its nutritional and healing properties and is a fundamental ingredient of the Mediterranean diet. It is used for various purposes, including skin care. Its rich composition makes olive oil ideal for both sunbathing and successful skin tanning.
The key components of olive oil with beneficial properties are fatty acids, which assist in hydrating and softening the skin, making it smooth and shiny. Then there are vitamins E and A. Vitamin E helps protect the skin from the harmful effects of UV radiation, while vitamin A contributes to the overall health of the skin, especially helping in alleviating and reducing scars and stretch marks. Polyphenols, natural antioxidants, aid our body in fighting against harmful environmental impacts, thereby reducing the skin damage that sunbathing can cause. Polyphenols also prevent premature aging of the skin. Olive oil is also rich in minerals such as calcium, potassium, and iron, which affect the overall health not just of our skin but also of our entire body.
Thanks to all these ingredients, olive oil is much more than a dietary supplement; it is a powerful ally in preserving the health and beauty of the skin of the face and the entire body, especially during sunny days when we love our complexion to be tanned. If you have been in doubt about whether olive oil is good for sunbathing, we hope you are now more confident in choosing extra virgin olive oil as an excellent ally for sunny days.
If you wish to learn about all the benefits olive oil provides, we recommend visiting the House of Istrian Olive Oil in Pula, a unique place that combines a museum setting about the beginnings of olive growing from the time of the Romans to our days. Through educational tastings, you can complement this experience and learn how to recognize real extra virgin olive oil and what its basic characteristics are.
Olive oil is exceptionally nutritious for both internal health and external use, especially when exposed to the sun. Its benefits for sunbathing and tanning skin are many. It is necessary to emphasize that you should always choose real extra virgin olive oil because it is the healthiest and contains the most healthy components, as we have already written about.
For sunbathing, olive oil provides natural hydration. Olive oil deeply penetrates the skin and retains moisture, making the skin softer and smoother. This way, we successfully reduce the risk of drying out and peeling of the skin’s surface, which can occur with excessive exposure to the sun.
Olive oil will also help with tanning, and the tanned complexion will be even and long-lasting. How? Olive oil has the ability to improve the elasticity of the skin and keep it hydrated, which successfully works and encourages a more natural and healthier tanning process. And because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it reduces the risk of sunburn and redness.
However, caution should be exercised because olive oil cannot replace protective creams with a high SPF factor and should not be considered a substitute for these creams. Because of its antioxidative properties, provided by polyphenols and vitamin E, olive oil can help in protecting the skin from harmful UV radiation but always in combination with additional protective means.
One of the important properties of olive oil is also its effectiveness in reducing skin aging. We have already written about the benefits of olive oil for facial skin, but everything it does for our face, olive oil does for the rest of our body’s skin. Polyphenols and vitamin E stimulate regeneration and protect the skin from various external stressors.
Here are a few steps and tips to maximize its benefits during sunbathing.
To achieve color and a tanned complexion, it is key to prepare the skin. Cleaning and exfoliating are your first steps towards successful skin tanning. You can also make an excellent natural exfoliating agent with olive oil, which will help your skin in the fight against cellulite. After exfoliating, olive oil will help you achieve an even and darker complexion, while simultaneously protecting your skin from damage and drying out.
It is enough to apply a thin layer of olive oil with massage movements before sunbathing. If too much olive oil is applied, which the skin could not absorb, it might attract the sun more strongly and cause burns. As we have already mentioned, olive oil is not sufficient protection from UVA and UVB rays, so always combine it with a protective sun cream with a high SPF factor. Before going out in the sun, first apply olive oil and then, after about 15 minutes, apply the protective cream.
It would be advisable to avoid the part of the day when the sun is at its peak; the best time for sunbathing is during the morning and afternoon hours. It is best to start with shorter periods and gradually increase the time exposed to the sun so that your skin can adapt.
As much as skin care is important before and during sunbathing, it is equally important after sun exposure. After being in the sun, it is necessary to nourish and hydrate the skin. After showering, reapply olive oil and gently massage it in so that your skin fully absorbs it. This will help in preserving the tan and preventing the skin from peeling.
Olive oil has been used since ancient times for beauty and health. It offers numerous benefits for the skin, especially highlighting olive oil as an excellent natural product for sunbathing and tanning skin. Its rich composition hydrates, protects, and improves the health of the skin. However, it is important to emphasize that olive oil should not be used as a substitute for creams with a protective factor and, while enjoying the benefits of olive oil, it is important not to forget about precautions and additional protection from the sun. The beauty that comes from healthy skin is what we should aim for, so safety and our health should always be a priority.