Although used for centuries, many people remain skeptical of the benefits of using olive oil as a moisturizer. After all, it seems counterintuitive to use oil on your skin to combat oily skin. But, with the right oils, you may be surprised at just how powerful having an olive oil moisturizer can be.

Less is More

Today's skincare marketers want you to believe in their systematic approach to giving you the best skin possible. The problem? Most of these skincare systems involve a multitude of products, ingredients, and negative side effects.

When it comes to skincare, less is more. Here's why.

Many of today's skincare systems get designed with business in mind, not you. Companies want to make you dependent on their skincare line so that you keep coming back for more. Here's how they do it:

• You start by washing your face with drying products that leave your skin craving moisture.

• Then, you slather on chemical ridden moisturizers that leave you feeling refreshed.

There's nothing wrong with your skin feeling supple and refreshed. There is something wrong with your skin requiring (and becoming addicted to) this refreshment after using chemical based products. In fact, this dependence can lead to a number of other issues, such as overproduction of your own natural oils, or sebum, which can cause breakouts and oily skin.

Olive oil is different. When you use olive oil as a moisturizer, you put natural ingredients onto your skin. These natural ingredients work in harmony with your skin's chemistry to give you the balance you crave.

To help you get a better idea of why olive oil makes a great moisturizer, here are a few answers to some of the top concerns people have when deciding on whether olive oil based skincare products are right for them.

"Won't olive oil make me look and feel greasy?"

Logically speaking, it would make sense that when you add oils to your skin, your skin would become oily. But taking a closer look at the biology of your skin, you may be surprised to find that the right kinds of oils, natural oils, can actually help you have less oily skin.

The trick is to use the right types of oils and natural cleansers to create the balance Mother Nature intended us to have.

Olive oil is perfect for this. Olive oil has antioxidants and natural acids that work in harmony with your skin to strengthen its natural barrier. It contains a combination of sebum (the natural oils in your skin) and micro-flora (a healthy bacteria). Together these mirror the balance in your skin. When you apply olive oil based moisturizer to your face, the oils absorb quickly. Instead of sitting on top of your skin, as many chemical based moisturizers do, the nutrients are in your skin giving you the supple, radiant look you want.

"Will I have to smell like olive oil?"

Some people love the smell of olive oil, but when it comes to wearing it on your skin, very few people want to walk around work or go out to dinner carrying the aroma.

When you use pure olive oil, there is a good chance that you will have to put up with the odor. To avoid sniffing this smell, try using it at night to moisturize. You won't notice the smell as much because you will be asleep. When you wake, the smell will not be as strong, but your skin will feel refreshed.

Perhaps a better option is to use olive oil based moisturizing products. Our olive oil hand and body lotion has olive oil as a base and natural scents of lavender, vanilla, and chamomile. The Belmondo olive oil face cream has natural scents of rose and lavender. All of these scents are ones that people pay big money for in rich perfumes that do nothing for your skin (and may actually hurt it). When you use the lotion or face cream, you can smell the relaxing natural aromas while doing something beneficial for your skin.

"Without preservatives, don't I have to use a lot of product in a short amount of time so that it does not go bad?"

You know that what you put on your skin impacts your overall health, which is why you love buying all-natural beauty products. But many people like you worry that without preservatives all-natural beauty products like olive oil based moisturizer will go bad quickly.

Although there is a shelf life, you have 6 - 12 months to use your products before they expire. A little bit goes a long way, so you never want to overuse a product just to finish it in time. Keep your all-natural olive oil moisturizers and beauty products lasting longer by storing them properly (in a cool, dry place). Then, use a small spatula so you don't risk getting extra water or outside bacteria in your products.

Give olive oil moisturizer a test run

Ready to put science to the test? Pick up some of our favorite olive oil based moisturizers and try them on your skin. There may not be a one-size fits all for skincare, but olive oil skincare products come close because of the natural ingredients used to give your skin the hydration it needs.