Known for millennia, olive oil was used in cooking to flavour dishes; its use has since diversified. In recent years, it has gained favour in the skincare industry and may offer several benefits when applied to the skin. Read on to discover the key benefits of olive oil for skin.
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What are the benefits of olive oil for the skin?
Summary
- Benefit No. 1: Olive oil has an antioxidant activity
- Benefit No. 2: Olive oil has wound-healing properties
- Benefit No. 3: Olive oil has anti-inflammatory properties
- Benefit No. 4: Olive oil has antibacterial properties
- Benefit No. 5: Does olive oil exhibit hydrating properties?
- Sources
Published July 23, 2024,
updated on June 13, 2025,
by
Marie, Scientific Editor
—
8 min read
Benefit No. 1: Olive oil has an antioxidant activity.
The olive oil is a plant oil with a high antioxidant content. It contains vitamin E (tocopherols) and β-carotene. The oil is rich in squalene and phenolic compounds, notably oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol, which have antioxidant activity.
In one study by ALMEIDA, the radical-scavenging capacity of oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol was measured in an aqueous solution using the DPPH colourimetric assay, named after the free radical used (2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl). The study found that 0.22 mol of oleuropein was required to reduce the DPPH concentration by 50%. For hydroxytyrosol, this value was 0.19 mol. These data suggest that olive oil, due to its constituents, could neutralise free radicals. However, this study used purified compounds, so additional research is needed to confirm the antioxidant activity of olive oil itself.
If the antioxidant action of the olive oil were confirmed, it could limit oxidative stress and delay the appearance of signs of skin ageing.
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Benefit No. 2: Olive oil has wound-healing properties.
Olive oil may also play a role in wound healing. A 2014 study by Hosseinabadi et al. evaluated the effects of a blend of olive oil and sea buckthorn oil on deep second-degree burns in rats, compared with silver sulfadiazine, an antimicrobial agent used in burn treatment to prevent infection.
The experiment was carried out on 60 rats, assigned to five groups treated respectively with a saline solution (control group), sea buckthorn oil alone, olive oil alone, a 5 per cent mixture of both oils, or silver sulfadiazine. The preparations were applied daily for 28 days and healing was monitored macroscopically and through histological analysis. The results showed a faster wound contraction in the groups treated with olive oil alone, sea buckthorn oil alone or the mixture. The mixture promoted more complete epidermal re-formation, with a continuous basement membrane and advanced granulation tissue maturation. In contrast, the silver sulfadiazine group still showed signs of ulceration and necrosis, along with immature granulation tissue.
These observations suggest that olive oil, alone or combined with sea buckthorn oil, could favour burn healing. However, the molecular mechanisms driving these effects remain unclear and human studies are needed.
Benefit No. 3: Olive oil has anti-inflammatory properties.
Another study, conducted by Romana-Souza and colleagues in 2016, explored the effects of orally administered olive oil on wound healing in mice. The animals were divided into two groups: one received daily olive oil and the other received only water. The researchers observed a significant reduction in inflammatory cell infiltration in the injured tissues of mice that had consumed olive oil, accompanied by reduced expression of TNF-α, a pro-inflammatory marker, and of elastase, an enzyme involved in tissue breakdown.
These results suggest that olive oil consumption may favourably modulate local inflammation.
The exact mechanism of this anti-inflammatory action remains unclear. However, the authors hypothesise that oleic acid, a major fatty acid in olive oil, may lower matrix metalloproteinase 1 levels. These enzymes degrade extracellular matrix collagen and certain growth factors, compromising tissue repair. By limiting their activity, olive oil may help preserve rebuilding tissue. However, the study observed the anti-inflammatory effects of olive oil after oral ingestion and not via topical application. Additional research is needed to confirm olive oil’s potential for local wound and irritation management.
Benefit No. 4: Olive oil has antibacterial properties.
A study conducted by FEI and their team in 2020 investigated the potential antibacterial activity of olive oil and its polyphenolic compounds against Staphylococcus aureus, one of the bacteria most frequently found on the skin’s surface. The study aimed not only to assess the antimicrobial efficacy of olive oil but also to clarify its mechanism of action.
The results showed that adding olive oil to the culture medium led to a alteration of the bacterium’s physiological functions. Olive oil appeared to disrupt the integrity of the bacterial cell membrane, causing a loss of permeability. This structural disorganisation resulted in a significant drop in intracellular ATP concentration, indicating inhibition of the cell’s energy metabolism. Membrane depolarisation was observed, signalling a collapse of the electrochemical gradient essential for normal bacterial cell function. This imbalance promoted substantial leakage of intracellular contents, including proteins, into the extracellular medium.
Olive oil seems to exert a bactericidal effect by altering the membrane of Staphylococcus aureus, causing a loss of cytoplasmic content.
It should be noted that these results were obtained in vitro and not on human skin. We do not know whether they could be reproduced in real life or whether olive oil could help in cases of dysbiosis such as acne.
Benefit No. 5: Does olive oil exhibit hydrating properties?
Olive oil contains several fatty acids: monounsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid, and polyunsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic acid. These two molecules play an important role in maintaining skin hydration. Oleic acid, present in sebum, forms a film on the surface of the skin that helps to limit water evaporation from the stratum corneum while protecting it from external aggressors. Linoleic acid can insert between intercellular lipids and strengthen corneocyte cohesion. It improves the skin barrier and reduces insensible water loss.
The high fatty acid content of olive oil suggests it may support skin hydration.
The potential moisturising effect of olive oil was investigated in a pilot study by Lavender et al on newborns. A total of 115 infants were divided into three groups receiving two applications per day for four weeks: olive oil, sunflower oil or no oil (control group). The results showed that overall skin hydration showed a small increase in the olive oil group. Transepidermal water loss, an important indicator of skin hydration, did not change. These findings suggest that olive oil could act as an emollient due to its lipid content, but its moisturising effect remains subject to further evaluation.
Sources
ALMEIDA M. & al. Antioxidant activity of hydroxytyrosol acetate compared with that of other olive oil polyphenols. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (2001).
VIOLA M. & al. Virgin olive oil as a fundamental nutritional component and skin protector. Clinics in Dermatology (2009).
HOSSEINABADI O. & al. Healing effect of sea buckthorn, olive oil, and their mixture on full-thickness burn wounds. Original Investigation (2014).
LAVENDER T. & al. Olive Oil, Sunflower Oil or no Oil for Baby Dry Skin or Massage: A Pilot, Assessor-blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial. Acta Dermato-Venereologica (2016).
ROMANA-SOUZA B. & al. Olive oil inhibits aging signs induced by chronic stress in ex vivo human skin via inhibition of the extracellular signal-related kinase 1/2 and c-JUN pathways. Journal of Cosmetic Science (2019).
FEI P. & al. Antibacterial activity of olive oil polyphenol extract against Salmonella typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus: Possible mechanisms. Foodborne Pathogens and Disease (2020).
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