What is "Olea Europaea Fruit Oil" and what is its utility?

The olive tree (Olea Europaea) is a fruit-bearing tree belonging to the Oleaceae family and originates from the Mediterranean basin. Its oil, obtained by cold pressing the pulp of the olives, contains the highest content of oleic acid. The Mediterranean people had a habit of massaging themselves with olive oil from head to toe. Today, it remains just as popular in food as it is in cosmetics.

For a bit of background, the olive tree is the first tree to appear in the history of the world (Genesis). It is thus recounted that when Noah sent the dove as a scout, the bird brought back an olive branch indicating that the water level had dropped.

Due to its biochemical composition, olive vegetable oil possesses numerous virtues.

• As an antioxidant, it combats skin ageing as well as the deterioration of hair fibres.

  Particularly concentrated in vitamin E as well as polyphenols, olive oil is an excellentantioxidanttreatment to protect the skin and hair from free radicals. As a reminder, these arereactive oxygen speciesproduced naturally by the body. However, when cells are faced withstress, they produce them inexcessiveamounts. The sources of stress are numerous, the main ones being exposure to UVA, pollution, smoking, a diet too rich in fats and/or sugars. Free radicals are particularly unstable molecules due to theirsingle electron. They tend to react with other molecules to form apair of electrons, and thus causedamage to cells, DNA and proteins in the body. This accelerates ageing and wrinkles appear on the skin's surface. Regarding hair, oxidative stress makes it dull, accelerates the appearance of grey hair or even hair loss. The molecules present in olive oil, such as polyphenols, have the ability to donate electrons to free radicals to stabilise them and thus make them less harmful. Vegetable olive oil is therefore a valuable ally in preventing skin ageing and the deterioration of hair fibres.

• Nourishing due to its fatty acid content, it softens the skin and hair.

  Rich in omega-6 and omega-9, it also providesnutritionandelasticityto the skin, andprevents dehydrationbystrengthening the barrier functionof the epidermis. The hydrolipidic film improves the resistance of the horny layer against external aggressions and limits insensible water loss. Olive vegetable oil is thus qualified asrelipidating, it is recommended for taking care of dry and dehydrated skin. When applied to hair, it nourishes and brings shine to the hair, hence its recommendation for dull hair.

• Anti-inflammatory, it accelerates the healing processes.

  The triterpenes found in many vegetable oils, and particularly in olive oil, accelerate the healing of wounds and micro-lesions. As a reminder, wound healing is divided into three phases: cellular migration, cellular proliferation, and collagen deposition. Olive oil is therefore recommended for irritations causing micro-lesions, such as frequent itching in cases of eczema or acne spots.