If you have oily skin, it might sound counterintuitive to add more oil to the situation. However, as Moretz told Vogue and board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ivy Lee confirmed to Insider, “‘Like dissolves like’ is a well-known mantra from chemistry.” Olive oil can work to remove not only natural oils in our skin but can also have a similar effect on oil-based makeup and cosmetics. In the same way you should double-cleanse your beauty sponges with oil and water-based cleansers for a truly clean result, adding oil to your skincare routine can help to create a more neutral balance on your skin.
Not only is olive oil rich in vitamins (including A, D, K, and E), it is also an antioxidant. This means it can help prevent and also reverse sun damage. The best part is that incorporating olive oil into your skincare can be as simple as using a soap that contains olive oil or even using olive oil straight from the bottle in your kitchen. Saturate a cotton round with oil and gently apply it to the skin in circular motion to dissolve lipstick, cheek, and eye makeup. Then, rinse with warm water to fully remove the product.
If you decide to use straight olive oil (which can be a great moisturizer post-sunburn fyi) to remove your makeup, it’s important to remove any excess by following up with a water-based cleanser. If straight olive oil is a little too much for you, there are also plenty of products that boast olive oil bases ranging from soaps to lotions to body washes. Soaps containing olive oil can be especially helpful in decreasing acne since the oil pulls double duty by killing bacteria and hydrating your skin.
