It's no secret that bathing in olive oil has been used in beauty rituals since the time of the Egyptian queen Cleopatra. According to the legends of Greek mythology, after the victory over Poseidon, the goddess Athena gave the city of Athens a sacred olive tree, which gave it its name. Even Olympic athletes got involved: wrestlers smoothed their skin with olive oil. Olive oil is rich in polyphenols and is known to protect cells from damage. At the same time, it is rich in vitamins and nutrients to treat all skin types: dry, acne-prone and sun-damaged. Below are three olive oil brands whose luxurious skin care products have been applied to your skin, hair, and stock.
"Olive oil can taste bad," says Jay Carroll, who launched the California-based skincare line Wonder Valley with his wife, Alison, nearly five years ago (the duo launched Classic Olive Oil in 2014). “When we researched the tradition of olive oil, we were fascinated by its holistic use in different cultures throughout history,” said Carol, adding that Alison made her first version of the facial oil at home. After friends and family tested the products, "we knew we had a powerful little product that we could share on a larger scale," Carroll said.
For people with inflammation and acne-prone, linoleic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid) helps strengthen the skin barrier. Dry skin also absorbs high concentrations of oleic acid; essential fatty acid Omega-9, which is known to provide long-lasting hydration without the need for constant application.
But that's not all: phytosterols and vitamins A and E prevent skin aging, help delay the formation of wrinkles, promote the natural production of collagen and provide "a softening effect that fills the gaps between skin cells."
Wonder Valley, which operates in Northern California's Lake Country, handpicks the fruit early in the season, which Carroll says "makes a lot of sense as an oil." Cold pressed olives have a greener color and taste. provides superior shine, longer shelf life and a high concentration of polyphenols.
"My family comes from a small fishing village called Karoni," said Katerina (Katina) Mautanos, founder of Kosterina Olive Oil. Hailing from the heart of the olive growing region of southern Greece, Karoni is also home to the famous Koroneiki olive, which Moutanas credits with helping him appreciate the wonderful taste of olive oil.
After more than a decade in the beauty industry, Mountonos has tried "every miracle cream worth over $300" at a prominent beauty e-commerce site. Did the product surprise you? "No. I don't think all these assets are relevant," he said, citing a saturated market.
Enter Kosterina: an all-natural, ultra-pure skincare line made with our signature extra-virgin Greek olive oil. (You can also find her delicate blue-and-white Mediterranean-dipped bottles online and at Whole Foods.) "In Greek culture, we baptize our children with olive oil of the first shade," added Montanos of her father's childhood ritual. "Whenever there was something wrong with your skin, your mother would order you to put olive oil on it." Your favorite product? "An emulsifier-free facial moisturizer that penetrates deep into the skin with powerful antioxidants to give you a subtle glow throughout the day."
In 2014, McEvoy Ranch founder Nan McEvoy, a former San Francisco Chronicle heiress, created the beauty balm after learning that the arms of her farm machinery were in desperate need of repair after hours of work in the olive grove. Today, the body balm is still the brand's best-selling product and contains 78% organic extra virgin olive oil.
Today, Helen McEvoy, granddaughter of the founder, remains the driving force behind the ranch's ODE olive oil production. "When you combine the healing properties of organic, high-polyphenol olive oil with other nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, you have the perfect moisturizing and healing beauty product for total body care," McEvoy said of the jars she creates. At Ranch Hills in Petaluma, California.
Local organic olives are hand-harvested and crushed in a fronto for several hours to ensure the highest quality and polyphenol content. The only tip: use liberally. And in the new year, McEvoy will launch a new unscented line alongside the popular citrus, lavender and green scents.