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Olive Oil
ORY® product lines:
☑ Skincare (with caveats for damaged/infant skin)
☑ Haircare
☑ Handmade Soap (foundation of Castile soap)
☑ Cosmetics — full dual-use ingredient
Olive oil, pressed from the fruit of Olea europaea, is the Mediterranean’s founding beauty oil and the basis of the world’s oldest handmade soaps (Castile, Aleppo, Marseille). It is dominated by oleic acid and, in extra-virgin grades, carries squalene, vitamin E, and polyphenols (hydroxytyrosol, oleuropein) with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity [1]. The modern evidence adds an important nuance: a controlled study found that repeated application of pure olive oil to adult skin reduced barrier integrity and increased redness, likely because its high oleic acid disrupts the stratum corneum, whereas linoleic-rich sunflower oil improved hydration [2]. ORY® therefore uses olive oil as a blended emollient, an infusion base, and the conditioning heart of soap, rather than as a stand-alone leave-on for compromised or infant skin.
What is Olive Oil made of?
Olive oil is mechanically pressed from ripe fruit; extra-virgin is unrefined first press, pomace is solvent-extracted residue oil (used in soap). Composition [1]:
- Oleic acid (65–80%): Deeply emollient; can disrupt barrier when used neat on damaged skin [2].
- Linoleic (5–15%), palmitic (10–15%), stearic (2–4%) acids: Barrier and structural.
- Squalene (up to 0.7%), vitamin E, phytosterols: Antioxidant, sebum-like.
- Polyphenols (hydroxytyrosol, oleuropein, oleocanthal — extra-virgin only): Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory.
- Comedogenic rating ~2; shelf life 12–24 months.
- Soap data: SAP ~0.135 g NaOH/g; very conditioning, low creamy lather, slow to trace; 30–100% (100% = Castile, needs long cure).
What skin type is best suited for Olive Oil?
Olive oil suits dry and mature skin in blends; barrier-compromised skin needs care:
- Dry: Rich emollient in blended oils and balms.
- Mature: Squalene and polyphenol antioxidants [1].
- Normal: Body oils, cleansing oils, infusion base.
- Combination: Dry zones; blend with lighter oils.
- Sensitive: Use blended with linoleic-rich oils; avoid neat on eczema or infant skin [2].
- Oily: Rinse-off cleansing oils only.
- Acne-prone: Moderate comedogenicity; prefer jojoba or grapeseed.
What hair type is best suited for Olive Oil?
Olive oil is a traditional deep-conditioning hair oil:
- Dry or damaged: Olive coats and softens the fiber, reducing moisture loss and mechanical breakage.
- Curly and coily: Sealing oil over water-based leave-ins (LOC/LCO method).
- Color-treated or chemically processed: Replenishes lipids stripped by chemical services.
- Straight and wavy: Heavy for fine hair; best on thick, dry, or coily hair.
- Oily scalp: Lengths and ends only.
- Sensitive scalp: Neutral carrier for scalp actives; patch test.
- Dandruff-prone, mature or thinning: Carrier for rosemary, peppermint, or tea tree scalp treatments.
What are the benefits of Olive Oil?
Olive oil’s benefits are supported by reviews, with an important barrier caveat [1–3]:
- Emollient: Rich oleic softening.
- Antioxidant: Squalene, vitamin E, hydroxytyrosol [1].
- Anti-inflammatory (extra-virgin): Oleocanthal and polyphenols.
- Cleansing: Dissolves makeup and sebum (oil cleansing).
- Infusion base: Traditional carrier for calendula, rosemary, chamomile.
- Hair conditioning: Softens coarse hair.
- Soap: The most conditioning base oil; foundation of Castile and Aleppo bars.
- Heritage: Millennia of Mediterranean use.
Dual use across ORY® product lines
Olive oil serves all four ORY® lines and is the conditioning foundation of ORY® handmade soap.
| ORY® line | Dual use? | How it is used | Typical level |
|---|---|---|---|
|
ORY® Skincare |
Yes |
Blended body oils, cleansing oils, balms, creams, infusion base (not neat leave-on for eczema/infant skin). |
5–30% in blends |
|
ORY® Haircare |
Yes |
Hair masks and pre-shampoo oils for thick/dry hair, rosemary-olive scalp infusions. |
5–50% |
|
ORY® Handmade Soap |
Yes |
Primary conditioning oil; Castile (100%) or blended (30–60%) with coconut/shea for lather and hardness. |
30–100% of oils |
|
ORY® Cosmetics |
Yes |
Lip balms, cleansing balms, cream products. |
5–20% |
Pros and cons of Olive Oil
Pros
Cons
- Soap foundation: Castile heritage; ultra-mild bars.
- Antioxidant polyphenols: Extra-virgin [1].
- Affordable and abundant: Mediterranean staple.
- Infusion classic: Rosemary, calendula.
- Four-line utility: All ORY® products.
- Barrier caveat: Neat oleic-rich oil can weaken damaged or infant skin barrier [2]; blend with linoleic oils.
- Heavy, slow-absorbing: Greasy feel.
- Low lather and slow trace in soap: Balance with coconut; long cure.
- Adulteration: Verify grade.
- Green color and scent (extra-virgin): Refined for neutral products.
What is the best application of Olive Oil?
Olive oil is a blend, infusion, and soap ingredient:
- Blended body oil: 20–30% with sunflower and jojoba.
- Cleansing oil: With castor oil (oil-cleansing method).
- Infused oil: Rosemary- or calendula-infused olive oil for balms and soap.
- Hair mask: Warm olive oil pre-shampoo for coarse hair.
- Soap: Castile (100%, 6–12-month cure) or 30–60% blends.
- Cosmetics: Lip balm; cleansing balm.
Peer-reviewed references
- Viola P, Viola M. Virgin olive oil as a fundamental nutritional component and skin protector. Clinics in Dermatology. 2009;27(2):159–165.
- Danby SG, AlEnezi T, Sultan A, et al. Effect of olive and sunflower seed oil on the adult skin barrier: implications for neonatal skin care. Pediatric Dermatology. 2013;30(1):42–50.
- Vaughn AR, Clark AK, Sivamani RK, Shi VY. Natural oils for skin-barrier repair: ancient compounds now backed by modern science. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology. 2018;19(1):103–117.
Disclaimer:
The information on this page is provided by ORY International, LC for educational purposes only. It summarizes published research about olive oil as an ingredient, including laboratory and animal studies and clinical studies of formulas that may differ from ORY® products. Results from these studies may not apply to every person or to ORY® products. This page is not medical advice and does not replace advice from a dermatologist, physician, or other qualified healthcare provider.
ORY® Skincare, Haircare, Handmade Soap, and Cosmetics products are cosmetics. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate, or prevent any disease or condition, including eczema, acne, wounds, dandruff, hair loss, or any other condition. References to FDA or Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) findings describe the ingredient, not ORY® products, and do not mean FDA has reviewed or approved any ORY® product.
Results vary by skin and scalp type, formulation, and use. Allergy to this oil is uncommon, and any cosmetic can cause irritation, sometimes from other ingredients. Always patch test, follow label directions, and stop use if irritation occurs. If you are pregnant, nursing, have a medical condition, or are buying for a child, consult a healthcare provider before use.
ORY International, LC works to keep this page accurate and current but makes no warranty as to its completeness. To the fullest extent permitted by law, ORY International, LC is not liable for any loss or injury arising from reliance on this information or from use of any product contrary to its label directions. To report a reaction, contact us at [insert contact email / phone].
