The Tuesday Tip: Cleansing With Olive Oil

Olive oil, the humble kitchen necessity, has so many health benefits that I would bore you to death if I listed them all.

However, when it comes to skincare, olive oil has one standout benefit...its ability to cleanse. It can remove makeup ad impurities just as well as any other expensive cleanser and it is cheap AF and easily available. Olive oil is also completely natural, so it will not irritate the skin or strip it of natural oils...

The Beauty Myth: Olive Oil Can Remove Stretch Marks

Verdict: False

Stretch marks are a form of scarring on the skin; they are caused by skin expanding quickly, usually due to pregnancy or weight gain. The problem with removing stretch marks is that they form below the top layer of skin, so topical treatments simply can't reach them to remove them.

Now although olive oil can't remove stretch marks, massaging olive oil into the skin can help prevent further ones forming. This is because olive oil softens the skin, making it easier for the skin to stretch. I love the nourishing benefits of olive oil, however I am not big on applying it directly to my skin. For these reasons I use gorgeous smelling body oils that contain the ingredient. One of my favourites is the Origins Calm To Your Senses Lavender and Vanilla Oil 150ml (£24.00 Selfridges / $25.00 Macy's). This super skin saviour contains soybean oil, olive oil and jojoba oil, which all work together to deeply nourish, soothe and soften the skin. If used daily, a body oil as nourishing as this will be sure to keep stretch marks at bay!

The Tuesday Tip: DIY Lip Scrub

So, I have a slight obsession with the Lush Lip Scrubs. They are great for exfoliating the lips, keeping them super soft and  they taste absolutely amazing! They come in three flavours, Bubblegum, Popcorn and Mint Julips and they only cost £5.50 each!

Now, as wonderful as these lip scrubs are, you can easily create your own version at home. All you have to do is follow the simple recipe below...

You will need:

• Castor sugar
• Olive oil
• Peppermint oil
• A small airtight container

How you do it:

• Pop one tablespoon of caster sugar into a small bowl
• Mix in small, equal drops of olive oil and peppermint oil until you get a thin - but not runny - consistency
• Then mix in one teaspoon of honey to help bind the ingredients together
• Spoon the mix into your airtight container and, voilà, you're ready to get scrubbing!