Olive oil-based foodie beauty fixes, revisited

Regardless of whether you amped up or let go of your usual beauty and fitness routines in 2020, it’s time to shift your relationship with food back into the right gear this spring. Naturally, we’re bidding farewell to comfort food in favour of dishes and ingredients that will energize us and bring that glow back. While it will take some time for our bodies to respond to better eating habits, however, there are some edibles that can be whipped up into easy hair and skin indulgences that will provide instant glowing gratification now.
      Although Colavita has circulated its hair and skin facial recipes (with its extra virgin olive oil as a foundation) for a few years now on its website, there’s no better time to provide a refresher course on how to feed our most visible assets the nourishment they crave. In a “new normal” world, good old Evoo is the superfood of choice—even if you apply it topically. It’s packed with vitamins A, D, E, and K, has antibacterial properties, skin-enriching squalene and antioxidants which help fight against free-radical damage. It probably doesn’t hurt that Colavita’s Evoo has a natural citrusy aroma with a spicy finish.
      Granted, you probably have your favourite boutique, drug store or department store beauty brands. But why not raid your kitchen pantry for a different sort of comfort food with time-tested recipes like these? Your crowning glory and skin just may thank you for it.
      Olive oil–honey mask for sensitive skin: mix two tablespoons of honey (manuka honey is best) and a tablespoon of Colavita’s extra virgin olive oil in a small, heat-proof bowl. Microwave for about 10 seconds, just to warm it a little and make the honey loosen up. Using your fingertips or a brush, apply a thin layer of the mixture to your face. Leave on for 10 minutes, then rinse with warm water and a clean cloth.
      Olive oil–avocado and honey mask for hydration: combine a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil, a tablespoon of manuka honey and a quarter of a ripe or overripe avocado, and mix well. Mash the avocado until a smooth consistency is formed. Using the tips of your fingers, or a brush, apply a thin layer of the mixture to your face. The addition of the avocado, with its fatty acids, antioxidants and natural oils, make it ultra-moisturizing when blended with olive oil. Leave on for 15–20 minutes, then rinse with warm water and a clean cloth.
      Olive oil–coffee facial scrub: coffee grounds will exfoliate your skin as the olive oil soothes and hydrates it. Better still, it will keep for a few weeks if you store it at room temperature in a jar for a few weeks. To give your winter skin a jolt into spring, blend three tablespoons of fine ground coffee with two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and mix thoroughly until the mixture looks like mud. Take a small dollop of the mix and gently scrub it onto your skin, and rinse completely with water.
      DIY hair revival: to treat hair with olive oil, just massage one to three tablespoons (depending on hair length and thickness) into your hair, concentrating on the roots for blood flow stimulation and the tips to help moisturize split ends. Let sit for 30 minutes and rinse with warm water. To take a hair boost to the next level, add a half of an avocado and two tablespoons of milk (dairy or vegan) into the mix. Mash the avocado in a bowl, and add three tablespoons of Colavita olive oil and milk. Whip the mixture up to a smooth consistency, and apply it to hair, concentrating on the roots and distributing evenly through to the tips. After 30 minutes, rinse the mask with warm water.