Whether walking along the palm fringed promenades of Spanish Mediterranean resorts, or watching the world go by from a chic pavement café in Madrid, one thing will not escape your attention; the wonderful complexions of the Spanish women for whom beauty and skincare seem to come naturally.

Admittedly much of this can be attributed to the generic olive toned skins of these captivating people; however olive oil may be more that just an adjective used to describe a skin tone. When it comes to las señoras skincare regime, some of their best natural skincare comes from the olive.

Hippocrates, who was born on the Greek island of Cos around 460 BC, and is known as the father of medicine, recognised the benefits of olive oil too; he called it “the great therapeutic.” It is also known that the ancient Greeks used to bathe in olive oil, a natural moisturizer and skincare product, and used a special scraper to remove the excess.

The tradition of natural skincare, particularly using olive oil, is still going strong today. People throughout Spain and other countries basking in sun along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea are probably the most prolific users of olive oil. In fact, hardly a day goes by when it’s not used topically or eaten. Olive oil can help protect against heart disease, and is a wonderful way to look after your internal and external health. After all, what could be better than using a natural product in your skincare regime?

I was speaking to a neighbour a while back, and commented on her fantastic skin (she is 79 years old). I asked if she had any secrets about her skincare, and it came as no surprise to me when she said “no.” On digging a little deeper, it transpired that of course she used olive oil every day, usually (as the Spanish are apt to do) dipping some bread into extra virgin olive oil with her tapas. She also said that she put the oil on her skin if she had any dry patches, and this cured it within hours.

Extra virgin olive oil is high in minerals, vitamins (especially the skin loving vitamin E) and anti-oxidants, which are very effective in neutralizing skin-damaging free radicals. Another great benefit is that olive oil has the ability to mix with water; so when used as a skincare moisturizer it will carry moisture into the skin not sit on top. And you’ll be happy to hear that it’s also non-comedogenic, which means it won’t block your pores. Look out for the many skincare products containing olive oil. Or use extra virgin olive oil on its own to help boost your skincare regime.