Olive Oil is magical.
Ubiquitous. Glorious. Delicious.
The product itself is surprisingly multi-purpose and likely something you already have in your home. In addition to the usual eating, Olive Oil has taken front and center in my own beauty routine as I have gotten lazier and lazier as the years have passed (who's with me?!).
We purchase this particular brand of Olive Oil at our Farmer's Market. I like supporting small farmers for so many reasons, as well as supporting my local farmer's market so it checks both of those boxes. It's not certified organic but I have talked to the people selling it. They said they don't use any pesticides in their orchards and that's good enough for me. Another box checked. The glass bottle and metal cap are completely recyclable and comes without any plastic anything - no plastic wrapping, plastic topper, or plastic safety ring at all. Big box checked there as well. While you may not be able to purchase this particular Olive Oil depending on where you live, I encourage you to keep these things in mind when you are purchasing your Olive Oil.
Uses:
This push-pump amber glass bottle originally held carrot seed oil and I kept it with grander purposes in mind when the carrot seed oil ran out. I pour Olive Oil into it and keep in the bathroom, using it for make-up removal, face wash, hair tamer/conditioner, and body lotion.
Make-Up Removal/Face Wash:
The Oil dissolves make-up (even stubborn mascara) and dirt that has settled into your pores from the day. Rub Olive Oil all over your face and let sit a minute. Soak a washcloth with the hottest water you can stand and press against your face. Do this a few times. Then, using the washcloth, wipe face clean. I splash on a few more rounds of hot water followed by cold water. Pat dry. Voila~ clean face!
(*Disclaimer* All skin is different, so although this post is an Ode to Olive Oil, your skin may not respond well to Olive Oil Cleansing. If that's that case, then you may need to experiment with different oils such as Sunflower, Avocado, and Coconut to find the one that's right for you).
Hair Conditioner:
I recently stopped using conditioner. Initially, it was because I ran out and didn't want to go purchase another conditioner bar (because, you know, lazy, but also the shampoo bar lasts me about five months while the conditioner ones always seem to vanish after a month or so. It's annoying.). My hair runs on the dry side, so after I towel dry my hair, I've been rubbing a few quarter-sized amounts of Olive Oil into it, focusing on the ends. Haven't missed conditioner yet and love that I have yet one less product to buy!
Body Lotion:
The beauty industry isn't regulated and many of the ingredients used can be extremely harmful. I used to whip up a really lovely DIY lotion that looked and felt like high-end store bought stuff. But one of the ingredients only came in a plastic bottle, so after I thought about it, it seemed silly to purchase a bunch of stuff that sometimes came in plastic to make a product I wasn't purchasing because, in addition to avoiding chemicals, it came in plastic. Pair this revelation with my laziness, and enter Olive Oil body lotion. Schmear it directly on your dry skin and that's that. Let it absorb before coming into contact with anything as it may stain.
Salad Dressing:
The perfect zero-waste DIY dressing for all time will of course be Olive Oil and Lemon Juice. All compostable, recyclable, tasty, and healthy.
And there is also the usual eating: drizzling on hummus, bread dipping, and sautéing.
Thank you for reading and as always, please let me know about any and all of your own Zero Waste tips!