LATEST NEWS
THE Beauty of the Olive

By now, most people are convinced about the health benefits of cooking with olive oil, but fewer of us realize that olive oil also has a myriad of other uses, not the least of which is as a cosmetic or beauty product.

Using olive oil as a cosmetic product is not a new idea either, in case you thought it was dreamt up by some farmer looking for something to do with left-over stock! As far back as ancient Egypt, the pharaohs used olive oil to moisturize skin and hair, whilst the Romans helped heal wounds with it. (We’ve all seen the pictures and movies of gladiators and Greek athletes rubbing themselves with olive oil, such as in this picture.)

As with many other examples of these pearls of wisdom handed down to us from ancient times, there is solid science behind the folklore. Many of the same complex compounds that give olive oil its extraordinary taste characteristics and healthy attributes – those that enhance your insides – can benefit your outside as well.

Olive Oil and human skin both contain a chemical compound called squalane, an ingredient that oxygenates and nourishes cells. Therefore, olive oil-based products give your skin a nutrient boost. Olive oil is also packed with vitamins and free radical-killing antioxidants, ingredients that modern cosmetics houses have spent millions of dollars replicating.

In the South African olive industry, this tradition is alive and well, albeit with a modern twist. Today, perfumed soaps, hand washes and creams, massage oils and even shampoos are produced here locally.

PRODUCT OF THE MONTH
Devotion Range of Olive Soaps

Ben Visser farms on the Eden Estate in Hartswater in the Northern Cape Province. The first trees were planted in 1995 and at present the Estate has 30 000 trees. Ben’s latest addition to the Olives South Africa product range is the Devotion range of olive soaps. The range includes six different fragrances (Uplifting, Relaxing, Sensual, Exotic, Masculine and Sacred) and is colour coded using colour therapy as guidance to match the specific “mood” of each fragrance.

Every soap contains olive, avocado and coconut oil with vegetable fat. An interesting texture is added with just a tad of dried olive leaves. The soaps are prepared according to the ancient “Cold Process” method and are cured slowly for more than two months. The devotion soaps do not contain any artificial dyes or synthetic fragrances, artificial colourings, animal or nut products or any preservatives. The bars are 100% biodegradable and environmentally friendly. All six fragrances are available in Tapenade Olive Shop. [ more PRODUCTS ]

NEW PRODUCT
Olive Leaf Extract Hand wash and Soap-on-a-roap

Two new beauty products on the market are Kloovenburg’s Olive Leaf Extract Hand wash and Soap-on-a-roap.

The new hand wash, infused with olive leaf extract, is a creamy foam rich in anti-oxidizing elements that moistures and absorbs instantly. It is packaged in a convenient 250ml plastic pump bottle.

The new range of hand cut olive oil soaps-on-a-rope is naturally formulated soaps without any preservatives. The soaps are biodegradable and are fragranced with fennel, rosemary, vanilla, cloves and cinnamon.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
The Price of local oils vs. imported oils – the facts

We will respond every month to a query received from a customer. This month Nico from Lonehill wrote:

“I own an Italian restaurant in Paulshof. An important thing in Italian cuisine is to use the best possible products as a start, and to try to keep it local. Please help me on this? I think SA olive oil manufacturers are trying very hard to force us to use imported oils... We use good pomace to cook, and Extra Virgin for dressing meals and salads”

To read our answer, click here