How often do you use extra virgin olive oil? Do you use it for your skin? There are so many proven health benefits for using it as part of your beauty regimen. It's a healthy fat and is rich in antioxidants. Not only is it good to use during meal preps, but it also protects the skin in numerous ways. Some of the benefits are fairly common, but there may be a few that you've never considered.
Let's explore how you can add this oil to your self-care Saturday/Sunday routines to get your skin silky smooth and glowing in all the right places:
1. Nail Strengthener
Growing your nails can be a drag at times, but olive oil can help you with the process. To give your damaged and peeling nails some extra length and life, apply lukewarm olive oil to your nail bed. When you are at home doing your own mani and pedi, incorporate olive oil into your routine. You may see some impressive results.
2. Night Body Moisturizer
It feels good to get out of a nice warm shower or bath and massage olive oil over your whole body. The oil nourishes and moisturizes the skin, giving it a nice bright glow. Go to bed feeling relaxed, and wake up with fresh silky skin.
3. Natural Face Scrub
There are so many facial skin regimens floating around, and sometimes we just can't keep track. During your self-care day, feel free to mix olive oil with granulated sugar and use it as a face scrub. Mixing the two can be great for exfoliating and cleansing the pores. It's easy to do and it doesn't take much effort. This can also be another way to save on skincare and beauty cosmetics in your yearly budget.
4. Shaving Cream
Olive oil leaves your skin soft after shaving, and you might even notice a change in the number of ingrown hairs and unwanted cysts you're susceptible to. This method also saves money because you no longer have to buy expensive shaving creams and worry about applying unhealthy chemicals to your body. Be careful though: If you are applying the olive oil in the shower, things can get a little slippery.
5. Makeup Remover
Trying to get rid of your beat face after a long night out or remove your lashes? Olive oil does the trick and does it easily. Simply apply the oil to a cotton swab or pad and rub it in a circular motion. Give your face a nice rinse and you are all set.
6. Eyebrow Grooming
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Personally, I have not paid for a professional to shape my eyebrows in at least 3 years. In order to properly prep my eyebrows before tweezing, I apply olive oil. The olive oil alleviates dryness, redness, and damage to the skin in the eyebrow area. Also, the oil keeps my eyebrows healthy and strengthens thin areas.
7. Cracked-Heel Repair
One thing you always want to keep under control is the dryness on the heels of your feet, especially in the summer when you are wearing those fabulous heels and open-back sandals. Take care of the heels of your feet all year 'round and eliminate cracked heels by applying olive oil before bed. Don't forget to seal in the moisture by wearing socks. Trust me, you will see a major difference in your feet.
8. Sunburn Remedy
After spending a day or two in the sun, your skin can get burned---not fun at all. In order to heal sunburn, apply olive oil to the affected area day and night. It will eliminate the burning sensation and soothe the skin.
If you haven't started using olive oil for your skin regimen, get up and get with it. Let us know your thoughts and if your skin experiences change for the better. Let's level up in the most natural way!
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Confrontation is a crucial aspect that can strengthen the bond between friends, even if the idea of it might make us uncomfortable. It is simply a growing pain.
I have learned that confrontation separates communicators from non-communicators and the emotionally mature from the emotionally immature.
Takisha Brooks
Courtesy
"When it comes to confrontation, people view it as a situation where someone has to leave hurt and underneath [or at the bottom]," said Takisha Brooks, MSMFT, LMFT-A.
"Confrontation is about coming together to address what happened and determine the next steps for our friendship. You don't want to get stuck on 'my way versus your way.'"
She also noted that confrontation only works if you know how to communicate and listen effectively.
Brooks is an Associate Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Chicago who loves working with couples. She focuses on communication, intimacy, parenting, and friendships.
Outside the office, Brooks facilitates marriage retreats and seminars for couples and is a part-time content creator.
The Common Misconception of Confrontation
When people hear "confrontation," they often think of arguments, raised voices, hurt feelings, or worse...a Miami Girls' Trip (the epitome of confrontation). This negative stigma makes many fear it will harm their friendship rather than help it.
"The biggest misconception about confrontation is that every time we have a disagreement, and we don't agree on everything, then we don't go forward.
It feels like when you have a confrontation, it will be the last conversation we will have with this person," Brooks explained.
"Confrontation isn't the end. Instead, you're going to address and acknowledge the elephant standing between you and me," she added.
Klaus Vedfelt/ Getty Images
Furthermore, people associate confrontation with conflict, but they are not the same. Conflict implies a serious disagreement that can lead to a rift, while confrontation is simply addressing an issue directly to find a resolution.
"There's a connection between the two, but they are not the same," Brooks revealed.
"Confrontation makes it scarier because you're going to take action. You can have conflict without taking any sort of action. It will sit there, but that's not the case if you confront what's happening," she continued.
Understanding this distinction is essential for appreciating the role of confrontation in friendship.
Why Healthy Confrontation is Good for Your Friendship
Brooks shared that "healthy confrontation" is good and necessary for friendship because it opens up lines of communication.
It allows friends to express their feelings and needs honestly. Addressing issues head-on shows respect for the friendship and a desire to improve it.
Confrontation also strengthens a friendship by building trust and showing that you value the relationship enough to work through difficulties together.
"Healthy confrontation solidifies the reality that I can trust this person...a friend...that I am doing life with compared to a moment or a season," she said.
Additionally, confrontation helps with boundaries or "safety nets," as Brooks put it.
The Negative Impact of Avoiding Confrontation
Pro-Stock Studio/ Getty Images
Avoiding confrontation can negatively impact your friendship. When you don't address issues, it can lead to a buildup of resentment and frustration.
This can create a wedge between friends, causing them to drift apart. Minor annoyances can snowball into bigger problems if not dealt with early on. Not to mention, are you truly friends if you can't talk about your issues?
"The more you avoid having hard conversations, the less you can actually enjoy being in the friendship. You will not be able to enjoy that friendship to its full potential, and it will end prematurely," stated Brooks.
"Furthermore, if you have difficulty confronting issues, you must find their voice and understand the difference between being assertive and aggressive," she advised. "You can do it respectfully."
She advised choosing the right time and place, making sure both parties are calm and ready to talk, and lastly, having the conversation.
Confrontation is not about fighting; it's about communicating. It's a necessary part of any healthy friendship. By addressing issues directly, friends can clear the air, better understand each other, and grow closer.
It's about creating a space where both parties feel heard and valued.
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