PLANT OIL
Olive Fruit Oil
Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil
A rich, nourishing oil pressed from the fruit of the olive tree, high in oleic acid and natural squalene, used to leave skin feeling soft, supple and comfortable.
Source
Olive fruit
Used for
Dry-feeling skin, softness
How it works
One of the oldest skin oils.
Olive fruit oil is pressed from the flesh of olives (Olea europaea) and has been used on skin since ancient Greece and Rome. It is mostly oleic acid, with natural squalene, vitamin E and polyphenols, the polyphenols being most plentiful in less-refined oils.
Studies on skin have found that olive oil increases skin hydration and leaves the surface looking smoother. Used neat it can be hard on the skin's outer layer, which is why it is usually formulated in blends rather than used on its own.
It suits daily use in body creams, lotions and oils. It is a different material from olive oil unsaponifiables, a refined fraction of the oil used for its silky, squalane-like feel.
Studies on skin have found that olive oil increases skin hydration and leaves the surface looking smoother. Used neat it can be hard on the skin's outer layer, which is why it is usually formulated in blends rather than used on its own.
It suits daily use in body creams, lotions and oils. It is a different material from olive oil unsaponifiables, a refined fraction of the oil used for its silky, squalane-like feel.
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01
Pressed from olive fruit; rich in oleic acid, squalene and vitamin E
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Leaves skin feeling soft, supple and comfortable
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Helps skin feel hydrated and look smoother
Questions
What is olive fruit oil?
It is the oil obtained from the ripe fruit of the olive tree, Olea europaea. In cosmetics it is a skin conditioning ingredient, and it is made up mainly of fatty acids, with oleic acid by far the largest share. (European Commission CosIng; Fagoaga et al., 2026)
Does olive oil moisturise skin?
Yes. In a study on the forearm, extra virgin olive oil increased skin hydration and improved the skin's surface texture. (Rubio-Santoyo et al., 2025)
Why is olive oil usually blended with other oils?
Olive oil is rich in oleic acid, so it is usually formulated alongside other oils and ingredients for a well-balanced blend rather than used on its own. (Danby et al., 2013; Fagoaga et al., 2026)
Is olive fruit oil the same as olive oil unsaponifiables?
No. Olive oil unsaponifiables are a small, concentrated fraction of olive oil with their own name, listed for hair and skin conditioning, whereas olive fruit oil is the whole oil obtained from the ripe fruit. (European Commission CosIng)
About the plant
The olive, Olea europaea, is an evergreen tree native to the Mediterranean region, typically 6 to 9 metres tall with a rounded crown and leaves that are grey-green above and silver-green beneath. Its small, fragrant white flowers give way to oval green fruits that ripen to black, each with a single stone. (Missouri Botanical Garden)
The olive was one of the first trees to be cultivated, around 2500 BC on Crete, and olives are harvested both for eating and for oil. The oil is made up mainly of oleic acid-rich fats, with smaller amounts of natural phenolic compounds and tocopherols (vitamin E). (Missouri Botanical Garden; Fagoaga et al., 2026)
The olive was one of the first trees to be cultivated, around 2500 BC on Crete, and olives are harvested both for eating and for oil. The oil is made up mainly of oleic acid-rich fats, with smaller amounts of natural phenolic compounds and tocopherols (vitamin E). (Missouri Botanical Garden; Fagoaga et al., 2026)
The research
- Rubio-Santoyo A, Sanabria-de la Torre R, Montero-Vílchez T, Girón-Prieto MS, Gómez-Farto A, Arias-Santiago S. Effects of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Petrolatum on Skin Barrier Function and Microtopography. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2025;14(13):4675. PMID: 40649050. (opens in a new tab)
- Fagoaga C, Moreno A, Fernández-Julián N, Castellano G. Oxidative Stability and Kinetics of Oxidation of Rosehip, Sunflower, Olive and Jojoba Oils. Antioxidants (Basel), 2026;15(5):646. PMID: 42193267 (opens in a new tab)
- European Commission CosIng database: Olea Europaea Fruit Oil (functions: fragrance, skin conditioning, perfuming) (opens in a new tab)
- European Commission CosIng database: Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables (functions: hair conditioning, skin conditioning) (opens in a new tab)
- Danby SG, AlEnezi T, Sultan A, Lavender T, Chittock J, Brown K, Cork MJ. Effect of olive and sunflower seed oil on the adult skin barrier: implications for neonatal skin care. Pediatric Dermatology, 2013;30(1):42-50. PMID: 22995032 (opens in a new tab)
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder: Olea europaea (opens in a new tab)
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