Olive Oil vs Coconut Oil: Who Is the Ultimate Winner?

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For years, oils have been rated and ranked for their health benefits, their uses and their popularity as we are constantly learning about their characteristics and virtues…

Since olive oil and coconut oil are the favoured oils at Néolia, we decided to engage them in a superhero combat to determine which one is the ultimate oil…

HEALTH

Coconut oil has made a remarkable entry on the scene with its impressive amount of antioxidants that help reduce oxidative stress and thereby the risk of heart disease. However, its saturated fat content is 13 times higher than that of olive oil. Olive oil has become a very important player in health with its “good fat” renowned in the Mediterranean diet. It has been shown that a diet high in mono-unsaturated and polyunsaturated fats is essential to maintaining good health.

POPULARITY

For the past few years, foodies and influencers have been raving about coconut oil and its benefits. While olive oil has been making its mark for thousands of years, the coco trend has spread like wild fire.

USES

In kitchens, olive oil has proved its worth by offering unlimited health opportunities while coconut oil is slowing gaining more notoriety. Its saturated fat content allows it to be used at higher cooking temperatures and its exotic taste adds a little sunshine to our meals.

In cosmetics, both oils are used in shampoos, cleansers and moisturizers. The fatty acids and antioxidants they contain strengthen and protect the skin.

All in all, it’s impossible for us to proclaim a winner… Maybe you can help us choose which best suits your needs and tastes?

The Importance of Conditioning

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Do you often look in the mirror and find yourself thinking your hair looks dull? Many things can contribute to making your hair seem less than unharmed even if you avoid the typical assailants such as hot tools. The drying effects of seasonal arid air both inside (thanks to your radiator) and outside (cold winter winds) not to mention tight ponytails and even brushing out tangles can have negative effects on your locks.

By skipping conditioner, you’re exposing your hair to tons of damage that will wear away the cuticle layer, making every strand appear thinner.

Conditioning as rule of thumb is key in helping to maintain the natural nourishment of your hair especially after doing treatments such as straightening, colouring, perming and other hair enhancers. The conditioner closes our hair cuticles and keeps the moisture locked in after the shampoo has lifted and stripped it. The added step is crucial to make your hair softer by coating the hair with a protective layer to your easily roughed-up hair cuticles (that look something like fish scales under a microscope).

Use the right kind of conditioner with cool water and your hair will not only be silky, smooth, hydrated and detangled, but healthier-looking too!

Tips to get your hair glossy as can be

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Shiny hair is generally associated with overall good health. However, the products you use can make significant difference. The key is to find the right regimen to keep your hair clean and healthy.

Here are some hair care tips to help your hair become glossier than ever :

  • Never overlook conditioner. Conditioning the hair helps to trap in the moisture that is stripped by shampoos, treatments and accessories. In addition, it helps make the hair smoother, which facilitates styling thus minimizing hair loss.
  • Heat opens the hair cuticle and allows dirt to get in. It is best to avoid heat styling as much as possible. Alternating between letting the hair air dry and blow-drying can be beneficial as well as rinsing with cold water.
  • To keep hair healthy, a regular trim is a must.

We must not ignore the benefits of good diet, high in fatty acids and omega 3 and 6. Get enough of these essential nutrients and you will find your hair looking supple, bright and full of vitality from the root to tip.

 

PH and the Skin

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PH is often at the centre of misleading marketing stories. To better understand why, let’s explore what pH really is.

PH measures the acidity or alkalinity of an aqueous solution. Its levels vary from 0 to 14, 7 being neutral, below 7 being acid and above 7 being alkaline.

The skin in itself does not have a pH level, it is the secretions from sweat and sebaceous glands in the skin that have a pH. The pH of these secretions can differ for each individual and different parts of their body. Together, they create an acidic mantel that protects the skin. The pH of this layer varies between 4.5 and 5.5.

Cleansers can strip this protective layer from the skin. Fortunately, the skin has the ability to immediately replace it after showering or bathing. That being said, the pH levels of the products sold on the market isn’t really what’s cause for concern. It’s among other things the pH-balancing synthetic ingredients in certain products that can irritate the skin and decrease its natural defences because the cleansing power of those ingredients are often too intense for the epidermis.

The best way to find out if a product is right for you is to try it out and see how your skin reacts. The skin it the body’s largest organ, keeping it healthy is all about being in tune to what it’s telling you…

Olive Oil 101

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In order to help you overcome the total confusion that ensues as you stand in front of the olive oil section of your grocery store, here are a few important facts to remember in order to pick out the best ones for you :

6 categories of oil

VIRGIN OILS: THE BEST

  1. Extra virgin olive oil (maximum acidity of 0.8%)
  2. Virgin olive oil (maximum acidity of 2%)

REFINED OILS: OBTAINED BY CHEMICAL PROCESS

  1. Lampante olive oil (gold refined oil)
  2. Refined olive-pomace oil (with solvent)
  3. Olive oil (mixture of lampante oil and virgin oil)
  4. Olive-pomace oil (with solvent)

The 3 attributes of a good olive oil

If you wanted to become a sommelier in olive oil, here are the attributes you should look for:

  • Fruity taste
  • Bitterness
  • Pungent flavour

In search of a superior oil, here’s what you should look for:

  1. Extra virgin
  2. Date of bottling (to be discarded after 1 year opened or not)
  3. Buy from a producer you trust
  4. Bottled in a dark container

Olive oil has been praised for its cosmetic virtues for thousands of years and its nutritional claims are equally impressive. Studies show that diets rich in mono-unsaturated fats decrease bad cholesterol and significantly decreases blood pressure.

Unlike wine, olive oil does not get finer with age and fast consumption without moderation is in good taste!

How we love olive oil!

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Since we have a passion for olive oil and jump on every single occasion to praise its virtues, we decided to elaborate a list of all ingenious ways it can be used.

Hair Treatment

Warm up the olive oil and apply it all over the ends of your hair and scalp. Leave it in for 10 to 20 minutes, and then shampoo it out!

Lip/Body Scrub

To make a scrub so good you could eat it (literally), combine coarse sugar with a teaspoon of olive oil and rub in a circular motion all over your lips. You can also add a splash of lemon juice for additional exfoliating properties because of the acid. This recipe also works for your entire body!

Earwax Remedy

If you often have earwax build-up, olive oil can help. Try putting a few drops in your ears before bedtime. After a couple of nights in a row, the olive oil will have loosened up the excess wax.

Shine Serum

Why purchase a separate hair product when you can just rub a few drops of olive oil on flyaway ends after styling for an extra-glossy finish!

Shaving Cream

Ran out of shaving cream and don’t have time to run to the store? Slather your legs with olive oil before shaving to avoid razor burn and bumps in the meantime!

Cuticle Conditioner

Use olive oil as your cuticle softener to grow longer, stronger nails? Of course you can!

Eczema Remedy

The best and most widespread use for olive oil is as an intense moisturizer. It’s the ideal pick for eczema really!

Diaper-Rash Treatment

Olive oil is perfect for the sensitive skin on a baby’s bottom!

Cracked-Heel Repair

After exfoliating with a pumice stone, apply olive oil to feet and put on socks to lock in the hydrating treatment as you sleep. The next day your split, rough heels should be feeling a lot smoother!

DIY Facemask

Is your face feeling extra dry and tangy? Make you own hydrating facemask by mixing olive oil, egg yolk and honey! Not convinced? The inventor of Kiehl’s figured that out ages years ago and look what happened there!

Toner

Put some olive oil in the fridge for a bit and apply it to your face with the help of a pad for a great inexpensive toner!

After Sun

To soothe and rehydrate your skin after sun exposure, simply massage the olive oil delicately onto your skin.

Bath Oil

Add a few tablespoons of olive oil to your bath water and let the magic happen! Your skin will feel effortlessly soft and supple.

Bonus

It’s delicious in practically every single recipe!!

 

The Benefits of Dry Brushing

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The desire to better ourselves often implies physical changes to your body. As far as trends go, dry brushing is just as popular as any trendy detox when it comes to prepping your body for its best bikini season yet.

Here are some of the benefits of this type of exfoliation:

-Improves blood and lymphatic circulation

-Helps lessen water retention

-Contributes to reduce the appearance of cellulite

-Removes dead skin cells

-Improves the overall appearance and texture of the skin

-Energizes the body

Experts recommend this practice a few times a week in the morning because of its energizing properties. The technique is simple, start from the feet or hands going towards the abdomen using an exfoliation brush or glove in circular motions. Pay attention to the amount of pressure you’re applying to prevent damaging your skin and choose your brush or glove accordingly.

Complete your new ritual with a nice shower and body moisturizer and your skin will surely thank you in the upcoming summer season.

Coconut oil and its remarkable properties

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Coconut oil is very trendy. Its benefits in nutrition are numerous and are equally impressive when it comes to its use in cosmetics.

What makes coconut oil so remarkable is its richness in fatty acids (lauric acid and myristic acid) that is far superior that in other vegetable oils.

In fact, the composition of coconut oil promotes its absorption in the skin and hair. It provides an intense nutrition that gives a smoother appearance to the skin and extra shine to the hair.

Coconut oil also contains vitamins A and E which gives it exceptional antioxidant properties which is known to limit the damage caused by ultraviolet rays.

It is Neolia’s lipid replenishing oil of choice!

Néolia: the soap bar unlike the others

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Many people have asked us: the main ingredient in the Néolia soap bar is sodium olivate rather than pure olive oil … is that true?

Néolia olive oil soap is a truly unique and high-quality product. The use of sodium olivate differentiates it from other soaps on the market. Because of the process by which it is manufactured, the Néolia olive oil soap bar is classified as a “true olive soap” or even, pure olive oil in a soap bar.

A real olive oil soap is made from a process called saponification. The olive oil used for the saponification is extra virgin olive oil, also called pure olive oil. Néolia contains 17% of it which gives it a prominent place on the market, because to this date, it has the highest concentration in olive oil. The method used to convert olive oil into a bar of soap is much more difficult and unique in comparison to manufacturing soap bars that contain added olive oil.

Often when ingredients such as olive oil extracts are added, it’s only to create a marketing story. It’s a way to promote that the product contains olive oil in its formula without the added cost. Generally, these added ingredients are in minimal quantities and are often found at the end of the ingredient list all the while still making it possible to say that the product contains olive oil.

In most cases, these low amount additions have little impact and are barely noticeable in the performance of the product. In the case of the Néolia soap bar, the saponification of olive oil gives a unique foam that provides rich and creamy characteristics from a natural source. Néolia offers users a gentle formula on even the most sensitive skin and creates an excellent feeling of moisture after use.