Did you know that you probably have a natural skin moisturizer in your kitchen, one that women have been using for thousands of years as part of their beauty routine? Olive oil has been so successful in softening and beautifying skin, that it's even said to have been part of Cleopatra's regular skin care regimen.

Judith Charles, licensed aesthestician for 28 years, points out, “Olive oil is a 'secret' shared by many successful aethesticians. Some of us use it instead of the expensive products sold at cosmetic counters, not because it's cheaper, but because it's so effective.”

Olive oil's historic role in skin care is validated by research which shows it to be a good source of antioxidants that help protect against the aging effects of free radicals, molecules which are highly reactive and can damage cells.

Judith uses extra virgin olive oil as a dual purpose make-up remover and moisturizer. She gently rubs a small amount onto her face with her fingertips and then rinses the oil off with warm water and a wash cloth. It gently removes the make-up while leaving her skin smooth and moist.

If you find that the skin around your eyes needs additional moisturizer, she recommends an eye cream that you can easily make at home for nightly use. Put a drop each of extra virgin olive oil, pure vegetable glycerine (available at health food stores) and honey on your fingertips. Combine the ingredients together and pat the mixture around your eye cage before you go to bed.

Here is another tip to increase the effectiveness of your eye cream. A cotton pillow case can suck the moisturizer off your skin, seriously reducing the effectiveness of your eye cream. Changing to a satin pillow case will leave more of the cream on your skin which is exactly where you want it.

How well do these natural moisturizers work? According to Judith, she has been using them for 28 years and says they work wonders for her skin. “When a client compliments my skin and thinks that I'm ten years younger than I am, I know that I've found the right skin care program!”