Healing from the inside out: Why I fell in love with Oliveda’s health elixirs and skincare
- Noelle Norwood
- Jul 2
- 6 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
As a minimalist and creature of habit when it comes to skincare and supplements, I’m very intentional about what I bring into my routine. Aside from the 20 year history in Europe and formulations, Oliveda, or Olive Tree People, stood out to me as a company because of their focus on holistic health, natural conservation, and cruelty-free practices. It’s been a year since I first discovered this line, and as I reflect on my journey with their products, I feel so thankful to have found them. Derived from nature and aligned with so much of what I believe in. Most importantly, using food as medicine.
This company was born from a profound healing journey which is what initially caught my attention. Our founder was once dependent on many pharmaceuticals when he discovered the olive leaf elixir and began working with ancient remedies passed down from Ayurvedic medicine women. Through this plant-based approach, he fully healed himself and eventually got off all of his medications. I resonated with this as I’ve experienced, firsthand, what it feels like to be stuck in the cycle of symptoms and prescriptions, and what it takes to break free through holistic healing.
After experiencing the way these compounds supported his body naturally, Thomas had a realization, if the olive tree could do this much for internal healing, imagine what it could do for the skin?
The line was born from that question and the results speak for themselves: products rooted in ancient wisdom, formulated to truly nourish and support healing from the inside out.
Olive oil has long been a staple in the Blue Zones, regions of the world where people consistently live longer, healthier lives, and this ancient wisdom is now supported by modern science.
Rich in hydroxytyrosol, a powerful polyphenol primarily found in olives and extra virgin olive oil (science-backed benefits listed at the bottom of this page) Oliveda's formulas are based on decades of research into the medicinal power of the olive tree.
Sharing these products with my clients, customers, and loved ones has been one of the greatest joys as I've seen how it's helped them each on their journey to not only feeling better but having the benefit of more confidence in their skin as well.
The top feedback I get after using our internals:
Less inflammation
Less pain associated with inflammation
Reduced brain fog and improved focus
Improved skin health and glow
KEY BENEFITS OF LIQUID SUPPLEMENTS
Better Absorption
Liquid supplements are often easier for the body to take in than pills, gummies, or powders. Since the nutrients are already dissolved, your body doesn’t have to work as hard to break them down. This allows them to enter your bloodstream more quickly and efficiently, which means you can start feeling the benefits faster and more fully.
More Bioavailable
Bioavailability is just a fancy word for how much of a supplement your body actually uses. The higher the bioavailability, the more of it gets absorbed and reaches the parts of your body where it can make a difference. With many supplements, a lot of the good stuff gets lost during digestion so you might need a larger dose just to get results. Liquids tend to have higher bioavailability, which means more impact with less waste. Thus, higher bioavailability means maximized effectiveness.
SKINCARE
As a holistic health coach, I’m often asked which products I use and how I prioritized making non-toxic swaps. For me, skincare was the first place I started, mainly because I was struggling with stubborn hormonal acne. Important to note: healing my gut ultimately resolved my acne but I do believe that switching to nontoxic products also helped support hormonal balance. Nonetheless, making the transition to "clean" and oil-based skincare over 5 years ago was a turning point in my skin and overall health journey.
When guiding clients, I always recommend starting with the products you use daily and that stay on your skin (for example, I’d prioritize swapping out body lotion vs. body wash, since body wash gets rinsed off while lotion stays on your skin all day).
What you put on your skin gets absorbed into your bloodstream and a lot of mainstream products are filled with endocrine disruptors that can throw off your hormonal balance, especially over time. Unlike many conventional and even medical-grade skincare lines, Oliveda products are completely free of hormone-disrupting ingredients like parabens, phthalates, PEGs, and synthetic fragrances.
Another thing I always look at is the formula itself. Most conventional skincare products are made with up to 70% water, which means you're paying for a product that's mostly filler rather than therapeutic ingredients. Our products are 100% waterless, formulated with olive leaf elixir as the base, so every drop actually feeds your skin. Aside from being more effective, I also like getting what I pay for. ;)
These products are organic and bioactive, meaning they’re rich in living compounds that actually work with your body. They don't just sit on top of the skin. Because of their potency, it’s best to start slow. You don’t need to invest in a full routine right away. In fact, starting with just one or two targeted products can make a noticeable difference as your skin begins to respond.
"When I asked one of the old herbal women in the village which ingredients they would use in a cream, in addition to and complementing the strength of the olive trees, she replied: “Look at what grows around the olive tree. All of this goes well with it and creates protective and sustainable synergies. Otherwise it would not grow there.” I was impressed by how simply and clearly nature works."
Whether you're looking for a gentle face serum, a restorative cream, or simply want to clean up your skincare routine, Oliveda is a beautiful line to start with. It's skincare that honors your health and that’s something I’ll always stand behind.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure what your skin really needs, I offer a free skin consult to guide you toward what will truly serve your skin best. You can also take the quick skin quiz below for a simple starting point and feel free to message me if you’d like help interpreting your results. This way, you’re not just buying products, you’re making intentional choices that deliver real results for both your skin and budget.
If you’re ready to experience the power of the olive tree for yourself, I’d love to chat and help you get started. Message me directly or please feel free to contact me via email at noelle@noellenorwoodwellness.com
I wish you wellness always,
Noelle
STUDIES
SCIENCE-BACKED BENEFITS OF HYDROXYTYROSOL
Here are the top science-backed health benefits of hydroxytyrosol:
1. Potent Antioxidant Protection
Hydroxytyrosol helps neutralize free radicals, protecting cells from oxidative stress, a major contributor to aging, inflammation, and chronic disease. It's considered one of the most potent antioxidants in nature, even stronger than vitamin C and E in some studies.
2. Supports Heart Health
Helps reduce LDL oxidation (a key factor in plaque formation)
Improves endothelial function (the health of blood vessels)
May reduce blood pressure and improve lipid profilesIt’s one reason the Mediterranean diet is so cardio-protective.
3. Neuroprotective Effects
Hydroxytyrosol crosses the blood-brain barrier and helps protect neurons from oxidative damage, supporting brain health and potentially lowering the risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
4. Anti-Inflammatory Properties
It modulates inflammation by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines and enzymes like COX-2 — helping to calm chronic, low-grade inflammation.
5. Immune Support
By reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, hydroxytyrosol strengthens immune function and supports the body’s natural defenses.
6. Supports Mitochondrial + Cellular Health
Hydroxytyrosol protects mitochondria — the energy centers of your cells — from oxidative damage, promoting better energy production and slowing cellular aging.
7. Skin Health + Anti-Aging
Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties also support collagen integrity, UV protection, and skin barrier health — making it a favorite in natural skin care formulations.
WHY YOU WANT TO ENSURE HONEST SOURCING AND PURITY
There aren’t enough high-quality, mature olive trees in the world to produce the volume of "extra virgin olive oil"you see stocked on supermarket shelves globally. Because of this demand, much of the olive oil on the market is:
Adulterated or "cut" with:
Cheaper refined oils like soybean, canola, or sunflower oil
Low-grade olive oil or pomace oil (made from leftover pits and pulp using chemical solvents)
In fact, multiple studies (including from the UC Davis Olive Center) found:
More than 60–70% of imported “extra virgin” olive oils in U.S. supermarkets failed basic purity tests
These oils were not truly extra virgin and often blended with other oils
According to a study released by the Olive Center at the University of California, Davis, most of the top selling imported olive oil brands regularly failed to meet the international standards for "extra virgin" olive oil. Among the findings were that 73 percent of the 134 samples of the five top-selling imported "extra virgin" olive oil brands failed the International Olive Council (IOC) sensory standards based on the results of two IOC-accredited sensory panels. Sensory defects are indicators that these oil samples were oxidized, of poor quality or adulterated with cheaper refined olive oil. The five top-selling imported brands are Filippo Berio, Bertolli, Pompeian, Colavita and Star.
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