How Avocado Oil Benefits The Skin
It’s the talk of the town and there is already much discussion as to the reasons why avocado benefits your skin but sometimes, these points don’t have much substance to them.
The fact of the matter is that avocado oil has natural properties that not only acts as a great moisturizing agent to eradicate the signs of aging as well as a natural defence against UV and other harmful properties that could increase the risk of skin cancer.
With such an array of uses and benefits, it’s no wonder that the avocado oil craze has taken off but just how beneficial for our skin can it truly be?
What is avocado oil?
One of the more unique natural oils around, avocado oil is a highly absorbent substance found in the flesh of the avocado fruit.
It’s extremely rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and is extremely high in key minerals such as potassium and magnesium as well as a good source of antioxidants.
Alongside that, it is a rich source of Vitamins A, D & E making it a great source of getting many key minerals into your system whether it is for your skin or your diet.
The benefits of using avocado oil on your skin
With its multiple properties, it’s no surprise then that there are multiple ways in which avocado oil can really boost the look and feel of your skin with some forms including:
As a moisturizing agent
Being high in Vitamin E and Omega-3 acids, the oil’s high fatty alcohol content makes it a fantastic moisturizer on its own merit to help your skin feel smoother and can be more effective in comparison to the likes of coconut or olive oil
Eczema/Psoriasis
As it has a range of antioxidants and vitamins, avocado oil can act as a soothing remedy to calm any irritated patches of dry or damaged skin caused by conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
Acne
By having many anti-inflammatory properties, avocado oil can relieve the redness and swelling of any acne outbreaks and help manage any sore spots.
It is also easy to wash off with warm water and doesn’t leave any oily texture behind which makes it a great solution to prevent any breakouts reoccurring in treated areas.
Wrinkles & Aging
As the makeup of avocado oil is high in healthy fats, this acts a natural way to rejuvenate dry or tight skin and help wear off the signs of aging.
Regular applications of the oil can help the skin feel looser and not so tense helping decrease the size of wrinkles in any area where it is applied.
Nails & Hair
Like many oils, the use of avocado oils on your nails makes the top layers stay moist and soft and preventing them becoming brittle and possibly breaking.
It can also be a great mixer when massaging it with your scalp and the combination of antioxidants and vitamins can help remove any flaky skin from the scalp and eliminate the possibility of dandruff.
What the research says
The health benefits of avocado oil have been looked at by researchers for most of this century in particular to curing and treating chronic skin conditions.
Multiple sources and journals have cited avocado oil as a clinically recommended way to manage conditions such as psoriasis when combined in creams and oils high in Vitamin B12.
Alongside that, a 2013 study from Brazil showed that the fatty acids within the oil such as oleic acid and linoleic acid encourages new skin cells to connect with one another and help encourage skin growth in wounds, cuts and bruises.
The high levels of oleic acid found in the oil has also been tested in studies to find that is an effective way to fight off certain types of cancer as it helps the body speed up its repair time and helps cells regenerate faster and boost the immune system.
How to use avocado oil on your skin
Avocado oil is something that can be used either on its own or mixed in with other products to maximize its benefits but it all depends on what purpose you want to use it for.
As a facial moisturizer
For moisturizing facial skin, all you simply need to do is take some small slices of avocado skin and gently massage it onto your skin. Simply leave the oil residue on for 15-20 minutes before washing off with warm water.
In the bath
If looking to enjoy it as part of a nice hot bath, it’s simply a case of adding a few drops into the hot water and then massage it into your skin with other oils when bathing. The natural solution with water will rejuvenate your skin in no time and leave it feeling smoother.
As a skin moisturizer
If you are using it to freshen up your skin, gently massage the oil into your skin after washing to help everything feel smooth and soft again. Always ensure that the area has been thoroughly dried beforehand with a towel to maximize its benefits.
Hair & scalp
Avocado oil works best in your hair when it is hot so you are best to place a few tablespoons in a small glass and place it in freshly boiled water. Once the oil is warm, place the oil out of the jar and massage into your scalp before leaving overnight. In the morning, wash your hair with shampoo and hot water and it will help prevent the build-up of flaky skin and dandruff.
Irritated skin
When treating dry or irritated skin, avocado oil is best mixed with olive oil or other natural products to help it heal. Once the mixture is ready, gently massage it onto the affected areas twice a day over several days to help reduce inflammation and redness.
Risks
Despite several studies looking into the risks of avocado oil, there is very little to suggest that there are any side-effects to be concerned about.
If you feel like you have had an adverse reaction to avocado oil, you can test it on a small patch of unaffected skin and look for any itchiness or redness and you should stop using it should this occur in these areas.
Types of products with avocado oil
Skin Creams
With its skin-healing properties, many natural skin creams are now infused with avocado oil to help you manage any irritations and to help eliminate rashes or acne.
Scented Bath Oils
As it has proven to be an effective moisturizer, many bath oils can now come with avocado oil as part of its mixture to help skin feel softer and be used naturally as part of your everyday bathing routine.
Makeup
Many natural makeup products such as eyeshadow and blusher are now having small amounts of avocado oil included in them to help make skin look younger and reduce the build-up of wrinkles around the eyes and cheeks.
FAQs
What is the best avocado oil for your skin?
Extra virgin avocado oil is best for your skin. It often has a green colour and has a nutty scent when open.
Does avocado oil reduce wrinkles?
Yes. Thanks to its high fatty acid count, avocado oil is thought to help improve the elasticity of your skin and reduce wrinkles.
Is avocado oil good for your hair and skin?
Yes. With its high omega 3 acids and levels of Vitamin E, avocado oil is a great skin moisturizer which some people claim helps to prevent dandruff building on the scalp.
Does avocado oil help clear skin
Yes. Being high in antioxidants and fatty acids means some people will recommend it for managing conditions such as eczema and psoriasis as well as managing and preventing acne.
