Avocados are a popular fruit among foodies and hipsters at large – but has avocado oil gotten the proper praise for its benefits for skin?
You might be surprised to learn that the natural fats in avocados that boost heart health are equally as supportive for skin health. The rich and hydrating fatty acids in avocado oil moisturize your skin while vitamins A through F support the health of your skin’s natural biome.
If you’re suffering from dry or aging skin, you’ll be proud of yourself for taking an in-depth look at avocado oil benefits for skin. And if you’re not worrying about aging just yet, know that when applied early, avocado oil can slow the effects of aging due to dehydration and sun damage.
There’s so much to explore when it comes to this tasty, green delicacy. Keep up as we break it down for you!
Unlike its sister ingredient avocado butter, avocado oil is the fatty-acid and vitamin packed oil extracted from avocados.
Whereas avocado butter is a creamy mash of the pulp of the fruit, avocado oil contains all the nutrients of avocados in an oil that’s easy for your skin to absorb. Avocado oil is a blast of condensed vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that won’t leave you green in the face.
As with essential oils and unrefined coconut oil, you want to be sure you’re getting the purest avocado oil without any harmful chemical byproducts.
Some manufacturers extract avocado oil by using harsh chemical solvents. Not only do you want to avoid trace chemicals that solvents may leave behind, but solvents also reduce the quality of avocado oil by destroying nutrients during the extraction process.
Instead, look for cold-pressed and centrifuge extracted avocado oil. This extraction method kneads and presses the avocado into a cream, then separates the water and pulp from the oil using centripetal force. In other words, the pulp is spun at such a high speed that the oil separates from the rest of the avocado. Oil quality and essential nutrients are better retained using this method.
Now for the fun stuff! While everyone is coo-coo for coconuts, we’re excited about how avocado oil benefits the skin.
Avocado oil benefits for skin include:
Avocado oil is among the richest oils in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and F, biotin, and antioxidants. It’s also a humectant, meaning it’s an amazing moisturizer.
Let’s break down avocado oil benefits for skin. How exactly does it work?
Have you ever heard of vitamin F? Vitamin F refers to linoleic acid, a fatty acid that pulls moisture into skin. Depending on the quality, your avocado oil may contain roughly 50% linoleic acid.
Avocado oil is also rich in oleic acid. Like linoleic acid, oleic acid is a humectant. While most oils coat your skin in a protective barrier that prevents moisture from escaping, these acids pull moisture from the air into your skin.
You can expect to see smoother, softer skin with this level of hydration.
We all know well hydrated skin is a key factor to preventing and reducing fine lines and wrinkles in skin. But avocado oil takes anti-aging one step further by encouraging collagen production.
Increased collagen keeps your skin looking plump and youthful. That’s why some people choose to inject collagen into their cheeks and lips for a pouty look.
But you don’t have to go under the knife to increase collagen. Avocado oil may help you get that boost naturally.
One study showed that the topical application of avocado oil on mice increased collagen synthesis and decreased the number of inflammatory cells.
This study implies that avocado oil benefits for skin include reduced appearance of wrinkles and smoother, plumper skin.
And if you’re worried about aging due to sun damage, find relief in the fact that avocado oil ranks at SPF 15. Using products containing avocado oil, such as a daily moisturizer or foundation, could help prevent early aging caused by sun damage.
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), avocado oil also contains beta-carotene, lecithin, minerals, and vitamins A, B7 (biotin), C, D, and E, making it an “excellent source of enrichment for dry, damaged, or chapped skin.”
Research conducted in animal studies showed that avocado oil repaired wounds faster than unaided healing and showed less scarring.
Refresh your skin after a grueling winter by switching to a moisturizer with avocado oil.
This is where things get a little tricky. Unfortunately, avocado oil ranks a 3 on the comedogenic scale.
The comedogenic scale rates substances from 0 to 5, based on how pore-clogging they are. While coconut oil ranks a 5 and argan oil comes in at a cool 0, avocado oil stays in the middle of the road at 3.
What does this mean for you? If you suffer from dry skin, avocado oil could be the perfect addition to your skin care regimen as your pores are already less prone to clogging. Typically, people with dry skin can get away with using leave-on moisturizers and make up made from oils that are slightly comedogenic.
However, if you have oily skin, avocado oil could make you break out. You don’t want to add a thick oil to your already oily palette.
That doesn’t mean you can’t get all the anti-aging and nourishing effects of avocado oil, though. As long as you use products that you rinse off, like face washes and masks, your skin can still receive most of the alphabet of vitamins in avocado oil.
Cruelty-free, Vegan, Hypoallergenic
Even if you have oily skin, you may suffer from dry skin during the winter. Barefaced’s Overnight Mask combines moisturizing avocado oil with toxin-absorbing kaolin clay. This mask is perfect for people with sensitive skin who want to fight the aging effects of dehydration. Rich in antioxidant vitamins A and E, this mask repairs the cellular structure of your skin while you sleep.
Cruelty-free, Vegan
Get a hydrating blend of plant oils that’s as soft as your skin. 100% PURE’s Cleansing Balm can be used as a daily moisturizing cleanser or a powerful yet gentle makeup remover for all skin types. Combining the revitalizing power of olive oil, coconut oil, and nutrient rich avocado oil with grease-fighting blood orange essential oil, this product strips dirt and grime without damaging your skin’s natural barrier.
Cruelty-free, Vegan, Made in the U.S.
Combat aging with Rewind Facial Oil. This blend of avocado oil and rosehip essential oil softens skin to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Bursting with antioxidants, refresh your skin by using this oil after your daily shower or by wearing it while you sleep.
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