Avocado Oil For Skin: 7 Benefits and How To Use It

Is your skin battling dryness and inflammation throughout the year? Avocado oil can help keep your skin soft, supple and healthy.

The avocado fruit and its oil have both become star ingredients in the skincare industry. They are known for their powerful anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, antioxidant and skin-healing properties. Using it regularly in your skincare routine can improve your skin health.

Read on to know the varied benefits of avocado oil and how to best use it for your skin type.

Our Ayurvedic Doctor Speaks

“Avocado oil, although not native to India, has proved its worth as a superfood. Oils, according to Ayurveda, are best used to treat Vata disorders. Skin problems like dryness, dullness, wrinkles, etc. can be improved by regular oil use.”

Dr. Zeel Gandhi (Bachelor Of Ayurveda, Medicine & Surgery), Chief Ayurvedic Doctor, Vedix

Highlights:

• What Is Avocado Oil? Is Avocado Oil Good For Your Face?
• What Does Avocado Oil Do For Your Skin?
• What Are The Benefits Of Avocado Oil For Your Skin?
• How To Use Avocado Oil For Your Skin?
• Side Effects Of Avocado Oil For Skin

What Is Avocado Oil? Is Avocado Oil Good For Your Face?

Avocado oil is extracted from the pulp (which consists of about 60% oil) of the avocado fruit. A variety of procedures such as cold pressing, aqueous extraction [1], centrifugation etc are used for extracting the oil.

The oil is highly valued for its rich content of essential monounsaturated fatty acids [2], vitamins (A, C, D, E) and antioxidant compounds like beta-carotene, beta-sitosterol and lecithin. Owing to its rich flavour and unique health benefits, avocado oil is both consumed and added to various skincare products, especially those that are crafted for dry, damaged facial skin.

Dr. Zeel Gandhi, Chief Ayurvedic Doctor at Vedix says that, “Avocado oil, although not native to India, has proved its worth as a superfood. Oils, according to Ayurveda, are best used to treat Vata disorders. Skin problems like dryness, dullness, wrinkles, etc. can be improved by regular oil use.”

What Does Avocado Oil Do For Your Skin?

Avocado oil is highly recommended for skin that is chapped, flaky and dehydrated.

• The fatty acids present in it repair and add moisture to your skin.
• The antioxidants in it fight free radical skin damage and slow down skin-aging.
• Vitamins in avocado oil nourish and rejuvenate your skin and
• Its anti-inflammatory properties keep various skin conditions at bay.
• Avocado oil is also known for its sun-protecting abilities that shield your skin from harmful UV rays of the sun.

What Are The Benefits Of Avocado Oil For Your Skin?

1. Repairs The Skin Barrier

A damaged skin barrier is the primary cause of skin dryness. Gaps in the epidermal barrier lead to transepidermal moisture loss and conditions like xerosis.

Avocado oil’s moisturizing abilities replenish lost lipids in your skin and aid in the repair of the epidermal barrier. Further, it is easily absorbed into the skin [3] and acts as an emollient that improves your skin texture.

2. Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Avocado oil has a high content of monounsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid, which according to studies can impede inflammation. Due to this, avocado oil can be used to treat various inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, allergic reactions and different forms of dermatitis.

3. Antioxidant Capabilities

Avocado oil is rich in tocopherols (vitamin E) and various phenolic compounds such as quercetin. gallic acid, p-coumaric, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic, phytosterols [4] and others. These act as powerful antioxidants [5] and scavenge free radicals that are known to cause collagen depletion, skin damage and cell death.

4. Prevents Photodamage

Frequent exposure to the UV rays of the sun can result in sunburns, photoaging, reduced skin immunity and cancer. Vitamin E, lecithin, beta-carotene and other antioxidant compounds in avocado oil serve as natural sun protectors [6] for your skin. They scavenge reactive oxygen species generated during UV ray exposure, soothe the skin and reduce inflammation and redness that are often related to photodamage.

5. May Treat Acne

Using avocado oil as a spot treatment for acne-prone skin is highly beneficial. Its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties may help treat an existing acne condition.

6. Accelerates Wound Healing

Oil derived from the avocado pulp reduces inflammation when applied to a wound site. This action ensures quick healing of wounds. Further, the application of avocado oil on wounds showed improved collagen synthesis and re-epithelialization [7].

7. Anti-Aging Advantages

Collagen and lipid depletion are major changes that come with aging. This leads to skin thinning, the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines and skin sagging. Being rich in vitamin A, B and E, fatty acids and other phenolic compounds, topical application of avocado oil has proven effective in increasing soluble collagen [8] levels and improving the moisture retention ability of your skin.

According to research on the effect of various avocado oils on skin collagen metabolism, rats that were given unrefined avocado oil showed a better increase of collagen. Thus, regular massage with unrefined avocado oil is likely to reduce the various signs of aging and give your skin a youthful glow.

How To Use Avocado Oil For Your Skin?

“Avocado oil has a high comedogenic rating. The best way to use it is before cleansing, for massages, and as an oil cleanser,” says Dr. Zeel.

Avocado oil can be used in the following ways to benefit your skin.

1. As A Massage Oil

Due to its ability to penetrate the deeper layers of the skin, avocado oil is added to various tissue massage creams. Take a few drops of avocado oil in your palms, gently rub your palms together and massage onto your skin and face. Leave it on for 30 minutes to an hour before washing off.

2. As A Moisturizer

Take a 250 ml bottle and fill more than half of it with avocado oil. Top up the bottle with another carrier oil of your choice according to your skin type and condition.

For dry to normal skin, sweet almond oil, coconut oil, or carrot seed oil are good choices. For oily skin, safflower or jojoba oil will be beneficial. Add a few drops of lavender, frankincense, tea tree oil or any other essential oil of your choice and mix well.

Use this avocado oil moisturizer after a bath in the morning and before you go to bed at night. Focus more on drier areas such as the knees, elbows, lips, feet and palms for super-soft, supple, problem-free skin.

3. As An Additive To Your Skincare Products

A few drops of avocado oil can be added to your moisturizer or cream for enhanced nourishing. It also helps your skin absorb the goodness of the moisturizer better. However, due to its high comedogenic score, when added to a leave-in product such as a moisturizer, it is more suitable for dry skin.

4. As A Bath Oil

Adding a few drops of avocado oil to your bath water can leave your skin feeling soft, moisturized and rejuvenated.

5. As A Face Scrub

Adding a bit of sugar to avocado oil makes for an excellent face scrub. The mixing quantity depends on how viscous or watery you’d prefer your scrub to be. Gently massaging your face with the avocado oil and sugar scrub can cleanse, remove blackheads and whiteheads and leave your skin feeling soft and moisturized.

6. As A Face Cleanser

If double cleansing is part of your skincare routine, using avocado oil may have some extra skin benefits. It gently removes make-up and impurities, keeps your skin hydrated and can also help fight acne troubles. Simply take a few drops of oil onto a cotton pad and wipe your face. Once the make-up dissolves, wash off with lukewarm water.

7. As A Face Pack

Avocado oil can be added to face packs to treat a variety of skin issues. A few are mentioned below:

A. Banana, Yogurt & Avocado Oil

For dry skin, mash a ripe banana and add 1-2 tablespoons of yogurt to it. Add a few drops of avocado oil to the pack and apply on your face. Leave it on for 15 minutes to half an hour and wash off.

B. Turmeric, Triphala, Tea Tree Oil & Avocado Oil

For acne-prone skin, mix a tablespoon each of turmeric and triphala powders. To this add 3-4 drops of tea tree oil and half tablespoon of avocado oil. Mix well and apply on your face. Wash off after 15 to 20 minutes with lukewarm water.

C. Sandalwood, Yashtimadhu, Milk & Avocado Oil

For dark spots, suntan and hyperpigmented skin, mix 1 tablespoon each of sandalwood and yashtimadhu powders. Add 1 ½ tablespoon of raw milk and a few drops of avocado oil to prepare a paste. Mix well and apply on your face, hands and other unevenly toned areas. Leave it on for 30 minutes to 1 hour and wash off.

D. Papaya, Honey & Avocado Oil

For nourishing normal to dry skin, take a cup of ripe papaya cubes. Blend them with half a tablespoon each of honey and avocado oil. Apply the mix on your face and wash off after 30 minutes.

E. Strawberry, Kiwi & Avocado Oil

To prepare an oil-regulating, skin-lightening face pack with avocado oil, blend 3-4 ripe strawberries and half a kiwi fruit together. To this, add a few drops of avocado oil and mix well. Apply on oily or combination skin and wash off after 30 minutes.

Vedix Tip:

An aloe vera and avocado oil combination makes a great leave-in nourishing skin cream for all skin types. Mix it in equal parts and apply twice a day or whenever your skin feels dry.

Side Effects Of Avocado Oil For Skin

Side effects from topical application of avocado oil are quite rare. However, it is advisable to do a patch test before applying avocado oil for the first time on sensitive skin to check for allergic reactions.

The Last Word

The increasing interest in avocado oil owing to its multiple skin and health benefits has led to its widespread inclusion in multiple skincare products. Avocado oil’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties effectively fight acne and inflammation. Its nourishing abilities prevent dryness and damage, making it suitable for all skin types. So, make this super ingredient a part of your regular skin routine and witness a remarkable skin transformation.