Avocado is a versatile fruit packed with nutrients that makes a great addition to just about any meal. The same goes for its oil, which is great for cooking healthy and delicious meals. But did you know that avocado oil is good for your skin too?
Yes, in fact, it has so many benefits for the skin, it is a surprise that more people do not incorporate it in their daily skincare routine. In this article, we will explore how you can use this oil to elevate your skincare game.
Table of Contents
- Is Avocado Oil Good for My Skin?
- How Can I Use Avocado Oil on My Skin?
- For Moisturizing Skin
- As a Sun Lotion
- For Chapped Lips
- Make a Facemask
- What Are the Other Benefits of Avocado Oil?
- Promotes Heart Health
- Beneficial For Eyes
- May Reduce the Symptoms of Arthritis
- Greater Absorption of Nutrients
- Does Avocado Oil Have Any Side Effects?
Is Avocado Oil Good for My Skin?
Yes, this super ingredient is useful in skincare. It is an excellent source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents, which make the skin soft and elastic. It can calm itchy skin, moisturize chapped lips, nourish dry skin, and act as a natural sunblock.
According to research, avocado oil increases collagen metabolism in the skin by inhibiting lysyl oxidase activity. This makes the skin stronger and youthful. Plus, ingredients such as beta carotene, protein, lecithin, fatty acids, and vitamins A, D, and E moisturize the skin and protect it against damage.
In fact, avocado oil may also help in treating skin conditions like plaque psoriasis, which causes scaly, red patches on the skin. A study was performed to test the efficacy of calcipotriol preparation and vitamin B12 cream containing avocado oil. It was found that vitamin B12 cream containing avocado oil showed significantly good results and may be suitable for use in long-term therapy.
Another study was performed in animal models to determine the effects of avocado oil, tea tree oil, emu oil, and jojoba oil when present in a skin cream for wound healing. It was found that avocado oil may help in healing wounds. It may be because of the presence of linoleic acid, oleic acid, and other monosaturated fatty acids in avocado oil, as suggested by another study. However, more research is required to confirm these.
How Can I Use Avocado Oil on My Skin?
You can either apply avocado oil directly to your skin or mix it with other skincare products. Depending on your requirements, read below the different ways you can use it.
For Moisturizing Skin
From time to time, you can replace your daily moisturizer with avocado oil. Take 2 to 3 drops of avocado oil and massage it gently for a minute on clean face. You can also add a few drops of this oil into your face cream or body lotion or use it as a carrier oil for your favorite essential oils.
As a Sun Lotion
Even though you should never compromise on wearing sunscreen, you can occasionally use avocado oil as a natural sun protectant, as it was shown to have the highest natural SPF amongst vegetable oils: SPF 4-15.
For Chapped Lips
Take a drop of avocado oil and massage it over chapped lips for a few seconds till it absorbs completely.
Make a Facemask
You can make a homemade facemask using 2 to 3 drops of avocado oil, 1 tbsp yogurt, and a pinch of turmeric. Apply it evenly on your face and neck and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse with water and moisturize.
Even though it will not make your skin too greasy, avocado oil is, after all, an oil. For oily skin, you can try it in smaller quantities and see if that works well for you.
What Are the Other Benefits of Avocado Oil?
Avocado oil has numerous health benefits. Read on to find out how different components can play an important role in improving your overall health on regular consumption.
Promotes Heart Health
Avocado oil consists of 70% oleic acid, a heart-healthy fat, 12% saturated fat, and 13% polyunsaturated fat. Studies suggest that a daily diet rich in unsaturated fats may reduce the risk of conditions such as heart disease.
Moreover, consumption of avocado oil may significantly lower the levels of triglycerides, LDL (bad cholesterol), inflammatory cytokines, and blood sugar, as found in a study.
Another study compared the effects of avocado oil to those of losartan (a blood pressure medication), and showed that avocado oil can reduce the diastolic and systolic blood pressure by over 20% and 15% respectively.
Beneficial For Eyes
Lutein and zeaxanthin are essential for eye health. Avocado oil is rich in lutein, an antioxidant naturally present in the eyes. However, the body is unable to produce sufficient amounts of this carotenoid which is why you need to include it in your diet. It can reduce the risk of age-related eye conditions such as macular degeneration and cataracts.
May Reduce the Symptoms of Arthritis
Studies have shown that avocado/soybean unsaponifiables may also reduce the pain and stiffness associated with some arthritis conditions. It especially seems beneficial for people suffering from hip or knee osteoarthritis.
Greater Absorption of Nutrients
Many nutrients such as vitamins A, D, E, K and carotenoids like beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin are poorly absorbed into the body on their own. They need to be combined with fats to be properly absorbed. This is why adding avocado oil to your daily diet can facilitate the absorption of these nutrients in the body.
Does Avocado Oil Have Any Side Effects?
Avocado oil is possibly safe when applied to the skin. Although it may cause mild itching in some people.
Side effects or no side effects, it is always a good idea to do a patch test before using a new product or ingredient. To do this, take 4 to 5 drops of the oil and massage on a small part of the inside area of the upper arm. If you don't get any irritation or allergic reaction in up to 24 hours of applying the product, then it is safe for use on your skin. Otherwise, stop using immediately and test again in a few days to see if it produces the same effect.
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