Ingredient Spotlight: Avocado

It’s green, it’s great on toast, and it’s – wonderful for your skin? According to many homemade mask recipes, yes. And it makes sense. After all, avocados are rich in moisturizing fats and oils.

 

But is avocado oil actually a great skincare ingredient? Here’s what we found out.

 

Avocado: The Basics

Technically classified as fruits, avocados are often called superfruits thanks to their rich amount of:

• Disease-fighting antioxidants
• Protein
• B vitamins
• Vitamin K
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Potassium
• Magnesium
• Niacin
• Vitamin A

These not only give avocado immune-boosting and heart healthy properties, but also make the fruit particularly great for your skin.

 

Avocado in Skincare

That said, you’re not generally putting a whole avocado on your face when you’re using it in skincare products (although this is a great idea in our book!).

 

Instead, you’re usually applying avocado oil. When you do, it’s important that you always look for a product that uses organic, unrefined, and cold-pressed oil. Otherwise, all those great vitamins and minerals risk being destroyed during processing - womp womp).

 

If you get it right, this oil will have a ton of benefits for your skin. Here’s what to expect.

 

Benefits of Avocado in Skincare

Improved Skin Hydration

As we mentioned, avocado oil is rich in oils and fatty acids. These properties give it great emollient and occlusive properties, which means that it can soften the skin and trap in moisture for lasting hydration.

 

What’s more, avocados are a great source of biotin, a B-vitamin known to help prevent dry skin when applied topically.

 

Soothed, Even-Looking Skin

In the same vein, the fats in avocados – and its emollient properties – help to:

• Speed up skin repair
• Soothe skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, and acne
• Even out skin tone
• Repair your skin’s natural barrier, improving chapped skin over time

This is improved even more by its high quantities of vitamin C and vitamin E, MVP antioxidants that are known to soothe skin, fight free radicals, and protect it against environmental damage or harmful UV rays.

 

Fewer Breakouts

In many cases, breakouts are caused by a compromised skin barrier. Why? Well, think of your skin’s barrier like a shield protecting your skin against bacteria, microbes, and debris.

 

If that barrier gets stripped away by things like hot water, harsh products, or too-intense scrubbing, then the skin becomes raw, red, and utterly exposed. This leads to dryness, breakouts, flaking, and other no-no’s. By helping to repair the skin’s barrier, avocado oil can actively combat all of these concerns.

 

Wound Healing

Finally, avocado is rich in monosaturated fatty acids– like linoleic acid and oleic acid – that are known to speed up wound healing.

 

Find it in: Almond Butter Sugar High Hand Cream, Coco Cocoa Creme Body Butter, All In Eye Cream