Avocados are quite the magical fruit. Aside from being a nutritional food loaded with vitamins, minerals, and the heart-healthy monosaturated fat (the good fat!), its properties can also massively benefit your skin and hair. From the avocado comes avocado oil, and it offers several nourishing and moisturizing benefits. Avocado oil contains a high percentage of Vitamin E, potassium, and lecithin, and oleic acid among other nutrients your hair and skin will love.
Unlike essential oils, avocado oil comes from the pressed pulp of the avocado. It’s often used in the kitchen as a type of cooking oil, but it’s high time you incorporate this oil into your beauty routine— just not the same oil you have in your kitchen cabinet.
The powerhouse combination of vitamins, antioxidants, and fatty acids found in avocado oil work to heal and regenerate skin, rebuilding it and giving it a much-needed boost. The plant compounds found in the oil lock in moisture and help strengthen the skin’s barrier, while the antioxidants neutralize free radicals that damage skin cells. Even if your skin is near perfect (lucky you), we all lose collagen as we age no matter how hard we try to fight the process. Avocado oil’s abundance of fatty acids combined with Vitamin C work together to plump your skin by promoting collagen production. Applying avocado topically allows the oils to soften and hydrate your skin, completely naturally, without any negative ingredients such as chemicals, perfumes, or additives.
Along with its many skin benefits, avocado oil can work to heal and moisturize your hair from root to tip. Your scalp naturally produces oil, but an imbalance of that naturally-occurring oil and other environmental factors can dry your hair out and cause breakage. Using avocado oil near your scalp can help the hair grow out stronger by coating it as it grows out, preventing future damage.
Truthfully, we can go on and on about how beneficial avocado oil is for your skin and hair. Let’s dive into the various ways you can use this magical oil in your beauty routine.
For the face and body
By now, you’re probably already aware that your skin needs to stay moisturized in order to remain strong and protected against the many environmental factors that can damage it. If you’re unsure of just how to incorporate avocado oil into your daily skincare regimen, you can start by trying some simple and effective methods.
Mix with your body lotion or cream
After a shower or bath, while your skin is still damp from the warm water, mix a few drops of avocado oil with your favorite lotion. Massage into your skin as you would normally. You can additionally skip the lotion and apply the oil directly onto your skin.
DIY your own facemask or facial moisturizer
Treat yourself to a spa-worthy facial. Mash up a ripe avocado and mix in a few drops of avocado oil until you’ve created a smooth paste. Apply to your face and let your skin soak in the nutrients for up to fifteen minutes. Rinse with warm water and follow with a gentle face cleanser.
You can also use pure avocado oil as a facial moisturizer depending on your skin type. Fill a bottle with avocado oil. If you prefer a nice and gentle scent, mix in a few drops of your favorite essential oil like lavender or rose. For even deeper nourishment, you can add another oil such as emu or tamanu. Shake well and massage onto your face. A little goes a long way, so you only need a small amount!
Make an all-natural anti-aging cream
In a large jar or glass bowl, combine a quarter cup of avocado oil with two tablespoons of coconut oil, two tablespoons of beeswax, half a teaspoon of Vitamin E oil, and one tablespoon of shea butter. Place the jar or glass bowl into boiling water and allow the ingredients to melt. Once all ingredients have melted, pour into a smaller jar or pot, and allow the mixture to harden. Be sure to store in a cool, dry place.
Take a bath your skin will love
Simply add a few tablespoons of avocado oil to a hot bath as the water fills the tub. You can use it by itself or mix with your normal bath oil to leave your skin feeling moisturized and soft long after you step out of the tub. The avocado oil will also protect your skin from drying out in the hot water.
Soothe sunburned skin
Aloe vera, while effective at soothing a burn, can often dry out your skin. As an alternative for anyone already fighting off overly-parched skin, avocado oil can come to your rescue. The antioxidants in the oil ease the many symptoms of a sunburn, and the Vitamins E and D, beta carotin, lecithin, and fatty acids support healing.
For the hair and scalp
Even oily hair needs nourishment, although it may seem counterintuitive to put more oil in your hair. Some avocado oil can help transform both your hair and scalp and just a little bit is needed when using daily. Avocado oil contains ample vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that are beneficial to your hair and scalp. But since no one wants greasy locks, try these two methods of using avocado oil in your haircare routine.
Treat breakage and moisturize your hair from root to tip
The best way to apply avocado oil to your hair is to warm it first. Pour three to five tablespoons of the oil into a large jar or glass bowl and heat over boiling water. Don’t let the oil get too hot to the point where you’ll scorch your scalp.
When it’s comfortably warm, massage the oil into your hair starting at the scalp. You can cover with a shower cap and leave on for a few hours or even overnight. Wash it out afterward with your normal shampoo and conditioner, and repeat this mask as often as you wish until you see desired results. It may take time, but you’ll see a difference in your hair’s strength and shine as well as gain a healthy scalp in the process.
If you have dandruff, this mask is definitely a great natural way to treat it! Avocado oil used on the scalp could also help reduce the appearance of dandruff. Moisturizing the skin using oils can help to prevent it from drying out and flaking.
Use as a leave-in conditioner
Massage one or two drops of oil into the ends of your hair to help detangle it and prevent any potential damage from harsh brushing. Using a wide-toothed comb, gently work through any tangles and knots. Avoid going further up than the just ends so your hair doesn’t look greasy.
This oil can protect your hair from environmental damage such as pollution, sunlight, and even chlorine when you’re spending a day in the pool. Apply to your hair and tie it into a bun before heading out to the beach or swimming in a chlorinated pool.
It’s remarkable how much you can do with just one fruit. From adding the meat to all your favorite meals to nourishing your hair and body, avocados are certainly one of the most versatile things you can pick up in your produce aisle. And if mashing up an avocado isn’t for you, it’s nice to know that pure avocado oil is affordable and available at most health stores.
If we missed something in this list of uses that you know is a great beauty hack, let us know. And if you have tried any or all of the above uses, we want to know your experience. Drop a comment below and fill us in on your favorite way to use avocado oil in your beauty routine.