Avocados are cultivated in tropical and Mediterranean climates throughout the world and are popular in vegetarian cuisine as a meat substitute because of their high fat content. Avocado oil is sometimes added to salads, but it is probably more widely used as a cosmetic oil than as a cooking oil. What are the benefits of avocado oil for skin and hair?
Avocado, also known as alligator pear, is the fruit of the avocado tree. It has a green-skinned, fleshy body that may be pear-shaped, egg-shaped, or spherical, and contains a large seed. The avocado flesh is remarkably high in monounsaturated fat and has a subtle yet distinct nutty flavour and a smooth texture.
Unlike most other vegetable oils that are extracted from seeds, avocado oil is pressed from the fruit pulp that surrounds the avocado pit. Unrefined avocado oil has is a brilliant emerald green due to high levels of chlorophylls and carotenoids but cosmetic oil is typically a slightly greenish yellow.
Avocado oil is noted for its high monounsaturated fat content although it also contains polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids. Fatty acids contained in avocado oil include oleic acid (55% to 75%), palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, and linoleinic acid. Avocado pulp, and therefore oil, contains several B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, fluoride, zinc, phytosterols and carotenoids.
As a cooking oil, avocado oil is noted for its unusually high smoke point. However, it is too expensive compared to most common salad and cooking oils. That’s why avocado oil is primarily used as a cosmetic oil. It is valued for its high skin penetration and rapid absorption as well as for its moisturising and regenerative properties. Here are several examples of cosmetic use of avocado oil:
- taking care of dull and mature skin;
- taking care of dry and sensitive skin;
- preventing cellulite;
- strengthening hair roots and preventing hair loss;
- repairing the hair damaged by dyeing, bleaching, perm, or heat styling;
- strengthening the nails and stimulating their growth;
- preventing dry and chapped lips;
- accelerating the healing of minor skin injuries;
- relieving irritated skin;
- preventing skin inflammation and flaking.
The main benefits of avocado oil for skin and hair are stipulated by its antioxidant, regenerative, soothing and hydrating effect. Avocado oil is high in vitamin E, a natural antioxidant that neutralises the harmful effects of free radicals and prevents premature skin ageing. It also helps to protect the skin from harmful environmental factors such as cold, wind, dry air and UV rays. How exactly is avocado oil used in cosmetics?
If you have dry or normal skin, you can use pure avocado oil as a moisturiser and apply it to the skin of your face, neck and décolletage. As we’ve already mentioned above, this oil absorbs well and doesn’t leave your skin feeling sticky or greasy. Avocado oil also works well as a carrier oil. It can be used to dilute essential oils and/or mixed with other carrier oils. If you’re a fan of DIY cosmetics, you can use avocado oil as an ingredient.
You can also use avocado oil to enrich store-bought cosmetic products like hair conditioners and masks, face creams and masks, hand creams, etc. All you have to do is add several drops of avocado oil into a portion of conditioner/mask/cream right before applying it. However, you shouldn’t add avocado oil into the bottle/tube.
Another way to take advantage of the benefits of avocado oil for skin and hair is to buy natural cosmetics with avocado oil. A lot of brands that produce natural and organic cosmetics use avocado oil as one of key ingredients in a wide range of products, from soaps and shampoos to creams and masks. It is also a popular ingredient in hair oils designed to stimulate hair growth and prevent brittle hair and split ends.
In our online shop Organic Store, you can buy 100% natural avocado oil as well as other cosmetic oils such as coconut oil, cocoa butter, almond oil, grape seed oil, wheat germ oil, linseed oil, jojoba oil, macadamia oil, peach kernel oil, shea butter, and more. We also have high-quality oil blends that will keep your hair strong and hydrated, help to prevent cellulite, soothe the skin after hair removal, prevent premature skin ageing, etc.
Cosmetic Oils in Our Store
Cococare 100% Cocoa Butter Stick, 28 g |
Flora Secret Grape Seed Oil, 60 ml |
Flora Secret Almond Oil, 60 ml |
Triuga Black Cumin Oil, 75 ml |
Triuga Coconut Oil, 100 ml |
Triuga Shea Butter, 100 ml |