15 Beauty Benefits of Avocado Oil for Skin, Hair & More

Avocado oil is a thick and luscious oil obtained from the fatty flesh of avocadoes. It is an excellent cooking oil which gives a rich and delicious flavor. But the extraordinary powers of avocado oil lie in its beauty benefits. It is immensely useful in the skin and hair care world for its amazing moisturizing, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, healing and nourishing properties.

Below, let’s look at the its profile then explore 15 beauty benefits of avocado oil!

Avocado Oil Profile

♥ Scientific Name:
Persea americana

♥ Other Names:
Avocado is also called avocado pear and ‘alligator’ pear (due to its rough green skin)

♥ Origin:
Avocados are native to South Central Mexico

♥ Color and Smell:
These depend on the type of avocado oil: if it’s refined or unrefined. The color of unrefined & cold pressed avocado oil is dark green and has a nutty smell. Meanwhile, refined avocado oil is pale yellow and odorless. Both types can be used for skin/hair care

♥ Texture:
Avocado oil is a thick oil with a heavy feel. But it still penetrates easily into the skin, without leaving it greasy

♥ Shelf Life:
1 year

♥ Potential for Irritation:
Low

♥ Precaution & Tips

• Before use, do a patch test on your inner elbow/wrist to see that avocado oil does not irritate your skin.
• Refrigerate avocado oil to prevent rancidity.
• Avoid excess application on acne prone skin or overly oily skin.

Composition of Avocado Oil

Avocado oil is brimming with vitamins, antioxidant and phytochemicals. The main compound of avocado oil is oleic acid, which makes up 50% of the oil. Other compounds in avocado oil include:

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin K
• Palmitic acid
• Beta carotene
• Linoleic acid
• Lecithin
• Docosadienoic acid

15 Beauty Benefits of Avocado Oil

1. Boosts Collagen

Collagen is the main protein structure found in our skin. It’s what binds, strengthens and elasticizes skin. Without collagen, skin becomes wrinkly, saggy and droopy. Avocado oil helps boost collagen production in skin. This promotes soft youthful skin and delays aging.

2. Great Moisturizer

With its thick consistency, avocado oil is the perfect moisturizer for dry skin. If your skin is dry, itchy, painful and inflamed, avocado oil is your go-to moisturizer. You can make a nourishing body lotion using avocado oil as the base! Here’s how:

In a double boiler, melt ½ cup of shea butter and ¼ cup of avocado oil. Once melted, place the melted oils in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to cool off and partially solidify. Then add 10 drops of lavender oil and 10 drops geranium oil. Now using your hand mixer, whip up the ingredients into a fluffy cream. It will take about 2 – 4 minutes. Transfer into a clean container and use as your usual moisturizer.

3. Heals Wounds

A study published in the Evidence-based Alternative and Competitive Medicine showed that avocado oil worked so fast at healing wounds, cuts and scrapes.

4. Removes Dark Circles

Some people swear by avocado oil for dark circles. Avocado oil also helps erase dark circles due to its high vitamin and fatty acid content. It also nourishes the delicate under-eye skin and keeps it soft and wrinkle-free.

5. Improves Skin Elasticity

Filled to the brim with lubricating fatty acids, avocado oil nourishes skin, boosts collagen and maintains its elasticity.

6. Soothes Sun Damaged Skin

Avocado oil is contains powerful anti-inflammatory compounds that soothe and heal sun damaged skin. You can apply it straight on the affected area or mix ½ tsp of avocado oil in 2 tbsp aloe vera gel before applying.

7. Improves Psoriasis

Moisturize and smoothen rough dry and scaly psoriasis patches with avocado oil. It’s intensely lubricating and seals moisture into skin. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that reduce inflamed psoriasis.

8. Dry Scalp Treatment

Got a dry scalp? Try avocado oil! You can make a DIY shampoo with it to hydrate and soothe your scalp:

In a 8 oz flip top bottle, add 2 tsp avocado oil, ½ cup liquid castile soap and ¼ cup rose water. You can now add essential oils of lavender and chamomile – 5 drops each. Shake gently to combine and use as your regular shampoo.

9. Prevents Premature Aging

Delay wrinkles and smooth out fine lines with avocado oil! It softens skin, maintains its elasticity and boosts collagen, all of which prevent premature aging. You can make an anti-aging serum with avocado oil, which has a perfect thick serum-like consistency.

To a 2 oz amber dropper bottle, add 1 tbsp avocado oil, 1 tsp pomegranate seed oil, 1 tsp argan oil and 1 tsp watermelon seed oil. You can also add anti-aging essential oils such as 5 drops sandalwood oil, 5 drops carrot seed oil and 3 drops frankincense oil. Close the cap and shake gently to combine everything. Apply at night time.

10. Good for Eczema

Eczema, being a dry inflamed skin condition can also be treated naturally using avocado oil. You can use it straight out of the bottle or combine it with your body lotion.

11. Makeup Remover

A number of celebrities use avocado oil as a makeup remover. Its heavy texture makes it possible to use just a few drops to wipe off eye makeup in seconds.

12. Massage Oil

The nice and thick consistency of avocado oil makes it a good massage oil.

You can combine ¼ cup of avocado oil with ¼ cup of grapseed oil. Then add 10-15 drops of lavender oil. Mix well and store in an amber bottle. This mixture can also be used as a scalp massage oil.

13. Oil Cleansing

Oil cleansing is a popular method of using oils to cleanse your face. The logic is that the good oils used push out the ‘bad’ oils or stale sebum lodged within the skin pores. It can be used for skin of all types. Oil cleansing is a great method for dry skin types, which suffer from too much dryness after being cleansed with store-bought cleansers.

Mix ½ tsp of avocado oil with ½ tsp of hazelnut oil. Massage this onto your face then wring out a soft microfiber cloth in hot water and start dabbing it on your face. Then wipe your face of the excess oils and pat dry with a face towel. Voila! A happy clean and glowing moisturized face!

14. Good for Nails

Avocado oil is excellent for dry brittle nails and peeling cuticles. Make your own lubricating nail oil for beautiful nails & cuticles!

All you need to do is add 1 tsp avocado oil and 1 tsp grapseed oil into a 10 ml roller bottle. Now add 5 drops geranium oil and 5 drops lavender oil. Replace the roller ball and close the cap. Shake well to combine. Roll on your cuticles and nails every night before bed.

15. Fights Hair Loss

Hair loss issues can be addressed using avocado oil. It moisturizes the scalp, nourishes the hair follicles and promotes hair growth. You can do an amazing hot oil treatment with avocado oil that many people swear by:

In a double boiler, gently heat 1 tbsp avocado oil and 1 tsp castor oil until warm to touch. Don’t over heat. Now pour this mixture all over your scalp using a spoon until saturated. Massage using your finger tips for 2 minutes then cover your hair with a shower cap and wrap a damp and warm towel over it. After 30 minutes, wash your hair as usual. Use a natural shampoo like this one, if possible.

Where to Buy Avocado Oil

Always look for 100% pure quality avocado oil without additives. My recommended avocado oil is this food-grade one from Now Foods. You can buy it here.