For quite a few years now the avocado has been getting more and more popular as a superfood. Understandably so, for they are truly delicious, versatile, and very nutritious. This powerhouse of fruit is actually a large berry with a single seed and it is covered with a leathery skin that can vary in colour from green to brown and purple.
Avocados are native to Central America, and the word avocado comes from the Spanish ‘aguacate’ which came from the Nahuatl language of the Aztecs. I will leave it to you if you want to look up what this word originally meant, but I warn you that you might start seeing avocados differently from now on (lol).
At one time the avocado was believed to be an aphrodisiac and it was also used for various medicinal purposes in those old cultures. Traditionally, and currently, the flesh of the avocado is used directly on the face as a face mask to fight wrinkles.
These days, the growing popularity of avocado as a food is also shedding light on its skin benefits. Avocado oil is also gaining popularity in haircare and skincare, especially for ‘anti-aging’ skincare or for extremely dry skin.
The oil of the avocado is extracted from the flesh of the berry rather than the seed, and is dark green in colour and can even be cloudy and may also congeal in extremely cold temperatures. The best quality extraction is made mechanically rather than with chemical solvents, and is done below the temperature of 50 degrees. This method ensures the presence and the integrity of all the good components that avocado oil holds.
So what makes avocado oil so special in skincare?
– It has a high amount of monounsaturated fatty acids, mainly Oleic Acid and Linoleic acid.
– It has a high percentage of palmitic acid.
– It contains vitamins A, B1, B2 and D.
– It contains Potassium, Phosphorous, Magnesium, sulphur and calcium.
– It is rich in lecithin.
All of these wonderful properties of avocado oil help the skin by:
– Softening the skin
– Attracting and retaining moisture in the skin
– Helping active substances penetrate deeply into the skin
– Decreasing the breakdown of collagen
– Minimising inflammations in the skin
– Helping in retaining the skin’s elasticity
As you can see, avocado oil is a powerhouse in skincare because it moisturises even the driest and flakiest of skin. It is a powerful oil and is great to use in age-protection, for damaged and sensitive skin, and as a great all-around moisturiser in the winter season.
