Avocado oil in skin care

Avocado oil (Persea gratissima) is extracted from the pulp of avocados through multiple kinds of organic pressing processes.

It is used in skin care for its hydrating fatty acids, skin lightening properties, and antioxidant capabilities.

The unique fatty acid composition of avocado oil makes it useful and common in many skin and hair care products like these.

What kind of oil is avocado oil?

There are many different classifications of oils in skin care, and avocado oil falls into a couple of categories of them.

Avocado oil is primarily, but not exclusively, composed of unsaturated fatty acids, which means it could be classified as a “dry oil.”

Though it is derived from plants, avocado oil is too thick to be considered an essential oil; it is instead considered a carrier oil by those classifications.

The active compounds in avocado oil are great for hydrating skin, aiding with ingredient absorption, and treating dark spots. Here are some of my favorite avocado oil products:

Active compounds of avocado oil

The most significant compound in avocado oil by concentration is oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid. (39)

Oleic acid creates tiny perforations on the skin which helps other ingredients sink in and absorb fully into the skin. Avocado oil has nearly as much oleic acid as olive oil does.

Avocado oil also contains significant concentrations of saturated palmitic acids. Palmitic acids are great for moisturizing the skin and give avocado oil some of its occlusive thickness. This fatty acid can also clog the pores of some particularly sensitive skin types.

Avocado oil even has desirable, anti-inflammatory linoleic fatty acids. Linoleic acid is great for soothing redness and is very good at hydrating the skin..

Antioxidant properties are associated with many of these and other active phenolic compounds like ferulic acid present in avocado oil.

Benefits of avocado oil

Benefits

Because of its fatty acid composition, there are many possible benefits in using avocado oil in your skin care regimen.

The oleic acid in avocado oil works great in combination with ingredients like retinoids to help them absorb more quickly and deeper into the skin.

The moisturizing fatty acids in avocado oil are good for use with other hydrating and soothing ingredients in products like barrier repair moisturizers.

The overall structure of the oil makes it a good occlusive, meaning it could be used in treatments like skin slugging.

It does not contain comedogenic fatty acids like lauric acid, so it is not likely to clog the pores of sensitive skin.

Antioxidants, like those in avocado oil, are used in anti-aging regimens for eliminating free radicals on the skin. (33)

Side effects

Avocado oil does not have any notable potential side effects in skin care besides using it on the wrong skin types. (34)

If your skin is extremely dry, overuse of avocado oil can cause irritation and redness on applied areas due to its high concentration of oleic acid. Its low concentration of palmitic acid can also clog the pores of acne prone skin types.

Is it safe?

Avocado oil is extremely safe to use in skin care in terms of toxicity and odds of allergy.

The EWG rating for avocado oil is “1.” There are no commonly associated concerns surrounding the use of avocado oil.

In skin care, most of the avocado oil used is organically processed because chemical processing removes many beneficial fatty acids. (33)

To find out if avocado oil is right for your skin, take our questionnaire and shop by your skin type!

Take the Quiz

Is avocado oil safe

For specific conditions

Avocado oil is an effective occlusive, moisturizer, and antioxidant used in many skin care products targeting specific conditions such as:

Acne

Avocado oil is safe for use in acne treatments because it is not particularly comedogenic,(12) however specific studies still need to be conducted regarding its effect on acne causing bacteria.

Oily skin types do not usually need to use many, if any, oils in their skin care routine.

Avocado oil might appear in acne products alongside natural antimicrobial ingredients like these five oils:

Bergamot oil

Coconut oil

Jojoba oil

Tea tree oil

Marula oil

Many oils are not good to use on acne-prone skin, so shop by your skin type to help avoid acne breakouts!

Dry skin

Avocado is very commonly used in moisturizers for many skin types.

As an occlusive, many moisturizers benefit from its ability to inhibit transepidermal water loss.

Avocado oil has a high amount of hydrating fatty acids, but its high oleic acid concentration can damage extremely dry skin.

Extremely dry skin types should avoid products with high amounts of oleic acid because it can irritate the skin barrier. (29)

The best oils for dry skin have high linoleic acid concentrations and very low oleic acid.

Five of the best oils for dry skin are:

Borage seed oil

Evening primrose oil

Grape seed oil

Rosehip oil

Sunflower oil

Dark spots

Another common use for avocado oil in skin care is as an ingredient in dark spot treatments, but should be combined with skin lighteners for best results.(34)

As avocado oil is primarily composed of unsaturated fatty acids, it has tyrosinase inhibiting functions that treat dark spots.

Tyrosinase inhibitors are used to treat all kinds of hyperpigmentation like melasma or PIH.

Weak, natural tyrosinase inhibitors are best used in combination with other skin lightening ingredients like hexylresorcinol or licorice extract.

Wrinkles

Natural ingredients with high amounts of antioxidants, like avocado oil, are used in many wrinkle and anti-aging products. (37)

Antioxidants eliminate free radicals on the skin which contribute to skin aging.

Avocado oil is most effective for anti-aging regimens when used alongside more potent anti-aging ingredients like retinoids.

Plant extracts like avocado oil are not typically powerful enough anti-aging ingredients to be used on their own.

Avocado oil vs coconut oil

Coconut oils are primarily composed of saturated fatty acids, while avocado oil is primarily composed of unsaturated fatty acids.

The unsaturated fatty acids in avocado oil are tyrosinase inhibiting, they slow the skin’s production of melanin.

Avocado oil is less comedogenic,

The saturated fats in coconut oil are tyrosinase activating, they can assist in the production of melanin and increase the tanning of skin. (35)

Coconut oil does not contain a significant concentration of oleic acid, so it is safe for use on dry skin types.

However, coconut oil contains high concentrations of comedogenic lauric acids, which are great for eliminating bacteria but bad for acne-prone skin.

For hair care, coconut oil is generally used for its protective, heavy, and moisturizing qualities, while avocado oil is light and does not damage curls.

Coconut oil and avocado oil serve very different purposes in skin care based on their drastically different fatty acid compositions.

Which types of products contain avocado oil?

Avocado oil can be found in various product including but not limited to:

Dark spot treatments

Eye rescue serums

Moisturizing creams

Sunscreens

You can check out our full collection of avocado oil products here!

DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life. What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin? Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition. Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes. If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider. What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin? Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity. Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C. Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post. Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster. This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster. While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin. It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin. Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning? Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance. You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather. Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.

Related Articles

Ad Blocker Detected