That avocado is a superfood is by now common knowledge. We are all aware of its nutritional benefits for our health (you can check more here). It has healthy fat, some fiber, a lot of antioxidants, and essential minerals. The aspect of the topical application of avocado is less talked about. In other words, the question of what are the benefits of avocado face masks.
Table of Contents
The Short Answer
Face masks have two aims: to clean your face and to provide the skin with hydration. The nutritional makeup of avocados is great for both of those things. First, the unique monounsaturated fatty acid content allows the avocado to reach deep into your pores. Therefore, they provide a deep cleanse for your skin. Secondly, they not only hydrate the skin but enrich it with antioxidants and minerals. That helps to reduce skin sagging and reduces oxidation stress.
The Details
In this section of the article, we will try to bring you all the specific info on what makes the avocado so great for face masks. We’ll start by exploring how the nutrients help your skin. And then we will move on to some fun recipes you can try yourself.
Deep-skin Cleansing
The specific creamy consistency of avocado makes it easily applicable to your skin. It also allows it to get deep into the microscopic pores in your skin. This, combined with its vitamin content and fatty acids, it works as a cleanser. The nutrients help expel dead skin cells, dust, and excess oil. The mask binds those things to itself, which means you can remove them by washing off the mask.
Exfoliation
Avocado has a somewhat grainy texture. Combined with other ingredients, like oatmeal, it helps exfoliate the skin. This means removing the dead skin cells from the surface level. This is important as it prevents dry skin. And not only that, but it also preps the skin for the penetration of other ingredients that can then come in contact with the skin.
Rejuvenation
The often-mentioned antioxidants in avocados are the most important for rejuvenation. They help reduce so-called oxidative stress. This is the phenomenon in which free radicals create damaging reactions with your skin cells. Free radicals are oxygen-containing molecules with an uneven number of electrons. The imbalance of electrons makes them react with skin cells. These reactions damage the cell and make the skin “age”.
Antioxidants bind themselves to these free radicals and render them safe. That is how avocados increase skin elasticity and reduce signs of aging. Another aspect is the vitamin A content. Vitamin A helps the skin produce new skin cells. This can effectively rejuvenate your skin. Additionally, the minerals and phytonutrients that help remove excess oil.
This doesn’t necessarily make your skin actually younger. But it does make it look healthier. Together with the hydrating properties of avocados, it gives your skin a healthy glow.
The vitamins E and F and essential fatty acids slow down wrinkle formation. Antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin are also known to protect you from the signs of aging.
Anti-Inflammatory
Avocado contains lauric acid and other nutrients that act as antibacterial and antiviral agents and reduce acne and scars. They function as anti-inflammatory agents. By reducing inflammation, you can reduce skin swelling. With that comes the benefit of reducing or removing acne and other skin conditions. The result is healthier, better-looking skin.
We hope that this information makes it clear why avocado masks work. And we think that it shows very well what the benefits of avocado face masks are. But now, the question is how to get your hands on an avocado face mask. Well, it’s as simple as mashing an avocado with a fork. Even this, the most basic recipe is a great mask for your daily skin-care routine.
However, we prepared some great recipes that introduce some other ingredients. Every one of them has a specific skin type in mind. At the end of the list, we hope you will find what the benefits of avocado face masks are that you can use.
This is important to notice since some combinations are much more effective for dry skin than for oily skin. Or vice-versa. There’s something for everybody here, so try to experiment a little, and find what works best for you.
The Recipe
For Dry and Acne-prone Skin
Avocado-honey Face Mask
Ingredients
- 1 whole Avocado
- 1 tablespoon Honey
Instructions
- Peel and scoop the avocado
- Mash the avocado into a paste
- Mix in the tablespoon of honey
- Take the paste and put on a layer on your face
- Leave it on for about 20 minutes or until it dries
- Rinse your face with cold water
- Dry it by patting it with a soft towel
This face mask works best when applied once or twice per week.
Why it Works Best for Dry and Acne-prone Skin
We already mentioned the rejuvenating potential of avocado. The vitamins A, E, and K, the antioxidants and fatty acids are essential in cleaning the skin. The honey helps this with high acidity. The high acid content is also the reason honey stays fresh for so long. So, the two ingredients are best to clean your skin. And the reason it’s good for dry skin comes from the granular texture.
The granular texture cleans off flakes of dead skin. This allows beneficial vitamins and fatty acids to penetrate into the deeper layers of skin. And this, in turn, gives it the necessary nutrients to keep it hydrated and healthy.
The Recipe
For Oily Skin
Avocado and Egg White Face Mask
Ingredients
- 1 egg white
- 1 ripe avocado
Instructions
- Separate the egg white from the yolk
- Peel and scoop out the avocado
- Mash the avocado into a paste
- Combine the egg white with the paste
- Apply the mask and leave it on for 20 minutes
- Wash your face with cold water
- Dry it by patting it down with a towel
This mask works best when applied once or more per week.
Why It Works Best for Oily Skin
Avocado contains thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, and folate. All of these nutrients help tighten your skin. They also protect it from damage caused by oxidative stress. Eggs contain lutein which helps tighten pores. With firmer, smaller pores, there is less likelihood for the unclean matter to get stuck in it and cause inflammation. Egg whites tighten and tone your skin with this nutrient. Additionally, they contain binding agents that help bind and remove oil. Plus, the high protein content helps most with regenerating damaged skin.
The Recipe
For All Skin Types
Avocado and Olive Oil Face Mask
Ingredients
- 1/4th cup extra virgin oil
- ½ an avocado
Instructions
- Peel and scoop out the avocado
- Mash one half of it into a paste
- Add the olive oil and mix it thoroughly
- Apply it to your face and leave it on for 15 minutes
- Rinse off with cold water
- Dry it by dabbing it lightly with a towel
This mask works best when applied once a week.
Why It Works for All Skin Types
Olive oil has similar properties as avocado. Therefore, it works very much synergistically with avocado paste. It has natural lipids that are similar in structure to your skin’s sebum. It is already popular in the Mediterranean cosmetic industry. The fats and fatty acids help bind moisture to your skin. It is very mild and isn’t abrasive. That’s why it will work for virtually every skin type, as long as you have no allergies.
The Recipe
For Dry Skin
Avocado and Milk Face Mask
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons milk
- ½ avocado
Instructions
- Peel and scoop one half of the avocado
- Mash it into a paste
- Ensure that it is smooth before adding milk
- Apply it on your face and let it rest for 15 minutes
- Clean your face with cold water
- Dry it with a towel, dabbing it lightly
This mask works best when applied once or twice per week.
Why It Works Best for Dry Skin
With everything we have already said about avocados, there’s no need to mention how it helps dry skin again. To this, we now add the benefits of milk. Milk contains lactic acid and casein. Both work well for preventing and reducing inflammation. They help remove the inflammation and acne-causing matter from your pores. With that comes the fact that it is soothing and hydrating. It provides nutrients that help skin bind liquids to it and stay hydrated.
The Recipe
For All Skin Types
Avocado and Apricot Face Mask
Ingredients
- 1 avocado
- 1 apricot
- A hand mixer or blender
Instructions
- Peel and scoop the avocado into a cup or blender bowl
- Take out the apricot seed and add the flesh to the bowl
- Blend it both into a paste
- Apply it to your skin and leave it on for 15-20 minutes
- Wash it off with warm water
- Pat down your face and dry it with a towel
This mask works best when applied once a week.
Why It Works Best for Dry Skin
Apricot particularly helps exfoliate the skin. This removes the “dry” skin, which is actually dead skin cells. It removes these dead cells, unclogs pores, and removes the build-up from the surface of your skin. This also opens the pores so they can receive much-needed ingredients. It also tightens your skin, while avocado helps moisturize it.
