Among the recipes of grandmothers that have survived over the years without being outdated, there is the famous avocado face mask.
But why is this plant considered a benefit for the skin? And how to use it? Let’s take the time to take stock….
The treasures of avocado
Image by Anita Smith from Pixabay
The avocado is the fruit of the avocado tree, or Persea gratissima, known for centuries thanks to the Spanish who brought it back from Mexico.
Like many fruits, it contains an interesting amount of vitamins (vitamin E, beta-carotene and PP or B3), and also some trace elements.
But what matters most is that avocado is one of the few fruits that contains a large number of lipids, including good complex fatty acids.
These lipid compounds are mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids that improve many body functions.
Moreover, by pressing it, the avocado produces a wonderful oil in natural cosmetics. This edible oil, fine and penetrating when massaged onto the skin, has a pretty greenish color.
It is the only one, along with macadamia oil, to contain the famous palmitoleic acid, which can protect and strengthen the cell membrane.
It is undoubtedly this extraordinary combination of active ingredients that makes the avocado one of the stars of natural cosmetics, both internally and externally, as well as on the skin or hair.
Thus, I advise you to use crushed avocado or, even better, avocado oil for dry skin in search of suppleness, softness and elasticity.
How to make an avocado face mask?
As all classic natural skin care products always amaze. I suggest you to crush a ripe avocado and apply it to your dry skin or damaged hair.
Discover here how to make a mask with avocado for the face:
Step 1: Choose a mature but still fresh avocado. Tip: you should slightly squeeze the fruit and feel a certain flexibility, it means that it is ripe. An avocado that is too green and too firm is not ideal for home cosmetics because it will be difficult to squash.
Step 2: Cut the avocado in half and remove the stone. Then scrape the flesh of half an avocado in a bowl. With a fork, crush the avocado enough until its consistency becomes really creamy and lump-free if possible.
Step 3 (optional): You can add half a teaspoon of lemon juice to the avocado purée if you notice that you have too much flesh for a single mask (but this is rare) and plan to use the rest the next day or even the day after. Indeed, lemon juice prevents the crushed avocado from oxidizing and turning brown.
Step 4: Mix the avocado paste with one or two additional ingredients that you have chosen for their specific action:
- For very dry skin: 1 teaspoon of liquid honey and 3 drops of essential oil of myrrh or cistus.
- For combination or oily skins that are dehydrated: 1 half teaspoon of lemon and 1 pinch of rice or tapioca
- For dry or uncomfortable skins in search of elasticity: 1 teaspoon of virgin and organic avocado oil, if possible labelled Slow Cosmetic to be sure of its quality. A good avocado oil is an anti-aging and “softness” asset that is very powerful for the skin. It complements well the nourishing and refreshing properties of the squashed fruit.
- For mature skins who would like to tighten their pores and be a little “lifted“: 3 drops of avocado oil and a teaspoon of egg white.
Of course, you can also not add anything at all to your avocado paste. Crushed, it is self-sufficient as it is nourishing and softening for your skin!
Step 5: Wash thoroughly and rinse your face with lukewarm water to purify your skin and prepare it for the mask. The cleansed skin will be better able to assimilate the greasy substances and active ingredients of the avocado mask. Dry your face.
Step 6: Apply a medium layer of avocado puree to your face with your fingers. You can rub a little, avoiding contact with your eyes and hair. Continue rubbing the paste on your skin so that your face is completely covered.
Leave the avocado mask on your face for at least 15 minutes, or until the mixture dries. It is useless to let it sit once it is very dry.
Step 7: Remove the mask by gently rinsing your face with lukewarm water. You can use a large washable make-up remover wipe.
Avoid rubbing your skin. Once the paste is removed, rinse your face again with plenty of fresh water. Cold water closes the pores of the skin.
Dab your face with a towel to dry.
Warnings:
Do not apply a avocado mask to your face if you have a known allergy to avocado.
Avocado puree can stain fabrics. Consider wearing a garment that you don’t particularly value when applying this beauty mask.
Remember to eat the other half of the avocado if you have not used it, it is a very healthy food.
What you can do with avocado oil
Avocado oil is often recommended for people who have lost weight and want a “firming” oil on the hips, buttocks or thighs.
It is then necessary to massage a few drops heated in your palms, morning and evening on the areas to be firmed up.
Avocado oil nourishes your hair
You can also use avocado oil if your hair is difficult to untangle or very dry and brittle.
After shampooing and on wet hair, the trick is to put 4 drops of avocado oil and 6 drops of good quality aloe vera gel in your palms.
Heat the preparation by rubbing your palms and comb your hair with your fingers. It does not grease the hair because you use very little quantity.
Leave the gel and oil on for 30 minutes if possible, under a towel. Untangle again and dry with a hair dryer (not too hot) or towel.
You can also rinse, but this is not really necessary here.
I find the result really amazing on curly or frizzy hair, but you’ll see that it’s very good for fine hair too.
