Over time, avocado oil has earned a prominent place in cosmetic care due to the numerous benefits it provides to the skin and hair. However, before incorporating it into your routine, let's examine together whether or not it poses risks to the body.
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What are the dangers of avocado oil?
Summary
- The essential knowledge about avocado vegetable oil
- Are there any contraindications to the use of avocado oil?
- Precautions to take before using avocado oil
- Source
Published March 23, 2023,
updated on October 4, 2024,
by
Pauline, Head of Scientific Communication
—
6 min read
The essential knowledge about avocado vegetable oil.
Theavocado vegetable oil is extracted by cold pressing the kernels of the avocado fruit, a tree native to South America and belonging to the Lauraceae family. Organoleptically, it presents itself as a fairly thick liquid, ranging in color from yellow to brown, which can solidify when exposed to temperatures below 20°C (68°F). Its fruity and light aroma is characteristic and highly appreciated.
In addition to its olfactory properties, theavocado oil has numerous benefits for the skin and hair, due to its biochemical composition rich in fatty acids and vitamins.
Anti-inflammatory : Thanks to the phytosterols present in its composition, avocado vegetable oil also has anti-inflammatory properties. These compounds indeed have a regulatory activity on certain inflammation processes. This vegetable oil can thus be used to soothe itching or certain redness.
Antioxidant : Particularly rich in Vitamin E and carotenoids, avocado oil is an excellent antioxidant treatment to protect the skin against the damaging effects of free radicals. These reactive and unstable molecules are notably responsible for premature skin aging. Thus, avocado vegetable oil is an ideal ally to prevent the onset of wrinkles and the weakening of the hair follicle.
Softening : according to a study, theavocado vegetable oil would have benefits on the flexibility and firmness of the skin. Indeed, volunteers aged 30 to 60 years applied a cream based on avocado oil to their face daily for 12 weeks and researchers observed several benefits. They particularly noticed a decrease in the depth of some wrinkles, as well as a global increase in the elasticity and firmness of the skin.
Nourishing : The linoleic acid found in avocado oil helps stimulate cell renewal, thus contributing to the restoration and maintenance of the protective corneal layer of the epidermis. Avocado oil can also be used in hair application to nourish and strengthen hair fibers. It thus protects fine and fragile hair and makes it shinier.
Protective : naturally present in the hydrolipidic film of the skin, the saturated fatty acids in avocado oil form a protective veil on the epidermis. This film acts as a shield on the skin and notably helps to protect it from UV rays, pollution, and dehydration.
Are there any contraindications to the use of avocado oil?
As of today, there are no known contraindications to the use of avocado oil. Its topical application is suitable for young children, as well as for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Moreover, this botanical extract is suitable for sensitive skin and will be particularly appreciated by dry skin lacking in lipids. Its composition rich in saturated fatty acids allows it to be easily absorbed by the epidermis, as the structure of these molecules is similar to those of the compounds found in the skin.
It's also worth noting that avocado oil is non-comedogenic, meaning its application does not cause an occlusive effect on the skin, a phenomenon that promotes the appearance of comedones. Therefore, it is very well tolerated by oily skin types, which are often prone to imperfections.
Precautions to take before using avocado oil.
Avocado oil can be applied purely to the skin or used to dilute an essential oil. The latter typically represents 2 to 5% of the final concentration of a skincare product. To prevent the avocado oil from oxidizing and losing its benefits, it is recommended to store it in a bottle tightly sealed away from light.
Furthermore, ensure that your oil is derived from a cold press process. This traditional method does not require the use of high temperatures, which could potentially destroy some of the fatty acids in avocado oil, thereby reducing its effectiveness. Finally, after opening the container, it is advisable to use the vegetable oil within six months.
If this is your first time applying avocado oil to your skin, it's a good idea to conduct a tolerance test. Indeed, although this extract is usually very well tolerated, some people react to its contact and develop redness. To ensure that this is not the case for you, apply a small amount of oil to the inside of your elbow and wait 24 hours. If you observe no reaction, you can use this treatment.
Source
ORTIZ-VIEDMA J. & al. Avocado oil: characteristics, properties, and applications. Molecules (2019).
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