Edible Skincare: Avocado Face Mask

Our skin is a super absorbent organ, that not only gains benefits from what we put into our body, but also from what we put onto our body. So why are we only eating our beloved nutrient dense plants? Smother yourself in them. This is when it’s okay to play with your food a little! 

We may be most familiar with avocado as a source of healthy monounsaturated fat found in our diets; however, this type of fat is also extremely beneficial for the hydration, softness and strength for our skins barrier. After all, our skin cells are surrounded by a layer of fat and as some of us may know from chemistry class, fat loves fat! So there is a lot of sense to an oil or fat based skin care treatment. And contrary to popular thought healthy oils will not make your skin break out or increase oily appearance, rather it does quite the opposite.

Avocado is also a great source of a variety of nutrients that aid in beautiful skin such as, vitamin A, an essential vitamin for cell turnover and new cell division. For you skincare buffs, think synthetic retinoids but without all the chemicals, prescription and price tag! Vitamins C and E, both important antioxidants which help protect your skin from daily exposure to our environment. It is also worth noting that vitamins A and E are fat-soluble vitamins, meaning they need to be combined with a fat to be absorbed, talk about a match made in heaven! Vitamin C is also a key component of collagen, the component of skin that keeps it elastic and youthful. There is also evidence that vitamin A, C & E have shown to be effective for the treatment of photo-aging, or effects of chronic exposure to sun.

All that from one delicious avocado! So how do we translate those benefits into our skincare routine? You make your own mask right out of your kitchen.

Avocado Face Mask
Makes 2 Face Masks

Ingredients: 1/2 Avocado

Preparation: Cut avocado in half, remove pit and scoop the pulp out of the peel into a blender. Blend until smooth. You may need to scrape down the sides of the blender.

How to Use: Apply the mashed avocado onto clean skin, avoiding eye area. Cover face with a thin layer, then let sit for 10-15 minutes. The mask may harden slightly. Rinse with lukewarm water and a gentle cloth.

Enjoy your soft, supple skin!

This mask can be used once a week.

What other beauty tricks do you like to use from your kitchen to your skin?