The avocado seed is often forgotten when it comes to naming the benefits of this fruit, but it can also have advantages for your health and to your beauty. An avocado seed face mask is not a common beauty hack, but it’s one that can be very effective in helping your skin shine beautifully again.
Benefits of avocado seed for the skin
The benefits of the avocado seed for the skin can be enjoyed either through its intake or by applying it topically. The first produces results more slowly as the nutrients are scattered to support other body functions too, but with a mask, you can see the difference right away.
Keep age signs at bay temporarily
According to a preliminary research using mice, the oils of the avocado seed increased significantly the levels of soluble collagen over the skin. This effect didn’t increase the overall levels of production of this structural protein, but it worked momentarily.
Applying an avocado seed face mask could then help to restore some elasticity to the skin, and make it look firmer, even if temporarily, to reduce the visibility of wrinkles and lines of expression.
Other unsubstantiated benefits
There is little research on the effect of the application of avocado seed directly on the skin. This is not to say that they don’t exist, but simply that most claimed benefits were not tested yet to verify their accuracy, and, if true, which nutrients in the pit help achieve them.
The most claimed benefits of an avocado seed face mask are:
- Delays wrinkles and other aging signs – the avocado pit is packed with antioxidants that could potentially have this outcome, but there is no research to date testing their effects using a topical application.
- Protects the skin against the damages caused by UV rays – this effect has already been proved, but only when the pit in ingested. There is no indication if it can work or not when applied in a mask.
Avocado seed face mask recipes
Unsubstantiated or not, the truth is that people who apply an avocado seed face mask do feel that their skin gets a natural glow, becomes firmer and gets an overall healthier appearance.
Always try the mask in a hidden and sensitive area of your skin before applying it to your face. If there is no allergy or reaction, why not give it a go? Even if most of its benefits are not backed by any scientific proof, there isn’t any research claiming it could be harmful either.
Avocado pit and banana face scrub
Ingredients
- 1 avocado pit;
- 1/2 ripe banana.
Preparation
1. Remove the pit from the avocado and wash it with lukewarm water.
2. Let the pit dry for 3-5 days, preferably under the sun.
3. Cut the seed in small portions so it is easier to blend. Grind it in a blender until you get a powdery consistency, but some grains remain.
4. Add the banana to the blender and mix to combine all ingredients.
5. Wash your face thoroughly and apply the mask to your face, while massaging softly with circular movements. Avoid the eyes where the skin is thinner and more sensitive.
6. Let the mask settle in for 3 to 5 minutes.
7. Rinse your face with lukewarm water to remove it completely.
Avocado with lemon
Ingredients
- 1 avocado;
- 2 tbsp of lemon juice.
Preparation
1. Remove the seed from the avocado, wash it with lukewarm water and let it dry for 3 to 5 days.
2. Cut the pit in quarters and mingle it in a blender or a coffee grinder until it gets a powdery consistency.
3. Add the avocado pulp, the ground seed and the lemon juice into a blender and mix everything until achieving a creamy texture.
4. Clean your face and apply the mask while massaging with circular movements. Avoid the area around the eyes.
5. Rinse with lukewarm water.
Extra tip: you can also substitute the avocado pulp and the lemon juice by your regular moisturizing cleaner. Just follow steps 1 and 2 and add the cleaner to the blender in step 3.
If you have any leftovers, it’s better to throw them away as the ingredients will begin to decompose. You can also reduce the quantities or save part of the ground pit in the refrigerator to later use it again.
Other benefits of avocado seeds
The topical benefits of the avocado seed are still understudied, but this pit is already showing promising results when it comes to its intake. Even though it yet to be tested in human subjects, there are some indications that:
- It might lower cholesterol levels: according to a 2012 study, the avocado pit can potentially help reduce cholesterol due to its richness in antioxidants.
- It is rich in antioxidants: the pit of the avocado is actually richer in antioxidants than the pulp. It could then be more effective delaying cell aging, but the researchers recommended further studies to assess the possible toxicity of this richness.
- It may have antibacterial and antifungal properties: these could help reinforce the immune system and speed the treatment of inflammations. Only test-tube studies have been performed to date.
Don’t want to try it? Use it for other beauty tricks
Of course, you might not want to give it a try to the avocado seed until further research is performed and it is deemed safe. Does this mean you can’t use it to enhance your beauty, though?
Not really. Even if you don’t want to apply the pit to your face or eat it, you can get crafty and creative and reuse it in a different way rather than throw it away.
Check out below, artist ZaZaChiaChia explaining the very first steps of seed carving and an example of the beautiful jewelry she can make.
