It’s not an easy task to take care of dry and dull skin. In extreme cases, dry skin can lead to flaking, scaling, inflammation, cracking, and even bleeding.
Generally, sebum/oil produced by sebaceous glands help to retain the moisture within the skin. But sometimes due to external or internal factors, oil production is not kept up with the demand. This lets the moisture with skin to escape leaving a dry skin. External factors include cold weather, hot showers, over use of harsh chemical based soaps, misuse of cosmetics and others. Internal factors that trigger dry skin are dehydration, aging, high blood pressure, hypothyroidism and others.
Commercial moisturizers and medicated ointments provide only short term relief. However, natural home remedies like avocado, olive oil and honey can heal the dry skin successfully by retaining the moisture in the skin. In this article, we have provided a detailed description of how avocado is helpful in treating dry skin.
Is Avocado Really Effective in Treating Dry Skin?
- Avocados have a high concentration of Vitamin A which ensures adequate sebum production on the skin, helping to prevent dry and flaky skin.
- Avocados are a very good source of glutamine (anti-oxidant), Vitamin C and copper which stimulate collagen production in dry skin. This helps to maintain the elasticity of dry skin and evens out the skin tone (1).
- Avocados have a very high content of Vitamin E and potassium, which work as natural moisturizers to restore the moisture content of dry skin.
- Avocados also contain oleic acid, a monosaturated fatty acid that is absorbed readily by the skin. It has potent moisturizing qualities that keep the skin soft and supple.
- Alpha-carotene, beta-carotene and lutein are the antioxidant carotenoids present in avocados that help in improving skin tone and protect dry skin from premature ageing.
- Avocado oils easily penetrate deep into the layers of the skin, stimulating regeneration of new skin cells. It also helps in enhancing blood circulation that is important for nourished, hydrated skin.
- The Vitamin B present in avocado helps soothe dry and inflamed skin and speeds up cell metabolism.
- Avocados contain anti-inflammatory phytosterols like beta-sitosterol, minerals like zinc, iron, magnesium and phosphorus which help reduce the itchiness of dry skin. They also help protect dry skin from sun damage.
How to Use Avocado for Dry Skin?
Avocado can be used directly in the form of its mashed pulp or oil on dry skin. It can also be applied to the affected areas of the skin in combination with other natural ingredients like yogurt, olive oil or honey, which provide long-lasting hydration.
Note: Wash the dry skin with a mild cleanser and lukewarm water before using any of the following natural avocado masks. After washing, pat the skin dry gently with a soft cotton towel and allow it to air dry for a few minutes before using the application on skin.
1. Avocado Fruit Mask
The creamy texture of avocado pulp works as an effective natural moisturizer to nourish dry skin. It seeps into the layers of the skin and helps to hydrate it from within.
- Scoop out the pulp from a ripe avocado.
- Use a fork to mash it till it is no longer lumpy.
- Apply this avocado paste on your skin.
- Gently massage it in for 4-5 minutes.
- Allow it to stay on for 15-20 minutes.
- Rinse off with cool water.
- Re-apply every alternate day.
2. Avocado Oil
Avocado oil is a rich source of anti-oxidants, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals which help to nourish dry skin and work as a natural moisturizer.
- Dip a cotton ball in a bowl of avocado oil.
- Apply on dry and affected areas of the skin.
- Leave it on for 15-20 minutes to allow the oil to soak in.
- Wash off with lukewarm water.
- Repeat the application 2-3 times in a week.
Note: For extremely dry skin, take few drops of avocado oil between your hands and rub them together to warm it. Massage into dry skin and leave on overnight. Wash off with cool water in the morning.
3. Avocado and Olive Oil
Olive oil is a rich source of anti-oxidants which maintain moisture balance in the skin. It also contains unsaturated oils like squalene, which hydrate the skin and improve the overall skin tone.
- Take 1 ripe avocado and mash it with a fork.
- Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to it and stir well.
- Apply a thick layer on dry skin.
- Leave it on for about 5 minutes.
- Wash off with lukewarm water.
- Re-use thrice a week.
Note: You can also use avocado oil instead of olive oil in this remedy for a deeper nourishing effect.
4. Avocado Oil and Brown Sugar
Brown sugar works as an excellent exfoliator for dry skin. It scrubs away dead skin cells accumulated on the surface, resulting in soft, glowing skin (2).
- Mix 1 tablespoon each of avocado oil and brown sugar together in a bowl.
- Massage the mixture on dry skin using circular motions.
- Continue for 3-4 minutes.
- Leave it on for 5 minutes.
- Rinse off with lukewarm water.
- Repeat twice a week for best results.
Note: This mask is suitable for sensitive skin too since brown sugar particles are gentle and don’t harm or aggravate the skin.
5. Avocado and Honey
Being a natural humectant, honey draws in moisture from the air into dry skin. It also penetrates the layers of the skin to retain the moisture, ensuring long-lasting hydration (3).
- Combine pulp of 1/2 avocado and 1/4 cup of honey.
- Apply this mask on affected dry skin.
- Wait for 10 minutes.
- Rinse off the application with cool water.
- Repeat the process twice a week.
6. Avocado and Yogurt
Yogurt contains lactic acid that helps dissolve dry skin cells and tightens the open pores. It also has a soothing and softening effect on dry skin (4).
- Mash ¼ of an avocado till the lumps disappear.
- Add 1 teaspoon of yogurt to it.
- Stir till the mixture attains a uniform texture.
- Apply evenly on dry skin.
- Leave on for 10-15 minutes.
- Wash off with cool water.
- Re-apply 3 times a week.
7. Avocado and Cucumber
Cucumber is a fleshy fruit which is mostly made up of water; hence it acts as an ideal hydrating agent for dry skin. It also contains Vitamin C and caffeic acid which have a soothing effect on dry skin (5).
- Blend equal quantities of avocado and cucumber in a blender.
- Apply the paste on dry skin using your fingers.
- Leave on for 10-15 minutes.
- Wash off the application with cool water.
- Follow the method 2-3 times a week.
8. Avocado and Banana
Banana is a nutritious source of Vitamin A and potassium that hydrates and moisturizes dry, withered skin. It is also rich in beneficial amino acids that maintain the skin elasticity by nourishing the connective tissues.
- Mash ½ a ripe avocado and ½ a ripe banana.
- Mix them together to form a smooth and creamy mixture.
- Spread evenly on dry skin with your fingers.
- Wait for about 15 minutes.
- Rinse off application with lukewarm water.
- Repeat 2-3 times a week.
Note: For effective results add 1 egg yolk into the mixture. Egg yolk is rich in water, multivitamins, healthy fats and minerals, making it a perfect water-binding agent. This ensures it locks moisture into the dry skin cells, resulting in soft and supple skin.
9. Avocado and Apricot
Apricot is a natural anti-inflammatory agent rich in Vitamin A that helps to prevent dry and damaged skin. It also contains oleic acid, a fatty acid that has moisturizing and regenerating properties (6).
- In a blender, add 1 ripe avocado with 1 ripe apricot.
- Blend till it attains a smooth texture.
- Apply evenly on dry skin.
- Leave on for 25-30 minutes.
- Wash off with cool water.
- Re-apply thrice a week.
10. Avocado and Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a natural humectant, which helps the skin retain its moisture when combined with other natural hydrating ingredients like honey. It also has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and itch-relieving properties that help in soothing and exfoliating dry skin.
- Take ½ cup of oatmeal in a bowl.
- Mash 1 ripe avocado into pulp and mix them together.
- Apply this mixture all over your dry skin.
- Wait for 15-20 minutes.
- Rinse off application with cool water.
- Repeat procedure twice a week.
11. Avocado and Lemon Juice
Citric acid present in lemon acts as an exfoliant which helps remove the dead skin cells and loose flakes of the skin. Being an antimicrobial, lemon prevents infections on dry and damaged skin.
- Mash ½ a ripe avocado and squeeze ½ a lemon into the pulp.
- Stir well and apply mixture to dry skin.
- Leave on for about 15 minutes.
- Wash off application with cool water.
- Re-use 2-3 times a week.
Note: Lemon juice can have a photo-sensitive effect on the skin, so always apply sunscreen when venturing out into the sunlight.
12. Avocado and Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is naturally anti-bacterial and anti-fungal in nature. It works as an excellent natural moisturizer for dry skin as it can penetrate deeper into the layers of the skin than other oils (7).
- Blend pulp of ½ avocado and 1 tablespoon of coconut oil into a smooth paste.
- Spread the mixture evenly on dry skin.
- Wait for about 20 minutes.
- Wash off application with lukewarm water.
- Repeat daily for a fortnight.
13. Avocado, Honey and Milk
Milk contains lactic acid that is an excellent natural exfoliator for dry and dead skin cells (8). It is rich in water content, fat and proteins that can replenish the lost moisture of dry skin when combined with honey and avocado.
- Blend 1 ripe avocado into a thick paste in the blender.
- Add 1 teaspoon honey and 4 teaspoons warm milk.
- Stir well and apply on dry and affected areas of the skin.
- Leave on for 20-30 minutes.
- Wash off with cool water.
- Re-apply twice a week.
14. Avocado, Honey and Lemon Juice
Lemons have anti-bacterial properties and are rich in vitamin C and citric acid which help maintain healthy skin and prevent infections. The honey and lemon together work as a skin brightener, resulting in nourished and glowing skin.
- Mash 1 ripe avocado into pulp.
- Mix the pulp with ½ tablespoon honey and ½ teaspoon lemon juice.
- Apply evenly on affected areas of the skin.
- Wait for 20 minutes.
- Wash off with lukewarm water.
- Repeat 2-3 times a week.
15. Avocado, Aloe Vera and Olive Oil
Aloe vera is a succulent plant that contains compounds like polysaccharides, lectins and mannans along with several useful vitamins and minerals. These help prevent cracking and flaking of dry skin. A major constituent of aloe vera is water, which acts as an excellent hydrating agent for dry skin.
- Mash ½ a ripe avocado into pulp.
- Add 1 tablespoon each of aloe vera gel and olive oil to it.
- Apply the mask on dry skin.
- Wait for 5-10 minutes.
- Wash off thoroughly with lukewarm water.
- Repeat twice a week.
16. Avocado, Honey and Olive Oil
Olive oil helps to eliminate the signs and symptoms of premature ageing. Honey is a humectant that ensures an adequate amount of moisture is retained in the layers of the skin, preventing dryness.
- Mash ½ a ripe avocado into a smooth pulp.
- Add 1 tablespoon honey and 1 teaspoon olive oil to it.
- Stir well thoroughly until the ingredients blend well.
- Apply to affected areas of the skin.
- Leave on for 10-15 minutes.
- Wash off with lukewarm water.
- Follow this method thrice a week.
17. Avocado, Honey and Coconut Oil
Honey has anti-bacterial and moisturizing effects on dry skin while coconut oil helps to lock in moisture within the skin. It also plays a role in repairing and hydrating dry and damaged skin.
- Mix pulp of 1/4 avocado, 1 tablespoon each of honey and coconut oil.
- Stir the mixture thoroughly.
- Apply to dry skin using fingertips.
- Wait for 15-20 minutes.
- Wash off with lukewarm water.
- Repeat daily for a fortnight.
18. Avocado, Honey and Yogurt
The natural oils of avocado work to hydrate and build up collagen production in dry skin. A mixture of honey and yogurt soaks up impurities from the pores of dry skin and help exfoliate it, resulting in smoother, softer skin.
- Mash ½ a ripe avocado into a smooth paste
- Stir in 1 tablespoon each of honey and yogurt.
- Massage the mixture onto dry skin for 2-3 minutes.
- Leave on for 10 minutes.
- Wash off with cool water.
- Repeat thrice a week.
19. Avocado, Egg White and Lemon Juice
Egg whites contain proteins that improve skin tone and elasticity by preserving moisture within the skin. It also contains collagen that is an important building block for nourished and hydrated skin.
- Crack an egg open and separate the egg white from the yolk.
- Whisk the egg white till it becomes frothy in texture.
- Mash 1 ripe avocado into a pulp.
- Mix the frothy egg white and avocado pulp together.
- Add 1 teaspoon lemon juice to the mixture.
- Apply a thick layer on dry skin.
- Leave it on for 20-25 minutes.
- Wash off with cool water.
- Re-apply twice a week.
Note: This can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for later use.
20. Avocado, Buttermilk and Cornstarch
Buttermilk is a natural probiotic that is rich in lactic acid, making it an effective exfoliator and softener for dry skin. Cornstarch has a soothing effect on itchy, dry and irritated skin.
- Combine ¼ of a ripe avocado in a bowl and 1 tablespoon buttermilk.
- Mix thoroughly to form a thick paste.
- Add a pinch of cornstarch to it.
- Apply on affected areas of the skin.
- Leave on for 10 minutes.
- Wash off with cool water.
- Repeat once a week.
21. Avocado, Milk Cream and Flour
Milk cream is rich in minerals and lactic acid which help to give an extra moisture boost and nourishes the internal layers of the skin. The flour works as an exfoliator to scrub off dry skin cells and dirt from the surface of the skin.
- Add 1 tablespoon of milk cream into pulp of 1/2 avocado.
- Stir well till it attains a thick consistency.
- Spread the mixture evenly on the dry areas.
- Wait for 5-8 minutes.
- Rinse off with cool water.
- Re-apply the pack once a week to prevent dryness.
22. Avocado, Turmeric and Yogurt
Turmeric is a natural anti-inflammatory agent that has a soothing effect on dry and damaged skin. Curcumin is one of the main components of turmeric that has anti-oxidant properties which help provide nourishment to the skin (9).
- Into a bowl, add pulp of 1 avocado, 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder and 1 tablespoon of yogurt.
- Mix the ingredients well using a fork.
- Apply the paste to dry skin.
- Leave on for about 20 minutes.
- Wash off with lukewarm water.
- Re-apply 2-3 times a week.
23. Avocado, Honey, Orange Juice and Chamomile Oil
When combined with honey and certain oils, orange juice works as an effective cleansing and toning agent for dry skin. It is rich in several vitamins and minerals and is an effective natural exfoliator for dry and dead skin cells. Chamomile oil has natural anti-inflammatory properties that has a soothing effect on dry, irritated skin and helps to retain moisture within the layers of the skin.
- In a bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of orange juice with 1 teaspoon of honey.
- Mash ½ a ripe avocado with a fork.
- Add it to the orange juice and honey mixture.
- Add 2-3 drops of chamomile oil to it and stir thoroughly.
- Apply evenly on affected dry skin.
- Leave on for 20 minutes.
- Wash with lukewarm water.
- Apply 1-2 times a week.
24. Avocado, Carrot, Honey, Olive Oil and Egg Yolk
Potassium deficiency can be one of the triggering factors of dry skin. Carrots are a rich source of potassium, helping to keep the skin hydrated. They are also rich in anti-oxidants like beta-carotene that helps repair dry and damaged skin tissues.
- Boil 1 carrot till it becomes soft and blend it to form a creamy consistency.
- Mash and mix ½ a ripe avocado with the carrot pulp.
- Add 1 tablespoon honey, 1 egg yolk and 3-4 drops of olive oil to the mixture.
- Apply over dry skin with fingers.
- Allow it to dry for 15 minutes.
- Wash off the mask with lukewarm water.
- Re-apply once a week for a month.
Note: You can also use coconut oil instead of olive oil in this mask.
Tips and Precautions
- Before using avocado in any form on your skin, it is always recommended to carry out a simple patch test to make sure you aren’t allergic to it.
- Patients on blood thinner drugs should consult a doctor before using avocado/avocado oils as a part of any natural remedy. It may interfere with/decrease the effectiveness of the medication.
- Though avocado generally has negligible side-effects when used in moderation, it is recommended that pregnant women or lactating mothers consult a doctor before including it in their regular skin care routine.
- Always use a soft and ripe avocado in any of the natural remedies mentioned above. A ripe avocado has a creamier and pulpier flesh than an unripe fruit; hence it blends on dry skin more evenly. If you have an unripe avocado, it will ripen in 4-5 days at room temperature.
- For a cooling and soothing effect on dry skin, keep the avocado application in the refrigerator after preparation for a couple of minutes before applying it.
- Avocado can leave bright green stains on clothes that turn brown with time. Hence, it is always better to wear old clothes while applying an avocado mask.
- Hot water tends to strip the essential oils from the skin, leaving it dry. Ensure you spend less time in the shower and use lukewarm or cool water instead of hot water on your skin.
- Opt for a light, oil-free moisturizer in case your skin feels excessively dry after washing off an application/after a shower. This helps to trap the much-needed moisture within the skin while it is still damp.
- Exfoliating skin 2-3 times a week with a mild natural scrub can help in removing the dry and dead cells from the surface, resulting in softer, smoother skin.
- Using a humidifier in your room can help add moisture to the surrounding air, helping to prevent and soothe the symptoms of dry skin.
- Include foods such as mangoes, papayas, berries, flaxseed, sweet potatoes, carrots, pumpkins and nuts in your daily diet. Avoid carbonated or caffeinated drinks.
- Drinking plenty of water throughout the day will help flush out toxins from dry skin and keep it hydrated.
- If there is no improvement in the symptoms of dry skin or if the dryness becomes worse even after using an avocado mask, it is recommended to consult a dermatologist.
Which one of the methods did you find most suitable for your dry skin? Is there any other natural fruit or product that helps combat dry skin better than avocado? Do let us know about your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below.
