What is avocado oil in skincare?
Avocado oil is pressed from the pulp of the fruit rather than the stone, which is unusual – most plant oils come from seeds. It is thick, deep green when unrefined, and very high in oleic acid, with vitamin E, beta-carotene, lecithin and phytosterols.
That composition makes it one of the richest and most occlusive plant oils in common use, closer in feel to a butter than to a light facial oil.
What skin concerns does avocado oil treat?
It suits very dry, flaky or mature skin and rough body areas, where its high lipid content reduces water loss and softens noticeably. Its sterols and vitamin E give it anti-inflammatory activity useful for eczema and psoriasis-prone skin.
It is often used for stretch marks and after sun exposure. Being oleic-dominant and heavy, it is a poor choice for oily or acne-prone facial skin, where it readily congests pores.
What ingredients are best paired with avocado oil?
Use it as a final sealing layer over humectants such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid, and alongside ceramides and shea butter for intensive dry-skin routines.
It is also a good carrier for vitamin C oils and essential oils. If your skin is combination or breakout-prone, reserve it for body and hands, and use squalane or jojoba on the face. Take our Skin Quiz.
What is hormonal acne?
Hormonal acne is acne whose timing and pattern track with hormonal activity rather than with cleansing habits or diet alone. It typically appears along the lower face – jawline, chin and upper neck – as deep, tender papules and cysts that flare on a predictable cycle.
It is most recognisable in adult women, where breakouts often arrive in the week before menstruation and settle again afterwards.
What causes hormonal acne?
Androgens – testosterone and DHT in particular – bind to receptors on the sebaceous gland and increase sebum production. When androgen activity rises or oestrogen falls, oil output climbs and follicles clog more readily.
Menstrual cycles, starting or stopping contraception, pregnancy, perimenopause and PCOS are the usual contexts. Stress raises cortisol, which amplifies the same pathway. Persistent hormonal acne with irregular cycles or excess hair growth is worth investigating medically.
What ingredients are best for hormonal acne?
Retinoids are the most effective topical, because they stop the plug forming regardless of how much oil is being produced. Azelaic acid reduces inflammation and the marks that follow, and niacinamide helps regulate sebum.
Salicylic acid keeps pores clear between flares, and benzoyl peroxide targets bacteria in inflamed lesions. Because hormonal acne is driven from the inside, topicals manage rather than cure it – consistency across the whole cycle beats spot-treating during a flare. Take our Skin Quiz.
