Avocado Beauty Recipes

For centuries, the Mayans, Aztecs and Incas have used avocados in their beauty regimens. The fruit is rich in vitamins A, D, E, potassium, sulfur and chlorine (to name a few - see previous post for more benefits) and has deep penetrating and rejuvinating effects for the skin.

If you google "avocado beauty recipes," you will discover ton of sites with facial and hair beauty recipes that utilize this "green gold." Below I have listed a few of my favorite sites along with a recipe from each.

Cucumber Avocado Facial Mask
(from 1001beautysecrets.com)

½ cup chopped cucumber

½ cup chopped avocado

1 egg white

2 tsp. powdered milk

In a blender combine all of the ingredients until they form a smooth, paste-like consistency. You can apply the mask immediately or refrigerate it for 30 minutes.
Apply 2 tablespoons of the cucumber avocado mask to your face and neck in circular upward motions. Leave the mask on for 30 minutes, or until dry. To remove the mask simply rinse your face and neck with warm water, followed by a cold water rinse. Finally, pat dry your face and neck.

California Avocado Moisturizer
(from pioneerthinking.com)

The inside of the avocado peel is actually valuable. The precious oil hidden away in the peel of the avocado is also a wonderful facial moisturizer. To be technical, the oil contains a humectant, a substance that holds moisture. Using gentle upward strokes, lightly massage your face with the inside of the peel. Let the oil residue remain on your skin for about 15 minutes. At that time you may either leave the oil on your skin and go to sleep or, if you intend to put on make-up, wash your face gently with three or four rinses of tepid water and pat dry. The oil will be invisible but it is there, ready to hold your foundation or powder in place for hours.

Shiny Soft Hair Treatment

(from care2.com's green living section)

In a small bowl, mash and combine:

1 avocado (1/2 for shorter hair)

1 egg yolk

1/2 teaspoon olive oil

Apply to hair and allow to remain 30 minutes or longer, then shampoo and condition as usual. Amazingly silky, shiny, soft hair!

All Natural Beauty also has a section on Homemade Beauty Recipes that I like.

All of these web sites have additional recipes that you might enjoy, so why not do it right and set aside a night when you can grab some amigas and give each other natural beauty makeovers? We all need a little spa-time in our lives!