Eat it, Use it.

Avocado oil contains more than 20% essential unsaturated fatty acids and is high in unsaponifiables (plant steroids), which are known to be helpful in reducing age spots, moisturizing the epidermis (upper layer of skin) and healing scars. This anti-bacterial oil is made from the pulp of the avocado fruit. To ensure that the nutrients are not damaged, quality avocado oil is cold pressed in a heat controlled environment kept below 120 degrees Fahrenheit. A 1991 study at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology found that avocado oil considerably increases the water soluble collagen content in the skin. Collagen, which is the body’s major structural protein (mesh-like structure that binds cells together), makes up 70% of the dermis (lower layer of skin) and is what gives the skin its plump and smooth appearance. Another forte of this natural oil is that it penetrates the skin deeper than most plant oils, which makes it an ideal carrier for other ingredients.

More information is available at The Grove.

A great facial serum containing avocado oil is sold at Essential Wholesale. The sample size contains enough for a month supply.

P.S.

It might sound like a contradiction to my last post, but don't over dry the oily areas of your facial skin. When the skin is over dried with harsh astringent or active ingredients, your body will feel that it is necessary to create more sebum in order to compensate for the dryness created by the products used. This might be one of the reasons why you repeatedly get blemishes in the same area of your face.

Anxiety Attacks

Have you noticed small bumpiness under your skin? The cause might be as simple as product overload. Eventhough I understand how too much moisturizing product can aggravate my skin, I still catch myself wanting to put an extra dab – especially in the areas showing signs of aging. It is purely emotional – you feel more is better, richer the merrier. Unfourtunately heavy product application does not ward away wrinkles or sagging of the skin. It will mostlikely only clog your pores and cause bumpiness, whiteheads or blackheads. Unless you have dry skin, you will probably only need a good serum, not cream or oil on your facial skin. I for one only use a light antioxidant serum on my cheeks and forehead. I avoid using even the serum on my nose and chin as those areas tend to become oily (The humectant in the astringent is more than adequate). I only apply a mixture of Tamanu and Olive oil on the delicate eye area. How much we want to cling to the images given to us by luxury cosmetic brands – that by using their products, we will end up looking like the retouched photos of teenage models in their campaigns, we have to let go and see the unique conditions of our skins.

Here Comes the Sun

Did you know that...

-- UVB chiefly causes sunburn, while UVA rays, which penetrate the skin more deeply causes photoaging.

-- Ultra Violet Rays can penetrate glass eventhough it can filter UVB. Which means that even if you're inside your house or car, as long as you are sitting next to a window, you're at risk for UV damage. Especially if you drive on a frequent basis, I highly recommend covering your car windows with UVA-protective film(which block out up to 99.9 percent of UVR).

-- Up to 40 percent of the sun's ultraviolet radiation reaches the earth on a completely cloudy day.

-- Regardless of strength, sunscreeen should be reapplied every two hours. Transluscent powder sunscreen such as Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral SPF 30 is a great alternative to cream or lotion products as it can be reapplied over makeup.

-- Reddening of your skin is only a reaction to the UVB rays – it does not tell you what UVA damage you might be getting.

-- It takes 30 minutes for the sunscreen’s ingredients to bind to the skin. I apply two generous layers of moisturizing sunscreen with broad-spectrum protection on bare skin each morning – do not wear a moisturizer underneath your sunscreen unless it is a light antioxidant serum, as it will dilute the effectiveness of the active ingredients.

-- Check the ingredients of the sunscreen to make sure it offers broad-spectrum protection. Cheap yet effective choice even for acne prone skin: Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer Spf 45.