Avocado oil is one of my new loves. It’s classed as a vegetable oil, but the avocado is really a fruit. It’s a deep penetrating oil, rich in vitamins A, D, E, lecithin, and potassium.Avocado oil also contains proteins, lecithin, beta-carotene and over twenty percent essential fatty acids. It’s great for all skin types, and is especially kind to mature, sensitive or problem skin. It is extremely beneficial in treating skin disorders such as Eczema and Psoriasis and is also said to stimulate collagen metabolism which reduces the visible signs of aging.

Like Shea Butter, Avocado Oil is high in unsaponifiables, meaning some of it’s goodness is left untouched in the soaping process and free to penetrate the skin more effectively.

I am a huge fan of Castile soaps (100% Olive Oil) and it’s all my skin will tolerate regularly in Winter. Recently I made a 50% Olive and 50% Avocado oil soap for my personal use and to test the qualities. It’s only a few weeks old but I discounted the water by 50%, so it was ready for a go in the shower this morning. All I can say is this: There is no going back to plain 100% Olive Oil for me. My skin felt soft and well moisturized, much more so than when using a Castile. I didn’t even need lotion today. It doesn’t have great lathering properties, about the same as a Castile lather with a little extra slip.

My next experiment is 100% Avocado Oil soap. The drawback is that it has a shorter shelf life than Olive. That wouldn’t be a problem for personal use but I would definitely test it for DOS before selling. One the plus side, Avocado hardens like a rock in less time than Olive Oil does and would be ready to sell sooner.

Avocados are grown all over the world in tropical and subtropical climates including the US, Mexico, Spain, Australia and New Zealand. It’s starting to make a splash in the culinary scene with less unsaturated fats than Olive Oil and having a higher smoke point. Maybe someday soon you’ll be able to find it in your grocery store.