You already know how nutritious the avocado is for you – it’s an excellent source of antioxidants, essential fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins – but we bet you didn't know it can also keep you beautiful.

Your skin can benefit from the anti-inflammatory agents and antioxidants compounds in avocado by way of avocado oil. Available in most health and grocery stores, avocado oil can:

• hydrate and moisturize skin
• shield skin from ultraviolet radiation
• calm itchy skin
• replenish dry skin
• heal chapped skin
• protect against skin damage

The agents which make avocado oil effective are its beta carotene, protein, lecithin, fatty acids, and vitamins A, D, and E. These moisturize and protect your skin from ultraviolet radiation and also increase collagen metabolism. A skin cream comprised of avocado, tea tree, emu, and jojoba oils even has positive antimicrobial effects.

There has been at least one study that indicates avocado oil may be used to effectively treat plaque psoriasis – an autoimmune ailment that causes thick, scaly, red patches on the skin. Mixed with vitamin B-12, avocado oil can alleviate psoriasis symptoms for a longer period than even the traditional vitamin D-3 therapy.

Avocado oil may also be used to treat wounds. Its linoleic acid, oleic acid, and other monosaturated fatty acids speeds up wound healing.

But you don't need to mix avocado oil with any additives for it to work for you. Simply massage the oil on your skin or rub it on your face like a mask. You can also add it to your lotion.

There are no known adverse effects to using avocado oil – apply it every day if it suits you. But as with any new topical application, it is always a good ideas to run a little into just a small patch of skin at first to gauge any allergic reaction. Note that since one of the principal benefits of avocado oil is as a moisturizer, it won't work as effectively if you have oily skin.