The avocado, celebrated for its creamy texture and exceptional health benefits, has long been hailed as a superfood. However, its benefits extend far beyond mere culinary delights. To reduce waste and tap into the remarkable potential of every part of this remarkable food, The World Avocado Organization shares some game-changing ways you can re-purpose your scraps into skincare. 

All over the world, individuals and companies alike strive to generate less waste to protect the planet and lessen overconsumption. It’s a goal that comes with significant challenges but is gradually becoming part of our everyday habits, which means that what used to go straight into the bin is increasingly being repurposed. And this is certainly the case for avocados, as only the flesh ends up on our plates, with the stone and skin generally ending up in the bin.

However, the parts we throw away are some of the most nutritious, full of essential fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamins. So here are some tips on how you can combat waste and enhance your skincare.

Natural moisturiser

Whether you’re making a salad or guacamole, once the flesh of the avocado is extracted from the skin, don’t throw the skin away, as it can be used as a top-notch natural moisturiser.

And there is some science behind this; the fruit of the avocado tree is rich in essential fatty acids, meaning that it’s effective at nourishing dry and dehydrated skin. Cut the skin into large strips and apply it to the face for 10 to 20 minutes to enjoy its benefits. The result is soft, moisturised, and soothed skin with no greasiness.

Under-eye skincare

Avocados do more than moisturise; they can also help fight against wrinkles and fine lines thanks to their antioxidant properties.

You can take advantage of these benefits by applying avocado skin directly to the face, and it’s even possible to use it on the area around the eye – always taking care to avoid contact with the eye – by cutting thin strips and delicately positioning them under the eyes.

Leave them on for a good ten minutes, and if you do it regularly, you should notice positive results.

A gentle scrub

It may be somewhat less obvious, but the avocado stone can be repurposed into your beauty regime, transforming it into a natural exfoliant.

To do this, immerse the stone in water, then cut it into pieces. Once this is done, all left to do is blend the pieces into a granular mixture that can then be mixed with a moisturiser or body oil to create a gentle scrub.

Baby-soft feet

As summer approaches, many of us are confronted with the dead and scaly skin that has accumulated on the bottom of our feet throughout the year, which makes us seek out pedicures, foot masks, foot files or pumice stones.

Avocado can also help combat dry foot skin. Place the inside of the skin on your foot and rub on areas that need a good dose of moisture. This is a great way to get baby-soft skin without dipping into your budget.