Cold Pressed, unrefined, and refined avocado oil. What’s the difference?

Lovacado is cold pressed extra virgin avocado oil. You can buy cold pressed, unrefined, or refined avocado oil, however, the quality of the product is not the same.  Also, selecting between the three options highly depends on how you are you going to use the product.  Lovacado products are only used for skin and hair care, so it’s important to note that Cold Pressed provides premium quality avocado oil.

If you’re going to use the avocado oil for edible purposes, then you need to know key information. For cooking, you need to use refined oils (which have a higher smoke point). To use as a salad dressing, you want to use unrefined oils as they preserve the natural flavours and colours of the oil.

Price is another important factor to consider. You’ll find that refined avocado oil is usually very inexpensive and mass produced because the shelf life is prolonged when active ingredients are stripped away. Cold-pressed and unrefined oils will always cost more and that’s because the quality of the oil is considered premium, especial when it's extra virgin. In addition, the shelf life is usually no more than 12 months on these types of products.

Packaging is also important to consider when buying any type of oil. You’ll notice that refined oils will generally be sold in cheap, see through plastic containers. That’s because they will not go rancid if exposed to prolong sunlight. Where as cold pressed and unrefined oils will generally be in dark or aluminum containers to avoid sunlight and maintain the quality of the product. If not properly stored, the product can go rancid in a few months. Remember the oils in this category are 100% chemical free.

Here are some important details of all three types of avocado oil:

·     Cold Pressed - the oil is obtained by a method of mechanical extraction, they use a hydraulic press without heat and they utilize the entire fruit (seeds and all), which is then pulverized into a paste then gently heated to liquefy. All saturated fats, vitamins and acids remain intact. Oils in this state are great to use directly on skin and hair because the oil is in its purest state, reason why Lovacado products provide instant results.

·     Unrefined Oil - oil that has not gone through a process to hydrogenate the final product. The oil is obtained by mechanical extraction. All saturated fats, acids and in some cases cholesterol remain. Colour and scent will usually be intense.  Excellent oil for salads or low-heat cooking.

·      Refined Oil – the oils are heat extracted with chemicals (sometimes to 450 degrees) then cooled, to remove strong natural scents, colour and along with that some of the saturated fats. Perfect for cooking at high temperatures. For external use, this type of oil is generally used for body massages.

Hope this information is useful and easy to remember. See you next week with more avocado oil information.

Take care of your skin the natural way….

I can’t emphasize enough the wonderful benefits of Lovacado, extra virgin avocado oil. It’s good for the hair and great for the skin! Below you’ll find three ways on how to use Lovacado, extra virgin avocado oil on your skin.

As with any natural product, not all skin types react the same. Exercise caution and test small areas (especially when using in the face). A little bit of extra virgin avocado oil goes a long way, don’t over do it. If you use too much, you can clog your pores and your skin might have a bad reaction.

1) Age spot remedy:

• Mix 1 tbsp. of Lovacado, extra virgin avocado oil and 1 tbsp. of castor oil in a small bowl
• Stir well and apply it to your age spots with your fingers.
• Massage the oil into the age spot and let it sit for about 15 minutes
• Rinse the oil off with warm water

2) Enhance the quality of your daily moisturizer:

• Mix your daily moisturizer with some extra virgin avocado oil and notice how smooth your skin feels.  Allison mixes her Lovacado oil video

3) Treat extreme dry skin areas:

• Pour a small amount of avocado oil onto particularly dry areas of skin. 
• Sufferers of eczema might find the properties of avocado oil soothing, as it tends to reduce itching and inflammation of the skin.
• Rub on knees and elbows before you go bed, you’ll notice smoother skin the when you wake up in the morning.

See you next week with a wonderful new Lovacado product that will soon hit the market. 

The skin, the largest organ in our body

Many of us tend to forget that the skin is the largest organ in our body.

After we lather our skin with body creams some of the ingredients are absorbed and passed into our blood stream. We never really think about this and spend a lot of money on expensive creams. Creams that smell very good, but are full of chemicals. Guilty? I've done it too!

However, over the last year, I've tried to be more conscious of the things I put on my body. I no longer use VS body creams or body butters. These days I rely on sheer or cocoa butter to use on my skin, but I don’t use them alone. I’ve learned to mix them with Lovacado, extra virgin avocado oil.  By doing this, I’m adding an extra layer of moisture to my skin.  Watch the video and see how Allison mixes her Lovacado oil with her daily moisturizer below.

Lovacado, extra virgin avocado oil can be used alone, or mixed with your body creams to add a soothing and softening effect. Use it right after you take a shower to lock in moisture. No matter how you use Lovacado, it will change your skin for the better. Try it out and let me know. 

In my next blog I'll be showing you how to use Lovacado as the main ingredient for skin and hair masks.  


Claudia M.

Fall in love with your hair.....

We colour, straighten, use hot rollers, blow-dry, iron, and add a bunch of chemicals to our hair on a regular basis. The worst thing is that we know we’re doing the wrong thing, but we can’t let the gray hair show or walk out of the house with wet or un-done hair, it’s impossible.

                       

  

       

So, instead of feeling guilty and hoping that our hair will forgive our faults and not fall off or start thinning when we least expect it, we need to do take some serious action. There are plenty of hair treatments, but most of them contain chemicals and they’re just covering up the damaged hair. The hair looks good while you use the product, but the minute you stop using it, the damage is visible again.

As you read in my first blog, I created Lovacado to help with my hair "issues". How does Lovacado work? Lovacado, extra virgin avocado oil nourishes your hair down to the roots. It’s amazing how you notice the results the first day you use it. Applying Lovacado to your hair will improve the texture and appearance while strengthening and moisturizing the strands. In addition, massaging Lovacado into your scalp stimulates circulation and allows it to penetrate in deeply, providing beneficial nutrients, unclogging blocked follicles and, it is reported for many people, stimulating new growth.

There are a few rules you must abide by in order to see the results of using Lovacado. We all have different hair types and different hair problems, but the good thing is that all hair types benefit from this product. Start by using a very small amount of Lovacado oil. If you hair is very thin and limp, the minute you add the oil, it will weight it down. So, don’t use the oil directly on the hair, mix it with your shampoo, or use it as a leave-in hair treatment twice a week, and measure the results. WE all do it, we feel that if we use more of a specific product we’ll see faster results, and as with many products, Lovacado is not the exception. More is not necessarily better. 

If your hair is thick, dry, and long by all means use a generous amount, but start with a few drops and see how much more your hair can take. I certainly recommend that the first time you use Lovacado, you do it a day that you’re home and not going anywhere important or that you’re okay with putting your hair up in a ponytail, in case you use too much oil and can’t bother to wash it off. Usually, people use too much oil the first time, but they do see the results and quickly learn how to use the correct amount for their hair type. Keep in mind that if you have oily hair you don’t want to put the oil in your scalp, you want to use the oil in the ends of your hair, or mix it with your shampoo or use as leave-in hair treatment. Last, but not least, you can use Lovacado to tame flyaway hair after blow-drying or using your flat iron. Use a very minimal amount and this will add shine as well. 

After a while, you'll notice your hair getting stronger, feeling smoother, and shining more than you've seen it in while. You'll fall in love with your hair again, in no time.

 

Come back next week to learn how Lovacado moisturizes and does wonders for your skin.  In the mean time go grab an avocado and eat it, you can start improving your hair and skin from the inside out.

Claudia M.