Avoid followed by infinitive

"Avoid" can only be used with the -ing form of a verb. So "avoid to look" is wrong, but "avoid looking" is correct. If you're asking **why** this is... it just is. It's best when learning a language to not ask "why" too often, because the answer is often very unsatisfying. Languages aren't logically constructed. Also, the comma should be a period or a semicolon. Right now you have a comma splice.

Grammatical problem: "avoid to" is not a verb. "avoid" as a verb takes a noun phrase. "to look" use not a noun phrase - NG "looking" is a noun phrase - OK

I usually avoid looking at his face 

Some verbs can be followed by a gerund or an infinitive with little difference in meaning. (He likes swimming/ he likes to swim .) But not other verbs like “avoid “ . Why ? Because the gerund refers in this case to experience, something you have already experienced . I usually avoid looking ( “looking” here refers to something you’ve already experienced).

Here watch [this](https://youtu.be/7xVfoRT5hZo). Basically, she claims that her grammar hack will help you guess correctly in 80-90% of cases when you're not sure using a gerund or an infinitive. If the second action happens later in time or after the first one, then use infinitive. For example, "I **want** to **study**" (I want now, I'll study tomorrow or later) you can't do them at the same time. In all other cases use gerund. For example; "I **enjoy singing**" Can you enjoy now and sing later? Obviously not. Let's apply this "hack" to your question. "I avoid **to look** at his face." The actions "avoid" and "looking" would happen at the same time, and you can't avoid now and look later. So the correct form is **"I avoid looking at his face."**