Argan Oil, often celebrated as the "Liquid Gold of Morocco," is extracted from the kernels of the Argan tree, which thrives in the southwest of Morocco. For centuries, the Amazigh people of Southern Morocco and the Sahara have harnessed Argan Oil as a natural antioxidant. Today, it stands as a coveted ingredient in luxury skin and haircare products.
But what makes the oil from this little nut so special? This article explores the remarkable benefits and versatile uses of pure Argan Oil for your body, self-care routine, and the planet.
1. Rich in Essential Nutrients
Argan Oil is packed with fatty acids and contains Vitamin E and Omega-6. It is a powerful natural antioxidant with many health and beauty benefits such as promoting healthy skin, hair, nails and even a healthy heart.
2. Treats Skin Conditions and Scarring
Argan Oil is a popular natural skin remedy because it nourishes and hydrates without clogging the pores. It moisturises dry skin and treats conditions such as eczema, rashes, psoriasis and acne. It also reduces the appearance of scars, burns and stretch marks.
3. Keeps Skin Supple and Youthful
One of the reasons Argan Oil has become known as ‘Liquid Gold’ is because it helps repair and maintain healthy skin cells, thereby reducing the signs of ageing. It also increases the suppleness and elasticity of the skin, making it a coveted natural ingredient in many luxury anti-ageing creams.
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4. Helps Maintain Healthy Hair
Another highly popular benefit of Argan Oil is that it nourishes dry and damaged hair, helping to keep it soft and silky. It can be used as a conditioner to moisturise the scalp, minimise the impact of heat on hair (for example from excessive blow-drying or straightening), seal in colour and prevent split ends.
5. Natural Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Aside from being a key component of many people’s beauty routines, one of the lesser known benefits of Argan Oil is its anti-inflammatory properties. When rubbed into muscles and joints, Argan Oil can reduce inflammation and relieve soreness.
6. Nourishes and Strengthens Nails
If you wash your hands a lot and/or use a lot of nail polish, your nails can easily become dry and brittle. Argan Oil nourishes and strengthens nails. When rubbed into the base of the nail, it simultaneously encourages nail growth and softens the cuticles - it’s the perfect addition to any manicure routine!
7. The Argan Trade is Good for the Planet
The Argan tree provides food for animals through its leaves, shelter for other plants under its canopy and protection from desertification because its deep roots prevent from desert encroachment. The production of Argan Oil has led to the protection of Argan trees from deforestation and new trees have been planted to sustain the trade. In 1998, the Argan forest in Morocco was designated a UNESCO protected biosphere.
8. Supports Rural Communities in Morocco
The Argan trade has grown in recent decades as the oil has become increasingly popular, particularly outside of Morocco. This has created jobs for Moroccans - especially women living in rural areas where the Argan trees grow - and opportunities for Moroccan businesses and entrepreneurs. A lot of companies selling Argan Oil (including Pink Jinn!) also have a social impact angle to their work.
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For example, at Pink Jinn, our Argan Oil suppliers work with women’s cooperatives in Morocco to provide jobs and a fair wage to rural women, who extract the organic Argan Oil by hand. We also donate 1/3 of our profits to Project Soar Morocco, which works to empower vulnerable and marginalised adolescent girls by providing programs that help girls understand their value, voice, body, rights and path.
Pink Jinn’s Argan Oil is the purest and highest grade on the market and is certified organic by EcoCert. We blend it with pure lavender, Moroccan rose, and jasmine essential oils for additional benefits and a beautiful, natural scent. It’s no secret that we love argan oil. Who knew (well, we kind of did) that the little argan nut could be mighty liquid gold due to all its beautiful skin and hair magic?!
The argania spinosa (argan) tree provides day-to-day living essentials in its native Morocco. Applications of the tree (and its oil) range anywhere from food to shelter from the sun in the arid Moroccan landscape. Traditionally, harvesters would collect the naturally processed nuts from goat droppings, since a species of wild goat in Morocco subsists almost solely on argan nuts. While the former method is more sanitary than it sounds, the oil we use hasn’t been pre-digested by a goat. But it has undergone a slow, cold-pressing process which effectively does the same thing: gently removes the outer flesh of the nut, then separates the internal kernel from the shell.
Because of the labor of love and care that goes into making high quality argan oil, the market is flooded with diluted alternatives and brands that cut corners with their formulas. Other methods of extracting oils are not so careful about maintaining the nutrients and integrity of the product. This begs the question: how pure is your argan oil? Generally, you can use your nose to determine the quality of any given argan oil brand. If the oil is pure and minimally processed, it should have a pungent nutty odor. Put simply, the presence of this nutty odor means that your argan oil is pure, undiluted, and nutrient-dense.
PRO-TIP: When you apply pure argan oil to your skin or hair, the scent will only linger for a few minutes. So, don’t worry about a nutty aroma trailing after you when you leave the house!
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Whether you choose to dilute it or not, argan oil is a seriously versatile ingredient and we are total super fans. Its your skin-but-better-hydration powers that are one of the main reasons argan oil is found in so many products - and exactly why we feature it in many of our formulas.
Argan oil, rich in unsaturated fatty acids and polyphenols, exerts beneficial effects on both the intestinal and skin microbiotas. In the gut, it promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria, such as lactobacilli, while reducing pathogenic bacteria, due to its anti-inflammatory properties that help maintain microbial balance. Additionally, it improves the integrity of the intestinal mucosa, reducing the risk of dysbiosis. On the skin, argan oil hydrates and balances the lipid environment, creating a favorable setting for beneficial microorganisms, while also possessing antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that soothe conditions like eczema and acne. Thus, argan oil is valuable for overall health, supporting digestion and skin health.
Argan oil has been a culinary staple in Morocco for centuries - not only because of its subtle, nutty flavor but also its wide array of potential health benefits. This naturally occurring plant oil is derived from the kernels of the fruit of the argan tree.
Although native to Morocco, argan oil is now used across the globe for a variety of culinary, cosmetic and medicinal applications.
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15 Ways to Use Argan Oil
- Makeup Remover: Use argan oil as a makeup remover because it grabs onto makeup, won’t leave skin greasy, and moisturizes in the process.
- Skin Luminizer: Argan oil makes a fantastic natural skin luminizer, especially if you’re looking for something shimmer-free.
- Healthier Scalp and Frizz Tamer: Argan oil promotes collagen production for fortified hair growth and fights against breakage. This organic oil also tames frizz in a pinch!
- Stretch Mark Minimizer: Keep skin VERY well moisturized to ease the stretching of your skin and minimize the severity of stretch marks.
- Powder-to-Cream Blush: Mix argan oil with powder blush to create a creamier blush formula.
- Carrier Oil: Argan oil is full of essential fatty acids and minerals, as well as carotenes and squalene, so it will help to bolster your skin’s defensive barrier while it moisturizes and conditions your skin.
- DIY Scrub Base: Argan oil is the perfect choice for your DIY body scrub moisture base.
- Cuticle Treatment: Rub a few drops of argan oil into cuticles and hands is an easy way to restore dry skin.
- Lip Softener: Dab a drop of argan oil onto lips for enhanced moisture and soft, supple skin.
- Shaving Protectant: Argan oil feeds the skin with fatty acids and vitamin E, which maintain the suppleness of our largest organ - our skin!
- Sunscreen Primer: Make thick or chalky sunscreens easy to spread by priming skin with a few drops of liquid argan oil gold.
- PM Hand Treatment: Lock in your layer of hand cream with conditioning argan oil, to keep hand moisture preserved overnight.
- Baby-Soft Bath: Add 1-2 tablespoons of argan oil into your morning or evening bath for deeper hydration and nourished skin.
- DIY Colored Eye Liner: Turn any of your favorite eyeshadows into eye liner with just a few drops of argan oil.
- Oil Pulling: Argan oil works to extract bacteria from your mouth, though oil-pulling.
Argan Oil Products Available Online
Argan oil is available in oil form or as an ingredient in skin and hair care products, such as creams and shampoo. Below are some of the best argan products available to purchase online.
Pura D’Or Organic Moroccan Argan Oil
- Ingredients: This product contains organic 100% pure cold-pressed organic argan oil.
- Size: 4 fluid ounces (fl. oz).
- Price: Around $13.
- Claims: Suitable for dry skin and dry or damaged hair.
To use Pura D’Or’s Organic Moroccan Argan Oil, a person should apply 1-3 drops of the oil to the desired area and massage for up to 1 minute.
ViolaVe Pure Organic Moroccan Argan Oil
- Ingredients: This product contains organic 100% argan oil.
- Size: 4 fl. oz.
- Price: Around $18.
- Claims: Suitable for dry skin and hair and hair and nail growth.
To use ViolaVe Pure Organic Moroccan Argan Oil, a person should apply 1-3 drops of the oil to the desired area and massage for up to 1 minute.
Cliganic Organic Argan Oil
- Ingredients: This product contains 100% pure cold-pressed argan oil.
- Size: 2 fl. oz.
- Price: Around $13.
- Claims: Especially beneficial for dry skin. Can be used in DIY shampoos and hair masks.
To use Cliganic Organic Argan Oil, the company recommends using a small amount of oil on damp skin or hair as necessary.
Eve Hansen USDA Certified Organic Argan Oil
- Size: 4 fl. oz.
- Price: Around $21.
- Claims: A rich hydrator and can reduce the appearance of scars, burns, stretch marks, and wrinkles.
To use Eve Hansen USDA Certified Organic Argan Oil, the company recommends one of three strategies:
- Massage a handful of oil into the scalp and hair, leave overnight, and rinse in the morning.
- After cleansing the skin, massage a few drops of oil onto the face and leave to absorb.
- Massage a few drops of oil onto the nails and cuticles and leave them to absorb.
Frequently Asked Questions About Argan Oil
Does argan oil grow hair?
Currently, there is no clinical evidence that argan oil can stimulate hair growth. However, anecdotally, people have found that argan oil can make brittle and dry hair feel thicker and healthier.
Can I use argan oil every day?
As long as a person does not experience contact dermatitis or an allergic reaction to argan oil, they can use it every day. However, if a person feels as though it leaves skin and hair greasy or does not work as intended, they can discontinue use or reduce the amount they use.
Does argan oil brighten skin?
Argan oil can help moisturize dry skin, which may lead to brighter-looking skin. However, there is currently no clinical evidence that argan oil can reduce the appearance of uneven skin tone or dark spots.
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