Argan oil, a product of the Moroccan Argan tree nut, has been used to condition, heal, and beautify the body for thousands of years with recorded uses of the golden oil dating back to 1550 B.C.
3,500 years later, the women of Berber, Southern Morocco and the Mediterranean continue to use Argan Oil to enhance their exotic beauty. In 2007, there were only two Argan oil products available in the U.S. – but it didn’t take long to realize the youth-preserving benefits of this natural, organic oil youth-preserving benefits of this natural, organic oil – often referred to as a ‘superfood for the skin’. – and now there are hundreds of products to choose from.
So what is all the hype about? A quick look at the long list of benefits of using pure Argan oil, quickly demonstrates why the golden oil has received such high praise:
- Smooths and softens skin
- Nourishes and protects the skin barrier
- Protects skin from free radicals and environmental damage
- Reduces fine lines and wrinkles
- Improves skin’s elasticity
- Hydrates skin up to 46%
- Balances skin’s natural pH
- Conditions brittle, damaged hair
- Improves the condition of nails and cuticles
- Restores chronically dry skin conditions… and much more.
Argan oil’s youth-preserving benefits come from the high content of antioxidants in the golden liquid, such tocopherols (vitamin E), phenols, carotenes (Vitamin A) squalene, and a high percentage of fatty acids. The main natural phenols in Argan oil are caffeic acid, oleuropein, vanillic acid, tyrosol, catechol, resorcinol, (−)-epicatechin and (+)-catechin. (Source 1)
While all that info might not mean much to the average person, that is a lot of goodness on one single oil and the reason why so many are taking notice.
Apart from the growing realization among U.S. consumers that organic derived cosmetics provide better results than chemical products, there is an increasing interest in Argan oil from the medical field. That’s because Argan extracts have the potential for providing natural solutions for curing skin cancer due to compounds such as triterpenoids which are known to reduce tumor growth. Given these natural, organic and important benefits, the use of this oil in medical applications may begin to overtake cosmetic use by 2021.
Uses of Argan Oil
There are many blended, ready to use, products that contain Argan oil. 100% pure Argan oil can be used in many ways to treat, heal, condition and protect the body, skin, and hair.
Hair
Argan oil is an effective ingredient for making hair healthy, soft and shiny. As a conditioner, it repairs dry, brittle hair, tames frizzy hair and treats split ends. The natural phenols in this golden oil will also improve the condition of the hair follicle and promote new hair growth. Argan oil can even help treat dandruff and irritation of the scalp.
For a natural hair mask designed to restore dry, brittle hair, try this simple DIY conditioning treatment with ingredients you will readily have available:
You will need:
- 2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil or coconut oil
- 1 Tbs. 100% pure Argan oil
- 1 Tbs. honey (raw, or organic honey is best but not essential)
- Optional: A few drops of essential oil to scent the hair
What to do:
Mix all ingredients together until thoroughly blended.
Tip: Gently warming the mix on a very low heat makes it easier to blend and then apply to hair.
Apply the mask evenly to the hair, section by section. Then massage into scalp and focus on split ends. Pile hair on head and cover with a shower cap or cling-wrap to trap body heat.
Leave the mask on the 20-30 minutes then rinse, shampoo, and condition hair as usual.
For more information on using Argan oil for hair, please read The Ultimate Guide to Using Argan Oil for Hair by Argan Oil World
Skin Moisturizer
Argan oil is an effective moisturizer, providing approximately 46% hydration to the skin. The high Vitamin E and fatty acid content in the oil improve the overall condition of the skin by more than 26%. Because of Argan oil’s composition, it is immediately absorbed into the skin, is not greasy, and will not cause irritation or breakouts.
Argan oil is easy to use all over the body to moisturize and condition making it an ideal ingredient for dry, rough spots like elbows and knees, the neck, chest, arms, and legs. For easy and best application, use after showering on the slightly damp skin – simply use a few drops and gently massage into the skin for a full body treatment.
Those with chronic dry skin conditions such as Eczema and Psoriasis will notice an immediate benefit from Argan oil. The Vitamin E and high fatty acid content make this an ideal oil for healing damaged skin, protecting the skin barrier and prevent further dryness.
For those who love making at-home remedies, here is a DIY Hydrating Argan Oil Face Mask that leaves the skin feeling soft, conditioned and moisturized.
You will need:
- 2 teaspoons of Raw Honey
- 4 Drops of 100% pure Argan Oil
- Dash of Cinnamon
What to do:
- Mix all the ingredients together in a small bowl
- Apply mixture to clean skin and leave for 5-10 minutes
- Rinse with warm water and pat skin dry
- Finish by applying a few drops of Argan oil to the skin to lock in the moisture.
Anti-Aging
As an anti-aging treatment, Argan oil is hard to beat. To begin with, this amazing oil has the highest content of Vitamin E than any other oil – that makes it extremely effective at soothing, hydrating and moisturizing the skin. It also helps improve the natural elasticity of the skin.
The high doses of Vitamin A (carotene) in the oil helps prevent the loss of elastin and collagen and firms and brightens the skin, leaving it feeling – and looking – softer and more youthful.
Antioxidants work to neutralize free radicals and prevent cell damage – an important step in fighting signs of aging.
Regular use of Argan oil on the face, neck and chest area will minimize fine lines and wrinkles, restore moisture and elasticity and protect the skin from harmful environmental hazards. You cannot ask more from a single ingredient! Simply massage a few drops of 100% pure Argan oil into your face and neck after cleansing at night and see the difference.
Acne
When it comes to acne, most suffers would shy away from using an oil to treat and heal the condition. That’s understandable – until you begin talking about Argan oil. The reason Argan oil helps improve acne is because it not only reduces sebum (oil) levels, it calms inflammation and speeds the healing process with an abundance of antioxidants that help repair damaged cells and restore skin back to a healthy condition.
When using Argan oil for acne, apply a few drops of oil to the skin after cleansing twice daily. Massage gently into the skin. Read more tips on keeping skin clear
Exfoliating
Argan oil can be added to a number of other natural ingredients to effectively exfoliate dead skin cells, and reveal softer, smoother skin.
Here is a simple DIY Exfoliating Body Scrub that is easy to make:
You will need:
- 2 Tbs. 100% Pure Argan Oil
- 1 Cup Organic Sugar
- 1/2 Cup Extra-virgin Olive Oil or Coconut oil
- 1/4 Cup of Honey
- 5-8 drops of essential oil to scent the scrub (like Rose, Lavender, etc.)
What to do:
Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl. Simply use the scrub to exfoliate the body while showering or as a dry scrub, focusing on back, chest, arms, and legs. Rinse, pat skin dry and feel the difference!
Tip: This recipe makes quite a lot of scrub so store the mixture in a tightly sealed jar until ready to use again.
Stretch Marks
Because of the vast beneficial qualities of Argan oil, it has become a new ‘go-to’ product for preventing and healing stretch marks. That’s because the high content of Vitamin E and antioxidants help produce collagen and improve elasticity in the skin. Simply rub a few drops of the oil on the affected area – or, if you are pregnant and wish to avoid stretch marks, rub on tummy, breasts, thighs, and bottom during pregnancy to prevent stretch marks from forming.
Feet, Hands, and Nails
The softening properties of Argan oil make it an ideal treatment for dry hands, calloused feet, and brittle nails. The rich oil moisturizes and conditions these areas and leaves brittle nails strong and healthy. Simply massage a little oil into these areas at night – don’t forget the cuticles when doing your nails!
Best Argan Oil Products
As mentioned, there are dozens, if not, hundreds of Argan Oil products for every condition – so selecting one can be difficult. There are several review sites ranking the best Argan oils, but whatever brand you select, we strongly recommend that you purchase only 100% pure Argan oil to ensure the best quality oil with no other added ingredients.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. They recently reviewed the best Argan oils which can be accessed via this link Best Reviews
More Argan Oil reviews by Savant Magazine