Argania Spinosa is a tree that grows exclusively in Morocco and western Algeria. It grows in semi-desert climates, and it is responsible for its medicinal and healing properties. It is also used in cosmetic products.
This tree species comes from the Sapotaceae family. Because of its ability to survive in extremely dry climates, UNESCO World Heritage Site declared it in 1998. It is one of the trees that has the highest drought resistance.
Interestingly, the fruit of this tree is moist so that people can actually extract an. This is because this tree has large roots deep enough to reach groundwater. 
Argan Oil Benefits
The fruit of this tree is very beneficial to the skin, so it is used in various cosmetics. This oil also has essential medicinal qualities. Discover the excellent medicinal and cosmetic benefits of the Argan oil.
Benefits To The Body
The pure culinary argan oil can also be ingested, bringing several benefits to your body. This oil can control bad cholesterol and improve the digestive system. You can take it in capsules or liquid form.
Remember that you should choose its pure, extra virgin form.
Regulates blood sugar level
Argan oil balances the blood sugar level. The properties of argan oil reduce the resistance of cells to insulin and act positively for metabolism to assimilate and transform sugar for the proper functioning of the body.
Improves digestion
The use of argan oil as food, thanks to its organic compounds, increases the pepsin concentration in the stomach, contributing to proper digestion. Pepsin is an enzyme found in gastric juices that aids in protein digestion. Proper digestion means more energy, less hunger, a fit, and healthy body.
Lowers cholesterol
Studies have shown that people who use the oil have lowered their bad cholesterol levels in their blood and raised their good cholesterol levels. This oil blocks the absorption of bad cholesterol in the intestinal tract.
Relieves joint and muscle pain
The flavonoids and triterpenoids present in argan oil have powerful anti-inflammatory properties that relieve swelling and pain in arthritis cases. Its high rate of linoleic acid increases the production of prostaglandins 1, which help to improve rheumatological conditions.
A few drops of pure argan oil can be used to massage the area to be treated to relieve muscle aches and painful joints.
Hypertension
Studies suggest that Argan oil helps control hypertension as an alternative treatment. If you suffer from such problem include the oil in your healthy diet.
Cancer prevention
Argan oil has antioxidant properties, such as tocopherol, carotenoids, phytosterols, and squalene, which are natural cancer preventives. Scientists believe that its antioxidant content, is an essential preventive of this disease, but not curative.
Cardiovascular benefits
This oil has a high content of omega-9, lots of vitamin E as well as antioxidants, which help prevent cardiovascular problems. This oil has many similarities to olive oil.
Skin Benefits
Argan oil has emollient, humectant and antioxidant properties that help fight free radicals, prevent premature aging and skin cancer. Due to its high antioxidant capacity, argan oil stimulates cell regeneration, which contributes to skin treatment in preventing premature aging. It acts on healing and improves the health and appearance of the skin, providing deep hydration.
Argan oil can be applied directly to the skin every two to three days. You can notice at the first application that your skin is more hydrated and luminous. The anti-aging effect is seen after 30 days of treatment.
Argan oil has anti-inflammatory, healing action, and helps in cell renewal, so it is indicated to treat breast fissures during breastfeeding.
Improves skin health and appearance
Argan oil makes the skin softer, firmer, and silky. The saponins present in this oil activates the cell regeneration, keeping the skin beautiful and healthy.
Moisturizing
Because the it has moisturizing properties, this oil is used to maintain cell structure. It is rich in fatty acids that keep the skin hydrated. It is therefore widely used on the face and body to maintain optimal hydration.
Skin nutrition
Due to its high content of antioxidants and vitamins E and D, it is an excellent skin stimulant that improves its elasticity. If you use it daily, it will neutralize the free radicals, facilitating skin nutrition.
Skin regenerator
It also has skin fiber regenerating properties, so it is applied to small scars and age spots, contributing to their disappearance.
Reduces acne and treats oily skin
The triterpenoids contained in argan oil are useful in the treatment of mild acne and act as a scar for the lesions that this problem causes. Argan oil linoleic acid decreases the inflammation of the skin caused by acne.
Argan oil decreases excessive oiliness, improving the appearance of the face for oily skin. For this purpose, use a few drops, applied directly to the areas of skin to be treated.
To protect baby’s skin
Argan oil is a product suitable for the care of babies, both skin irritation and dermatitis treatment such as diaper rashes. This oil can be used as a relaxing massage on newborns and babies by treating their delicate skin.
Treats dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis
Argan oil acts as an antioxidant and fights free radicals that cause various skin problems.
In cases of eczema, dermatitis or psoriasis, argan oil helps to reduce rash and itching. Thanks to the vitamins E and A in it, this oil reduces inflammation, moisturizes and improves skin elasticity so that it can restore itself.
Powerful anti-aging effect
The properties of Argan oil and the amount of antioxidants it contains gives your skin the advantage of being more elastic, thus slowing the appearance of premature wrinkles.
For this, it is recommended to apply this oil to wrinkles. Regular use of argan oil attenuates wrinkles and decreases age spots and signs, restoring skin elasticity and enhancing cell regeneration.
Protects from UV radiation
Argan oil protects skin, hair, and nails from UV damage. This product accelerates the recovery from damage caused by UV rays as it contributes to the protection of the skin and its cells. Applying this oil to the skin helps to reduce dryness, blemishes, or redness caused by overexposure to UV sunlight, promoting healthy cell regeneration.
Prevents the appearance of stretch marks
It has recently been observed that Argan oil influences the reduction or attenuation of stretch marks, and the prevention of the occurrence of any new stretch marks, due to its ability to provide elasticity and resistance to the skin.
This oil can be used to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy or due to rapid weight gain. Helps increase skin elasticity and keep it hydrated. For this purpose, apply the oil by warming a few drops on the palms and rubbing gently over the areas subject to stretch marks, such as the hips, thighs, and abdomen.
Moisturizes dry cracked feet
Argan oil treats dry, cracked skin on the feet. Just massage the feet with a few drops, especially in the drier and cracked areas. Cover your feet with a pair of socks so that the skin can absorb the moisturizing substances from the oil. Let the oil act for a minimum of 30 minutes.
Soothes skin after shaving or shaving
Use argan oil to soothe the skin, after shaving in men and women. Heat 1 or 2 drops on your hands and lightly massage the affected areas. This procedure reduces the appearance of ingrown hair and skin irritation.
Lip Moisturizer
Instead of using cocoa butter, a few drops of argan oil can moisturize your lips. The emollient properties of this natural product are excellent for the treatment of dry or cracked lips.
Eliminate fungus
By its fungicidal action, the Argan oil can treat the skin and mucous fungi. Recent studies indicate that its action on the skin in cases of fungal infections is very effective.
Sunburn
You can also use it when you go to the beach, and in addition to protecting against ultraviolet rays, it also soothes sunburn.
Nail Strengthening
It has been shown that nails acquire strength and flexibility due to the vitamin properties of this oil. Besides being used in the daily diet, you can use it on the nails, which contributes to its strengthening.
Hair Benefits
Rich in vitamin E, this oil has the power to rejuvenate hair, protecting hair follicles, and enhancing shine. The argan oil revitalizes the scalp and is a great ally to treat unwanted split ends, preventing hair dryness.
Argan oil helps with problems like frizz. This is because the hair usually has a negative electrical charge because of keratin. However, vegetable oils encapsulate the strands, causing the negative charge to slip to the ends, reducing friction and leaving the hair healthy.
Also, its antioxidants and vitamins improve the elasticity of the hair, giving it a radiant shine and protecting it against heat, wind, oxidation or excess brush and chemical damage.
Among the argan oil’s nutrients, we find tocopherol, phenolic acid, carotenes, and essential fatty acids. Even according to a publication by Mohammed V University in Agdal in Morocco in the Journal of Alternative Medicine Review, argan oil has 80% unsaturated fats and has three times more vitamin E than any other vegetable oil. The argan oil helps nourish hair better, being useful for dry and brittle hair, reducing split ends, and protecting from thermal damage.
It is also beneficial for color-treated hair as it helps to maintain the color longer. According to a recent study, the argan oil can protect the hair against the damage caused by dyes and enhance the shine and softness.
People with oily hair can use the oil to moisturize their hair, as it is absorbed quickly and leaves no residue that favors greasiness. Don’t forget to use it in small quantities.
Benefits vs. Disadvantages
Benefits |
Disadvantages |
It is versatile, and you can use it for different purposes. |
If overused it can make hair look oily |
You can use it on dry or wet hair. |
It is a relatively expensive product. |
You can use it used as tip repairer |
Argan oil is only the basis of the product. |
If you use before hair dryer or flat iron, it will protect the hair from heat |
|
You can add it to the hydration mask to enhance the effects |
Protects the hair
Argan oil protects the hair from the effects of using a hairdryer, flat iron, or brush. Before these procedures, apply 2 or 3 drops of this oil at the roots, to the ends.
Moisturizes dry and brittle hair
In these cases it is necessary to heat 5 to 10 drops of oil on the palms, then massage the scalp and brush all the hair up to the ends. Cover your head with a cap to retain the natural heat so that the oil will penetrate the hair better. Let it act for at least an hour. After that, wash your hair thoroughly, rinse well to remove the oil residue. Repeat the treatment once or twice a week.
Capillary treatment
Applied to hair, argan oil prevents dryness and other problems. Argan oil makes hair more straight, easy to comb without frizz, and less brittle strands. It helps to touch up natural dyes such as henna or amla and can even be mixed with them when applied to the hair.
To make your hair easier to comb, use a few drops of oil to warm it on your palms, then spread it on your hair with your fingers, especially the tips. Then use a drop to massage the scalp.
Prevents hair loss
Argan oil, when applied to the scalp strengthens and prevents excessive hair loss. It also moisturizes and strengthens the hair, giving more volume. Argan oil also confers moisturizing benefits to the hair and is therefore used as a deep hydration therapy.
Dandruff
It has been determined that dandruff is a fungus that lives on the scalp. Argan oil, due to its fungicidal action, contributes to the effective removal of dandruff.
Precautions
If you have a nut allergy, consider testing this as described previously on the side of your neck or behind your ear.
Pure oil in the hair on the hair should be avoided by people with very oily hair as this can make the hair look heavier and oily with less volume. In this case, it is recommended to use it in combination with shampoos, conditioners, or hair masks, just a few droplets in a small amount.
People who have very oily skin should be careful when using large amounts of argan oil. There is a study showing that it has a greasy reducing effect, but care should be taken with use in large quantities on oily skins as too much of the oil can clog pores.
To reduce the risk of side effects, have high-quality Argan oil. Pure Argan oil is hard to obtain, and the production is a long and difficult process. Because of that, the price is high, and many oils on the market are diluted to make them cheaper. So better invest a little bit more on a good and pure oil, instead of paying less and have some undesired side effect.
Choosing Argan Oil
Look for cosmetics that has only one ingredient: 100% Argan Oil (Argania Spinosa) Kernel Oil. No preservatives, no fragrances, no parafilm, not even water – just pure, organic Argan Oil.
Don’t buy the oil in clear plastic bottle. The light will affect the quality, breaking down the oil’s best properties. Dark glass is the only way to store this oil. Therefore to maintain the quality of your Argan oil, keep it in a cool and dark place. You might think the more scent the oil has, the more quality in it, but no. The best Argan oil has almost no smell. Sometimes people add artificial fragrances to the oil, but this will only remove the essential nutrients and increase the risk of irritation.
The natural Argan oil should be smooth and not too watery. When applying on your skin, it should disappear. Its color is light golden yellow. If it is transparent or nearly transparent, then there are probably other oils present in it.
Always look on the label for “100% pure”, “cold-pressed,” “ Made in Morocco” and of course the ECOCERT/USDA certificate. I have two favorite Argan oils, both from Morocco and organic certified.
Pura D’Or Moroccan Argan Oil 100% Pure & USDA Organic is free of parabens, contains no fillers, colors, or artificial fragrances. There is only Argan oil in it and no chemicals. It comes with a handy pump and clear plastic cap for easy usage. It is in a dark glass bottle – exactly like we need it to be.
Aria Starr Beauty Organic Argan Oil is the other oil on my favorites list. Notice the dark glass bottle to protect its contents. Some people, who develop an allergic reaction to other Argan oils, claim to have no problem using this one.
