Even now when the cosmetic industry dominates the world, Moroccan women remain wrapped in the silk scarf of mysterious home-grown beauty ingredients and the smell of a thousand spices.
Although argan oil has become a beauty hit quite recently, Arabic women and indigenous ethnic tribes of North Africa have been integrating argan oil into their routines, applying it regularly to the face, nails, and hair, since at least 600 BC.
In its pure form, argan oil is a very effective beauty care treatment that improves the condition of the face and body skin, as well as hair, due to its incredibly healing, anti-aging and soothing power. It’s difficult to mention the skin and hair problems that argan oil cannot successfully cope. This golden-hued oil can boost your glow in no time.
7 Tips to buy pure argan oil
During the last decade, argan oil has become increasingly popular not only because of its beauty power, but also because it’s so easy to add it to your health and beauty routine. Today, it is widely available in most major grocery stores, drug stores and online retailers.
However, you probably already know that there is a lot of fake argan oil on the market. With the increasing number of brands claiming to offer pure argan oil, it can be overwhelming to shop for it.
Here, we’d like to share with you some valuable tips from Habiba, born and bred Moroccan woman, a founder of Ayelli – an argan oil producer and cosmetic formulator.
#1. Made in Morocco
If you see on the label that argan oil is made in Australia, USA, Japan, Korea, or anywhere else, more likely it’s fake. Almost 100% of high quality pure argan oil is produced in Morocco: argan tree, Argania spinosa, is endemic to the outskirts of the Sahara.
It’s no secret that the world’s beauty giants borrowed many valuable and unique ingredients for their hits from natural cosmetics used by Moroccan women since antiquity.
#2. 100% made from Argania spinosa
Pure argan oil can be made only from Argania tree, a genus of flowering plants containing the sole species Argania spinosa, known as argan.
#3. Look for certification
Look for USDA, Ecocert, and Agriculture Biologique certifications. Check it online.
#4. Don’t be confused with “100% organic”!
It’s good that it’s “organic”, but what kind of it? If 100% organic olive or sunflower oil added to argan oil, the whole product will be 100% organic!
#5. Look for “cold press” not for “homemade”
Pure argan oil can be obtained only by cold pressing oil-rich argan kernels. “Handmade” is just another commercial trick to make the oil sound more authentic.
#6. Look for a dark glass bottle
The bottle should be dark and made of glass. High-quality argan oil will never be put in a clear or plastic bottle because exposure to light or chemicals from plastic will make the oil deteriorate quickly.
#7. The price
Although, pure Argan oil is rare and hard to produce, so it doesn’t come cheap, the price cannot be a reliable indicator. Just be reasonable.
Argan oil content
Argan oil contains vitamin E, phenols, carotenes, squalene, and 80% of unsaturated fatty acids including up to 46% of oleic acid and 32% of linoleic acid. Argan oil is more resistant to oxidation than olive oil.
DIY beauty care – argan oil
How to use argan oil for skincare
To use cosmetic argan oil on the skin, all you need is one to two drops of it as it’s very potent. Simply add the drops to your palm and massage into your face in small, round circular motions. After absorption, your face will feel soft and smooth.
Argan oil for overnight sleep
Line up your pillow with an old pillowcase (like any other oil, it leave stains), apply a drop or two of argan oil for your face, go to bed and wake up to a healthy glow in the morning.
Add a few drops of argan oil for your routine cosmetics
Add a few drops of 100% pure argan oil to your daily routine cosmetics. Due to the high content of vitamin E, argan oil may help:
- brighten your skin tone and fade brown spots
- improve elasticity and reduce wrinkles
- moisturize your skin
- effectively regulate amounts of sebum on the skin, which can help to treat acne
Argan oil for beautiful hair
Due to its high content of unsaturated essential fatty acids (the oleic and linoleic acids that make up the majority of argan oil’s fat), argan oil has vital nutrients for maintaining healthy hair and can dramatically improve the health of your scalp. Additionally, argan oil is a rich source of vitamin E, which is required for healthy hair.
The various phenolic compounds in argan oil are responsible for most of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities.
Also, argan oil can make your hair colour last longer.
How to use argan oil for hair care
To use on the hair, put a few drops of cosmetic argan oil onto your fingertips, then run your fingers through your hair from the roots to the tips. This will not only help your hair grow, but also treat split ends. Massaging argan oil into the scalp can boost scalp health.
Radiant and mysterious, Moroccan women don’t use industrial cosmetics. They prefer their own home-grown natural ingredients and pass their beauty recipes from mother to daughter, from generation to generation.
By scrtnata221
