Argan Oil – The Perfect Natural Beauty Treatment
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past 10 years there’s a good chance you have already heard or read about the beauty ‘secret’ of argan oil, which for a long time was one of the rarest vegetable oils in the world.
I guess it’s not so much of a secret anymore!
For the past 10 years or so, many well-known skin care brands have been falling over themselves in the race to include this amazing oil in their product ranges, such is its legendary reputation. Hardly surprising when you look at all the benefits this natural oil provides.
Native to Morocco where it was traditionally used for acne, dry skin, reducing scars and wrinkles, today argan oil is available around the world for cosmetic, medicinal, and even culinary purposes. Since time immemorial, Moroccan women depended on the almost miraculous nourishing and moisturising qualities of argan oil to keep their skin in a healthy condition while living in such a hot and arid climate.
It has taken thousands of years for the reputation of this prized oil to reach the west, but now everyone can enjoy the many benefits of this most luxurious of oils thanks to development of several new argan oil cooperative producers to meet the surge in demand.
Hydrating and protective
The fabled reputation of this miracle oil was confirmed in 2013 when research proved that argan oil exhibits significant antioxidant activity, making it invaluable in the fight against premature skin aging. This discovery validates that the historical claims made by Moroccan women who used it throughout the ages, and research continues to further investigate the cosmetic and medicinal properties of this natural resource.
Argan oil is rich in tocopherols and unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid and linoleic acid. Oleic acid hydrates and locks moisture into skin making it the perfect ingredient for protective skin care creams, lotions and toners. Linoleic acid also hydrates skin while adding plumpness, as well as offering further anti-oxidant properties to protect against wrinkles.
Naturally nourishing
The reason argan oil is so nourishing to skin is because it is rich in vitamin E, flavonoids, polyphenols, carotenoids and ferulic acid, which is the main reason this carrier oil is ideal for all manner of aromatherapy skin care treatments. It’s rich, complex and unique chemical composition deeply nourishes the skin helping to soften wrinkles while protecting against the damaging effects of skin aging. This makes it perfect for aromatherapy beauty treatments!
The proteins in argan oil helps strengthen the protein bonding structures which tightens skin and improves its elasticity, while at the same time it has a regulating effect on sebum, promoting production of this vital substance for dry skin or reducing its secretion with oily skin. No wonder it’s known as ‘liquid gold’ and ‘Moroccan gold’ in the beauty industry!
Argan oil has a comedogenic rating of zero, which means it does not clog skin pores. It is quickly absorbed into the skin leaving no trace of greasiness, which is why it is often referred to as a ‘dry’ oil. The many skin-enhancing discoveries made through years of research has led to argan oil becoming a popular choice with exclusive, big-name anti-aging products.
Benefits of argan oil
This amazing, natural anti-aging product can be used for a multitude of purposes such as;
- Protecting skin against wrinkles and softening existing ones
- Moisturising hair and nails
- Increasing the elasticity of skin
- Preventing and softening stretch marks
- Treating acne, eczema and psoriasis
- Cleansing skin and removing stubborn makeup
Where does argan oil come from?
The spiny, gnarly argan tree (Argania spinosa) is an ancient species that also grew throughout Africa in ancient times, but is now found almost exclusively in the Souss Plains of south-west Morocco. Argan oil is obtained from the seeds found inside the stone of the fleshy fruits, which are a type known as drupes. After collection, the drupes are sun-dried for a few days and the central nut is separated and cracked open by hand using a small oval stone as a hammer to recover the seeds (kernels).
When the oil is intended for culinary purposes the seeds are roasted and then ground with a little water to extract the precious oil, whereas the unroasted seeds are used to produce argan oil intended for use in aromatherapy and cosmetics. Whichever method is used, this laborious and time-consuming work is done solely by Berber women who are the only people with the ancestral knowledge of argan oil production. Depending upon the level of skill of a worker, it can take between 15 to 20 hours to crack enough nuts to produce just 1 litre of oil!
Discover for yourself the amazing healing and beautifying benefits of this precious vegetable oil from Morocco when you use it together with essential oils. You won’t find a better natural treatment to care for your skin . . .
Learn more about Quinessence Argan Oil
Copyright © Quinessence Aromatherapy Ltd 2023
