With many women preferring to use preservative-free beauty treatments, argan oil is a completely natural and effective option
Every time I go for a haircut, my hairdresser finishes the session by applying a few drops of argan oil onto my hair. He mentioned in passing that it was a great moisturiser for hair. I was curious and did some reading on the subject, only to find that is great for skin care as well.
With all the information I gleaned, I can recommend argan oil as one of the few natural products, chemical free, that we can safely apply to your skin and hair and reap its benefits. Argan oil is a plant oil produced from the kernels of the Argan tree (Argania spinosa), native to Morocco. It is used by Moroccans to dip bread in at breakfast or to drizzle on couscous or pasta. It is also used for cosmetic purposes.
This oil, because of its geographically specific availability, is quite expensive, but if it is 100 per cent pure Argan oil, then it is worth every cent. If it has organic certification, even better. The women of Morocco, well aware of its benefits, have been using this product for centuries. Argan oil is also known as Moroccan oil, but this variant often has additional ingredients already added to it.
Today, argan oil is an important ingredient in a lot of anti-ageing and haircare products, besides being sold in its pure form. Using the pure extract is far more beneficial than other variants. One way to tell if the product is genuine is to look for USFDA or organic certification. Another thing to look for is that argan oil always comes in dark coloured bottles as exposure to sunlight breaks down the fatty acids in the oil.
What makes argan oil so effective? It is the high presence of fatty acids, which are known to be beneficial to skin and hair. It is also known to contain antioxidants like Vitamin E which is a proven agent of wrinkle reduction.
Argan oil can be used for a variety of skin and hair problems.
Stretch marks
Anyone who has tried to get rid of these marks would have, at some point or other, tried an oil with Vitamin E, which is known to help reduce their appearance. Since argan oil is rich in Vitamin E, it works well to reduce stretch marks. Women with post pregnancy marks, or those who have gained and lost weight, can consider this as an option.
Anti-ageing
With pollution and the sun’s UV rays causing all kinds of damage to our skin, antioxidants are needed to reverse the damage. The fatty acids and other antioxidants in the oil removes the toxins, increases the moisture content and thereby the suppleness in the skin, and restores the skin so it stays firm. The nourishment can even make it glow! All you need to do is apply a few drops on to your face and neck before you go to bed at night; this can be done by women of all ages. You don’t have to hit 40 before you begin.
If you have good skin to start with, argan oil can be a very effective moisturiser.
Acne prevention
Usually, one does not see many oils being prescribed for the treatment of acne, barring tea tree oil, but argan oil has anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce the recurrence of acne and, over a period of time, even diminish the scars left behind by persistent pimples. Its non-greasy texture helps in reducing acne even if you have oily skin.
Hair conditioning
The regular use of argan oil can make hair softer and shinier. It works on frizzy hair too and helps to reduce split ends. The high content of Vitamin E in the oil also helps in hair growth, reduction of dandruff and dry scalp conditions. If you have a shampoo containing argan oil, it will reduce your dependence on conditioners. The oil in its pure form can be used as a leave-in conditioner, the way my hair dresser does it.
Lip care
If you have dry and chapped lips, take a couple of drops of argan oil and mix it with sugar. Use it as a scrub to exfoliate the dry skin, wash off, and then coat with argan oil again. It will work as a conditioner and nourish your lips.
Extreme dry skin conditions
Conditions like eczema and dry skin can leave the largest organ in the body sore and flaky. Argan oil can provide substantial relief for these conditions, as well as for sunburn and scarred skin. The fatty acids and Vitamin E in the oil nourish the damaged skin and prevents further dryness. Apply directly onto the affected skin and you will see the benefits in a few days.
With summer here, a lot of people out there are likely to suffer from dry skin, sunburns and frizzy hair due to increased swimming. Argan oil can be your magic genie in a bottle to take care of all these problems and leave you with glowing skin and shiny hair.