Argan Oil Best Description
Argan Oil Is Taking Cosmetic Industry by Storm
If you've heard of the benefits of this golden fluid to the skin, hair, and health in general and need to know more, or if you know enough about the oil but you do not know how to search or how to buy it, then read the full details here.
Moroccan Argan Oil
It is the oil extracted from the kernel of the argan tree, that is native only to the Arganeraie, a semi-arid region in Morocco's southwest.The tree grows wild in this environment difficult conditions, and hence its resistant properties.
Berber women have known the oil's nutritive, cosmetic, and health benefits for centuries. Argan oil is one of the most rare oils in the world due to small and specific growing area.
It is Berber women who are solely responsible for harvesting the nuts and producing the oil, and they do so in the fair trade working cooperatives. This allowed some income that was not available before, for women and families in the area.
Organic Argan Oil
The Argan tree plays a crucial role in the region's ecological system. Argan trees are the only major plant in this semi-desert. Today, only twenty million of this endangered tree are left, UNESCO declared the Arganeraie a Biosphere Reserve in 1998 ( 10.000 square miles argan-growing region as a world heritage site).
Indigenous Berber women founded Women Cooperatives with the goal to commercially produce Argan oil from the seeds of the Argan tree. Many of the Berber women now receive a fair price,business support and an education in exchange for their endeavors. The land is protected and nurtured to ensure that the oil flows for many more years to come.
the U.C.F.A. Women Cooperatives (Union des Cooperatives des Femmes de l'Arganeraie), producers of hand-crafted Argan oil, and the Moroccan Forest Service DREF (Direction Regionale des Eaux et Forets du Sud Quest), have been planned to kick-off a large Argan reforestation project in Tiznit, Morocco.
The so many different entities involved in production of argan oil, can assure you obtain 100% organic crop, unless it is cheated, adulterated, or mixed with other cheap oils.
Raw Argan Oil
To make sure that you've got a genuine 100% raw oil, read the label carefully to verify the following points:
- When buying from Morocco make sure that the name of the cooperatives that produced it is displayed
- Beauty products should be made from cosmetic grade, since culinary grade is produced from roasted nuts to give it the distinctive nutty flavor
- Seek "all-natural" and preferably certified organic
- "First cold-pressed". That means that the oil has not been heated over a certain temperature (usually 80 degrees F)
- Fairly-Trade Argan Oil
- Choose a dark colored UV-protected glass bottle, and not a plastic container
- 100% pure argan oil has a distinctive color, if you are sensitive to its natural smell, opt for a deodorized product
- If mixed with other ingredients, check them (e.g.
acetic acid is thought to diminish natural properties of argan oil). Google them.
- Mentioned in the first part of ingredients of a product
Cosmetic Argan Oil
Cosmetic grade argan oil is pressed from raw argan nuts picked fresh from the tree. It is light-textured with a delightful nutty aroma and is pure and unprocessed.
Cosmetic grade Argan oil is not the same as the culinary variety. It is expressed from raw Argan nuts to retain its, nutrients, vitamin E, antioxidant and skin-benefiting properties. (The nuts are roasted for the culinary variety as this enhances flavor. This roasting may cause the oil to lose some of its benefits.)
Cosmetic grade argan oil may have been deodorized to make it more suitable and stable for inclusion in cosmetic formulations. Effect of processing on the value of the oil depends on the process involved in deodorization.
Argan Oil and Skin
Argan oil has almost twice as much vitamin E as olive oil and is rich in unsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants, which have an anti-aging effect, especially good for the skin. It is a great moisturizer as well.
Squalane adds a great benefit to the skin as it is absorbed and penetrated quickly by the skin. It is a component of natural sebum produced by the skin.
Argan oil is quickly absorbed leaving no greasy sensation as other oils do.
Unlike other tocopherols, vitamin E is of the the types beta and gama tocopherols which have protective effect of other tocopherols. Argan oil is very effective in fighting aging and obtaining unlined skin.
Argan oil is also great for clearing up eczema, psoriasis, and other skin issues.
Argan oil and Hair
Many women swear by the effect of argan oil on their hair. Celebrities such as Salma Hayek and Taylor Swift stylists use argan oil to make their hair perfect for the Oscars or magazine covers.
It’s weightless and absorbs instantly, it does not make the hair oily, and reduces drying time. It is good for nourishing, strengthening, conditioning, restoring shine, increasing softness, and moisturizing all hair types. It is helpful for split end hair, increased manageability, protection from UV damage and other environmental factors with no build up. Nails structure is very similar to hair, so argan oil can affect nails the same way.
You can add a few drops to your favored hair product to get some of its benefits.