I recently dove into the trend of face and body oils over the last year and one in particular that seemed to fit into all aspects of my life was argan oil that a friend gave to me. So I did my research and found out how many amazing benefits it has for your body, skin and hair and decided to give it a try.
But before we get started what actually is argan oil? Argan oil comes from the argan tree, which grows almost exclusively in southwest Morocco. Argan oil is extracted from the kernels of the argan fruit, which resembles a large olive. Traditionally, Moroccans applied argan oil topically to treat everything from eczema and psoriasis to wrinkles and hair loss. [1]
I personally use it for post acne scars on my face and legs every night and also as a deep leave in conditioner for my hair once a week but there is so many other things I have listed below that you can use it for to benefit from.
Skin Benefits:
- It is anti- aging
- Heals and protects skin from sun and other environmental damaging agents
- Natural anti-inflammatory
- Heal scar tissue/ damaged skin
- Smooths fine lines and wrinkles
Hair Benefits
- Treats dandruff
- Treats split-ends
- Adds moisture and shine to hair
- Use as a heat protector
- As a hair deep leave-in-treatment
- As a hair hot-oil-treatment
- As a hair growth-treatment
- As a treatment for a scalp condition
Nails:
- Gives Strength & Healthy Appearance
How I use it: On your skin and nails all you need is a few drops in your hand and apply it sparingly to the area of concern. On your hair, experiment with one to two drops and add more as you need too (I soak my split ends in it)
But unfortunately the beauty industry always has to pay a price when it comes to where it gathers it's infamous ingredients from.
The argan tree, which prevents soil erosion and protects water resources in Morocco’s barren land, which is under threat from overuse and deforestation.
Thankfully some steps have been taken to preserve this “tree of life” through the locally led Tamounte Project. This project is working towards maintaining a balance between the economic contribution and the protection of these trees by instructing women how to prepare and plant Argan trees. The community is even planting Argan trees in their own yards to most effectively reap the value. So far the operation has been 92% effective and they hope in the future to bring in ecotourism of the trees to continue to preserve them. [2]
Think about it, shopping our upcycled one n' only argan oil collection instead of buying straight from the manufacturer is just another small step in reducing your carbon footprint to prevent overuse and erosion!
References:
1. https://www.bulletproof.com/supplements/dietary-supplements/argan-oil-benefits/#ref-3
2. https://blogs.lt.vt.edu/c21s2014/2014/02/14/argan-oil-vs-the-environment/
