Scientific name: Argania spinosa
Description: Argania or Argan Tree belongs to the Sapotaceae family of trees that only grows in the calcareous semidesert Sous valley of southwestern Morocco. The thorny trees can grow up to 26–33 ft high and live from 150 to 200 years in a harsh environment and poor soil. The leaves are small, oval with a rounded apex while the flowers are small with five pale yellow-green petals. The fruit is green, oval-shaped and a little bigger than an olive with a thick, bitter peel surrounding a pulpy pericarp (that's sweet-smelling but has an unpleasant flavor). Its middle layer has the very hard nut that protects the last inner layer that contains up to 3 almond-shaped Argania Spinosa kernels which are oil-rich seeds. Argan oil are produced from the kernels found inside the Argan fruit.
Argan Oil:
The production of Argan oil is a long and tedious manual process. First, the ripe fruits of the argan tree are dried in the open air and manually crushed to separate pulp and pits (In some practices, they let the goats eat the fruits and the kernels are later retrieved from the goat droppings). Then the pits are broken into two to reveal an almond or what is known as the Argania Spinosa kernels. The freshly harvested kernels of the Argan fruit are hand-ground in a stone grinder, hand-kneaded for hours and filtered through an organic cotton sieve (first cold pressed) to extract the aromatic oil.
Argan oil has a nutty flavor and is used for seasoning and as a salad dressing, to dip bread in at breakfast or to drizzle on couscous or pasta. Since Argan oil is easily absorbed by the skin and brings a lot of nutrients, it’s also commonly mixed into a number of cosmetic products like shampoos, soaps, facial cream and conditioners. And, even if it's an oil, Argan oil doesn't clog pores - it's non-comedogenic.
Health Benefits of Argan Oil:
Argan oil is known to be a beauty elixir that you can use from head to toe. It has twice as much vitamin E than olive oil and it is rich in unsaturated fatty acids (consisting of 80%) such as oleic, palmitic, stearic and linoleic acids. This magnificent oil also has phenols (caffeic acid, oleuropein, vanillic acid, tyrosol, catechol, resorcinol, (-)-epicatechin and (+)-catechin), carotene (Vitamin A) as well as squalene. Argan's superb anti-ageing properties are due to high levels of vitamin E and saponins which soften the skin). Not to mention its abundant anti-oxidants and free radical scavenger effects. Depending on the extraction method, argan oil may be more resistant to oxidation than olive oil.
Medicinal Properties of Argan Oil:
1. Treats acne
Aside from being rich in Vitamins A, E, saponins and antioxidants. Argan oil also has anti-sebum effects which can effectively regulate amounts of sebum on the skin and reduce oiliness. Its high in oleic (omega 9 monounsaturated nonessential) and linoleic (omega 6 unsaturated) fatty acids content aid acne-prone skin.
2. Fast Wound healing and heals skin infections
Argan oil has both antibacterial and fungicidal properties. It is also has a strong combination of antioxidants and all the vitamins needed to heal wounds and infections.
3. Soothes atopic dermatitis
Vitamin E and the natural inflammatory properties found in argan oil can have soothing effects on atopic dermatitis and relieving the itchy, red skin.
4. Has anti-aging effects
Argan oil has long been used as an anti-aging treatment because it significantly increases the elasticity of the skin. The linoleic acid increases skin moisturization levels while the oleic acid improves the skin’s permeability and assist other ingredients to penetrate the skin more easily.
After cleansing morning and/or night, massage a few drops of pure argan oil directly onto your face and neck. It being a dry oil, it absorbs quickly and is not greasy. Argan oil can also be used as a serum by applying a night cream after the Argan oil absorbs into the skin.
When applied externally, tocopherol from the vitamin E helps boost cell production while promoting healthy skin and hair.
5. Prevents and reduces stretch marks
Argan oil improves skin elasticity which help prevent and treat stretch marks.
6. Alleviates Symptoms of Rosacea and Psoriasis
Argan oil contains a large number of healing properties, including antioxidant, unsaturated fatty acids and anti-inflammatory properties. These soothes the skin and alleviates psoriasis and rosacea. It also give rash relief.
7. Hair treatment
Massage a generous amount of argan oil into your hair and scalp. The effect is better if you leave it overnight by wrapping your hair and leave it on while you sleep.
If you have dandruff or dry scalp, do an overnight treatment twice a week until the dandruff is gone. Continue with weekly treatments or as needed.
8 . Foot Treatment
If you have dry, cracking skin on your feet or heels, rub 2 drops into your feet.
Cover with socks to give the oil a chance to soak in and leave it for at least 20 minutes, and preferably overnight. You may use a warm washcloth to clean feet afterwards.
9 . Protects from sun damage
Argan oil is traditionally been used to protect skin from sun damage. The antioxidant activity in argan oil helped protect the skin against free radical damage caused by the sun. It prevents sun burns, hyperpigmentation and against the development of skin cancer like melanoma.
How to make a rejuvenating Argan face mask:
1 Tbsp lemon juice
3 Tbsp Greek-style yogurt
1 Tbsp honey
3 drops of Argan oil
Clean and dry face. Apply face mask and leave for 10 minutes.
Rinse off with warm water.
Side effects and risks:
Argan oil is generally considered safe for most people to use. However, some may experience minor side effects as a result of its use. So best to test argan oil on a small, hidden patch of skin to make sure that it won’t cause allergy or irritate your skin.
Side effects related to oral usage are uncertain as few human studies have been conducted.
When ingested orally, argan oil may cause digestive upset, loss of appetite or bloating, and some people may experience skin reactions like rashes or acne breakouts. If you experience anything not normal, stop taking argan oil immediately.