The cosmetic world has been singing the praises of Argan Oil and it’s many natural and organic benefits for some time now. This anti-oxidant rich oil has been showing up on the shelves of beauty supply stores, drug stores, and major online retailers. Argan Oil’s revitalizing and hydrating properties have skyrocketed this amazing product’s popularity in all kinds of skin, hair, and nail products.
So, if you aren’t using Argan Oil by now, maybe it’s time you do!
What Is Argan Oil?
Argan oil is a plant oil produced from the kernels of the argan tree (Argania Spinosa L.) that is native to Morocco. In Morocco, argan oil is used to dip bread in at breakfast or to drizzle on couscous or pasta. It is also used for cosmetic purposes.
The fruit of the argan tree is small and round, oval, or conical. A thick peel covers the fleshy pulp. The pulp surrounds a hard-shelled nut that represents about 25% of the weight of the fresh fruit. The nut contains one to three oil-rich argan kernels. Extraction yields from 30% to 50% of the oil in the kernels, depending on the extraction method.
How Argan Oil Is Made
Extraction is key to the production process. To extract the kernels, workers first dry argan fruit in the open air and then remove the fleshy pulp, some producers remove the flesh mechanically without drying the fruit. Moroccans usually use the flesh as animal feed, and there is a tradition in some areas of Morocco of allowing goats to climb argan trees to feed freely on the fruits. The kernels are then later retrieved from the goat droppings, considerably reducing the labor involved in extraction at the expense of some potential animal reluctance. In modern practice, the peels are removed by hand.
The next stage involves cracking the argan nut to obtain the argan kernels. Attempts to mechanize this process have been unsuccessful so workers still do it by hand, making it a time-consuming, labor-intensive process. Berber women often engage in this arduous task.
Workers gently roast kernels they will use to make culinary argan oil. After the argan kernels cool, workers grind and press them. The brown-colored mash expels pure, unfiltered argan oil. Finally, they decant unfiltered argan oil into vessels. The remaining press cake is protein-rich and frequently used as cattle feed.
Cosmetic argan oil is produced almost identically, though the argan kernels are not roasted to avoid an excessively nutty scent.
The decanted argan oil is left to rest about two weeks so that solids suspended in the argan oil settle to the bottom. The clearer argan oil is further filtered, depending on the required clarity and purity. Pure argan oil may contain some sediment.
What Argan Oil Can Do For You
In many cosmetic products, argan oil helps to rehydrate your skin, helps in the fight against acne, makes your hair shine, is great for treating brittle nails and helps soften cuticles. Argan Oil is also loaded with fatty acids, vitamins, and carotenes that support healthy skin by reducing flaking and adding sheen and strength to hair fibers.
Because argan oil is full of antioxidants, it is perfect for people with oily skin since it won’t clog pores and helps to balance out your skins natural oils, which in turn helps to reduce acne and breakouts. Argan Oil helps hydrate your skin and clear up acne, and it also has anti-aging properties that help prevent damage from carcinogens, pollution, and harmful UV radiation.
Some Health Benefits Of Argan Oil
Along with being a healthy component of many cosmetic products, argan oil is also known for its cardiovascular protective properties as well as protecting healthy tissue from the toxic effects of anticancer drugs. Argan Oil is also rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin E, and unsaturated fatty acids that contain omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, and cooking with argan oil is a heart-healthy alternative to other more fatty oils and butter, just be sure to use food grade argan oils.
Argan Oil is also an effective natural remedy that can be used to help delay the onset of cancer due to its many active ingredients such as carotenes, sterols, and phenolic antioxidants.
Argan Oil is a powerhouse when it comes to incorporating new, healthy choices into your lifestyle whether it be new hair, nail, or skin products, Argan Oil offers many natural and safe health benefits.