Characteristics
- INCI
- Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
- Ru.
- Argan Oil
- Functions
- emollient, skin conditioning
Who it's for
Description
Argan oil has a bit of a celebrity reputation in skincare, and honestly, it did not get that from nowhere. Pressed from the kernels of the argan tree fruit, it’s a traditional Moroccan oil that has been used for ages on both skin and hair. The tree grows mainly in Morocco, and the oil is relatively labor-intensive to produce, which partly explains the fancy “liquid gold” nickname. Glamorous? Sure. Magical? Not quite. But it is definitely a genuinely useful, well-formulated plant oil.
The real skincare appeal comes from what’s inside the oil. Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, especially oleic and linoleic acid, which help soften skin and support the skin barrier by reducing moisture loss. It also contains a decent amount of vitamin E, a classic antioxidant that helps protect skin lipids from oxidation. Depending on the source and extraction method, argan oil can contain around 600–900 mg/kg of vitamin E, which is roughly about twice the level found in olive oil. It also brings along smaller amounts of phenolic antioxidants and plant sterols, both of which may add a bit of extra soothing and skin-conditioning charm.
In practice, that means argan oil is a nice pick for dry, rough, or comfortable-but-thirsty skin. It can make skin feel softer and smoother and help reduce that tight, flaky feeling you get when your barrier is a bit cranky. There’s also some research suggesting it may improve skin elasticity and hydration with regular use, although it is one of many plant oils that can do this rather than some one-oil-wonder. Its antioxidant content is a nice bonus, but as always, oils are more about supporting the skin barrier than dramatically changing skin from the outside in.
If you have acne-prone skin, argan oil is a bit of a maybe. It’s often described as being lighter than some richer oils, but it still contains a good amount of oleic acid, and that can be a little iffy for people who are easily clogged by certain oils. So if your skin loves facial oils, it may work beautifully; if your pores are dramatic and high-maintenance, patch testing is the sensible move. Overall, it’s a solid, nourishing, antioxidant-friendly oil that earns its popularity without needing any fairy dust.
More detail
When it comes to cosmetic oils and hype, argan oil is for sure leading the way. Dubbed as the "liquid gold of Morocco", we have to admit we have some trouble determining why this oil enjoys such a special miracle status. Not that it's not good, it is good, even great but reading the research about argan and a bunch of other plant oils we just do not see the big, unique differentiating factor (though that might be our fault not reading enough, obvs.)
So, argan oil comes from the kernel of the argan fruit that comes from the argan tree that grows only in Morocco. The tree is slow growing and getting the oil is a hard job. The traditional process is that the ripe argan fruits fall from the tree, then goats eat them up and poop out the seeds. The seeds are collected and smashed with a stone to get the kernels inside. This part is the hard one as the seeds have extremely hard shells. Once the kernels are obtained, the oil is pressed out from them (the kernels contain about 50% oil).
As for skincare, argan oil isloaded with lots of skin goodies (but so are many other plant oils): it contains 80% nourishing and moisturizing unsaturated fatty acids, mainly oleic (38-50%), linoleic (28-38%) and palmitic (10-18%). It also contains a relatively large amount of antioxidantvitamin E (600-900 mg/kg, about twice as much as olive), small amounts of antioxidant phenols (including caffeic acid, ferulic acid, and epicatechin), as well as some rare sterols with soothing and anti-inflammatory properties.
Thanks to all the above goodness in argan oil, it can greatly nourish and moisturize the skin and hair. It's also claimed to be able to neutralize collagen-damaging free radicals, help reduce scars, and revitalize and improve skin elasticity. You can even read that argan might help acne-prone skin, but being a high oleic oil, we would be careful with that.
All in all, argan oil is a real goodie but we do not fully understand the special miracle status it enjoys.
Evidence & Research on Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
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1
European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology, Apr 1, 2011, Argan oil and other argan products: Use in dermocosmetology
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2
European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology, Jul 1, 2008, Argan oil: Occurrence, composition and impact on human health
Products with Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil (8 834 total)
Most often found in Moroccanoil products (95 items)
