Argan Oil for Skin Care: Top Beauty Secret

The search for the secrets to beauty take us back in time as well as across the globe. Argan oil may in fact be the hottest product in decades, but isn't new in to the women of Northern Africa. Argan oil for skincare has been used by women for millennia to protect the skin from the forbidding environment they live in. Not even the blazing sun or the burning sands of the Northern Sahara are a match for the healing powers of argan oil.

Many Berber women who crack the argan seeds which produce the oil still have hands as soft and smooth as a schoolgirl's (even though many of them are in their 70s!)

The Origins of Argan Oil

Originally called Moroccan oil, argan oil is a product of the nut in the fruit of the argan tree. Located in Morocco, on the slopes between Marrakech and Essaouira is a tiny region which is the only place in the world where argan trees grow native. It takes up to 30 years for the argan tree to produce fruit, so pure argan oil is rare and highly sought after around the world.

As a part of a free trade cooperative, the Berber women of the area harvest the fruits, and grind them into a paste by hand. The oil is hand-harvested through these cooperatives, and then sold around the world to people eager to experience the benefits of organic argan oil. There is little waste with the fruit of the argan tree. Once the oil is pressed from the fruit, the left over peels from the flesh and the outer shell of the nuts become a nutrient-rich feed for the cattle of the region. Argan oil helps to support these women and their families, as well as to preserve their traditional way of life.

Benefits of Argan Oil for Skin Care

Using argan oil for skincare is more than just a story or a tradition, science has weighed in on the miracle oil and tells a story which leaves little wonder as to why argan oil skin care products works so well. The miracle starts with the high unsaturated fatty acid content. Argan oil is approximately 80 percent essential fatty acids, which are critical to the repair and function of skin cells. Essential fatty acids are also special in that they do not interfere with the body's moisture balancing system, like so many other beauty products do. Instead the fatty acids enhance the body's system, helping the body to treat both dry and oily skin.

Also in argan oil, in particularly high levels, is linoleic acid, which helps to increase the elasticity and vibrancy of the skin. This essential fatty acid also provides a protective barrier that protects delicate cell membranes. Using argan oil for skincare also means the ability to benefit from one of the highest and most available forms of vitamin E. Vitamin E has long been known to be important in skin health, serving to protect the vitality of the skin, and as a potent antioxidant which rids the skin of free radicals which can accelerate aging.

Polyphenols and carotenoids are also an important part of why argan oil for skincare is providing such wonderful results. Polyphenols are another group of antioxidants that help to fight inflammation and promote healthy cell development. They also prevent free radical formation making them the perfect argan oil treatment to combat aging skin. Carotenoids are also antioxidants known for protecting against UV damage and also help to promote health tissues.

The Berber grandmothers who gather argan oil may or may not understand the science of their miracle moisturizer - but they see its results, every day. Marco Polo once described the women of Morocco as, "The most beautiful women in the world, with each face glowing like a sunset." We suspect argan oil has a lot to do with this well-deserved reputation for beauty.

Using Argan Oil Skin Care Products

Argan oil for skincare comes in many sizes and types. You will find it in virtually every type of skincare product as well as on its own as an oil. Some of these products are excellent such as many of the high end lotions, other products are bargain priced and often do not contain enough argan oil to do any good. It is also important to keep in mind that argan oil does have a shelf life and once opened will only stay fresh for 3 or 4 months. For this reason it is best to purchase the pure oil and only as much as you can use in a short period of time. Oil should be cold pressed and organic, and should be bottled in a dark bottle to prevent the oil from oxidizing. If the oil has an off smell instead of smelling nutty, or is greasy or oily when applied it is probably either low quality or old oil.

Using argan oil for skincare is as simple as using any other type of oil or skincare product. The oil is pure, gentle, and natural so it can be used anywhere, including on your lips as a lip balm. You can add argan oil to your bath, as a spot treatment, or use the Moroccan argan oil for skin all over your body. The best time to use it is right after a shower, this helps to seal in the moisture from your shower and provide a protective barrier to keep it there. You can also use argan oil for spot treatment for very dry skin on your hands, elbows, and feet. It absorbs very quickly and will leave your skin soft, plump, and healthy looking.

You don't need to live in the Sahara to enjoy the benefits of argan oil. Try Visible Science Argan Oil today, and start turning back the clock on your skin.