Argan Oil

In the search for better skin and a reduction in scarring from acne or stretch marks, researchers found argan oil. Also called Moroccan oil, it has been a traditional beauty product and used extensively in hair care. The fruit and seeds for this oil is grown only in Morocco, on the northwestern area of Africa. Now it’s found in specialty shops around the world and on the Internet and is also known as the world’s most expensive oil.

Argan oil can be eaten or applied directly to the skin. It’s rich in Vitamin E, anti-oxidants and unsaturated fatty acids. The Alternative medicine Review Journal states that argan oil has both medicinal and beauty therapeutic properties. When eaten it helps to reduce obesity, stabilize blood sugar for diabetics, protect the liver and stabilize the gastrointestinal tract.

When used on the skin, argan oil is reportedly anti-aging, heals wounds more quickly, helps to clear acne, reduces skin oils and has a moisturizing effect on the skin.

The oil was originally made by hand when women peeled the outer layer of the fruit and pounded the inner nut to get to the kernels. Those were roasted before being pressed. The the process is accomplished in part with machinery and in part using labor of the women from Morocco. Spearheaded by Dr. Charrouf, the process helps to give back to the community and employ women who would otherwise have only domestic tasks available to them. (1)

When purchasing products with argan oil it’s important to look for argan oil in the ingredients and not Moroccan oil, which can be a combination of other ingredients and potentially carry small amounts of argan oil. When purchasing argan oil for the skin, it’s important to look for cold pressed oil and not the oil that’s been heat treated and refined. The heat treatment and refining process removes the active nutrients which make the oil valuable to skin care and acne treatment and prevention.

References:

(1) International Development Research Centre: Solving Pieces of the Argan Puzzle

http://www.idrc.ca/EN/Funding/WhoCanApply/Pages/ResearcherDetails.aspx?ProfileID=83

Resources:

Acne: Argan Oil Acne Treatment

http://www.acne.org/messageboard/blog/6964/entry-26019-argan-oil-acne-treatment/

Wall Street Journal: Hard Nut to Crack: Beauty and Antioxidant Oil

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303768104577460504019108684

Academia: Physicochemcial Characteristics

http://www.academia.edu/1637348/Physicochemical_characteristics_nutritional_properties_and_health_benefits_of_argan_oil_a_review

Alternative Medicine Reveiw: Argan Oil

http://www.altmedrev.com/publications/16/3/275.pdf