Beauty Benefits of Moroccan Oil + How to Use

Argan oil is also known as Moroccan oil because it is produced in Morocco from the Argan tree kernels. It's not only used for facial care, but it has a much wider application. For this reason, this natural product is known as liquid gold.

This highly sought-after ingredient has beneficial effects on your skin and hair as well as lips, feet, and nails. The great thing about Moroccan oil is that it can be used in its pure form and can also be found as an ingredient in luxury preparations, creams, and lotions.

What Exactly is Moroccan Oil?

Argania Spinosa is a tree that can only be found in the southwestern part of Morocco, and it has large, green, round fruits. The fruit contains a nut, from which the liquid gold is obtained. To extract the oil, the fruit should be sun-dried, and the nuts have to be cracked.

Interestingly, Moroccan oil is still mostly produced in a traditional way. Namely, Argan nuts are crushed with a stone, and then ground. The ground compound is massaged and strained by hand until the final product is obtained. One liter of Moroccan oil requires approximately 20 hours of work and about 100 kg of fresh Argan fruit. That is why this oil can get quite expensive.

Due to its high nutritional value, containing unsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E, Argan oil could also be a great addition to your diet. However, as it's pretty pricey, it's mostly used only in skincare.

Tocopherol, or vitamin E, is probably its most important ingredient because it has antioxidant properties, essential in both skincare and nutrition. It also contains carotenes, protecting the skin from UV rays and improving its tone, firmness, and brightness.

The Benefits of Moroccan Oil

Since the earliest times, Moroccan women have used this precious liquid gold to maintain their bodies, skin, and hair nourished and healthy. In modern days, it's still considered a powerful weapon in the world of beauty.

Packed with omega fatty acids and phenols, Argan oil improves dry skin and brings shine to brittle and damaged hair. As it boasts linoleum acids and plenty of vitamin E, the oil also moisturizes the skin, reduces acne scars, and softens dry skin patches [source].

But it just gets better and better! The greatest benefit of all, the one you've been waiting for, refers to its anti-aging properties. The combination of the oral and cosmetic use of Moroccan oil can lead to a significant increase in skin elasticity. It also lessens the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines and prevents sun damage [source].

Let's take a closer look into all the wonderful benefits of Moroccan oil:

1. Keeps the Skin Healthy and Glowy.

Full of essential fatty acids and antioxidants, this oil brings dull skin back to life and gives it a healthy and radiant glow. For maximum effect, you can massage just a couple of drops into your face before you hit the sack. You'll wake up with soft and healthy skin.

2. Fights Premature Aging.

The increasing levels of pollutants, combined with damaging sun rays, lead to dry skin and paves the way for premature aging. Rich in vitamin E, this golden liquid fights the toxins and free radicals in your body and makes sure that the skin retains the moisture, keeping it firm, elastic, and wrinkle-free.

3. Nourishes Lips.

Thanks to its perfect restorative properties, your chapped lips will quickly become a thing of the past with this oil. For luscious and smooth lips, you can exfoliate them using just a couple of drops of Moroccan oil mixed with brown sugar. It will not only get rid of the dead cells, but also nourish your lips, leaving them soft and supple.

4. Soothes Sensitive Skin.

Those of you with sensitive skin know how important a proper cleansing and moisturizing routine is. Moroccan oil can help you with both. For hydration and nourishment, dab and gently massage 3 to 4 drops into your face and neck before going to bed and leave it overnight. You can also greatly benefit from Argan infused face and body cleansers.

5. Prevents and Treats Acne and Scars.

The linolenic acid and other nutrients make Moroccan oil an excellent solution for problematic skin prone to acne and blemishes. This oil reduces the inflammatory processes on the skin and is suitable as a natural treatment for acne at any age. Besides, it contains triterpenoids, which promote faster healing of the skin and reduce acne scars.

6. Reduces Stretch Marks.

With this oil, you can finally say 'Goodbye' to those bothersome orange-peel-like parts of your skin. You can use Moroccan oil to prevent them from happening in the first place. It stimulates elasticity and deeply nourishes the skin, and it can be safely used by pregnant women as well.

7. Remedies Various Skin Conditions.

Thanks to its anti-inflammatory, restorative, healing, and softening properties, this oil is indeed a golden cure for different skin conditions, including eczema and chickenpox.

8. Keeps the Nails Healthy.

The priceless Moroccan oil promotes nail health – it prevents them from cracking, nourishes them, and gives them a natural shine as well as smooth look and feel. It can also help with painful cuticles.

9. Conditions and Repairs Damaged Hair.

Moroccan oil makes that sought-after long and healthy hair possible. With regular use, the oil will help with split ends, keep the frizz under control, and give the hair a natural and healthy shine. Rich in antioxidants and vitamins, this oil penetrates the hair strands and nourishes and strengthens them from within. You can use it alone as a leave-on conditioner or mix it with your favorite shampoo and hair mask.

10. Nourishes and Heals the Scalp.

If you're struggling with dry and itchy scalp and dandruff, scalp massage with Moroccan oil can be of immense help. With gentle circular motions, massage the oil into the scalp for a couple of minutes. Don't rinse it immediately after you're done, but wrap your hair in a warm microfiber towel and leave it on for as long as possible. For best results and dandruff-free scalp, repeat this process twice a weak.

Quick Guide on How to Use Moroccan Oil

For those of you who are just interested in its application, we prepared a quick guide on how you could use Moroccan oil to enhance the health and beauty of your hair, skin, and nails:

Moroccan Oil for Hair Care

This natural conditioner is really easy to use. You can apply it on wet or dry hair, leave it for a couple of hours, and then rinse it. If it doesn't bother you, you can even leave it on until the next hair wash.

Depending on your hair's length and thickness, you can use 2 to 5 drops of the oil. We would also suggest adding a couple of drops to your shampoo and conditioner. It's completely enough to use it once or twice a weak for best results.

Moroccan Oil for Hair Styling

Instead of chemical styling agents, you can use Moroccan oil because it's relatively lightweight. Before blow-drying or straightening, apply a couple of drops of the oil on your hair strands to prevent heat damage. It will also give you that smooth and frizz-free look that will last longer.

Moroccan Oil for Nail Care

You can use it as a base before applying nail polish and for daily hands and nails care. Apply a tiny amount of oil to each nail, massage gently and leave for a few moments to absorb, then rinse with lukewarm water. If you do this step before going to bed, you don't need to wash it off, but leave it overnight for best results.

Moroccan Oil for Skin Care

Warm up 3 to 4 drops of oil between your fingertips and then massage it onto your face, neck, and decolletage. You could greatly benefit if you applied the oil on damp skin. While rubbing, be gentle and use slow, circular, and upward strokes. You can do it once or twice a day after cleansing.

Moroccan oil soothes and nourishes irritated and damaged skin. Therefore, it is also used to treat sunburns, irritation after shaving, and damage caused by dry and cracked skin. For treating burns and wounds, apply 2 to 3 drops directly to the desired area and massage it in gently. Let your skin absorb it fully for best results.

Moroccan Oil For Stretch Marks

Warm-up 2 to 3 drops of the oil between your palms and gently apply it to the problem areas such as hips, thighs, abdomen, or chest. For any noticeable results, you should be regular and persistent.

Moroccan Oil for Lips Care

As we already mentioned, you could use Moroccan oil for exfoliating and moisturizing. Mix a couple of drops of the oil with brown sugar, and gently massage the lips. Then rinse it off with lukewarm water. After this, you can apply pure Moroccan oil on your lips and leave it on.

Moroccan Oil for Shaving

You could use Moroccan oil instead of shaving cream. After you've cleansed the skin, apply the oil on the area you want to shave and get rid of the hair smoothly and easily. The oil can be used as a natural alternative to aftershave lotions as well, due to its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.

Make Sure to Get the Real Deal

When shopping for cosmetic Moroccan oil, you should make sure to get a high-quality pure product. To get the real deal, pay attention to the following:

#1: Cultivated in Morocco: Moroccan or Argan oil only comes from Morocco, so make sure that the label names this region as its origin. Otherwise, you might get a mixture containing different ingredients, and chances are you won't get pure Moroccan oil.

#2: Packaging: Preferably, Moroccan oil is packed in frosted and dark-colored glass bottles to protect the oil molecules from UV rays. If exposed to sunlight, the oil can quickly lose its potency. However, if your oil comes in a transparent bottle, make sure you store it in a dark room away from sunlight.

#3: Ingredient list: To get a pure Moroccan oil, pay attention to its ingredient list. The label should indicate 100% Argania Spinosa oil, without any extra oil blends, additives, or perfumes.

#4: Smell: Ideally, pure Moroccan oil has a subtle and nutty scent. After applying it, this smell usually dissipates quickly. If the oil doesn't have any smell or has a pungent and unpleasant odor, it's probably a good indicative that the oil you've got is of a poor quality.

#5: Color: Cosmetic Moroccan oil should have light golden or yellowish and translucent color. It's also normal to have some sediment settled at the bottom of the bottle. Darker Moroccan oil shouldn't be applied on your face, hair, or nails, as it's greasier and more suitable as a culinary ingredient.

#6: Texture: The real deal should have a silky feel and be smooth, lightweight, and non-greasy. It absorbs quickly into the skin and doesn't leave a greasy film. After applying it, the best quality oil should give you a beautiful and radiant but shine-free complexion.

#7: Pricing: Extracting and producing Moroccan oil is a labor-intensive procedure and requires time and a specific skill set. For this reason, the pure and good-quality oil usually comes in a 100-milliliter bottle that costs fifty dollars or more. As there's no quick and easy way to produce a high-quality product, be wary of oils priced lower than that.

Takeaway...

Thanks to its powerful nutrients, vitamins, and healing properties, Moroccan oil definitely deserves its liquid gold title and is truly Mother Nature's gift. If you haven't already, we wholeheartedly encourage you to try it and enjoy all of its miraculous benefits. It might be on a pricey side, but with this multipurpose oil, you might not need additional moisturizers, serums, lotions, and conditioners.

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