Most important argan oil benefits for skin and hair health and care
Argan oil has been used in Morocco for centuries. It has exceptional properties, penetrates most effectively in the skin and helps to an in-depth hydration. We shall look at the most important argan oil benefits for skin and hair health and care and will give you some general guidelines how to use it at home.
What is argan oil? Known as “liquid gold”, argan oil is an organic product extracted from the seeds of the Argan tree, originating in Morocco. What argan oil contains? The oil is rich in beneficial nutrients, mainly fatty acids, most of which include oleic acid, alpha-linoleic acid, palmitic acid, stearidonic acid, linoleic acid and myristic acid. It is said that argan oil has among the highest concentrations of Vitamin E of all foods. For example, it contains up to 10 times more vitamin E than olive oil. Other substances include unsaturated fatty acids and Omega complexes (Omega 3, 6 and 9). It is richer in linoleic acid and vitamin E which are powerful antioxidant substances that remove free radicals and neutralize the cellular oxidation process. Its properties make it especially beneficial for hair and skin care.
How to choose and store argan oil? High-quality Moroccan argan oil is quite expensive. High quality oil does not have a pronounced smell and brown color. A good product has a slight smell of nuts and herbs, as well as a delicate golden hue. Check the texture: it should be light. Apply a few drops on your wrist. If after a few minutes a greasy stain remains, the product is diluted with a chemical solvent. Cheap products are likely to be fake so avoid them.
When choosing oil for the face, check the composition and avoid products with chemical impurities and additives of other oils.
Pay attention to the shelf life of the product, as well as the method of its production. Hand-made oil is not suitable for cosmetic procedures. Look for cold pressed oil.
After buying the oil, keep it in a glass bottle, preferably in the refrigerator. This oil can be stored just like any other oil. It should be protected from moisture, heat and light. It is recommended to use it within 18 months of opening.
Important argan oil benefits
Argan oil is mainly used in the cosmetics industry, but it also has valuable health benefits. It is a great product for hair and skin care and its composition has a very good effect on digestion, liver health and not only. Let’s have a look at the most important argan oil benefits:
Skin care
Argan oil is widely used as a skin treatment. It can help eliminate the appearance of age spots, improve acne and severe dermatitis. In addition, the omega fatty acids play a crucial role in strengthening the tissue and for the elasticity of the skin which makes the oil an excellent product for wrinkle prevention. The linoleic acid is an important compound in argan oil which helps reducing inflammation and irritation, soothes skin, and improves moisture, respectively improves acne. The oil is beneficial to treating dry skin, eczema, psoriasis and cellulite treatment. Its anti-inflammatory properties speed up the healing process of tissues and you can use it for bite, scratches or burns of the skin. The high content of antioxidants such as vitamin E, omega-9 and omega-6 fatty acids protects the skin from exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation.
Hair care
Argan oil is widely known as an effective natural remedy for damaged, brittle and split hair. Regenerating the structure of dull and lifeless hair, this natural product oil gives hair a healthy shine and softness. It also protects hair from the harmful effects of environmental factors like excessive sun exposure, sudden temperature changes, etc. Applying oil directly to hair is a quick and effective remedy for split ends. The product is successfully used for treatment of alopecia, dandruff and seborrhea. Argan oil improves blood flow to the hair follicles, nourishes and moisturizes the scalp and is beneficial to the secretion of the sebaceous glands.
Nail care
Natural antibacterial properties of argan oil can protect you from a wide variety of infections and can significantly improve the look and color of your nails. Argan gives the nail plate density, protects from dryness and helps soft and brittle or fragile nails. It is applied with a brush after a manicure, carefully rubbing it into the plate and the surrounding skin. The oil is great for preventing inflammation and cracks and preserves the well-groomed appearance of nails. You can use it in more serious cases like infection.
Hand care
Hand skin is often dry due to frequent contact with water, soaps or detergents. That is why it requires intense moisturizing to help the skin remain healthy, soft and pleasant to the touch. Argan oil has proven to be beneficial not only for your nails and cuticles, but for hand skin. You can use it as a moisturizing cream and apply it whenever you feel the skin of the hands dry.
Health benefits of argan oil
Many people choose olive oil for cooking as it is healthy. However, this unique product offers a lot of benefits and is good for us due to its compounds. Culinary-grade argan oil reduces bad cholesterol levels and this is important for preventing atherosclerosis, heart attacks, strokes and other serious heart problems caused by cholesterol. In addition it stimulates gastric juices and the result is a more efficient digestion of food and a higher intake of nutrients.
We mentioned that it is rich in antioxidants and triterpenoids, which directly influences the level of free radicals in the body which, in turn, are responsible for cancer and other chronic diseases.
These are just some of the most important benefits of argan oil which explain the huge popularity of this unique natural product not only in cosmetology but in nutrition as well.