The many benefits of argan oil for skin and hair

For those of us who clearly remember beauty products before the turn of the millennium, theArgan oil it still has that feeling of novelty, of a password. Not a particularly well-known ingredient before the turn of the century, Moroccan botanical import became ubiquitous in the beauty industry, playing both leading and supporting roles in skincare, hair, and even makeup. And for good reason.

“It is found in skin and hair care products because it has many benefits,” according to Stacy Chimento, MD, a certified dermatologist at Riverchase Dermatology in Miami, who says argan oil is good for very dry skin: «Pure argan oil is great for patches of skin affected by psoriasis. It can also be used alone or with your favorite face cream ». In addition, he recommends using it to seal in the moisture of any emollient product applied to the hair.

But these are just some of the reasons why argan oil has become a highly recommended and seemingly ubiquitous ingredient. We talked to dermatologists and a cosmetic chemist about it to better understand why argan oil deserved its transition from a trendy new ingredient to a staple for skin and hair care.

What exactly is argan oil

Argan oil comes from the kernels of the fruit of the argan tree, which are often peeled by Moroccan women who work in cooperatives. “Fair trade argan oil, produced sustainably, comes from argan fruits harvested from the ground, which helps prevent over-harvesting and the threat of deforestation,” explains Krupa Koestline, cosmetic chemist and founder of KKT Consultants . “It is worth noting that, in recent years, there has been concern over how the demand for argan oil has led to cases of aggressive harvesting:” Some people hit trees with sticks to make the fruit fall faster, and this it’s not good for painte, ”he said Allure Nicholas Magnan, associate professor of agricultural and applied economics at the University of Georgia.

What are the benefits of argan oil in skin and hair care?

Argan oil has an impressive list of benefits, thanks to its natural composition. “Argan oil is unique in its composition, offering high amounts of oleic and linoleic acids, which makes it extremely rich and moisturizing,” explains Koestline. These acids are one of the main reasons why argan oil is found in so many products.

“It has found use as a moisturizer for skin and hair because it is rich in oleic and linoleic acids, both of which are useful ingredients for maintaining a healthy skin barrier because they feed our skin with essential fatty acids such as omega 3, 6 and 9, which the our body doesn’t produce, ”says Corey L. Hartman MD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham, Alabama. Dr. Chimento agrees and adds that these fatty acids can also help reduce wrinkles and increase collagen production.

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