Argan oil the Moroccan beauty secret

Pressed from the precious nuts of the argan tree, this beautifying treasure is a rare commodity known throughout Morocco as “liquid gold” for its remarkable ability to moisturize and condition dry, lackluster skin. Only found in indigenous areas of Morocco, argan oil is such a wonder as it has an unusually high concentration of essential fatty acids and vitamin E. Maintaining the hydration of the skin, these two important components are what truly keep skin hydrated and protected from future moisture loss. Known as a powerful antioxidant, argan oil is also helpful for fighting off free radicals within our environment, preventing wrinkles and reducing collagen and elastin damage as our cellular turnover rate decreases with age.

Argan oil remains as one of the rarest oils in the world, due to its very small and specific growing area. Today argan oil has a myriad of uses where it is widely found all over the world in North African cuisine, skin care, hair care and dietary supplements. It has even been noted to help with Psoriasis and Arthritis symptoms. The relationship between the argan tree and the Berber women of Morocco goes far beyond beauty, as these trees have been a significant part of survival for living within near desert-like conditions. Argan trees have been used for centuries by the Berbers as a source of food, charcoal, firewood and building material. Harvesting the oil is not only a tedious process but done only by the Berber women. The process is traditionally done by hand and involves breaking the outter shell of the argan nut open with stones, mixing the lightly roasted seeds into a paste and then squeezing the oil from the paste by hand.

Enough to make you understand how rare and labor intensive this oil truly is.

Nevertheless, argan trees have helped modern day Moroccan women who produce the oil to have a better quality of life. Many cooperatives have been recently established in Morocco, where each woman is paid for her work and considered equal in the project. The women extract the oil with the use of machines (rather than by hand) so that the work and process is less difficult and lengthy. Women within these cooperatives have also been shown new and effective means for harvesting the argan fruit, and how to help protect and preserve these rare trees from extinction.

So if you are using argan oil as a regular at home beauty treatment, culinary ingredient or for health benefits, you are not only benefiting from its amazing natural properties, you are helping to support the women of Morocco.

Check out my favorite argan oil: Kaeline – 100% Organic Moroccan Argan Oil Vitality Serum