Argan Oil Getting More Popular In Britain

RICH, versatile, nutritious and believed to be one of the rarest oils in the world, argan oil has long been Morocco’s best-kept secret.

Now this highly prized substance made from the nut of the argan tree has made its way on to the British high street in a variety of beauty products, including moisturisers, body lotions and conditioners.

A medium-weight oil loaded with essential Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids and vitamin E, argan oil also has a delicious nutty flavour that’s perfect in a salad dressing.

“Argan oil is a phytosterol, meaning it helps mimic the effect oestrogen has on the skin,” says London-based facialist Susie Lung (07957 771 503).

“Oestrogen is the hormone responsible for making women’s skin soft and clear compared to rougher, male skin, which is why this oil works well on more mature skin.”

As well as moisturising skin the oil nourishes hair without weighing it down. “I’ve been a fan of argan oil ever since I discovered it in a Moroccan shop a few years ago,” says celebrity hairdresser Lee Stafford (leestafford.com).

“The word ‘oil’ conjures up images of greasy, heavy liquid but what I love about argan oil is its dryness.

“It is easily absorbed by the hair to add moisture and to smooth cuticles, which is why my product range includes more argan oil than any other ingredient.”

However he advises: “It may be too much for someone who has fine hair but it’s perfect for coarse, dry, frizzy or coloured hair. I find the pure oil too heavy for European hair unless your locks are really fried.” 

source: experss.co.uk

Argan Oil Among Top 10 Beauty Secrets

Over the millennia, isolated human populations found various ways to keep their hair, nails, and skin in good shape using simple ingredients from the environments around them. Now, with increasing globalization, we have access to a whole world's worth of accumulated beauty knowledge. Keep reading to check out these 10 cool recipes and secret ingredients from spots around the globe.

1. Morocco: Argan oil This antioxidant-packed oil is great for hair and skin, and it absorbs much more easily than common skin oils like apricot and avocado. Argan oil is exclusively found in Morocco.
2. China: Camellia oil Worried about stretch marks? Camellia oil is one of the most common cooking oils in southern China, but it's also renowned for its ability to prevent stretch marks and discoloration.
3. Mexico: Tepezcohuite The bark of this tree has tons of astringent tannins in it, making it great for preventing infections and keeping scars from forming.
4. The Dominican Republic: Garlic Here's a smart secret from the DR for strong, healthy nails: chop up some garlic, throw it in a bottle of top coat, and then, after letting it soak for about a week, start using it as normal. It makes your nails stronger and also has antifungal and antimicrobial properties.
5. India: Neem Want glossy, strong hair? A weekly head massage with neem and coconut oil is Indian women's go-to treatment for gorgeous hair and a healthy scalp. Recipes for the combination have a long history in Ayurvedic medicine.
6. Japan: Sake Want an easy skin softener? Try a sake bath. Sake is high in kojic acid and enzymes that soften skin and help reduce hyper-pigmentation.
7. New Zealand: Manuka honey People have been using honey for its antimicrobial properties (and its deliciousness) since prehistoric times. The Kiwi type of honey, however, is even better as an antibacterial and antimicrobial than the regular kind, and it's even used in poultices to protect wounds.
8. Ghana: Black soap This great Ghanian soap is legendary for its gentle cleansing properties and skin-softening abilities. It's made with plantain skins, which have loads of vitamins A and E, and moisturizing shea butter. What you get is a cleanser that removes dirt and oil but doesn't strip skin of any natural moisture.
9. France: Milk Milk is full of gentle lactic acid, which exfoliates and softens without the harshness of stronger acid types. Pour some fresh whole milk or cream into your bath along with honey or lavender to get a gorgeous glow.
10. The Amazon: Passion flower oil Passion flower oil, aka maracuja, has been used in the Amazon for thousands of years because of its anti-inflammatory abilities, but it's also high in fatty acids and vitamin C.

Nivea Going Argan Oil, As Well

Moroccan argan oil is getting more and more popular as big beauty houses are starting to give it a kiss of love due to its extraordinary beauty properties. So, Nivea, the global skin- and body-care brand, is does no exception and  launches a  new line of products based on this fabulous argan oil from the magic Morocco.

These are some products from Nivea:

• NIVEA Pure & Natural Body Lotion

NIVEA Pure & Natural Body Lotion for normal to dry skin with pure organic Argan Oil contains no parabens, silicones or artificial colorants. Offering lasting effective protection and plenty of moisture, it makes the skin soft and smooth. It surrounds the body with a gentle fragrance.

How it works

Argan Oil is a natural source of vitamin E and therefore has outstanding antioxidant properties. It’s the ideal protection against free radicals in the skin, which can be caused by environmental influences and stress. And so reinforces the skin’s own protective barrier.
In one application study, testers found that, after using the products for just three days, their dry, flaky skin had been effectively improved. Oxidative stress in the skin cells was also significantly reduced.

Suitable for: Normal and dry skin

How to apply

Gently massage into the skin after showering or bathing. Argan Oil pampers the skin and makes it soft and supple again. It maintains the skin’s natural balance.

• NIVEA Pure & Natural Body Milk 

NIVEA Pure & Natural Body Milk for very dry skin containing pure Argan Oil and organic Jojoba Oil contains no parabens, silicones or artificial colorants. Argan Oil makes dry skin wonderfully soft and supple again. Together, Jojoba Oil and Argan Oil care for and nourish dry skin. They restore the skin’s natural balance and it remains strokably soft all day long. Pure & Natural Body Milk from NIVEA for very dry skin also has a wonderfully delicate and subtle fragrance, making body care an experience for the senses.

How it works

Argan Oil is a natural source of vitamin E and therefore has outstanding antioxidant properties. It’s the ideal protection against free radicals in the skin, which can be caused by environmental influences and stress.
In one application study, testers found that, after using an emulsion with Argan Oil for just three days, their dry, flaky skin had been effectively improved. Oxidative stress in the skin cells was also significantly reduced.

How to apply

Gently massage into the skin after showering or bathing. Argan Oil and Jojoba Oil pamper dry skin and make it soft and supple again. The skin’s natural balance is restored and regular application helps rid it of any unpleasant tautness.

• NIVEA Pure & Natural Hand Cream

NIVEA Pure & Natural Hand Cream for normal and dry hands containing pure organic Argan Oil contains no parabens, silicones pr artificial colorants. The hand cream provides optimum protection for the sensitive skin on the hands. Argan Oil makes it soft and supple again.

How it works

Argan Oil is a natural source of vitamin E and therefore has outstanding antioxidant properties. It’s the ideal protection against free radicals in the skin, which can be caused by environmental influences and stress.
In one application study, testers found that, after using an emulsion with Argan Oil for just three days, their dry, flaky skin had been effectively improved. Oxidative stress in the skin cells was also significantly reduced.

Suitable for: Normal and dry skin on the hands.

How to apply

It is best to use the product after washing your hands. Once a week, exfoliate your hands with sea salt and olive oil. Apply the paste to your hands and massage it in from the palm to the finger tips, then rinse well with plenty of water. This removes dry and dead skin. Then apply a generous amount of Pure & Natural Hand Cream with Argan Oil and massage it well into the skin. After deep cleansing, the Argan Oil can work its magic. The sensitive skin on the hands becomes strokably soft.

 

What's Argan Oil?

What's Argan oil?

Argan oil comes from the argan tree (Argania Spinosa), an endemic tree in southwestern Morocco. Used locally for centuries, nowadays argan oil is attracting increasing interest from outside of Morocco, thanks to both its cosmetic and dietary properties.



Ancestral method of argan oil extraction

Once ripe, argan fruits are typically collected by women and brought to village where they are broken down the traditional way between two stones, (left shells are usually used to feed needed fire).
After getting rid of the shells, the almonds are then closely crushed along with some water in a handmade mill called Azerg. Then the obtained dough is kneaded repeatedly and pressed by hands to extract argan oil. The residue is conserved and used to feed own livestock. Using this traditional way, it takes more than 10 hours to produce just one liter of argan oil.

Argan almonds are gently roasted before being crushed yielding an oil used in daily kitchen recipes. For cosmetic purposes, we should use argan oil that comes from the not roasted almonds.

The production of Argan oil has always been a merely matter of those Moroccan local families. But recent exploitations of argan fruit has taken it to an even more crafty, let alone industrial level because of the publicity that has been made on the virtues of argan oil. Local women's cooperatives have joined forces to produce more of this miraculous oil the traditional way.

A part of argan oil production is intended for export to Europe, Canada and the United States, which reinforces the local socio-economical role of this magically precious oil. Some of argan oil production is meant for high level cosmetic usage after further processing in laboratories.


A summary of Argan oil benefits

• For centuries, Argan oil has been used locally for therapeutic, cookware and cosmetic purposes, today the whole world is appreciating this oil.
• Argan oil is highly rich in essential fatty acids oleic and lineoic acids (47%) as well as in vitamin E (60-90mg/1OOg) , which positively boost our skin regenerating capabilities.
• It repairs and protects the skin against droughts and external aggressions, preventing its premature aging thanks to its essential fatty acids.
• Argan oil vitamin E richness, gives its antioxidant qualities
• It protects muscles from degeneration associated with aging.
• It can be used both for internal and external purposes.
• some argan oil internal usages: Massage, for rheumatism, against hair loss, to eliminate dandruff, against acne, burns, wrinkles, to protect against skin drying.
• some argan oil internal usages: positive effect against cholesterol and atherosclerosis.
• some argan oil culinary usage: in dressings, its aroma couples very well with crudites.
• Its nutty after-taste enhances so many dishes: whether with fish or goat's cheese, with puréed sweet potatoes or a salad of carrots and oranges.
• A simple argan oil drizzle will enliven your soups, cooked dishes and even desserts.
• It adds a touch of nut and sesame, bringing an oriental flavor to your cooking,
  

• It enhances the prostaglandins synthesis. Argan oil contains no cholesterol, which makes it very suitable in the context of any cholesterol-free diet.
• It protects the cardiovascular system.
• For a cosmetic use, it softens the skin, revitalizes the tired and wrinkled parts by rehydrating and giving the skin its lost youthful elasticity.
• Argan oil is also highly effective as a relief middle in cases of burns, scars and the like.
• Argan oil has a strengthening effect for nails and hair.
• Argan oil is widely used in the local recipes as well as in traditional medicine as a treatment of skin diseases such as acne and chickenpox (varicella).
• Currently, it is used as a medicinal product and active ingredient in many cosmetics and increasingly used by international and famous beauty specialists.
  

Argan Oil Production

Argan oil constitutes an important source of lipidic fat. It's estimated that argan oil production is between 3,000 and 4,000 tons, that is 1.6 percent of total Morocco oil consumption.

You would appreciate knowing that to produce just one liter of argan oil you need, in good years, no less than eight argan trees. A long day of labor is needed to get such precious liter of oil : argan fruits drying, pulping, getting rid of argan nuts shells one by one and by hand, crushing and grinding roasted almonds the traditional way and finally hand-persing and extracting this legendary oil. Added to argan fruit scarcity, comes the difficulty of production. (see argan oil production steps in photos).

Enjoy this majestic Moroccan oil !

Argan Oil Skin Care

Argan oil, its unique natural ingredients is  the perfect oil  to revitalize your  skin, hair and nails. Argan oil is rich in vitamin E which is particularly recommended for very dry or aging skin. Pure Argan oil  revitalize your whole body skin and delivers its virtues through massaging smoothly your body. Argan oil is natural without additive, so it doesn't hurt your skin, making it tender and baby-like soft. Argan oil  with its  precious virtues for skin and hair has been used locally for centuries.

Buy Argan Oil Beauty & culinary Products Online here!

Mint tea at the argan oil cooperative

Mint tea at the argan oil cooperative, originally uploaded by gloria21.