Argan Oil: The Powerful Elixer For Beauty, Health, and Wellness

Overview

The kernels of the Moroccan Argania Spinosa tree are infused with a potent liquid called argan oil, which is rich in fatty acids, antioxidants, and nutrients like vitamin E and is known particularly for its benefits to skin and hair rejuvenation.

Cosmetic chemist Krupa Koestline explains,

Argan oil is unique in its composition, offering high amounts of oleic and linoleic acids, which makes it extremely rich and moisturizing.

Often referred to as ‘liquid gold,” argan oil also offers advantages like helping to enhance heart health, strengthen the immune system, balance blood sugar, and more. You can purchase this powerful elixir to incorporate into cooking, take it as a supplement, or buy a cosmetic product for beauty enhancement.

Read on as we explore the benefits of argan oil for the skin and hair, explore its other powerful health advantages, and discuss how to incorporate this potent ingredient into your routine.

What is Argan Oil?

Argan oil is a rich oil derived from the kernels of the Argania Spinosa tree native to Morocco and used for centuries for its beauty and health benefits. It contains rich fatty acids, primarily oleic and linoleic acid, and is high in phenolic compounds and vitamins A and E.

The impressive nutrient profile of this ingredient makes it ideal for skin health, helping to boost hydration, tighten the complexion, and reduce signs of aging like wrinkles, fine lines, and hyperpigmentation. In addition, it decreases redness and inflammation to ease skin conditions like acne, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis.

Argan oil also helps boost the health of the hair and scalp, promote growth, reduce frizz, and enhance shine. In addition to its beauty benefits, using argan oil for cooking or taking it as a supplement may offer other health benefits like supporting heart health, strengthening the immune system, easing joint pain, and more.

Should you be adding more of this powerful liquid gold to your life? Let’s look at each of the argan oil benefits in detail to help you decide.

Argan Oil Benefits for Skin

Is argan oil a miracle skincare ingredient? Many would say that it comes close. With its array of fatty acids, antioxidants, and nutrients like vitamins A and E, it nourishes, rejuvenates, and promotes youthfulness. These are the top benefits of argan oil for skin health:

• Helps Repair and Protect – Argan oil has potent antioxidants that destroy free radicals on the skin to lower oxidative stress, helping to repair damage to the skin barrier and protect it from the effects of harmful UV rays.
• Helps Boost Hydration – Rich in vitamin E and fatty acids like oleic and linoleic acid, argan oil supports the moisture barrier. This can significantly boost skin hydration and prevent dryness, as we explained in our review of Skinception Argan Oil.
• Helps Smooth Wrinkles and Fine Lines – The vitamin E in argan oil increases collagen and elastin synthesis, helping to tighten the skin, boost elasticity, and decrease the depth of wrinkles and fine lines. In addition, the added hydration it provides plumps the skin to further smooth the surface.

A study of postmenopausal women published in Clinical Interventions in Aging found that argan oil offered anti-aging properties and improved skin elasticity whether ingested or applied topically.

• Helps Fade Hyperpigmentation – Other benefits of argan oil for face rejuvenation include helping to fade areas of hyperpigmentation. This ingredient has vitamin C, which slows melanin production to help get rid of dark spots that can mar your complexion, and a cell study in Evidence-Based Complimentary and Alternative Medicine found support for its potential benefits in treating hyperpigmentation disorders.
• Helps Decrease Aging Under the Eyes – The fatty acids in argan oil improve microcirculation under the eyes to help fade dark circles, and its anti-inflammatory agents may decrease bags and puffiness. In addition, the boost in collagen helps smooth crow’s feet and fine lines around the eyes.
• Helps Treat and Prevent Acne – Regular application of argan oil may slow oil production in the skin, helping to prevent breakouts. It helps gently exfoliate the pores of dirt, excess oil, and impurities, and has anti-bacterial properties that kill acne-causing bacteria. In addition, the fatty acids have potent anti-inflammatory properties that help treat existing acne.
• Helps Heal Skin Conditions and Wounds – Due to its powerful anti-inflammatory agents, one of the top benefits of argan oil is that it may help heal other skin conditions like atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and eczema and speed up wound healing. It also has anti-bacterial properties that help kill microbes to prevent infection.

Argan Oil Benefits for Hair

Is argan oil good for hair? The rich blend of nutrients and fatty acids in argan oil also offers significant potential benefits for hair health, nourishing the strands and scalp, preventing dryness, deep conditioning, and enhancing skin shine and radiance.

Unlike many other oils, it does not leave your hair greasy, and you can apply it directly daily or purchase an argan oil shampoo, conditioner, or related product. What are some of the other advantages of argan oil for hair health?

Importance of Biological Age

• Supports Growth and Slows Loss – The nutrients and phenols in argan oil may repair oxidative damage, which could help stimulate hair growth and increase thickness. In addition, this ingredient boosts collagen synthesis to help strengthen the follicles and slow loss and breakage.
• Soothes and Protects the Scalp – The powerful anti-inflammatory properties in argan decrease swelling and soothe an itchy, dry scalp, preventing damage that can slow hair growth. In addition, argan oil helps decrease dandruff and flaking, and its antioxidants protect the hair from sun damage.
• Helps Prevent Frizz – Some evidence suggests that using argan oil for hair can tame frizzy, flyaway locks. The fatty acids in this ingredient penetrate deeply into the scalp for deep hydration and easier maintenance.
• Helps Protect From Heat or Styling Damage – The rich combination of fatty acids and vitamin E form a protective layer around the hair and scalp, helping to protect it from heat and styling tools that could cause damage.

Other Health Benefits of Argan Oil

Argan oil is highly regarded for its benefits to skin and hair enhancement, but it also has several other impressive advantages for health and well-being. Some of the top medicinal benefits of argan oil include the following:

• Supports Heart Health – The oleic acid in argan oil is particularly known for its heart health benefits, and the antioxidants in this ingredient help repair damage to cardiovascular cells. Evidence indicates that argan oil may lower LDL cholesterol, decrease triglycerides, and offer cardioprotective properties.
• Helps Ease Joint Pain – Argan oil may benefit those with arthritis or an injury, as it has powerful anti-inflammatory properties that help ease swelling in joints and reduce pain. A study of knee osteoarthritis patients published in Current Rheumatology Reviews found a statistically significant improvement in function and a decrease in pain with daily consumption of argan oil.
• Supports Healthy Blood Sugar Levels – While the research at the moment is mostly on animals, some studies have found that the antioxidants and bioactive agents in argan oil may help decrease insulin resistance and balance blood sugar levels, for potential benefits for people with diabetes.

Sources and Uses

Argan oil is widely available from multiple retailers and stores in several forms, making it an easy, accessible ingredient to add to your lifestyle.

Food – You can buy argan oil from many grocery stores and use it as a cooking oil, or you can drizzle it over other foods to add a creamy, nutty flavor and a boost in nutrients.

Supplements – Argan oil is available in capsule, liquid, and gummy form, and this elixir is often added to natural supplements for health or skin, hair, and nail enhancement.

Skincare and Hair Products – You can purchase argan oil skin serum to rejuvenate your complexion, and it is an ingredient in many skin and hair care products like creams, shampoos, and conditioners.

Dosage Recommendations

There are no set guidelines or recommendations when it comes to argan oil dosage, so it’s best to follow the instructions on the label carefully and check with your healthcare provider regarding suitability and dosing.

Research suggests that an oral dosage of 25-30 ml daily is ideal, and you should apply about 10 drops of the oil to the skin or hair for best results.

Side Effects and Safety

This ingredient is generally safe, and when ingested may only lead to mild potential argan oil side effects like digestive upset. If this occurs and does not resolve quickly, try cutting your dosage. It’s important to consult with a healthcare practitioner before taking a supplement, as there could be health or medication interactions.

When it comes to the skin and scalp, most types tolerate argan oil well, but sensitive users may experience irritation. In addition, in rare cases, individuals may have an allergy that leads to a reaction. It’s best to check with a dermatologist before trying a new skincare product, especially if you have allergic skin.

Argan Oil FAQs

Q: What is the top benefit of argan oil for health?

A: Argan oil contains a wealth of nutrients and antioxidants that support skin health, smooth signs of aging on the complexion, and promote hair growth and shine. In addition, this potent ingredient helps support heart health, strengthen the immune system, and balance blood sugar levels in the body.

Q: Can I apply argan oil to my skin daily?

A: Yes, most people can safely apply argan oil for skin health daily without experiencing any adverse effects, and it offers potent benefits for rejuvenation and anti-aging. However, it may cause a reaction in those allergic to tree nuts. It’s important to do a patch test on a small skin area before trying any new skincare product.

Q: Does argan oil grow eyelashes?

A: Argan oil is rich in antioxidants, fatty acids, and other potent nutrients that nourish the follicles, repair damage, and decrease inflammation, which supports healthy eyelashes and may help promote growth and prevent hair loss. Find out more by reading our article on How to Get Longer Lashes With Argan Oil.

Q: Who should not use argan oil?

A: Argan oil is not suitable for individuals who are allergic to tree nuts, and could cause an adverse reaction. In addition, it may not be ideal for individuals with very oily skin or a serious acne breakout and could worsen the issue.

Q: Does argan oil remove wrinkles?

A: Argan oil contains antioxidants that repair skin barrier damage and protect from premature aging, and it also has nutrients like vitamin E which boost collagen synthesis. This helps tighten the complexion, improve electricity, and decrease the depth of wrinkles and fine lines.

The Bottom Line

Many have called argan oil ‘liquid gold,’ due to its rich blend of fatty acids, antioxidants, and nutrients that help enrich the skin, smooth signs of aging like wrinkles and dark spots, and make the hair shine with radiance and health. This powerful oil also shines for its medicinal benefits like helping to support heart health, balance blood sugar, and ease joint pain.

Whether you incorporate it into your cooking, take an argan oil supplement, or apply skin and hair care products rich in this ingredient, there’s no doubt it has a lot to offer. Speak with a healthcare provider for additional information about adding argan oil to your lifestyle.

8 sources

We review published medical research in respected scientific journals to arrive at our conclusions about a product or health topic. This ensures the highest standard of scientific accuracy.

[1] The Many Ways Argan Oil Benefits Skin and Hair: https://www.allure.com/story/argan-oil-benefits-skin-hair
[2] The Effect of Dietary and/or Cosmetic Argan Oil on Postmenopausal Skin Elasticity: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4321565/
[3] Activation of MITF by Argan Oil Leads to the Inhibition of the Tyrosinase and Dopachrome Tautomerase Expressions in B16 Murine Melanoma Cells: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3723062/
[4] The Anti-proliferative and Anti-bacterial Activity of Argan oil and Crude Saponin Extract from Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels: https://www.phcogj.com/article/801
[5] Argan Oil As a Pretreatment of Human Hair Before Exposure to Oxidative Damage: Attenuated Total Reflectance and Protein Loss Studies: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35226791/
[6] The Impact of Argan Oil on Plasma Lipids in Humans: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29130532/
[7] Effectiveness of Argan oil on knee osteoarthritis symptoms:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318403326_Effectiveness_of_Argan_oil_on_knee_osteoarthritis_symptoms_a_randomized_controlled_clinical_trial
[8] Beneficial Effects of Argan Oil on Blood Pressure, Insulin Resistance, and Oxidative Stress In Rats: https://europepmc.org/article/med/27161594

Angela Lemond, RDN, CSP, LD

Angela Lemond is a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) and national spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Angela Read Full Bio