Argan Oil

What is argan oil?

Argan oil is harvested from the kernels of the fruits of the argan tree, a tree species that is indigenous to the Sahara desert and to Morocco (R). Typically the fruits are sun-dried for a few days or up to several weeks, though 10 to 14 days of sun-drying is optimal to obtain high quality argan oil (R, R). While edible argan oil is prepared by cold-pressing roasted argan kernels, cosmetic argan oil is obtained by extracting ground argan kernels with a lipophilic solvent (R).

Argan oil contains many bioactive compounds including fatty acids (especially oleic and linoleic acids), tocopherols, squalene, sterols, polyphenols, triterpene alcohols, coenzyme 10 and melatonin (R, R). These components are likely to be responsible for its potential beneficial effects on human health such as disease prevention and cardioprotection (R, R).

The use of argan oil to moisturise the skin and to maintain a fair complexion is an established tradition among Moroccan women (R). Traditionally, it is also used to cure pimples, reduce scars from chicken pox, treat skin disorders such as eczema, psoriasis, scabies and skin inflammation, heal wounds, cure brittle fingernails and to prevent dry hair and hair loss (R).

Does argan oil get absorbed?

Argan oil is lipophilic, which helps its absorption into the skin. It is a penetration enhancer that can be used to improve the transdermal delivery of drugs (R, R).