There has been a ton of buzz surrounding argan oil lately, and for good reason. Trumpeted in the natural hair community for years, this amber-tinged oil effectively nixes frizz and leaves hair feeling ridiculously silky and smooth. But if you aren't using your hair oil the correct way, it may actually dry out your strands. Learn all about the how and why of argan oil when you read on.
Fighting frizz can sometimes feel like an uphill battle, thanks to our good friend humidity. Products that claim to do the work for you tend to weigh down and flatten your hair in this weather, which is never a good look. Thankfully, this isn't the case with L'Oréal EverSleek Precious Oil Treatment ($13). Putting oil into your hair may seem counterintuitive (and a little bit scary), but the ones used in this serum are extremely beneficial. Sunflower oils are used to soften your strands, while olive oil improves their strength and elasticity.
But the real winner in this treatment is the argan. This oil gives incredible shine and completely flattens frizz. It's also helpful for your hair's cuticles. Not only does it seal them, making your ends look less bristly, it also cuts styling time down (which protects your hair from heat). Just make sure to keep this stuff away from your roots and to adjust the amount you use if you have thinner hair. Otherwise, you'll wind up with a greasy hairline, and the grunge look hasn't been chic since the mid-'90s.
In honor of Earth Month, Josie Maran (pictured left) is rereleasing her eponymous brand's cult favorite argan oil with an added charitable element. The beauty entrepreneur even recruited some of her model pals, Petra Nemcova (pictured right) and Angela Lindvall, to design the limited-edition bottles ($52 each) for the line's Model Citizen campaign. Available at Sephora, through QVC, or on Josie's site from now to mid-Summer, 10 percent of the profits from the sale of the oils will benefit the Happy Hearts Fund (through Petra's design), Healthy Child Healthy World (through Angela), and Women For Women International (through Josie).
Additionally, Josie and Petra are sharing their tips for going "chicological" (that's chic, high-performing, and ecological) with us. For starters, "I think using kinder, gentler, healthier ingredients overall — especially if you're wearing makeup every day — makes a huge impact on the beauty of your skin," explains Josie. See more of what the duo had to say about greening your beauty routine, when you read more.
You've probably heard people raving about argan oil: It absorbs like a dream, is extremely hydrating, and is even supposed to be great for repairing free radical damage. Unfortunately, it's usually pretty pricey, and the cheaper versions available are often adulterated or just plain low quality.
Happily, eco-friendly line Melvita has seriously underpriced its rather amazing Argan Oil ($24). In fact, it costs half what similar products like Josie Maran Argan Oil ($48) do.
The French brand, which just began opening storefronts in the US, is all Ecocert (the strict European organic certification standard), super high quality, and very reasonably priced. Melvita's also fair trade certified, and even stocks most of its products in cost effective family sizes. So if you're looking to go natural without breaking the bank, I highly suggest you check Melvita products out, before the folks behind the brand come to their senses and start jacking up the prices.
Argan oil is one of the more buzzed-about ingredients in beauty, thanks to its benefits for hair and skin (and a slew of cult-fave products that include the stuff). The oil comes from the nuts of argan trees, and humans aren't the only ones interested in getting a piece of the action. My friends Todd and Lisa ran across these hungry tree-climbing goats while honeymooning in Morocco.
Oddly enough, the animals are actually an important part of the oil-making process. The nuts are incredibly difficult to crack open, so enterprising people poked through goat poop to pick out the valuable argan nuts. Through the magic of goat digestion, the shells of the nuts became easier to open, and processing went from there. These days, most of the argan oil used in cosmetics is harvested without the help of goats, but in some places, the traditional goat-poo process is still in place. Now you know.
Photo courtesy of Lisa Whiteman
My skin has been going through an oddball itchy phase. Ever the hypochondriac, I became convinced that the cats had fleas. They didn't, so I thought, "Oh no, I've somehow picked up bedbugs!" (I hadn't.) After running through a mile-long list of potential itch-causers, I decided to switch body wash to one that doesn't foam up and potentially irritate my skin.
You could probably use a variety of washes, but I went with Superbly Restorative Body Cleansing Oil ($27.50). It has organic argan oil (the buzzed-about Moroccan oil) as well as a beta hydroxy acid. Since it's an oil, it doesn't lather up like crazy. Instead, it gently washes away dirt without leaving my skin dry. Plus, the softly earthy scent is sexy instead of traversing into a "I just followed Phish around for three months" funk. Most important: no more itchy skin. Win! At $27.50, it's more expensive than most body washes, but a little goes a really long way — and the ability to go to sleep without scratching my legs these days is pretty much priceless.
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Twice in one day I heard buzz about the amazing qualities that Argan Oil has on skin. The first was when I was reading about Josie Maran Cosmetics Argan Oil Moisturizer and the second was during my interview with Liz Earle (more on that tomorrow). Since these ladies hold Argan in such high esteem, I found myself interested in finding out more about the "gold of Morocco."
The Argan tree comes from southwest regions of Morocco, where it can withstand harsh environments with extreme heat, drought and poor soil. It grows a round fleshy fruit with an olive texture, and inside there's a nut where the oil comes from.
Argan oil is dark with a red tint. It's believed to have medical benefits such as lowering cholesterol, improving circulation and building up the immune system.
It is rich in essential fatty acids and vitamin E which helps to nourish dry, dehydrated skin. It also has mild anti-inflammatory properties and protects the skin from free radical damage.
Another common use for Argan oil is to make a traditional Moroccan bread dip known as amlou, which also contains almonds and peanuts and honey. Couple it with one of Yum's recipes, and you've got one beautiful snack.
