Argan oil is the natural ingredient *every* skin type should be using

Argan oil may have earned its beauty reputation for transforming dry, damaged hair into luscious strands, but its other hidden talent is its ability to nourish your skin and leave it all glowy and smooth. And then some.

What is argan oil?

Argan oil is a plant oil that has many beauty benefits. Argan oil of Morocco has become a popular ingredient in haircare and skin care formulas due to its nourishing yet lightweight properties. But it’s not just dry skin that will love it, it’s great for oily skin, too.

What is argan oil made from?

“Argan oil is a special type of oil that comes from a nut of the argan tree, that exclusively grows in southwest Morocco and has been used for centuries by the Berber people throughout Northern Africa,” says Swisse Expert, Lauren McDowell. “The kernels from the argan tree are squeezed together to extract the rich, amber liquid that is abundant in beneficial nutrients for the skin,” she explains. 

Argan oil benefits for skin

We’ve already touched on the perks of adding argan oil to your haircare routine, so let’s focus on argan oil for skin, and all the wonderful things it can do for your complexion. “Argan oil, often referred to as liquid gold, is rich in fatty acids, including linoleic acid, which is known for its anti-inflammatory properties,” notes McDowell. It’s also rich in oleic acid, which McDowell says, “soothes the skin, protecting it and restoring hydration”. Besides its amazing hydrating properties, McDowell notes, “Argan oil is rich in vitamin E - an antioxidant that reduces free radical damage oxidative stress, improving the skin’s overall appearance and strength”.

Josie Maran, whose entire namesake skin care and cosmetics brand is based around the golden elixir, shared all these reasons why she swears by argan oil in an interview with Mecca Cosmetica:

“Argan oil, I believe, is THE best anti-ager on the planet. I always say ‘less is more’; just a few drops, and you can use it as your face moisturiser, your hair moisturiser, your eye treatment, your makeup remover… a lot of makeup is hard to take off but [with argan oil] it just comes off easily, and at the same time you’re treating your skin.”

Is argan oil good for skin that’s acne-prone?

The goldilocks of facial oils, argan oil is not too heavy and not too light, which is why all skin types can benefit from using it, including - make that especially - acne-prone skin. Argan oil is anti-inflammatory, helps balance sebum production so you get fewer breakouts, and it is at the lowest end of the comedogenic scale so it’s unlikely to clog your pores. In addition, vitamin E in argan oil can help fade acne scars by removing damaged skin cells and promoting healthy cell renewal.

A note for sensitive skin types: Watch out for cheap alternatives that don’t contain pure argan oil; they may cause skin irritation.

How to use argan oil

While you’d be forgiven for thinking you should apply argan oil as a serum, you should actually be using it on top of your serum and moisturiser.

Keen to introduce the endless powers of argan oil into your skin care routine? These are our picks for some of the best argan oil skin care products to get you started.

The best argan oil products to shop

Swisse Argan Youthful Facial Oil
Containing 100 per cent naturally derived ingredients, this Swisse Argan Youthful Facial Oil ($16.49 at Chemist Warehouse) is lightweight yet hydrating and won’t leave you with a greasy residue. Amazing for enhancing elasticity, topping up dwindling moisture levels and leaving skin with a level of glow that only something billed as 'liquid gold' can, it's a bargain pick that definitely belongs in your routine.

The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Moroccan Argan Oil
The price is cheap (yay!) but The Ordinary is known for still delivering on quality, and so, yes, The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Moroccan Argan Oil ($12.90 at The Ordinary) is every bit as epic as you'd expect. They’ve used a cold-pressed technique to extract the oil, which ensures the ingredient’s integrity and optimal benefits. It also has multiple uses - you can apply it to your skin, lips, hair and nails. It'll help to plump and prevent fine lines, but still feels lightweight enough for oilier skin types to also reap the replenishing benefits.

Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil
Up there as the best argan oil for face (and even body and hair) use, the Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil ($25 at MECCA) has 106 five-star reviews on MECCA’s website. One customer said, “when you wake up, you can LITERALLY feel how much hydrated, plumped and softer your skin is”, while another said “this oil is the star of my skin care regime. I use it every night after applying my other products and I find it to really lock in the moisturiser and eye cream. It hydrates deeply overnight and I wake up with smooth, soft skin.”

GOOD TO KNOW: If you don’t love facial oils, you can still reap the rewards of argan oil in Josie Maran’s cult-status face cream formula, AKA the Whipped Argan Oil Face Butter ($63 at MECCA).

Want to know the difference between argan oil vs coconut oil? Read up on all the benefits of coconut oil to see which one’s right for you.

Main image credit: @jastookes