Argan oil has skin-beautifying benefits if you eat it or just rub it directly on your face. Here’s why you should do both.
I am running out of salad dressing ingredients because everything in my pantry keeps turning out to have skin-beautifying ingredients, and then I have to stop eating it and start rubbing it on my face. First, there was olive oil, then apple cider vinegar, then coconut oil, and now argan oil as well.
Argan oil comes from the kernels of a plant called an argan tree, which grows in Morocco. (One of the most famous brands of cosmetic argan oil and oil products on the market is called Moroccan Oil.) It is used both as a food and as a cosmetic, and it turns out both uses are good for your skin.
According to a recent study, postmenopausal women experienced increased skin elasticity with daily topical use or consumption of argan oil, even over a control group that consumed olive oil instead. Now I am not yet postmenopausal, but I am concerned with skin elasticity and aging like Helen Mirren, so when I saw the results of this study, I decided to go buy some for myself and start using it.
I bought my argan oil at the organic grocery in the section where they keep all the fancy oils. My store carries two varieties, raw and roasted argan oil. I got confused at first and accidentally bought roasted argan oil instead of raw. I do not know if using roasted argan oil will do anything bad or reduce the efficacy of the amino acids, but it definitely makes your face smell like roasted nutshells. So I went back and got another bottle of raw argan oil.
I must say I like it quite a bit. It makes my skin feel smooth and plump, and I did not experience any breakouts. (I do, however, have very, very dry skin and have not had much facial acne since high school.) Also, it is very easy. I rub it on by itself on days when I cannot be bothered to engage in a 12-step skincare routine before bed, and I feel like it makes my skin look nice and glowy and healthy. I do not know if it is improving elasticity, but I can only hope.
According to the study, argan oil also has skin benefits when consumed, and that is an excellent time to use roasted argan oil. According to the study, consuming argan oil has also been linked to a decreased risk of certain age-related maladies like heart disease, diabetes, and high cholesterol. In Morocco, argan oil is used for dipping bread or drizzling over pasta or couscous. The roasted version adds a smoky, nutty flavor that is quite pleasant. I also like to use it in salad dressings during the winter.