15 Little Known Uses for Argan Oil

It’s no secret that we love argan oil. We use it as an ingredient in a number of our formulas, and our 100% PURE™ bottled version is one of the cleanest, purest and most undiluted argan oils on the market. Argan oil is difficult to obtain and has a somewhat meticulous extraction and production process – but the benefits of argan oil greatly outweigh its laborious harvesting process!

We’ll give you the 411 on how argan oil is processed, and dive into its beauty multi-tasking benefits for your skin and hair – plus we’ll delve into some of the lesser-known argan oil uses that will amaze you!

Who knew (well, we kind of did) that the little argan nut could be mighty liquid gold due to all its beautiful skin and hair magic?! Read on to discover its sorcery!

The argania spinosa (argan) tree provides day-to-day living essentials in its native Morocco. Applications of the tree (and its oil) range anywhere from food to shelter from the sun in the arid Moroccan landscape. Traditionally, harvesters would collect the naturally processed nuts from goat droppings, since a species of wild goat in Morocco subsists almost solely on argan nuts. More commonly, harvesters will collect argan nuts after they fall from the trees in late July.

While the former method is more sanitary than it sounds, the oil we use hasn’t been pre-digested by a goat. But it has undergone a slow, cold-pressing process which effectively does the same thing: gently removes the outer flesh of the nut, then separates the internal kernel from the shell. It’s a super labor intensive process, and it means that the oil can be somewhat pricier than other essential oils.

Because of the labor of love and care that goes into making high quality argan oil, the market is flooded with diluted alternatives and brands that cut corners with their formulas. Other methods of extracting oils are not so careful about maintaining the nutrients and integrity of the product. This begs the question: how pure is your argan oil? Let’s get you some helpful tips on what to look for!

Generally, you can use your nose to determine the quality of any given argan oil brand. Those floral scented argan oils from the store might smell divine, but that’s thanks to synthetic perfumes and heavy dilution.

If the oil is pure and minimally processed, it should have a pungent nutty odor. Put simply, the presence of this nutty odor means that your argan oil is pure, undiluted, and nutrient-dense. The best will be non-deodorized, given that the scent-stripping process removes essential fatty acids (like linoleic acid) and minerals.

PRO-TIP: When you apply pure argan oil to your skin or hair, the scent will only linger for a few minutes. So, don’t worry about a nutty aroma trailing after you when you leave the house! That said, if you’re really sensitive to the scent, try diluting argan oil with some pure essential oils that can pull double duty, providing a masking fragrance while also adding in some extra benefits.

Whether you choose to dilute it or not, argan oil is a seriously versatile ingredient and we are total super fans. This golden elixir has an impressively long list of perks, thanks to its unique composition, offering high amounts of skin-loving acids, which makes it extremely rich and moisturizing..

Its your skin-but-better-hydration powers that are one of the main reasons argan oil is found in so many products – and exactly why we feature it in many of our formulas. Without further ado, we’ve rounded up our 15 personal favorites when it comes to the many uses of this unique ‘dry’ oil.

Read on to find out how one little bottle of “liquid gold” organic argan oil could work wonders in your beauty routine!

#1: Makeup Remover
If there’s one thing we love, it’s discovering new natural makeup removers! Argan oil is considered a dry oil, which makes it completely non-greasy after it’s been rubbed into skin. This makes it a great option for removing smudged under-eye makeup, or even as a post-cleanse wipe down to grab any last remnants of foundation or blush.

You can use anti-aging argan oil as a makeup remover because it grabs onto makeup, won’t leave skin greasy, and moisturizes in the process. For stubborn makeup, sunblock, excess oil, environmental toxins and other impurities, follow up with a micellar water.

#2: Skin Luminizer
Argan oil makes a fantastic natural skin luminizer, especially if you’re looking for something shimmer-free. Its non-greasy texture still has the ability to catch and reflect light once absorbed into skin, for a totally natural glow that makes your skin look undeniably healthy and supple. This oil is perfect for chest, shoulder, neck, and leg luminizing in fall and winter, when traditional body luminizers might feel over-the-top.

#3: Healthier Scalp and Frizz Tamer
A healthier scalp means healthier hair. Argan oil promotes collagen production for fortified hair growth and fights against breakage. Not to mention the deep moisturizing properties of argan oil for the luscious locks of your dreams.

This organic oil also tames frizz in a pinch! Since argan oil is super lightweight and non-greasy, it’s perfect for applying to dry or frizzy strands. It smooths and lightly glosses hair for healthier texture and bounce, while also acting as an effective detangler (without slippery, harsh silicones found in most hair serums).

#4: Stretch Mark Minimizer
While stretch marks are genetically unavoidable (boo!), you can still work to lighten their appearance once they’ve arrived. During pregnancy, weight loss or gain, or any rapid growth, skin becomes stretched and creates small tears in the upper layers of skin. These ‘stretch’ marks are dark in color at first, but fade into scars over time.

To help ease the stretching of your skin, you’ll need to keep it VERY well moisturized. Some say that keeping dry skin hydrated and softened can minimize the severity of stretch marks or “striae”, as they rapidly form on distended skin. As a natural source of vitamin E, argan oil can both moisturize skin and help reduce hyperpigmentation and discoloration from scarring associated with stretch marks.

#5: Powder-to-Cream Blush
You can use argan oil with powder blush to create a creamier blush formula. Simply choose your signature shade, and start by carving out a small piece from the blush pan. Gently break it apart with the bottom of a makeup brush until it has become a fine powder, then mix in a small dab of argan oil. Blend until you get a puddle of creamy, pigmented blush!

Using your fingers, apply to cheeks and blend gently. Take a stippling brush or a small brush with rounded bristles and use the outer bristles to diffuse and fully blend the cream blush into cheeks for a natural, flushed glow.

#6: Carrier Oil
Are you essential-oil-obsessed? You’re not alone! The essential oils market has experienced a massive boom in popularity (and availability) thanks to social media, and some of these oils can have great benefits for skin. To use essential oils on the skin, you’ll need to dilute them with a carrier oil that makes them safe to use on your precious dermis.

Argan oil is full of essential fatty acids and minerals, as well as carotenes and squalene, so it will help to bolster your skin’s defensive barrier while it moisturizes and conditions your skin. This golden multi-tasking oil is a shoe-in choice for its ability to reduce inflammation, battle free radicals, and pack a punch of skin conditioning.

Whatever amount of carrier oil you’re using, only 2% volume should be essential oil. Our organic argan oil is 50ml, which means you should add no more than 15 drops of your desired essential oil.

#7: DIY Scrub Base
Argan oil is a tried-and-true multitasking tool for your DIY beauty arsenal. Since it’s good for all skin types, argan oil is the perfect choice for your DIY body scrub moisture base. Every scrub needs an oil-to-exfoliant ration, and we think argan oil is the perfect candidate for leaving skin soft and hydrated.

#8: Cuticle Treatment
Hard-working hands and nails need lots of TLC, and we think argan oil is the perfect non-greasy oil for the job. When it comes to self-care, rubbing a few drops of argan oil into cuticles and hands is an easy way to restore dry skin. You won’t get the slippery after-effects of lotion or heavier oils, that can prevent you from getting on with your day.

Massage the oil into your cuticles for a couple minutes until it’s absorbed, to soften hard cuticles and skin around the nail. Daily use of argan oil on your nail area can even prevent torn skin that forms around the nail – that means no more painful hangnails!

#9: Lip Softener
Dab a drop of argan oil onto lips for enhanced moisture and soft, supple skin. Perfect as part of a post-lip scrub routine, or even pre-lipstick or lip gloss. Just be sure to blend gently with your fingers until it has been absorbed into lips. Don’t be worried about it getting in your mouth. Argan oil is a staple in traditional Moroccan cuisine, and, therefore, is safe to eat, It also has tons of antioxidant benefits! So, we consider this lip softening hack a win-win.

#10: Shaving Protectant
Feeling a little skin discomfort after a shave, or noticing a barely-there layer of leftover hair? We’ve found that smoothing on a conditioning layer of argan oil onto the skin before a shave can improve the hair removal process.

Argan oil feeds the skin with fatty acids and vitamin E, which maintain the suppleness of our largest organ – our skin! Providing a slicker surface for our razor, it can also help reduce drag and therefore lower your risk of razor burn. This miracle oil can also act as a post-shave moisturizing treatment. After shaving, rub argan oil over the skin or mix it into your favorite body butter for a boost of moisture.

#11: Sunscreen Primer
When it comes to the care of our skin, we believe comfort and protection is key. Our daily sunscreen application should be smooth and easy, but some of the ingredients in these formulas can feel a little drying.

Make thick or chalky sunscreens easy to spread by priming skin with a few drops of liquid argan oil gold. As one of our top argan oil uses this will provide a smoother surface compatible with both your skin and the sunscreen. Bonus benefit: it makes removing your sunscreen at the end of the day a breeze!

#12: PM Hand Treatment
If you want to know how our fall is going (or our year in general), just take a look at our cuticles. Our nails, knuckles, and hands have felt more dry than usual, with constant hand washing and sanitizing, not to mention the harsh colder months.

Alas – we think we’ve found a miracle remedy! In the evening, we’ll spend a few minutes giving extra attention to our hands, by bringing down our face scrub. Once or twice a week, using your Acai Pulp Facial Scrub can help to condition and smooth the hands.

We follow exfoliation with a rich hand buttercream, loaded with natural ingredients like cocoa butter and our not-so-secret crush, argan oil. Lock in your layer of hand cream with conditioning argan oil, to keep hand moisture preserved overnight. Add a pair of bamboo or cotton gloves to make sure nothing transfers to the bedsheets!

#13: Baby-Soft Bath
If there’s a pair we love above all others, it’s the divine dynamic of therapeutic bath salts and a glass of your favorite wind-down beverage. To get more than a superficial soak – that means more moisture – just add argan oil. Add 1-2 tablespoons of argan oil into your morning or evening bath for deeper hydration and nourished skin. You’ll feel the difference the second you slip out of the water!

PRO TIP: Speaking of slip, an oil-boosted bath requires a tad more care when entering and exiting – watch your step!

#14: DIY Colored Eye Liner
Did you know that you can turn any of your favorite eyeshadows into eye liner with just a few drops of argan oil? Scrape a little powder eyeshadow onto a clean mixing surface beside a drop of argan oil. With an angled eye liner brush, begin mixing the two until you have a smooth, evenly pigmented paste. Use to create stunning liner looks, DIY faux freckles, or even an ombre effect on the lashes.

#15: Oil Pulling
Last on our list of little-known argan oil uses is an ability to extract bacteria from your mouth, though oil-pulling. Oil pulling is the act of putting a small amount of pure, edible oil (about 1 tbsp) into your mouth, and swishing the oil back and forth through your teeth for about 10-15 minutes before spitting it out.

Coconut oil is the mainstream star of this trendy form of mouth-maintenance, but argan oil works too. Oil pulling is suggested to improve bad breath, reduce harmful bacteria on the teeth and tongue, and condition the gums. We’ll call that another win for liquid gold argan oil!

No matter your uses for argan oil, it can work beauty wonders for your skin and hair, as well as more! The key is to find a natural, high-quality argan oil that can deliver results. We think our aragn oil fits the bill – and more!

With this foolproof collection of tips and benefits, your skin should be glowing, soft, and supple in no time! Whether you’re dealing with dry skin or skin sensitivities, using argan oil is your hot ticket to a glowing complexion. Your skin will thank you daily!