Argan oil, also known as “liquid gold,” is an fascinating Moroccan oil that many use as a head-to-toe beauty elixir. It’s rich in antioxidants, vitamins A and E, essential fatty acids, and minerals to smooth and soften your skin without any harmful toxins or additives.

If you’re curious about argan oil and what you can do with it, here’s a little bit about this magical oil plus some of the best argan oil uses for your whole body.

What is Argan Oil?

Argan oil is a plant oil extracted from kernels of the fruit of the argan tree, which is native to the Kingdom of Morocco in Northwest Africa.

To produce the oil:

• Workers dry the fruit in open air before removing the fleshy pulp.
• Then, the argan nut is cracked by hand to get the kernels inside. If the oil is being made for culinary reasons, the kernels are gently roasted and cooled
• The kernels are then grinded, pressed, and filtered to produce the pure, all-natural argan oil.

Argan oil is useful for two main purposes: culinary and cosmetic.

Culinary argan oil has been used for dishes like salads, couscous and other grain, and as an oil for dipping bread.

Consuming argan oil may have some significant health benefits, too. Research from 2010 showed argan oil has more γ-Tocopherol (which is the main form of vitamin E and has strong anti-inflammatory and chemopreventive properties) than other oils [1].

The production of argan oil may also help the environment. Due to increased production of this amazing oil, many argan trees are saved from being cut down.

Besides these the internal and environmental benefits of argan oil, below we’ll cover some of the best reasons to use it for cosmetic purposes.

Top 10 Argan Oil Uses for Health and Beauty

Most people know what we put in our bodies—the food we eat—matters for good health. But what we put on our bodies is just as important. If you’re looking for more natural options for skin care and beauty routines, argan oil is your solution. Here are the best argan oil uses for just about every area of your body.

1. Most Common Argan Oil Uses: Body Moisturizer

Many people use argan oils as a healthy, all-natural moisturizer. It’s used in many body and face lotions, hair conditioners, and even soaps. Argan oil can even be ingested orally as a daily supplement for moisturizing benefits.

A lot of the benefit comes from the vitamin E present in argan oil, which is an antioxidant that can help moisturize and improve skin’s water retention.

How to use: Simply add a few drops onto your skin and rub it in. You can also add it directly to your existing body lotion or into your bath water.

2. Argan Oil Uses as a Face Moisturizer

Argan oil is great for your face as well as your body. Since it’s a “dry” oil, you can add use it day or night and it will absorb quickly without making you feel greasy.

How to use: After washing your face in the morning and at night, massage a few drops of argan oil onto your face and neck. If you’d like, apply night cream once the oil absorbs.

3. Argan Oil as a Face Toner

Besides moisturizing skin, argan oil can also help offset the harshness of regular toners.

How to use: Add a few drops of argan oil to your toner bottle and shake well to mix.

If you want a toner completely free of alcohol or parabens, sleep a green tea bag for 10 minutes, remove and let it cool, then add two drops each of tea tree oil and argan oil. Store the mixture in a glass jar and use as a toner morning and night.

4. Argan Oil for Acne and Other Skin Concerns

Excess sebum, the oil in the sebaceous glands of your skin, is what often leads to acne on the face and body. Since argan oil has anti-sebum properties, it may help regulate and balance acne-related skin issues to calm and smooth out the complexion.

People have found argan oil helpful in soothing a variety of other skin issues, as well, including:

• Flushed skin on the nose or cheeks
• Scaly or red patches of skin
• Skin irritations
• Red, itchy skin [2]
• For calming the skin of cuts, scrapes, or wounds
• Stretch marks [3]

How to use: Apply pure argan oil to affected areas of the skin twice a day. (If you have a serious skin condition, speak with your doctor first.)

4. Argan Oil All-Natural Face Mask

For healthy, smooth skin, treat yourself to a beauty face mask starring argan oil.

How to use: Take your favorite all-natural face mask formula (or make your own) and add a few drops of argan oil. Apply to your face for 10 minutes before rinsing off with warm water.

5. Argan Oil for Skin Elasticity

There’s a reason argan oil is often boasted as one of the best anti-aging products. Many women have credited argan oil for boosted skin elasticity, and research from 2015 on dietary and cosmetic argan oil supports this [4].

How to use: Massage a small amount of argan oil onto the skin day and night. You can also take argan oil as an oral supplement.

5. Argan Oil Lip Moisturizer

It makes sense that if argan oil is good for the rest of your skin, it can help your lips too!

How to use: To moisturize and exfoliate your lips, mix brown sugar with a little vanilla extract and a few drops of argan oil. Lightly massage onto your lips for a few minutes, then rinse off.

6. Argan Oil as Leave-In Conditioner for Your Hair

Anyone with healthy hair knows conditioning is essential. Argan oil can help with that, too.

How to use: After washing your hair, add a few drops of argan oil to the ends and scalp while your hair is still wet as a natural leave-in conditioner. Dry and style or let air dry.

7. Argan Oil as Hair Treatment Serum

Besides working as a conditioner, argan oil can be your go-to for regular hair treatments, as well.

How to use: Before you go to bed, massage a generous amount of argan oil into your hair’s scalp and ends, then wrap it up in a towel and leave as you sleep. When you wake up, rinse your hair and wash as usual—then revel in your newly treated and moisturized hair!

8. Argan Oil as a Frizz Reducer

Dealing with frizz and flyaways this season? Use argan oil as a natural remedy.

How to use: Rub just a few drops of argan oil (be sure not to use very much) into the palms of your hands and gently run your hands through dry, frizzy hair. You’ll instantly boost the shine and reduce frizziness.

9. Argan Oil as a Dry Skin and Cuticle Moisturizer

Cracked skin on your heels or overly dry cuticles from busy hands? Use argan oil to moisturize and heal both.

How to use: For your hands, gentle rub a few drops of argan oil into your cuticles and give them time to soften. For dry heels, massage argan oil into the dry skin and cover your feet with socks. Leave overnight for a deeply moisturizing skin treatment.

10. Argan Oil as Skin Protection

Because of the antioxidant activity in argan oil, women in Morocco have been using it as skin protection from sun damage for many years [5].

How to use: Apply argan oil topically or take in oral supplement form. However, keep in mind this is not a substitute for proper skin protection from the sun, especially if you have pale skin. You’ll still want to protect yourself with a natural sunscreen.

As you can see, argan oil has many, many applications for both beauty and health. At Nature’s Ideal, we offer many health and beauty items containing the wondrous argan oil, including body and massage oils, carrier oils, hair products, baby lotions, hand and body lotions, and more.

Shop our large variety argan oil-containing products here today.

Disclaimer: Statements made have not been evaluated by the FDA. Products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.