Is argan oil comedogenic?

On the standard 0-5 comedogenic scale, argan oil scores 0 - non-comedogenic. It is one of the few plant oils that even acne-prone skin can typically tolerate as a facial moisturiser. The high linoleic-acid content (~35%) is the reason: skin that produces sebum low in linoleic acid (typical of acne-prone skin) tolerates linoleic-rich oils better than oleic-rich ones.

Cold-pressed argan versus roasted - what is the difference?

Cold-pressed unroasted argan is the cosmetic grade: pale colour, faint nutty smell, used on hair and skin. Roasted argan is the culinary grade: darker colour, strong nutty-toasted aroma, used in Moroccan cooking. Both come from the same kernel, but the roasting step changes the fatty-acid profile and shortens shelf life. Always check the label - some unscrupulous brands sell cooking-grade argan as cosmetic oil because it is cheaper to source.

How should I store it?

Out of direct light, ideally in dark glass, at room temperature. Argan oil is reasonably stable thanks to its natural tocopherol content but will go rancid (a fishy or paint-like smell) after about a year if kept in clear bottles on a bright shelf. Our finished products include argan as part of a balanced blend with phenoxyethanol-based preservation, giving an opened shelf life of 18 months.

Argan on hair - does it work?

Yes, particularly on the lengths and ends of dry or chemically treated hair. Argan does not deep-condition like a wash-out mask, but smoothed over towel-dried hair before styling it gives slip and shine without weighing the hair down. It also reduces frizz on humid days. In our line argan appears in body splashes that you can spray on hair as well as skin - that is the traditional Levantine use.

Ingredient

Argan oil

The cold-pressed seed oil of a thorny tree that survives in only one valley on earth - the arid south-west of Morocco. Light, fast-absorbing and very high in vitamin E, it is the carrier of choice for our body splashes and a key part of the baby-oil blend.

Argania spinosa

At a glance

Part used: Kernel of the argan fruit (the stone inside the fleshy outer husk)
Origin: Souss valley, south-west Morocco - the only argan forest in the world
Process: Cold-pressed mechanically, unroasted for cosmetic grade (roasted version is for cooking)
pH: 5.5 - 6.5 (skin-compatible, slightly acidic)

Why it is called liquid gold

Argan is one of the most expensive cosmetic carrier oils on the market - because the tree only grows in a small Moroccan biosphere, because each fruit takes a year to ripen, and because cold-pressing is slow and yields little oil per kilogram of kernels. The oil is unusually high in tocopherols (vitamin E, 70-90 mg/100g, roughly double olive oil) and in linoleic acid, both of which act as antioxidants on skin. The light dry-touch finish, with no greasy residue, is the practical reason it dominates fast-absorbing cosmetics like body splashes and serums.

How to spot the real thing

Genuine argan oil has a pale-amber colour, a faint nutty scent (more pronounced in unfiltered grades) and an unmistakable dry-touch absorption. Cheap imitations are usually argan-blended olive or sunflower oil, sold at suspiciously low prices. A reliable test: pour a few drops into your palm and wait sixty seconds. Pure argan absorbs almost completely with only a slight sheen; blended oils leave a noticeably greasy residue. Our supplier delivers single-origin cosmetic-grade argan directly from a women's cooperative in the Souss valley.

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Questions

Questions about argan oil

Is argan oil comedogenic?
On the standard 0-5 comedogenic scale, argan oil scores 0 - non-comedogenic. It is one of the few plant oils that even acne-prone skin can typically tolerate as a facial moisturiser. The high linoleic-acid content (~35%) is the reason: skin that produces sebum low in linoleic acid (typical of acne-prone skin) tolerates linoleic-rich oils better than oleic-rich ones.
Cold-pressed argan versus roasted - what is the difference?
Cold-pressed unroasted argan is the cosmetic grade: pale colour, faint nutty smell, used on hair and skin. Roasted argan is the culinary grade: darker colour, strong nutty-toasted aroma, used in Moroccan cooking. Both come from the same kernel, but the roasting step changes the fatty-acid profile and shortens shelf life. Always check the label - some unscrupulous brands sell cooking-grade argan as cosmetic oil because it is cheaper to source.
How should I store it?
Out of direct light, ideally in dark glass, at room temperature. Argan oil is reasonably stable thanks to its natural tocopherol content but will go rancid (a fishy or paint-like smell) after about a year if kept in clear bottles on a bright shelf. Our finished products include argan as part of a balanced blend with phenoxyethanol-based preservation, giving an opened shelf life of 18 months.
Argan on hair - does it work?
Yes, particularly on the lengths and ends of dry or chemically treated hair. Argan does not deep-condition like a wash-out mask, but smoothed over towel-dried hair before styling it gives slip and shine without weighing the hair down. It also reduces frizz on humid days. In our line argan appears in body splashes that you can spray on hair as well as skin - that is the traditional Levantine use.

Argan oil

At a glance

Argan oil

Why it is called liquid gold

How to spot the real thing

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Questions about argan oil