A Great Carrier for Delicate Skin: Argan Oil for Skin Care

How (and Why!) to Use Argan Oil for Skin Care

Sometimes when people decide to start using all-natural skin care products, it can take a little time to find "the right one."

That makes sense—everyone's skin is different.

And that's why I'm so excited about today's blog post. I want to tell as many people as possible about using argan oil for skincare!

I know that some people want to avoid putting oil on their skin, having experienced products that feel greasy or clog pores, but argan oil is different. Here's a little information about it from my book, The Heart of Aromatherapy: An Easy-to-Use Guide for Essential Oils.

"Argan oil is light, silky, and smooth. It's been shown to have high levels of vitamin E, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids, which explains its talent for soothing irritation and nourishing skin.”

"Argan oil does not feel oily or greasy, does not clog pores, and is a good choice for a facial moisturizer. It’s often used to nourish dry nails and hair, and is popular for mature skin. You can even use it as a face wash instead of soap.”

If you haven't tried argan oil for skincare, I encourage you to check it out!

A great "introduction" to using argan oil for skin care is this recipe for a soap-free face wash that I created for The Heart of Aromatherapy. I love this blend because it accomplishes a few things at once: it cleanses your skin, moisturizes, allows you to avoid soapy face washes that might cause irritation, and it gives your skin all the supportive, restoring goodness I mentioned above. 

"Skin Silk" Soap-Free Face Wash

This blend cleanses your skin, moisturizes it, and allows you to avoid soapy face washes that might cause irritation.

Ingredients

• 2 fl oz (60 ml) Argan Oil (Argania spinosa)

• 1 drop Cedarwood Oil (Juniperus virginiana)

• 1 drop Geranium Oil (Pelargonium x asperum)

• 1 drop Opopanax Oil (Commiphora guidotti)

Equipment

• One 2 oz (60 ml) glass bottle

Directions

• Add the argan oil to the bottle.

• Add the essential oil drops.

• Close the lid and shake gently.

To use it, get your face damp with a warm, wet washcloth. Then gently massage a few drops of the face wash all over your face. Wipe your skin clean with your cloth (either a damp or dry cloth will work).

You may not even need to moisturize after this. If you do, you can use a few more drops of your face wash as a "leave-on" treatment. Your skin will drink it right in!

Argan oil is handmade by the women of Morocco, who use a traditional process that involves smashing argan nuts with rocks, then making an "argan dough" with the powder of the nuts and water, and then kneading the dough firmly by hand to press out the oil. A long process! That's why argan oil is so precious . . . it's even known as "liquid gold."

I hope that this recipe gets you that much closer to finding the perfect natural skincare for your face!