Frequently Asked Questions
Q: So, why argan oil? What’s so special about it?
Argan oil has almost twice as much vitamin E as olive oil and is rich in antioxidants, which have an anti-aging affect. This high content of vitamin E prevents wrinkles and delays aging. Argan oil stimulates cells oxygenation, restores the hydrophilic layer and skin cells thus making it more elastic, smooth, and shiny. The rich composition of argan oil in unsaturated acids (79%) ensures a permanent skin hydration, therefore moisturizing, revitalizing, and nourishing it.
Q: What makes Argan Body’s Argan Oil unique?
Our oil is 100% organic and produced by a women’s cooperative in Morocco. The profits from its sales go to fund social improvements and provide women with an income in an area of the world where women generally do not earn money. Our argan oil is pure, unscented, and contains no colorant or preservatives. We also bottle our oil in UV protected bottles. Argan Body as a company takes painstaking steps to ensure all our products are luxurious, highly effective, and unique to the personal care market. We actively seek out ingredients that are as close to nature as possible. We insist on no animal testing ever and implement certified organic ingredients everywhere possible.
Q: I read that there is only one forest of argan trees in the world. It concerns me therefore, to be using products from this tree. Where does the oil come from? Is it sustainably extracted in a way that does not threaten this resource that sounds very very limited?
Yes, it's true there is only one argan forest. The forest was endangered to extinction years back because locals were cutting down the trees to use for fire wood, grazing, increased cultivation, etc... Then, in 1999, UNESCO added the argan tree to the World Heritage List, which protects the forest.
Today, the argan tree plays a vital role in maintaining both the ecological balance and economic situation for the local population. Conservation of the trees are now paramount because the production of argan oil is the main provider for income for the people -women who wouldn't earn a living otherwise. Yielding argan oil is a time consuming, labor intensive operation. In short, the oil is pressed from the nuts inside the fruit, which ripen in only in June or July of each growing season. You can watch how the women crush the seeds at youtube.com http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3DmIJSshpM.
Basically, the tree now maintains the economic balance of the region; by doing so the tree is safe from destruction because it is more valuable as a fruit producing agent, than, for example, as fire wood.
Q: Won’t using argan oil make my skin feel greasy?
This is a question we get asked a lot! In the West we are more used to using creams and lotions on our skin, but if you check the labels on these products you will usually find that they do contain some oil (as well as many other ingredients). Women in Africa and Asia have used oils to moisturize their skin for millennia and think nothing of it! Whilst some oils can sit on the surface of your skin and feel a bit greasy, argan oil absorbs into your skin even faster than a lot of creams! Think about when you water a plant that you haven’t watered for a while and how it just seems to suck up all the water – that is what applying argan oil feels like: your skin is thirsty and dry and uses the argan oil to quench that thirst! You will find very quickly that once you have massaged in your argan oil, your skin is just velvety soft and barely greasy at all. Having said that, a little goes a long way with argan oil, so apply sparingly for best effect!
Q: I have oily skin – can I still use argan oil?
Yes! Argan oil and argan oil products have a real talent for balancing out the skin and work wonders on all skin types. If you have very oily skin, try applying just at night for a while to see how your skin improves. Oily skin should also be treated gently. Many sufferers get so frustrated that they start using astringent products that literally strip the oil from your skin. Your skin needs a certain amount of oil to stay healthy, so when faced with all the oil being removed, it will go into overtime producing more to replace it.
Q: What’s the difference between cosmetic and culinary argan oil?
Argan oil used in cosmetics is produced through a cold-press technique while culinary argan oil through a heated-press technique. The Argan fruits are mature in early summer when they are picked and dried. The dried flesh portion (the fruit) is removed through a machine. The resulting nuts are manually crushed between two stones by women in order to obtain an intact almond. These almonds are then slightly roasted for culinary oil only. The almonds are then pressed through a special oil press to yield argan oil. The oil is then decanted into bottles and finally filtered in a special oil filter.
Q: How do I use Argan Oil on my hair or on my nails?
On dry hair, apply argan oil to your entire scalp and hair with your hands. Just massage in and wait about 30 minutes before shampooing and conditioning. You will see immediate results! Argan Oil restores the shine to dull, lifeless hair; it prevents split ends, alleviates dry and itchy scalp. For your nails, Argan Oil strengthens brittle nails and helps grow your nails quickly. Soak your nails in equal parts of argan oil and lemon (juice). Leave your nails in this preparation for just 10 minutes and then rinse your hands clean. The argan oil starts to penetrate the nails and cuticles in just 3 minutes and does not leave traces of any oily feeling.
Q: Is argan oil good for surgical scars?
The FDA prevents us from coming out and making the claim that argan oil prevents scarring because the FDA has yet to test argan oil for that purpose; however, clinical tests show that polyunsaturated fats (the omegas) and vitamin E are very effective in preventing scars. Since 100% pure argan oil has a very high concentration of polyunsaturated fats and vitamin E, we are confident that argan oil is as good as anything on the market in scar prevention.
Q: Can the 100% argan oil be used as a massage oil?
Absolutely! I would recommend having your massage therapist mix our 100% pure argan oil with other oils to make a fantastic, individualized massage oil. Coming soon we'll be adding our own massage oil collection called the Sognare Collection, which is created by massage therapist Heather J. Walker of Mequon, WI. Check back soon!
Q: Why the Aromatic Dead Sea Collection?
The composition of the Dead Sea is considered unique, containing the highest levels of magnesium, calcium, and potassium in comparison to any other body of salt water in the world, including the ocean. The Collection is balanced with plant extracts and essential oils. Our product line is luxurious and promotes a spa like quality. Once you try these products you won't want to switch to anything else. The Collection includes products and solutions to all your personal care needs: Face, Hair, and Body care. The Collection is formulated to compliment the Argan Oil & can and should be used in tandem with the products.
Q: What are the advantages to using the Mud products?
Dead Sea mud rich in minerals with similar chemical composition to Dead Sea waters can either be applied to the entire body or just parts. Most popular is our Mud Face Mask because it stimulates, tightens, cleanses, and invigorates your skin leaving your face with a refreshing glow.
The mud's remarkable absorbency reaches deep into the pores, thoroughly cleansing and removing grime which impedes the nourishing process. Through reverse osmosis, minerals from the mud nourishes the skin and restores its vitality. The mineral action also works to tighten the pores, helping skin to look and feel its best. Superfine grains allow for easy application, even coverage, and even removal. The stimulating effect of our Mud Face Mask is so powerful that it should be used gradually until the skin becomes accustomed to the active ingredients.
Q: Do you offer a wholesale list?
Yes, we do offer a wholesale list for our products. Please email your inquiry to info@arganbody.com.
Argan oil has almost twice as much vitamin E as olive oil and is rich in antioxidants, which have an anti-aging affect. This high content of vitamin E prevents wrinkles and delays aging. Argan oil stimulates cells oxygenation, restores the hydrophilic layer and skin cells thus making it more elastic, smooth, and shiny. The rich composition of argan oil in unsaturated acids (79%) ensures a permanent skin hydration, therefore moisturizing, revitalizing, and nourishing it.
Q: What makes Argan Body’s Argan Oil unique?
Our oil is 100% organic and produced by a women’s cooperative in Morocco. The profits from its sales go to fund social improvements and provide women with an income in an area of the world where women generally do not earn money. Our argan oil is pure, unscented, and contains no colorant or preservatives. We also bottle our oil in UV protected bottles. Argan Body as a company takes painstaking steps to ensure all our products are luxurious, highly effective, and unique to the personal care market. We actively seek out ingredients that are as close to nature as possible. We insist on no animal testing ever and implement certified organic ingredients everywhere possible.
Q: I read that there is only one forest of argan trees in the world. It concerns me therefore, to be using products from this tree. Where does the oil come from? Is it sustainably extracted in a way that does not threaten this resource that sounds very very limited?
Yes, it's true there is only one argan forest. The forest was endangered to extinction years back because locals were cutting down the trees to use for fire wood, grazing, increased cultivation, etc... Then, in 1999, UNESCO added the argan tree to the World Heritage List, which protects the forest.
Today, the argan tree plays a vital role in maintaining both the ecological balance and economic situation for the local population. Conservation of the trees are now paramount because the production of argan oil is the main provider for income for the people -women who wouldn't earn a living otherwise. Yielding argan oil is a time consuming, labor intensive operation. In short, the oil is pressed from the nuts inside the fruit, which ripen in only in June or July of each growing season. You can watch how the women crush the seeds at youtube.com http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3DmIJSshpM.
Basically, the tree now maintains the economic balance of the region; by doing so the tree is safe from destruction because it is more valuable as a fruit producing agent, than, for example, as fire wood.
Q: Won’t using argan oil make my skin feel greasy?
This is a question we get asked a lot! In the West we are more used to using creams and lotions on our skin, but if you check the labels on these products you will usually find that they do contain some oil (as well as many other ingredients). Women in Africa and Asia have used oils to moisturize their skin for millennia and think nothing of it! Whilst some oils can sit on the surface of your skin and feel a bit greasy, argan oil absorbs into your skin even faster than a lot of creams! Think about when you water a plant that you haven’t watered for a while and how it just seems to suck up all the water – that is what applying argan oil feels like: your skin is thirsty and dry and uses the argan oil to quench that thirst! You will find very quickly that once you have massaged in your argan oil, your skin is just velvety soft and barely greasy at all. Having said that, a little goes a long way with argan oil, so apply sparingly for best effect!
Q: I have oily skin – can I still use argan oil?
Yes! Argan oil and argan oil products have a real talent for balancing out the skin and work wonders on all skin types. If you have very oily skin, try applying just at night for a while to see how your skin improves. Oily skin should also be treated gently. Many sufferers get so frustrated that they start using astringent products that literally strip the oil from your skin. Your skin needs a certain amount of oil to stay healthy, so when faced with all the oil being removed, it will go into overtime producing more to replace it.
Q: What’s the difference between cosmetic and culinary argan oil?
Argan oil used in cosmetics is produced through a cold-press technique while culinary argan oil through a heated-press technique. The Argan fruits are mature in early summer when they are picked and dried. The dried flesh portion (the fruit) is removed through a machine. The resulting nuts are manually crushed between two stones by women in order to obtain an intact almond. These almonds are then slightly roasted for culinary oil only. The almonds are then pressed through a special oil press to yield argan oil. The oil is then decanted into bottles and finally filtered in a special oil filter.
Q: How do I use Argan Oil on my hair or on my nails?
On dry hair, apply argan oil to your entire scalp and hair with your hands. Just massage in and wait about 30 minutes before shampooing and conditioning. You will see immediate results! Argan Oil restores the shine to dull, lifeless hair; it prevents split ends, alleviates dry and itchy scalp. For your nails, Argan Oil strengthens brittle nails and helps grow your nails quickly. Soak your nails in equal parts of argan oil and lemon (juice). Leave your nails in this preparation for just 10 minutes and then rinse your hands clean. The argan oil starts to penetrate the nails and cuticles in just 3 minutes and does not leave traces of any oily feeling.
Q: Is argan oil good for surgical scars?
The FDA prevents us from coming out and making the claim that argan oil prevents scarring because the FDA has yet to test argan oil for that purpose; however, clinical tests show that polyunsaturated fats (the omegas) and vitamin E are very effective in preventing scars. Since 100% pure argan oil has a very high concentration of polyunsaturated fats and vitamin E, we are confident that argan oil is as good as anything on the market in scar prevention.
Q: Can the 100% argan oil be used as a massage oil?
Absolutely! I would recommend having your massage therapist mix our 100% pure argan oil with other oils to make a fantastic, individualized massage oil. Coming soon we'll be adding our own massage oil collection called the Sognare Collection, which is created by massage therapist Heather J. Walker of Mequon, WI. Check back soon!
Q: Why the Aromatic Dead Sea Collection?
The composition of the Dead Sea is considered unique, containing the highest levels of magnesium, calcium, and potassium in comparison to any other body of salt water in the world, including the ocean. The Collection is balanced with plant extracts and essential oils. Our product line is luxurious and promotes a spa like quality. Once you try these products you won't want to switch to anything else. The Collection includes products and solutions to all your personal care needs: Face, Hair, and Body care. The Collection is formulated to compliment the Argan Oil & can and should be used in tandem with the products.
Q: What are the advantages to using the Mud products?
Dead Sea mud rich in minerals with similar chemical composition to Dead Sea waters can either be applied to the entire body or just parts. Most popular is our Mud Face Mask because it stimulates, tightens, cleanses, and invigorates your skin leaving your face with a refreshing glow.
The mud's remarkable absorbency reaches deep into the pores, thoroughly cleansing and removing grime which impedes the nourishing process. Through reverse osmosis, minerals from the mud nourishes the skin and restores its vitality. The mineral action also works to tighten the pores, helping skin to look and feel its best. Superfine grains allow for easy application, even coverage, and even removal. The stimulating effect of our Mud Face Mask is so powerful that it should be used gradually until the skin becomes accustomed to the active ingredients.
Q: Do you offer a wholesale list?
Yes, we do offer a wholesale list for our products. Please email your inquiry to info@arganbody.com.