Sorry I've been so slack with this blog lately. Work and general life has been getting in my way. Hopefully normality will be reinstated shortly but in the meantime I thought I'd give you a rundown on a new product I've been trying out. "New" may be a bit of stretch for something that has been around for hundreds of years! But hopefully it's an oldie but goodie...
What is it?
Argan oil is a rare oil derived from kernels of the argan tree, traditionally found in Morocco (I believe it is the same as "Moroccan Oil"). It can be eaten but I am more interested in it's cosmetic form!
The oil is full of natural goodness and according to Wikipedia is exceptionally rich in natural tocopherols (vitamin E), rich in phenols and phenolic acid, rich in carotenes, rich in squalene, rich in essential fatty acids, 80% unsaturated fatty acids and depending on extraction method more resistant to oxidation than olive oil.
Also according to Wikipedia All argan sold today is produced by a women's cooperative that shares the profits among the local women of the Berber tribe. The cooperative has established an ecosystem reforestation project so that the supply of argan oil will not run out and the income that is currently supporting the women will not disappear. The money is providing healthcare and education to the local women, and supporting the entire community as a whole.
So... natural, check. Sustainable, check. Supports women, check. In addition it is said to be moisturising, healing and anti oxidising and it is said to combine the good qualities of other natural favourites like avocados, olive and almond oils. Some cosmetic uses I have found for it by searching online (there is a lot of information out there about it) include:
- anti aging/wrinkle - reduces signs of aging and prevents skin drying out
- protects and repairs the skin
- ease some skin conditions
- helps elasticity of skin
- renew skin structure and revitalise the skin
- prevent and reduce appearance of stretch marks
- reduce scars and other blemishes
- strengthen weak and brittle nails
- conditions hair
- smooths spilt ends
- can ease dry scalp
- adds shine to hair
Where can I get it?
I bought mine from this seller on Amazon but there are LOTS of other sellers out there with varying prices so shop around! It is readily available on eBay as well as through a range of other outlets.
So my order arrived quickly. I was full of expectation and a little apprehension as I have oily skin and hair so oil tends not to be my best friend!
What did I think?
Now first off, as the photos suggest the bottle is nothing to write home (or here really!) about. The oil itself is more runny than I expected. There is a vague smell off it, not unlike cooking oil. Nice ;)
I've only been using the oil not for about 10 days or so but so far I have applied it to:- scarring on my leg (from shaving over a year ago!) in a similar way I would used Bio-Oil
- horrible stretch marks I have
- my face a couple of evenings before bed in a similar way I would use Estee Lauder Night Repair - just on its own with no other moisturiser
- my hair in the evening before bed and washed it out the next day
- damp hair like a serum
- the tips of dried newly straightened hair
(Is it any wonder I've been too busy to blog with all this going on, eh?!)
SKIN: The oil absorbs much better than I expected. I can't stand the feeling of "gloop" on me and don't moisturise anywhere near as much as I should because of it. This absorbed into my scarring and marks well. So far it's a bit early to declare much improvement but I do know my skin feels softer. My face has felt a bit "moist" after application but it hasn't stopped me falling asleep and by the time I wash in the morning my skin has felt a bit brighter and more smooth. I get hormonal spot outbreaks and it hasn't been faced [cough] with that yet but I'm hopeful it will help clear them up a little quicker.
Above photos show oil on skin and after about 5 seconds of rubbing it was only noticeable to the touch!
HAIR: My hair is a grease fest. I wash it every day because I can't stand it feeling at all greasy on me. I applied some at night and the next day my hair was noticeably softer and more conditioned. My hair suffered a little due to my holiday and I think an application of this maybe one night a week could do it wonders! I also added some to my wet hair and dry tips and it made a huge difference to the slight fuzziness I have on the ends of my hair. It felt a little greasy for my liking but I think if I was wearing my hair for a night out or I played around with t he quantities I could get this to work for me too.
Overall
All in all so far, so good. The oil isn't super cheap but I've barely made a dent in this 100mls yet. It has quite a range of uses and a little goes a long way. The bottle can make things a little messy and when my EL Night Repair is used up I think I'll decant some into the bottle for ease of use. I have seen a hair shine spray which has me intrigued to but I will play around with quantities of this first and see how it goes!
I will keep you updated on how I get on with it.
Have any of you tried this "liquid gold" yet?
LoubouLush x
Not content with this, my ultra work related boredom and new found love for nail art led me to give some clouds a go with my Barry M "Matt White". Using the brush I dotted on some clouds and after the first cloud coat dried I touched up some parts with an extra few dabs of white which gives a bit of a 3D effect. I finished with a clear top coat.
