The interesting story of Argan Oil

The recent popularity of Argan Oil would have you wondering whether Argan Oil is the new Shea Butter. The valued oil’s antioxidizing effects benefits the hair and skin, it’s rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids providing unbeatable softness and shine for your hair. The oil nourishes and moisturizes the skin and it’s said the anti-inflamitory effects can reduce and heal redness and scarring. It’s nutty flavor also makes an excellent dipping oil for bread. If you’re concerned about the safety of your cosmetic products, it’s nice to know when the product you’re using on your skin and hair is safe enough to eat!

The interesting thing about Argan Oil is how it was originally harvested and the economic and social impact it’s popularity has had on the region where it’s produced. It comes from the Argan tree which is native to Morocco in Northern Africa. Because the tree is specially adapted to grow in drought and harsh conditions, at one time it was found all over North Africa, but today, Argan oil is one of the rarest oils in the world because of its limited growing areas.

In ancient times, the oil was produced by collecting the pits of the Argan fruit from the waste of the goats that climbed the trees to eat the fruit. Contemporary production uses the pits of the fruit directly from the trees, but the cracking of the nuts to obtain the kernels is still a manual process, making the oil very expensive to produce.

The popularity of the oil has helped prevent the trees from being cut down and initiatives to plant new trees have been undertaken.  It’s had a beneficial environmental impact; the tree canopy provides shade for other agricultural products as well as the leaves and fruits providing food for animals. Socially, the production of Argan Oil supports millions of people living in the region, and much of it is produced by women’s cooperatives. This gives the women a source of income to support their families and to educate themselves and their children.

How many products are there that are so good for your body and support the environment and provide a social benefit, too?