5 Ways to Tell if You Have Pure Argan Oil

With Argan Oil gaining in popularity, there are many products popping up on the internet and even in stores claiming to be “Pure Argan Oil”. Here are 5 things to look for to ensure that the Argan Oil brands you’re looking into have pure Argan Oil:

1- Ingredient List

Always check the list of ingredients in the bottle of Argan Oil before you buy it. If the bottle features a long list of chemicals, it is not pure Argan Oil. The bottle should simply say – 100% Argan Oil or 100% Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil (the scientific name). If the bottle lists various other ingredients, the efficacy of the oil is lost.

2- Price point

Most good things come at a price, including a bottle of pure Argan Oil. There is no such thing as cheap Argan Oil!

Keep in mind that starting from the sourcing of nuts up to the delivery of the finished product, it takes a lot of time, labor, effort, and even customs and import duties before a bottle of Argan Oil is delivered to your doorstep. Considering these factors, Argan Oil is way more expensive than the ordinary beauty oils you see in the market. If a particular brand of Argan Oil is being sold at say $10 for a 60 ml bottle, you may want to stop and reconsider your choice.

Read how Argan Oil is produced by the Berber women in Morocco

3- Scent

The real scent of genuine Argan Oil is a unique, raw, nutty smell. Once the oil is applied to your hair or skin, it gets absorbed almost immediately – and the scent disappears.

Culinary Argan Oil smells a bit different. It should have a fragrant smell that makes you want to eat it. In culinary Argan Oil, the Argan kernels are toasted first before the grinding process. Strong smelling Argan Oil that smell absolutely awful should obviously be avoided.  It most likely has gone rancid.

Be wary of Argan Oil that smells like absolutely nothing. There is a possibility the oil was consistently deodorized, thereby stripping its healing and restorative properties, or it might be diluted or fake. In other words, it won’t help you in the health and beauty department.

4- Colour

Cosmetic Argan Oil should have a golden yellow colour, while the culinary variant is golden brown in colour. If the colour of the Argan Oil you have on hand is light or almost clear, then it could be filtered, mixed with chemicals or other oils, or fake. In other words, heat and machines were involved in the manufacturing process. Avoid.

5- Texture

The texture of your Argan Oil should be smooth & silky. Argan Oil should be so smooth that it disappears into your skin almost immediately after application. It shouldn’t feel watered down or slimy, or sticky. It definitely shouldn’t sting your skin. Whatever your skin condition may be, Argan Oil should be a source of relief that provides a soothing effect when used – not a source of pain.

We all know that the proof is in the pudding, and the only way to truly know if a product is amazing is to use it yourself. Many people drop their prescription medication for eczema and replace it with pure Argan Oil when they find that it’s more effective and works better.

A good rule of thumb to go by to determine if your Argan Oil is working for you is that you can’t wait to order a new bottle as the first bottle starts to empty out!