Argan Oil: Offering Benefits for Everyone

It's not too often that you find a product that is good for your body, the economy, and the earth, but that's exactly what Argan Oil (also called Moroccan Oil) is. This oil derived from the fruit of the Argania Spinosa trees of southwest Morocco has been praised for its benefits to hair and skin alike; Sally Hansen's Beauty Supply shops sell the oil as a hair product (a small drop worked into clean hair will add shine and vibrancy to your locks) while other retailers boast of the oils scar reducing and elasticity strengthening for your skin. However, a closer look into this naturally derived beauty product will show how it's also good for Morocco's economy, as well as their ecology.

More specifically, the commercialization of Argan oil has been done in such a way as to empower the women of Morocco. Through fair trade practices and cooperatives the women in the Argan industry are offered competitive salaries for their work, as well as educational opportunities through which they can advance their literacy and business transaction skills. In fact, there are an estimated three million people in the rural regions of Morocco whose livelihood is dependent upon the Argania tree industry; careful development of this industry through fair trade practices ensures that consumers enjoy the benefits that Argan oil has to offer and the local producers of the oil benefit fairly as well.

In addition to supporting the economy of Morocco, the Argan tree is an important ecological foundation for the region. The deep roots of this enormous tree provide the arid region's soil with stability, an important factor in heavy rains or winds. The commercialization of Argan oil is a part of the protection of this precious plant; the argan oil industry guarantees that each woman who is involved in the industry contributes to the reforestation project (of the Argania Spinosa) by planting at least ten trees. This way, the tree population which was starting to become endangered is guaranteed to flourish; with more trees, the local soil becomes richer and can also benefit any other plants grown in the region.

Finally, perhaps the best known part of Argan oil's fame is its "medicinal" or beauty treatment properties. Praised as an anti-aging oil (through increasing elasticity in skin), a scar reducer (by minimizing the appearance of such blemishes), and a hair beautifier (through increasing shine and vibrancy, as well as minimizing split ends), the list of the benefits of Argan oil for the consumer continues on. Argan oil is a beauty product where everyone-the consumer, the producer, and the earth-wins.

Sources for this article:

http://www.arganoils.com/epp.htmlhttp://www1.american.edu/ted/argan-oil.htm