What's in Argan Oil? Vitamin E, Fatty Acids and Sterols Explained
"Rich in vitamin E" is printed on nearly every bottle of argan oil, usually without a number attached. It is true, but it is also only part of the story, and the most interesting parts of argan oil's chemistry rarely make it onto the label. Here is what is actually in the oil, in figures drawn from published analyses, and what each component can and can't do for your skin and hair.
The short answer
Argan oil contains roughly 600 to 900 mg of vitamin E per kilogram, mostly gamma-tocopherol rather than the alpha form found in most supplements. It is about 80 percent unsaturated fat, mainly oleic acid (43 to 49 percent) and linoleic acid (29 to 36 percent), with unusual plant sterols and squalene.
Argan oil composition at a glance
Like other plant oils, argan oil is almost entirely made of triglycerides, which are fatty acids attached to a glycerol backbone. The remaining small fraction, called the unsaponifiable matter (no more than about 1.1 percent), holds most of the vitamin E, sterols and other minor compounds that make argan oil distinctive.1
| Component | Typical amount in argan oil | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Oleic acid (C18:1) | 43.0–49.1% | Monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid1 |
| Linoleic acid (C18:2) | 29.3–36.0% | Polyunsaturated omega-6 essential fatty acid1 |
| Palmitic acid (C16:0) | 11.5–15% | Saturated fatty acid1 |
| Stearic acid (C18:0) | 4.3–7.2% | Saturated fatty acid1 |
| Linolenic acid (C18:3) | ≤0.3% | Omega-3; very low, which helps stability1 |
| Total tocopherols (vitamin E) | about 600–900 mg/kg | Mostly gamma-tocopherol1 |
| Total sterols | up to about 2,200 mg/kg | Mainly schottenol and spinasterol1 |
| Squalene | about 3,100 mg/kg (one analysis) | A lipid also found in human sebum2 |
These are ranges, not fixed values. Composition varies with the trees, region, harvest and processing, which is why published figures differ slightly from study to study.
Argan oil fatty acids: oleic and linoleic
About 80 percent of argan oil's fatty acids are unsaturated, and two dominate: oleic acid and linoleic acid.1 That near-balance between the two is the most practically important thing about argan oil on skin.
Linoleic acid is an essential fatty acid the body can't make. It has a direct role in maintaining the skin's water barrier.3 Oleic acid makes an oil feel richer and more nourishing, but with continuous application it can disrupt barrier function and increase skin permeability.3 Oils that are mostly oleic acid, like olive oil, behave differently on skin from oils with a more even mix. Argan oil's profile sits between the two extremes, which is one reason it feels comfortable on most skin types without being as heavy as olive oil.
The small amount of omega-3 linolenic acid also matters: polyunsaturated fats with more double bonds oxidize faster, so argan's very low level helps it stay fresh.
Is argan oil high in vitamin E?
Yes, for a plant oil. A detailed review reports total tocopherols of about 60 to 90 mg per 100 g of oil, or 600 to 900 mg per kilogram.1 Another review gives a figure of 600 to 700 mg per kilogram.2 Either way, argan sits toward the higher end of common cosmetic oils.
The gamma-tocopherol twist
Vitamin E isn't a single molecule. It is a family of eight related compounds: four tocopherols (alpha, beta, gamma and delta) and four tocotrienols.4 Most of the vitamin E in argan oil is gamma-tocopherol, reported at roughly 69 to 92 percent of the total depending on the analysis, followed by delta-tocopherol, with only a small share of alpha-tocopherol.1,2
That matters because alpha-tocopherol is the form the body preferentially keeps and the only one that meets human vitamin E requirements; gamma-tocopherol is the form most common in the American diet.4 In one comparison, argan oil contained about 50 mg/kg of alpha-tocopherol against roughly 190 mg/kg in olive oil.2 So "rich in vitamin E" is accurate for total tocopherols, but if someone tells you argan oil is a great source of the vitamin E your body needs, that overstates it.
What vitamin E actually does in argan oil
Tocopherols are fat-soluble antioxidants that stop chain reactions of lipid oxidation.4 Their most reliable job in a bottle of argan oil is protecting the oil itself: they help explain why cosmetic argan oil keeps reasonably well for a polyunsaturated oil. Unroasted cosmetic argan oil has an estimated shelf life of about a year at 25°C, while roasted culinary argan oil lasts about two years.1 Our guide to whether argan oil expires covers storage.
On skin, the picture is more modest. Topically applied vitamin E does penetrate the epidermis and dermis, and skin naturally receives vitamin E through sebum.5 But vitamin E alone offers limited protection from ultraviolet light; it works better combined with vitamin C. Studies of topical alpha-tocopherol on wounds and scars have found either no benefit or a worse appearance, and some forms of vitamin E, especially ester forms used in cosmetics, have caused allergic contact dermatitis.5 In short, the vitamin E in argan oil is a genuine plus, but it is not a sunscreen and not a scar treatment.
Sterols: schottenol and spinasterol
Argan oil's sterol profile is unusual. Its sterols are mainly schottenol (about 44 to 49 percent of total sterols) and spinasterol (about 34 to 44 percent), while campesterol, a sterol common in many other plant oils, is present at no more than about 0.4 percent.1 Total sterols reach about 220 mg per 100 g.1
That fingerprint is useful for authenticity: because argan's sterols differ so clearly from those of cheaper oils, laboratories use them to detect adulteration.1 If you're curious how that plays out on the shelf, see our guide to real vs. fake argan oil. As for skin benefits, sterols are often described as supporting skin regeneration, but specific human evidence for argan's sterols on skin is lacking, so treat those claims as plausible rather than proven.
Squalene and other minor compounds
Squalene is a lipid that makes up about 13 percent of human sebum and acts as an emollient and antioxidant on the skin surface.6 One analysis measured about 3,130 mg/kg of squalene in argan oil, less than olive oil (about 4,990 mg/kg) but far more than sunflower oil (about 60 mg/kg).2 One caution worth knowing: when squalene on the skin is oxidized by sunlight, its oxidized form has been linked to comedone formation, while squalene itself is less comedogenic.6 That is one more reason to store any oil away from heat and light.
Argan oil also contains small amounts of phenolic compounds, including ferulic, caffeic and vanillic acids, though at lower levels than olive oil.2 Researchers have also identified triterpene alcohols and traces of coenzyme Q10 and melatonin,1 but at concentrations that make it hard to attribute any skin effect to them.
Cosmetic vs. culinary argan oil: does processing change the composition?
Both kinds come from the same kernels, but culinary oil is pressed from roasted kernels and cosmetic oil from unroasted ones. Roasting changes color (copper rather than gold), flavor and aroma, and it improves oxidative stability.1 The fatty acid profile stays broadly similar. For skin and hair, unroasted oil is preferred because it has a milder scent and has not been heated. Our guide to culinary vs. cosmetic argan oil explains the trade-offs.
Whatever the label says about vitamin E, the composition you get depends on the oil being pure and fresh. Our 100% organic argan oil is cold-pressed from unroasted kernels and contains nothing else, so what's in the bottle is argan oil's own chemistry, with no added vitamin E, fragrance or carrier oils.
Argan oil's real distinction isn't one headline vitamin. It's a balanced fatty acid profile, a gamma-rich vitamin E fraction and sterols almost no other oil has.
For how this composition translates into everyday use, see our complete guide to argan oil and our evidence-based look at benefits and side effects.
Frequently asked questions
How much vitamin E is in argan oil?
Published analyses report roughly 600 to 900 mg of total tocopherols per kilogram of argan oil. Most of it is gamma-tocopherol, with only a small amount of alpha-tocopherol.
Does argan oil have more vitamin E than olive oil?
It has more total tocopherols, but less alpha-tocopherol, the form the body uses to meet its vitamin E needs. One comparison found about 50 mg/kg of alpha-tocopherol in argan oil versus about 190 mg/kg in olive oil.
What are the main fatty acids in argan oil?
Oleic acid (about 43 to 49 percent) and linoleic acid (about 29 to 36 percent), with smaller amounts of palmitic and stearic acid. About 80 percent of its fatty acids are unsaturated.
Is the vitamin E in argan oil good for scars?
There is no good evidence that it helps. Studies of topical vitamin E on wounds and scars have found no benefit or a worse appearance.
Does argan oil contain omega-3?
Only trace amounts. Linolenic acid, the plant omega-3, makes up no more than about 0.3 percent of argan oil's fatty acids.
Sources
- Gharby S, Charrouf Z. Argan oil: chemical composition, extraction process, and quality control. Front Nutr. 2022;8:804587. Link
- Serrafi A, et al. The importance of argan oil in medicine and cosmetology. Nutrients. 2024;16(20):3573. Link
- Lin TK, Zhong L, Santiago JL. Anti-inflammatory and skin barrier repair effects of topical application of some plant oils. Int J Mol Sci. 2017;19(1):70. Link
- Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University. Vitamin E. Micronutrient Information Center. Link
- Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University. Vitamin E and skin health. Micronutrient Information Center. Link
- Morgan NR, Magalingam KB, Radhakrishnan AK, Arumugam M, Jamil A, Bhuvanendran S. Explicating the multifunctional roles of tocotrienol and squalene in promoting skin health. Skin Health Dis. 2024;4(5):e448. Link
