What Is Argan Oil? A Complete Guide

Argan oil went from a regional staple in southwestern Morocco to a fixture on beauty shelves worldwide in a couple of decades. Along the way it picked up plenty of hype, a few myths and a lot of imitators. This guide covers the essentials: where argan oil comes from, what's in it, what the science does and doesn't support, the different types you'll see, and how to choose a good one.

Where does argan oil come from?

The argan tree

The argan tree is a slow-growing, thorny tree adapted to the drylands of southwestern Morocco, with a small native population extending into Algeria¹. It is the only member of its plant family (Sapotaceae) living outside the tropics, and its deep roots help hold soil against wind and water erosion¹. The United Nations notes the tree can reach around 10 meters tall, live for about 200 years and tolerate temperatures up to 50°C, and calls it a bastion against desertification².

It has a long written history. The tree was described as early as the 13th century by the physician Ibn al-Baytar³, and for the Amazigh (Berber) communities of the region it has long provided food, fuel, fodder and oil¹. More detail in where argan oil comes from.

A protected landscape

The argan forest shrank substantially over the 20th century, from about 1.5 million hectares to an estimated 800,000 hectares by around 2000, because of human pressure and drought¹. Several international designations now recognize it:

• 1998: UNESCO designated the Arganeraie Biosphere Reserve, covering roughly 2.5 million hectares in southwest Morocco⁴.
• 2014: UNESCO inscribed argan practices and know-how on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, highlighting the knowledge passed between generations of women⁵.
• 2018: FAO recognized the argan-based agro-sylvo-pastoral system of Ait Souab–Ait Mansour as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System⁶.
• 2021: The UN General Assembly proclaimed May 10 the International Day of Argania².

How argan oil is made

The process runs from ripe fruit to bottled oil in several steps: harvesting, sun-drying, removing the dried pulp, cracking the very hard nuts to free the kernels, optionally roasting them, cold-pressing, then decanting and filtering¹. Traditionally all of this was done by hand, with a stone hand mill and warm water used to separate the oil; today most oil is pressed mechanically, often by women's cooperatives^1,5. The UN estimates it takes about 150 kg of fruit to make 3 liters of oil², which goes a long way toward explaining why real argan oil costs what it does.

For the step-by-step story, read how argan oil is made. And no, quality argan oil isn't made from nuts processed by goats; that myth is unpacked in the truth about argan trees and goats.

Types of argan oil: cosmetic, culinary and refined

Cosmetic and culinary oils differ only in whether the kernels are roasted¹. Roasting gives culinary oil its flavor and a longer shelf life¹. Refining removes color and odor, but in one study it also removed some of the oil's vitamin E and left what remained far less stable during storage⁷. See culinary vs. cosmetic argan oil and what argan oil should smell like.

Quality grades

Morocco's national standard grades virgin argan oil by acidity (free fatty acid content): extra virgin (below 0.8%), fine virgin (0.8 to 1.5%), ordinary virgin (1.5 to 2.5%) and lampante (above 2.5%)¹. You'll mostly see "extra virgin" on culinary oil labels; for cosmetic oil, "cold-pressed," "virgin" and a clean ingredient list are the more useful signals.

What's in argan oil?

Argan oil's makeup is well documented, and the Moroccan standard sets ranges for its main components¹:

It also contains smaller amounts of polyphenols, squalene and other minor compounds¹. For a deeper dive, read what's in argan oil.

What is argan oil good for?

This is where honesty matters, because argan oil's reputation runs well ahead of its evidence.

Skin: the strongest evidence

The best human data come from two small studies of the same group of 60 postmenopausal women. Applying argan oil to the forearm daily for 60 days reduced transepidermal water loss and increased the water content of the skin⁸, and improved measures of skin elasticity⁹. A review of topical plant oils lists argan oil among those with evidence for skin barrier repair¹⁰. These are encouraging but limited studies; a 2010 review noted that the lack of clinical data is a serious gap in what we know about argan oil¹¹. See is argan oil good for skin.

Hair: good conditioner, not a growth treatment

Argan oil smooths frizz, adds shine and softens dry ends, which is why it's so widely used in hair care. Lab work suggests it may help protect hair: in one study, hair pre-treated with argan oil lost less protein when exposed to an oxidizing chemical¹². But a 2022 systematic review found no significant clinical evidence that argan oil improves hair growth or hair quality¹³. More in is argan oil good for hair.

Everyday uses

In practice, people use cosmetic argan oil as a face oil, an after-shower body oil, a hair serum, a cuticle oil and a beard oil. Our list of 20 ways to use argan oil covers them all, with amounts and timing.

What it isn't

Argan oil is a cosmetic. It isn't a sunscreen, and it doesn't cure or treat acne, eczema, rosacea, dandruff or hair loss. It may help with dryness and comfort alongside proper care. If you have a skin condition, a dermatologist is the right first stop.

Is argan oil safe?

For most people, yes. It's generally well tolerated, but allergic contact dermatitis from argan oil has been reported in the medical literature¹⁴, and argan oil is pressed from a kernel, so people with nut or seed allergies should check with their doctor. A simple patch test on the inner arm before using it widely is sensible. Read more in argan oil benefits and side effects.

How to choose a good argan oil

1. Read the ingredients. Pure argan oil lists one ingredient: Argania spinosa kernel oil. Fragrance, silicones or other oils mean it's a blend.
2. Look for cold-pressed and virgin. These indicate mechanical pressing without heat or solvents. See why cold-pressing matters.
3. Check organic claims. In the U.S., the USDA, not the FDA, regulates "organic" on cosmetics made from agricultural ingredients; products labeled "100 percent organic" must contain only organically produced ingredients and may carry the USDA Organic seal¹⁵. More in organic argan oil.
4. Prefer dark glass. Light speeds oxidation; cosmetic argan oil kept cool and away from sunlight still met the Moroccan quality standard after a year in one study, though the researchers advise using it within about six months¹⁶.
5. Smell it. Faint and nutty is right. Strongly roasted, perfumed, sour or completely odorless are all clues worth questioning.
6. Be wary of bargains. Given how much fruit and labor goes into each liter, very cheap "argan oil" deserves suspicion. Our guide to real vs. fake argan oil lists seven checks.

If you'd like a reference point, our 100% organic argan oil is a single ingredient, USDA-certified organic, cold-pressed from unroasted kernels sourced from Morocco, with no fragrance or dyes, in a 60 mL amber glass dropper bottle. For a broader shopping guide, see how to choose the best argan oil.

How to use argan oil

• Face: 2–3 drops, morning and/or night, pressed in as the last step.
• Hair: 1 drop through dry ends, or a little more through damp hair.
• Body: 5–6 drops on damp skin after bathing.
• Nails: 1 drop on the nail beds, ideally at night.

For timing and layering, see using argan oil on your face and how to use argan oil for hair.

Frequently asked questions

What is argan oil made from?

Argan oil is pressed from the kernels inside the nuts of the argan tree's fruit. Cosmetic oil uses raw kernels and culinary oil uses lightly roasted kernels.

Where is argan oil from?

Almost all argan oil comes from southwestern Morocco, where the argan tree grows naturally. The region is protected as UNESCO's Arganeraie Biosphere Reserve.

What is argan oil good for?

Mainly moisturizing and conditioning skin, hair and nails. Small human studies show it helps skin hold moisture and improves elasticity measures; it isn't proven to regrow hair or treat skin conditions.

Is argan oil the same as Moroccan oil?

Not necessarily. Moroccan oil is often used as a product name for hair treatments that may contain some argan oil alongside other ingredients such as silicones and fragrance. Pure argan oil has a single ingredient.

Can you eat argan oil?

Culinary argan oil, made from roasted kernels and sold as a food, is eaten in Morocco with bread, salads and couscous. Cosmetic argan oil is made for skin and hair and shouldn't be used for cooking.

Sources

1. Gharby S, Charrouf Z. Argan oil: chemical composition, extraction process, and quality control. Front Nutr. 2022;8:804587. Link
2. United Nations. International Day of Argania, 10 May (General Assembly resolution A/RES/75/262, 2021). Link
3. Khallouki F, Eddouks M, Mourad A, Breuer A, Owen RW. Ethnobotanic, ethnopharmacologic aspects and new phytochemical insights into Moroccan argan fruits. Int J Mol Sci. 2017;18(11):2277. Link
4. UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme. Arganeraie Biosphere Reserve, Morocco (designated 1998). Link
5. UNESCO. Argan, practices and know-how concerning the argan tree. Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, inscribed 2014. Link
6. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Argan-based agro-sylvo-pastoral system within the area of Ait Souab – Ait Mansour, Morocco. Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (designated 2018). Link
7. Asbbane A, Bousaid Z, Guillaume D, et al. Effects of physical refining process on quality and stability of argan oil (Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels). Sci Rep. 2024;14:23045. Link
8. Boucetta KQ, Charrouf Z, Derouiche A, Rahali Y, Bensouda Y. Skin hydration in postmenopausal women: argan oil benefit with oral and/or topical use. Prz Menopauzalny. 2014;13(5):280–288. Link
9. Boucetta KQ, Charrouf Z, Aguenaou H, Derouiche A, Bensouda Y. The effect of dietary and/or cosmetic argan oil on postmenopausal skin elasticity. Clin Interv Aging. 2015;10:339–349. Link
10. 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
11. El Monfalouti H, Guillaume D, Denhez C, Charrouf Z. Therapeutic potential of argan oil: a review. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2010;62(12):1669–1675. Link
12. Sharifi N, Hamedeyazdan S, Shokri J, Monajjemzadeh F. Argan oil as a pretreatment of human hair before exposure to oxidative damage: attenuated total reflectance and protein loss studies. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2022;21(10):5010–5017. Link
13. Phong C, Lee V, Yale K, Sung C, Mesinkovska N. Coconut, castor, and argan oil for hair in skin of color patients: a systematic review. J Drugs Dermatol. 2022;21(7):751–757. Link
14. Foti C, Romita P, Ranieri LD, Bonamonte D. Allergic contact dermatitis caused by argan oil. Contact Dermatitis. 2014;71(3):183–184. Link
15. USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, National Organic Program. Cosmetics, body care products, and personal care products (fact sheet), April 2008. Link
16. Gharby S, Harhar H, Kartah B, Guillaume D, Chafchaouni-Moussaoui I, Bouzoubaa Z, Charrouf Z. Oxidative stability of cosmetic argan oil: a one-year study. J Cosmet Sci. 2014;65(2):81–87. Link