10 Simple Beauty Benefits Of Argan Oil For Hair, Face & Body

Argan oil is a beauty multitasker of the highest order: Whether on its own or formulated with other actives, the popular oil is great for hair, nails, and skin. Users love it because it's lightweight, sinks in effortlessly, is packed with vitamins and antioxidants, and helps lock in moisture like you won't believe.

Since argan oil is super nutrient-dense without being heavy and clogging pores, consider using this as your go-to facial oil.

In a study published by the International Journal of Molecular Science, it states that argan oil can have anti-inflammatory effects on the skin1, which help repair the skin's barrier and improve wound healing. 

And according to board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, M.D., argan oil is full of fatty acids and vitamin E that help to boost moisture levels in the skin, which also helps improve texture.

Oil cleansing is a favorite cleansing method for natural beauty lovers: It hydrates the skin, effectively removes impurities, and keeps things balanced by maintaining natural oil levels in your skin while absorbing excess sebum.

"The best way I've found to cleanse, in all my years as an esthetician, is oil cleansing," says holistic esthetician and mindbodygreen Collective member Britta Plug (watch how to do it here). "It breaks down dirt, excess oil, makeup, and sunblock and even helps to dissolve blackheads in the skin over time. With a thorough oil cleanse, you get all the stuff you want off without disrupting any of the good stuff on your skin microbiome." 

Whether you're a gal that wouldn't dare miss a routine manicure or you simply want to improve your nails, taking care of your cuticles is an important step we often overlook when it comes to healthy nails.

Healthy, clean, and hydrated cuticles help to prevent dryness and cracking that can lead to infection. An easy solution is regularly hydrating your cuticles, yet another way to use that trusty bottle of argan oil. 

Just as the fatty acids and vitamin E in argan oil hydrate our skin, it does the same moisturizing wonders for our cuticles. It's lightweight and absorbs easily so you won't have that lingering greasy look hours after applying.

Oh, the joys of at-home pampering. Argan oil is also a great addition to your at-home spa session.

Argan oil has many great benefits for the hair.

"It's great for many conditions, especially dry, damaged hair because its trove of fatty acids lock moisture into the hair follicle," says Bindiya Gandhi, M.D., an American Board Family Medicine physician and mbg Collective member.

Even though it's not actually possible to reverse split ends, there are some solutions that can help improve the appearance of them.

According to hairstylist Lucia Casazza, using argan oil can help transform the appearance when used as a mask.

If you're looking for an overnight conditioning treatment, Casazza also suggests applying argan oil as a hair mask while you sleep.

"For an overnight mask, argan oil should be applied starting from the scalp all the way to the ends of the hair," she says.

Gua sha is a natural therapy from ancient Chinese bodywork that uses a scraping tool (the stone) to promote circulation and lymphatic drainage. As you might know, it's become very popular for facial massage, beloved by holistic beauty gurus.

Argan oil can also double as a natural luminizer. Instead of using heavy shimmer cosmetic formulas, dab this hydrating oil atop your cheekbones for the ultimate lit-from-within glow.

Since argan oil is noncomedogenic, meaning it doesn't clog pores, it's a great oil option for acne-prone skin. According to Zeichner, argan oil helps soothe inflammation2 and may help modulate oil production in the skin, too. So not only are you limiting blocked pores, but you're easing some of the triggers of acne altogether. 

Trying to find all-natural ways to reduce signs of aging can be a full-time job. One study showed that argan oil can help lock moisture into skin, specifically, mature skin4. It was conducted with postmenopausal women and found that with daily application, it resulted in a higher water content within the skin.