When the over-the-counter products fail to work for someone, they often turn to natural acne treatments in search of clear skin.
But there are so many supposed natural acne treatments out there, how are you supposed to know which ones actually work? This article is going to take a look at one supposed natural acne treatment, argan oil, and determine whether it’s legit, or just snake oil that’s not going to do anything except drain your wallet.
Let’s take a look at what argan oil is, how it might be able to treat acne, and whether or not you should give it a try.
What Is Argan Oil?
In the North African country of Morocco, there is a tree exclusive to the area called the argan tree. The kernels from this tree are harvested and processed into argan oil.
This oil has been used by the Moroccan people for ages because of it’s numerous nutritional, medicinal, and cosmetic uses.
All argan oil currently produced today is made by a single women’s cooperative that shares the profits, and protects the argan trees against deforestation and extinction.
How Can Argan Oil Help Acne?
I mentioned earlier that argan oil has many uses, but what makes it so good for cosmetics?
One reason it’s specifically good for acne is that it is a non-comedogenic oil, similar in that sense to jojoba oil. When you add oil to your skin, it slows down your skin’s natural production of sebum, the oil which fills clogged pores and causes acne. Since your skin is producing less sebum on it’s own, you get less acne. Also, since argan oil is non-comedogenic it is not going to clog your pores.
Argan oil also has very high amounts of vitamin E, which is used by the skin to repair damaged tissue. This not only makes acne lesions disappear faster, but it also helps reduce the appearance of scars and red marks left over from old acne.
Who Should Use Argan Oil?
I would recommend argan oil for anyone with mild acne. It should help slow down your skin’s natural sebum production and reduce the occurrence of pimples.
However, if your acne is moderate-to-severe, I don’t think argan oil is going to be enough to clear your skin. You’ll need to try something that more actively fights acne, such as benzoyl peroxide or a prescription medication that you can get from a dermatologist.
Where To Buy Argan Oil
The best place to buy argan oil the cheapest would be an online retailer such as Amazon.com
One of the best reviewed argan oils is this Josie Maran 2 oz bottle with added SPF 40. It’s a little more expensive than others, but the quality is superior as well.
A far more economical argan oil is this 4 oz one by Agadir. It is labelled as being for hair, but this is the exact same argan oil that should be used to treat acne as well. Great deal for a large bottle.
