I like to spend as much time as possible outdoors, adventuring and enjoying all the beautiful places throughout the Pacific Northwest. However, I have found that exposure to the elements and ‘roughing it’ can take a toll on skin and hair over time. With that in mind, I did some research and ‘discovered’ the wonderful world of argan oil. Incorporating organic argan oil into my skin care routine was an easy way for me to nourish my skin and hair while ensuring that I was using a product that was good for me and good for the planet.
Perhaps my favorite oil of all, argan oil has a beautiful golden hue and a gentle, silky texture. It is an exquisite oil that is pressed from the nuts of the argan tree, Argania spinosa. Native to southwestern Morocco, these long-lived trees provide an important resource to the communities throughout the region.
Mountain Rose Herbs sources certified organic argan oil from a women's cooperative in southern Morocco. This cooperative is located on the UNESCO Arganeraie Biosphere Reserve, a vast tract of land that protects the native argan trees. The reserve provides research on environmental issues as well as an opportunity to learn about the traditional uses of argan, and also promotes responsible socioeconomic development of communities in this area.
The beautiful oil is created by hand using the traditional, small batch method. Communities hand-harvest the fallen fruit and then sun-dry it, followed by a painstaking separation of the nut from the fruit. Women meticulously crack these nuts by hand to obtain the kernel, which resembles an almond. The raw kernels are cold-pressed and then coarsely filtered to remove any kernel particles. The finished oil is light yellow, with a fine odor and delicate texture.
Argan oil is the premier choice for all fine skin care needs. It is a “dry” oil, which means it is non-greasy and absorbs quickly, visibly brightening and softening the skin. A few drops of the oil are a lavish treat for skin and hair when applied topically, creating a radiant and gentle glow. I like to massage two to three drops of argan oil on my face in lieu of a night cream.
However, my favorite way to use this beautiful oil is to create a hair serum. A serum is a hair or skin care product that is often concentrated and helps to retain moisture. I’ve found that argan oil is the perfect base ingredient for a serum or leave-in conditioner, as it is lightweight, yet full of botanical goodness. While I have outlined my basic hair serum recipe below, it is also fun to experiment with your own preferred carrier oils and essential oils to create a personalized treat for your body! Just remember to use no more than a 2% dilution of essential oils.
Let’s make a hair serum!
Ingredients
Directions
After washing hair, towel off excess moisture and work a pea-sized amount of serum into the ends of your hair while it is still damp. I like to rub the serum briefly between my hands to gently warm it and to ensure I am not putting too much in my hair. Use daily for a glossy, vibrant look.
You may also be interested in:
Topics: Natural Body Care, Recipes
Hannah, blog contributor, is a native of the Pacific Northwest and an outdoor educator. When she isn’t teaching, she can be found exploring the outdoors with her partner, knitting, gardening, and learning about plants.
.jpg?width=1080&name=2023%20(1).jpg "Mountain Rose Herbs 2023 Impact Report")
I like to spend as much time as possible outdoors, adventuring and enjoying all the beautiful places throughout the Pacific Northwest. However, I have found that exposure to the elements and ‘roughing it’ can take a toll on skin and hair over time. With that in mind, I did some research and ‘discovered’ the wonderful world of argan oil. Incorporating organic argan oil into my skin care routine was an easy way for me to nourish my skin and hair while ensuring that I was using a product that was good for me and good for the planet.
Perhaps my favorite oil of all, argan oil has a beautiful golden hue and a gentle, silky texture. It is an exquisite oil that is pressed from the nuts of the argan tree, Argania spinosa. Native to southwestern Morocco, these long-lived trees provide an important resource to the communities throughout the region.
Mountain Rose Herbs sources certified organic argan oil from a women's cooperative in southern Morocco. This cooperative is located on the UNESCO Arganeraie Biosphere Reserve, a vast tract of land that protects the native argan trees. The reserve provides research on environmental issues as well as an opportunity to learn about the traditional uses of argan, and also promotes responsible socioeconomic development of communities in this area.
The beautiful oil is created by hand using the traditional, small batch method. Communities hand-harvest the fallen fruit and then sun-dry it, followed by a painstaking separation of the nut from the fruit. Women meticulously crack these nuts by hand to obtain the kernel, which resembles an almond. The raw kernels are cold-pressed and then coarsely filtered to remove any kernel particles. The finished oil is light yellow, with a fine odor and delicate texture.
Argan oil is the premier choice for all fine skin care needs. It is a “dry” oil, which means it is non-greasy and absorbs quickly, visibly brightening and softening the skin. A few drops of the oil are a lavish treat for skin and hair when applied topically, creating a radiant and gentle glow. I like to massage two to three drops of argan oil on my face in lieu of a night cream.
However, my favorite way to use this beautiful oil is to create a hair serum. A serum is a hair or skin care product that is often concentrated and helps to retain moisture. I’ve found that argan oil is the perfect base ingredient for a serum or leave-in conditioner, as it is lightweight, yet full of botanical goodness. While I have outlined my basic hair serum recipe below, it is also fun to experiment with your own preferred carrier oils and essential oils to create a personalized treat for your body! Just remember to use no more than a 2% dilution of essential oils.
Let’s make a hair serum!
Ingredients
Directions
After washing hair, towel off excess moisture and work a pea-sized amount of serum into the ends of your hair while it is still damp. I like to rub the serum briefly between my hands to gently warm it and to ensure I am not putting too much in my hair. Use daily for a glossy, vibrant look.
You may also be interested in:
Topics: Natural Body Care, Recipes
Hannah, blog contributor, is a native of the Pacific Northwest and an outdoor educator. When she isn’t teaching, she can be found exploring the outdoors with her partner, knitting, gardening, and learning about plants.
