When it Comes to Argan Oil vs Coconut Oil, Which is Best?
That’s a great question! But unfortunately there’s no easy yes or no answer. Both are great for a lot of things, like hair, skin and even eating. But the situations and the reasons why you use argan oil or coconut oil might be different.
Utama Spice Argan Oil
What Exactly is Argan Oil?
Argan oil is currently well known for its use in cosmetics and beauty products ranging from haircare and frizz control to skincare and moisturizers. But before it became a staple ingredient of the cosmetics world, argan oil began with a very interesting history.
Argan oil is a vegetable oil made from pips, or kernels, from the fruit of the argan tree. The argan tree is native to Morocco and currently only grows there, although Israel is reportedly starting an argan plantation.
Making Argan Oil
Argan oil has been used for generations by Berbers, indigenous people of North Africa that are primarily rural farmers. The Berber women press the kernels by hand into the argan oil, which is quite an astounding accomplishment, considering the kernels are “16 times harder than a hazelnut.”1
While modernization has caught up to the argan oil industry, it hasn’t surpassed it. Some companies have entered the market with cheaper, less authentic products that use solvents to extract the oil from the seeds, rather than the hand-pressed method used for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Unfortunately, this creates a competing, inferior product and also cuts out the Berbers from the process.
The Socio-Economic Benefits of Argan Oil
Luckily, a researcher and professor named Zoubida Charrouf stepped in and helped establish over 50 women’s cooperatives to protect the people who collect the kernels, include them in the supply chain, and ensure that they get fair prices. Now the argan oil industry “supports 2.2 million people living a subsistence existence in rural regions. It is vital both economically and culturally.”1
On top of the economic and cultural benefits, argan trees also help to prevent areas from turning into deserts by “anchoring the soil.”1 The Moroccan government has also seen the many benefits of argan oil and plans “to triple annual production (2,500-4,000 tonnes) by 2020.”1
So now you know when you’re purchasing argan oil that you are helping to support a community of over 2 million people living in rural areas.
What does Argan Oil do?
As you’ll see in our upcoming posts, argan oil is great for face and skincare, as well as haircare. For the face and skin, it can reduce wrinkles and signs of aging, treat or even totally prevent stretch marks, fight acne, and even help wounds to heal faster. For the hair, argan oil can be applied directly to damp hair to fight frizz, moisturize and help with any breakage. Argan oil is also safe to eat! It has a slightly nutty flavor and is commonly used as a dressing or for dipping bread in.
What makes Argan Oil so great?
According to Healthline.com, “Argan oil is primarily comprised of fatty acids and a variety of phenolic compounds. The majority of the fat content of argan oil comes from oleic and linoleic acid.”2 The article goes on to say that argan oil is comprised of about 30% linoleic acid and 45% oleic acid.
According to Wikipedia.org, “Linoleic acid (LA) is a polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acid and is one of two essential fatty acids for humans, who must obtain it through their diet. The word “linoleic” derives from the Greek word linon (flax).”3
Utama Spice Argan Oil
Oleic acid is not an essential fatty acid like linoleic acid, but it’s “renowned for its positive impact on heart health.”2
Argan oil also contains vitamin E, which according to the Mayo Clinic, “is a nutrient that’s important to vision, reproduction, and the health of your blood, brain and skin.
Vitamin E also has antioxidant properties. Antioxidants are substances that might protect your cells against the effects of free radicals — molecules produced when your body breaks down food or is exposed to tobacco smoke and radiation. Free radicals might play a role in heart disease, cancer and other diseases. If you take vitamin E for its antioxidant properties, keep in mind that the supplement might not offer the same benefits as naturally occurring antioxidants in food.”4
Utama Spice Virgin Coconut Oil
Argan Oil vs Coconut Oil
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is one of our favorite oils to use as a carrier oil! Just like argan oil, coconut oil is not an essential oil, meaning it can’t be diffused in a diffuser, but it’s also great for a multitude of uses.
One of those uses for coconut oil is as a carrier oil. As we mention in our article about How to Use Essential Oils without a Diffuser, carrier oils can be used to dilute essential oils for topical application such as a massage, wrinkle treatment or moisturizer.
In the battle of argan oil vs coconut oil, they actually share a lot of similarities. Just like argan oil, coconut oil is safe for eating and it’s also great for the hair and skin. Coconut oil is often used for cooking and according to Healthline.com, “Coconut oil is one of the few foods that can be classified as a “superfood. Its unique combination of fatty acids can have positive effects on your health. This includes fat loss, better brain function and various other impressive benefits.”5
So when it comes to choosing argan oil or coconut oil, it might not be so easy to determine a winner. While argan oil contains the omega-6 essential fatty acids, coconut oil contains types of saturated fats that are great for you and rare in the typical diet.
The Power of Coconut Oil
The article goes on to say that the saturated fats in coconut oil “boost fat burning and provide your body and brain with quick energy. They also raise the good HDL cholesterol in your blood, which is linked to reduced heart disease risk. Most fats in the diet are called long-chain triglycerides, but the fats in coconut oil are known as medium chain triglycerides (MCTs). What this means is that the fatty acids are shorter than most other fats. When you eat these types of fats, they go straight to the liver, where they are used as a quick source of energy or turned into ketones. Ketones can have powerful benefits for the brain, and are being studied as a treatment for epilepsy, Alzheimer’s and other conditions.”5
The Winner
If we had to determine a winner between argan oil and coconut oil, we would have to say… it’s a draw! Both contain different types of fats that are great for the body and essential to the diet. Both can be used for the hair and skin, and both can be safely eaten.
We would have to recommend including them both in your daily routine! Why just choose one?
Utama Spice Argan Oil & Coconut Oil
An important consideration to keep in mind is the quality of the argan oil and coconut oil. With argan oil, be cautious of companies that might be using solvents to extract the argan oil, rather than the hand-pressed method. And with coconut oil, it’s important to use high-quality virgin coconut oil.
As we say here at Utama Spice, “If you wouldn’t cook with it, you shouldn’t put it on your body.
In our next articles, we’ll be discussing Argan Oil vs Coconut Oil for Face and Skincare and Argan Oil for Hair Care.
If you have some more tips on using argan oil let us know! Comment, Like, Share and Follow Us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram!
Sources
- https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/feb/12/lucy-siegle-argan-oil-hairdresers
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/argan-oil
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linoleic_acid
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-vitamin-e/art-20364144
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/top-10-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-coconut-oil
