Looking for some more information about using argan oil for acne?
Then we’re glad you found this article!
Argan oil has a wide variety of benefits and uses when it comes to your skin and face, and acne is one of its specialties! In this post, we’ll discuss why argan oil is so great for the skin, some of our favorite ways to use argan oil, how to use argan oil for acne, and then we’ll answer some common questions people also ask about using argan oil for their face.
Argan Oil for Face and Skin
Using argan oil and other products like it for your skin is part of the greater practice known as natural skin care. As we discussed in our post Natural Skin Care Defined, natural skin care is an important practice to consider adopting today! This is because our skin, which is the body’s largest organ, actually absorbs the things we put on it. Fortunately, the skin works with other organs in the body like the liver and kidneys to remove toxins and detoxify the body. The skin does its part through sweat.
One of the main reasons we advocate switching to natural skin care is because there are many different ingredients that exist in nature that are not only good for your skin, but good for your body too. Pretty soon, we’ll discuss some of the great compounds found in argan oil and you’ll see for yourself why it is so good for you.
Meanwhile, many chemical-based cosmetics and beauty products are made from synthetic compounds. These compounds don’t usually have the same benefits for your body and your skin as their natural skin care counterparts. And not only do they not provide the same benefits for your health and longevity, but many of these synthetic compounds can actually clog your pores, making it more difficult for your skin to efficiently detoxify itself.
So that’s why we always say, ‘If you wouldn’t cook with it, you shouldn’t put it on your body.’
As we discussed in our post about Getting Serious About Natural Skin Care, there are even more benefits to using natural skin care products and ingredients like argan oil! Using natural skin care products instead of conventional commercial cosmetics products can actually help contribute to a sustainable environment! Lots of natural ingredients, like ours here at Utama Spice, are grown and harvested in a sustainable manner.
When it comes to argan oil, there’s a unique story behind it. We go into greater detail in our first post about Argan Oil, but argan trees are almost only found in southwest Morocco. To make argan oil, you only actually need the seeds of the argan fruit, not the actual fruit itself. So it’s not uncommon to see the thorny argan trees filled with goats that climb them to eat the fruit. The seeds are then collected, washed and hand crushed by the rural farmers into argan oil. This hand-pressing method has been passed down through the generations by the women of the Berber tribe and is no laughing matter. The argan seed is reportedly “16 times harder than a hazelnut.”1
Once the argan oil industry became a global phenomenon, larger companies attempted to make their way into the supply chain. Using a chemical process involving solvents to extract the oil from the seed, many of these companies unfortunately create an inferior product while cutting out the rural farmers that collect the seeds from the profits.
As we also discussed in our first Argan Oil article, 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
Utama Spice Argan Oil
Meanwhile, most common chemical-based cosmetics and beauty products are typically mass-produced and the chemical or synthetic compounds find their way into the byproduct of the manufacturing process, which usually ends up in the water or the air. This can harm plant, sea and animal life, as well as pollute the ocean.
But don’t worry! Natural solutions make for great alternatives! Not only that, but they are extremely versatile and this can save you a lot of money in the long run.
For instance, argan oil isn’t only great for the face, skin and acne treatment, it’s also great for your hair! We go into greater detail in our articles Argan Oil for Hair Growth and Top 7 Reasons to Use Argan Oil for Hair, but the important thing to note is that the same natural compounds found in argan oil that make it so great for the skin are also the ones that make it so great for your hair scalp.
Guess what?
Argan oil is also great for eating! Before argan oil became globally renowned as a skin and hair care product, it was customarily used as a dressing or a dip for bread. Argan oil had long been rumored to have a bounty of health benefits, but it wasn’t until recently that the research was done to find out the extent of these benefits and their causes.
So what are the benefits and what makes it so great?
From our previous post Argan Oil for Your Face and Skin, here’s our Top 10 Argan Oil Benefits for Skin:
Top 10 Best Argan Oil Benefits for Your Face & Skin
- Excellent Face & Skin Moisturizer
- Surprisingly Great for Acne Treatment
- Excellent Source of Hydration for the Face & Skin
- Works Great for Exfoliation
- Has Anti-Aging & Wrinkle Preventing Properties
- Reduces and Prevents Stretch Marks
- Protection from Sun Damage & Free Radicals
- Aids with Wound Healing
- Treats a Variety of Skin Conditions
- Naturally Reduces Oiliness of the Skin
If you would like more information about how to use argan oil for these different benefits, just check out our post for more details. In this article, we’ll go into greater detail about how to best use argan oil to treat acne.
But first, what makes argan oil so great?
Argan oil, like many of the other great natural skin care ingredients contains a variety of vitamins, antioxidants, fatty acids and more that combine to provide a wealth of medicinal and therapeutic benefits. Many essential oils and key natural skin care ingredients also have some combination of antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, making many of them great for treating a variety of common conditions ranging from aching muscles or joints (for more details, check out our posts on How to Use Lavender Essential Oil and How to Use Rosemary Essential Oil) to treating dark circles under your eyes and fighting wrinkles (see our recent article on Turmeric Benefits for Skin).
Many of these natural skin care ingredients have a few main components that make them so powerful. The reason argan oil is so great for the skin is because it is comprised mainly of linoleic acid, oleic acid and vitamin E. Linoleic acid is better known as omega-6, one of the two essential fatty acids for the human diet. These essential fatty acids are getting less and less common in the modern diet, and are not only necessary for humans to consume, but also great for the hair, scalp, face and skin.
While oleic acid is not an essential fatty acid like omega-6, it still presents plenty of its own benefits for the skin, face and body. As we mention in our post Argan Oil vs Coconut Oil, Argan oil 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.”
Utama Spice Argan Oil
So you can probably start to see why argan oil is so great for the human body!
But what makes argan oil a great acne treatment?
On top of all the other great fatty acids and vitamins that argan oil contains in lesser amounts, what truly makes it great for acne treatment is the fact that it is known as a great non comedogenic oil. While using oil to treat acne can seem rather counterintuitive, non comedogenic oils can help regulate the amount of oil produced by the skin.
Non comedogenic oils can also be absorbed by the skin without feeling greasy.
As we mention in our post How to Use Argan Oil for Face & Skin, argan oil also has anti-sebum effects. This means that it combats the root cause of hormonal acne, which comes from excess sebum on the skin. Argan oil can help counteract this while also improving the complexion and smoothness of the skin.
Common Questions People Also Ask about Using Argan Oil to Treat Acne
Now that you know some of the benefits and uses of argan oil, why it’s so good for you, why it’s so great to treat acne and the amazing socioeconomic effects it has, let’s take a look at some more questions about treating acne with argan oil.
What does argan oil do for skin and acne?
“Used alone, argan oil helps the skin fight acne by promoting cell regeneration, skin elasticity, hydration, revitalization as well as by fading acne scars. Argan oil also helps repair the skin’s hydrolipidic film and applying it on your face allows your skin to breathe and regulates sebum production.”
One of the amazing things about using argan oil to treat acne is that it’s not just an acne treatment, it works wonders for the skin too! Argan oil works to regulate and balance the skin’s hydrolipidic film, which “a protective film that covers the entire surface of the skin. It is composed mainly of sweat, sebum and water and its main function is to defend the skin against bacteria, acting as an external protective barrier. It also helps the skin to maintain its suppleness and moisture.”2 Restoring proper balance to this hydrolipidic film helps to regulate your sebum (oil) production while also rejuvenating the skin.
The article, Argan Oil For Acne: Is It A Good Solution?, by Zorah BioCosmetiques, goes on to say when they recommend using argan oil.
How do you use pure argan oil to treat acne?
“Argan oil applied in the daytime or nighttime is a perfect way to treat acne or to prevent and heal any marks it acne may leave on your face. Used in conjunction with a medical acne treatment, argan oil is the best ally to keep your skin from drying out.”
So it seems like you should feel free to use argan oil whenever you like. With its wealth of benefits for the face, skin and acne treatment, you can use argan oil as a standalone product or in combination with other forms of acne treatment. No matter what, the argan oil should help keep your skin hydrated and moisturized, while helping to maintain the proper levels of skin oiliness.
We went over to Marie Clarie’s post Here’s How to Use Argan Oil on Your Face, to how they felt about using argan oil as an acne treatment.
Can argan oil get rid of acne?
“Yes, argan oil can actually help breakouts.
Oftentimes, people break out not because they have naturally oily skin, but because their skin barrier is dry, damaged, and inflamed from a regimen of harsh acne products.That damaged skin barrier then overcompensates by producing even more oil, which can clog pores and trigger breakouts. Argan oil, however, can help break the cycle. … Plus, all of the antioxidants naturally found in argan oil are known for helping soothe eczema and fade scars.”
We liked this answer from Marie Claire because it goes into some of the reasons that people develop acne and it also discusses the unfortunate cycle that can occur when using harsh, chemical acne products to treat acne. But it sounds like argan oil is a great way to break the pattern!
Next, let’s take a look to see if argan oil is best for certain skin types, or for everyone.
Is argan oil bad for oily skin?
“Benefits of Argan Oil for Different Skin Types:
- … Oily skin – Oily skin produces more sebum than necessary to compensate for the lack of moisture, therefore causing acne. Argan oil balances sebum production so your skin doesn’t produce excess oil.”
In Beauty by Earth’s article Argan Oil for Face Care of All Skin Types (Acne, Sensitive, Oily, Dry), they break down why argan oil is so good for all skin types, conditions and oiliness levels. Because argan oil naturally balances sebum production, it can help restore the desired amount, whether it’s too dry or too oily right now.
As we mentioned before, argan oil is also great for your face, skin and acne treatment because it is a non comedogenic oil. But there are other great natural non comedogenic oils out there, so we wanted to see how argan oil compares.
Does argan oil clog pores?
“People with acne-prone skin need to be aware of this, as clogged pores will make their acne worse. Jojoba oil is rated as a 2, meaning it can mildly clogs pores. Argan oil is rated as a 0, meaning it does not clog pores.”
In this post, Argan Oil vs Jojoba Oil for Acne by The Best Organic Skin Care, they compare argan oil and jojoba oil for acne treatment. But the fact that argan oil is rated as a 0 on the comedogenic oil scale means that it does not clog pores at all and is probably one of the most potent non comedogenic oils for natural skin care.
In our next question and answer set, let’s take a look at how to apply argan oil and what you should do after it is on your face.
Do you wash argan oil off your face?
“Pat the face dry with a clean cloth or towel. You can exfoliate your skin at least 1-2 times a week. Argan oil is a potent product so a little bit is all you need. Pour 1-2 drops of the oil on your palm and massage the product onto your face, dabbing and rubbing it lightly all over.”
It’s really that simple! Just like they said in the article, How to Apply Argan Oil to the Face, all you have to do is pour a few drops onto your palm and massage evenly onto your face. When starting out, we recommend leaving the argan oil for about 10-15 minutes and then rinse off with warm water.
We hope you learned a thing or two about using argan oil to treat acne! If you would like more information about using argan oil for the face and skin, check out our previous posts Five Beauty Benefits of Argan Oil and How to Use Argan Oil for Your Skin and Face.
If you have any more questions about using argan oil to treat acne, let us know! Feel free to comment, like or message us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!
Sources
- https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/feb/12/lucy-siegle-argan-oil-hairdresers
- https://www.laroche-posay.com/beauty-glossary/H/Hydrolipidic-film-gl8-w168.aspx
- https://www.zorahbiocosmetiques.com/en/news/argan-oil-for-acne-is-it-a-good-solution/
- https://www.marieclaire.com/beauty/news/a17569/argan-oil-for-face/
- https://www.beautybyearth.com/argan-oil-for-face/
- https://thebestorganicskincare.com/argan-oil-vs-jojoba-oil-for-acne/
- https://www.purestcare.com/how-to-apply-argan-oil-to-the-face/
