Argan oil: what is it and how do you use it?

Short answer: Argan oil is pressed from the kernels of the fruit of the argan tree (Argania spinosa), a tree that grows mainly in south-western Morocco. Cosmetic argan oil comes from unroasted kernels, culinary argan oil from roasted ones. Argan oil consists mainly of oleic acid and linoleic acid and naturally contains tocopherols. The label of our argan oil says 2 to 3 drops on cleansed skin and 3 to 5 drops for hair and scalp, for external use only.

Last updated: 5 November 2026 · Written by Florian Fermin

Here you can read what argan oil is, how it is made, what it contains, how to use it for hair, face and body, and how to recognise genuine argan oil. To be upfront: at GOYU we sell skin oils ourselves, including argan oil. That is why we stick to facts with a source and to what is on our label.

What is argan oil?

Argan oil is a plant oil from the kernels of the argan tree. This thorny, slow-growing tree grows naturally mainly in the dry south-west of Morocco. The argan forest there has been a UNESCO biosphere reserve since 1998. It shrank from about 1.5 million hectares to an estimated 800,000 hectares by around 2000 (Gharby and Charrouf, 2022).

• Latin name: Argania spinosa.
• INCI name (the name on cosmetic labels): Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil.
• Other names: argan, in Dutch arganolie, in German Arganöl, in French huile d'argan.

Argan oil belongs to Morocco. The knowledge and practices around the argan tree, including making the oil, mostly by rural women, have been on the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage since 2014 (UNESCO, 2014). And since 2021, the United Nations has marked 10 May as the International Day of Argania (UN, resolution 75/262).

According to its label, our argan oil comes from Morocco, is cold-pressed and consists only of Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil.

How is argan oil made?

Argan oil is made by drying the fruit, peeling it, cracking the hard nuts and pressing the kernels inside. The ripe fruit is collected from May to August and dried in the sun for a few weeks. Traditionally, Amazigh (Berber) women did everything by hand. One person needed about 24 hours to make roughly 1 litre of oil from 50 kg of fruit. Today, women's cooperatives and companies press the kernels with mechanical or hydraulic presses (Gharby and Charrouf, 2022).

The biggest difference lies in one step: roasting or not.

Source: Gharby and Charrouf, 2022. There is also deodorised argan oil, from which most of the smell has been removed. Our argan oil is cosmetic argan oil: not meant to be eaten or taken internally.

What is in argan oil?

About 80% of argan oil consists of unsaturated fatty acids, mainly oleic acid and linoleic acid. It also naturally contains tocopherols (compounds from the vitamin E group) and plant sterols. These are the values from the Moroccan standard, as described by Gharby and Charrouf (2022):

Those sterols are special: the combination of schottenol and spinasterol acts as a kind of fingerprint of argan oil. Laboratories use the sterols, together with the low linolenic acid content, to check whether argan oil has been diluted with other oils (Gharby and Charrouf, 2022).

How do you use argan oil in your hair?

For hair and scalp, our label says to massage 3 to 5 drops into your hair or scalp. A small amount is enough.

1. Put 3 drops in your palm and rub your hands together.
2. Spread the oil over your lengths and ends, in dry or towel-dried hair.
3. For your scalp: massage the drops in and then wash your hair as usual.
4. If your hair feels greasy, use less next time.

What does argan oil do for your hair? To be honest, that has hardly been studied in humans. A systematic review of 22 studies on coconut, castor and argan oil for hair found no significant evidence for argan oil, neither for hair growth nor for hair quality (Phong et al., 2022). So we make no promises about what argan oil does to your hair. Use it because you like the oil in your routine, not for an effect.

How do you use argan oil on your face and body?

On your face, our label says to apply 2 to 3 drops to cleansed skin. It works the same way on your body, but for a larger area, such as your legs, you need a few more drops.

• Cleanse your skin and pat it dry.
• Warm 2 to 3 drops between your hands and gently press them onto your skin.
• Stay away from your eyes.
• You can mix it: argan oil combines well with other plant oils, for example a few drops of thick castor oil to make it easier to spread.

The label of our argan oil also says it is not recommended for sensitive or damaged skin. So don't use it on broken or irritated skin. Using argan oil for the first time? Do a small patch test first: one drop on the inside of your forearm, then wait a day or two.

Is argan oil safe? Allergy and what to watch out for

You can be allergic to argan oil too. There are case reports of contact allergy to argan oil, including on a woman's scalp and in a baby (Foti et al., 2014; Barrientos et al., 2014). There is even a report of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) after someone applied argan oil to their skin (De las Marinas Alvarez et al., 2021). These are individual reports, but they are a good reason to start carefully.

• Known allergy: if you have reacted to argan oil or a product with argan before, don't use it.
• Eyes: avoid contact with your eyes. That is what our label says.
• Irritation: stop if your skin turns red, itches or stings.
• Children: keep the bottle out of the reach of children. If you want to use argan oil on a child, talk to your GP first.
• Pregnant or breastfeeding: argan oil is for external use only. If in doubt, talk to your GP or midwife.
• Do not swallow: our argan oil is a cosmetic product. Culinary argan oil is a different product.

How do you store argan oil and how long does it keep?

Store argan oil in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and close the bottle tightly after use. That is what our label says. With argan oil this matters even more: because of its unsaturated fatty acids it can oxidise and go rancid. Cosmetic argan oil also keeps less long than culinary argan oil. In research, culinary argan oil stayed good for 2 years at 25 °C without light, cosmetic argan oil for about 1 year (Gharby and Charrouf, 2022). Check the packaging for the shelf life of your bottle. If your argan oil suddenly smells sharp or rancid, stop using it.

Buying argan oil: how do you recognise genuine argan oil?

You recognise genuine argan oil mainly by the ingredient list. Argan oil is sometimes called "the most expensive vegetable oil in the world", and that makes it tempting to dilute it with cheaper oil (Gharby and Charrouf, 2022). You cannot test that at home, but these points help:

• One ingredient: pure argan oil lists only Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil. If another oil or perfume is listed, it is a blend.
• "Argan" on the front says little: a shampoo or hair oil "with argan" may contain only a little argan oil. Check where argan appears in the ingredient list.
• Cosmetic or culinary: for skin and hair, choose cosmetic argan oil from unroasted kernels.
• Origin: check whether the country of origin is on the label.

Torn between argan, jojoba and castor? In castor, jojoba or argan oil: which one to choose we put them side by side. Read more about jojoba in jojoba oil: what it is and how to use it.

Summary in 3 points

• Argan oil comes from the kernels of the Moroccan argan tree. Cosmetic argan oil is made from unroasted kernels, culinary argan oil from roasted ones.
• According to our label, use 2 to 3 drops on cleansed skin and 3 to 5 drops for hair and scalp, externally only and not on sensitive or damaged skin.
• There is little research on what argan oil does to skin and hair. Do a small patch test first, because argan allergy does occur.

Frequently asked questions

Does argan oil help against hair loss?

There is no evidence for that. A systematic review found no significant evidence for argan oil and hair growth (Phong et al., 2022), and we don't promise it either. If you are losing a lot of hair, see your GP.

Does argan oil clog your pores?

That has not been studied well in humans for pure argan oil. Lists with ratings for this are partly based on old animal tests and say little about your skin (Draelos and DiNardo, 2006). Start with a little and see how your skin reacts.

Can you eat argan oil?

Culinary argan oil from roasted kernels is a food. Our argan oil is a cosmetic product for external use only, so it is not meant to be eaten or taken internally.

What is the difference between argan oil and jojoba oil?

Argan oil is a regular plant oil, made up mainly of oleic acid and linoleic acid. Jojoba oil is chemically a liquid wax. Jojoba feels thinner and turns cloudy or solid below about 7 °C.

Sources

1. Gharby S, Charrouf Z. Review of the composition, production, quality control and shelf life of argan oil. Front Nutr. 2022;8:804587. doi:10.3389/fnut.2021.804587. PubMed 35187023
2. Phong C, Lee V, Yale K, Sung C, Mesinkovska N. Systematic review of 22 studies on coconut, castor and argan oil for hair. J Drugs Dermatol. 2022;21(7):751-757. doi:10.36849/JDD.6972. PubMed 35816075
3. Foti C, Romita P, Ranieri LD, Bonamonte D. Case report of contact allergy to argan oil. Contact Dermatitis. 2014;71(3):183-184. doi:10.1111/cod.12233. PubMed 25155076
4. Barrientos N, Moreno de Vega M, Dominguez J. Case report of contact allergy to argan oil in a baby. Contact Dermatitis. 2014;71(5):316-317. doi:10.1111/cod.12292. PubMed 25345797
5. De las Marinas Alvarez MD, Martorell Calatayud C, Castillo Fernandez M et al. Case report of anaphylaxis after applying argan oil to the skin. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2021;31(4):332-334. doi:10.18176/jiaci.0596. PubMed 32938575
6. Draelos ZD, DiNardo JC. A re-evaluation of the comedogenicity concept, with a test of finished cosmetic products in 6 people. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006;54(3):507-512. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2005.11.1058. PubMed 16488305
7. UNESCO. Argan, practices and know-how concerning the argan tree. Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Morocco, 2014. ich.unesco.org
8. United Nations, General Assembly. Resolution 75/262: International Day of Argania (10 May), adopted 3 March 2021. digitallibrary.un.org
9. GOYU, label Argan Oil 500 ml (ingredients, directions for use, warnings, storage advice and country of origin), consulted 5 November 2026.

You will find all our skin oils on the page buy skin oils.

This article is for information only and is not medical advice. Our skin oils are cosmetic products for external use only. If you have a skin condition or are in doubt, talk to your GP or a dermatologist.