Argan Oil for Skin: What It Does and Who It Suits
Argan oil is a comfort oil: it softens skin and helps hold moisture at the surface, and that's the whole story. We like it for that job, as long as you know the allergy cautions and layer it after your water-based steps.
What is argan oil?
Argan oil is a plant oil pressed from the fruit of the argan tree (Argania spinosa), listed on ingredient labels as Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil. In skincare it's used as an emollient, an oil that softens skin and helps hold moisture at the surface. It's a conditioning ingredient, not an exfoliant or an active.
What does argan oil do for skin?
Softening and moisture support. Argan oil sits on and in the outer layer of skin as an oil film.
That film helps slow water loss from the surface and leaves skin feeling softer. Oils don't add water, so they work best over a water-based layer such as a toner or serum.
A fatty acid profile. One study of argan oil in postmenopausal women (Boucetta et al., 2014) notes that argan oil contains unsaturated fatty acids including linoleic acid.
A reference entry for argan oil (Altmeyer's Encyclopedia) describes the oil as high in phenols, phytosterols and unsaturated fatty acids. Neither source ties a specific benefit to a specific component, so we don't either.
What it doesn't do. Argan oil doesn't exfoliate, brighten or act on fine lines on its own. Think of it as a comfort and softness step.
Why we use argan oil
Argan oil is one of the oils in the blend in our Vitamin C Antioxidant Elixir with CoQ10. Our formulator uses oils like this for their emollient, softening role, and argan sits alongside hemp seed, sweet almond, jojoba, camellia seed and rosehip seed oils in that blend.
Our view: oils are best as a team. Argan is a good team member rather than a solo act.
Who is argan oil good for?
Argan oil is often chosen by people with dry or tight-feeling skin who want a lightweight oil step, and by people with skin that feels better with a little extra emollient on top of a moisturiser.
Care is sensible in a few cases:
- Contact allergy. Altmeyer's Encyclopedia notes that allergic contact reactions have been described after applying argan oil, and that the actual allergen is unknown. It cites a 2010 report of anaphylaxis and two 2014 reports of contact dermatitis, one in an infant. These are case reports, so they show it can happen, not how often.
- Nut allergy. The argan tree belongs to the Sapotaceae family, per Altmeyer's Encyclopedia. If you have a nut allergy, ask your allergist before using it.
- Breakout-prone skin. Whether an oil suits you is individual. Introduce it slowly and watch how your skin responds. There's no comedogenic number to quote here.
If you have a skin condition or a known allergy, speak with a doctor or pharmacist first, and patch test any new product. Our guide to patch testing skincare properly shows how.
How do you use argan oil?
Argan oil is used a few drops at a time. In a routine, oils generally go on after water-based products, because an oil layer can stop water-based products from absorbing.
- Cleanse, then apply any toner or serum.
- Press a few drops of oil onto skin, or use a moisturiser first and finish with oil on drier areas.
- In the morning, apply sunscreen as the last step.
If you buy pure argan oil, patch test first and start with a small amount. If you use a formulated product that contains argan oil, follow the directions on that product's page.
What does it pair with?
Argan oil pairs well with humectants such as glycerine and hyaluronic acid, which bring water to the skin that the oil then helps hold. It also sits comfortably next to antioxidants such as vitamin E.
The practical point is layering order: water-based actives first, oil after. If your skin reacts, simplify your routine and add things back one at a time.
What does the research say?
The short version: a small evidence base.
- Skin hydration in postmenopausal women: argan oil benefit with oral and/or topical use (Boucetta et al., Menopause Review, 2014): 60 women were randomly assigned to eat argan oil or olive oil for 60 days, and both groups applied cosmetic argan oil to one forearm each night. The argan group showed lower transepidermal water loss and higher skin water content, including on the untreated forearm. The authors list limits themselves: a short study, no compliance check, and olive oil shares some components such as linoleic acid. Because both groups applied argan oil topically, the design doesn't isolate a topical-only effect.
- Safety Assessment of Plant-Derived Fatty Acid Oils (Burnett et al., International Journal of Toxicology, 2017): the CIR Expert Panel report that lists Argania spinosa kernel oil and concludes the oils are safe as used in cosmetics.
- Argan oil entry, Altmeyer's Encyclopedia: describes the botanical source, the composition and reported allergic contact reactions.
The study tested eating argan oil and applying it, in postmenopausal women, and it doesn't measure the effect of any Dope Skin Co product.
Safety and regulation
Argan oil can be the main ingredient in a pure oil or a smaller part of a cream or serum, so no single concentration applies. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel included Argania spinosa kernel oil among 244 plant-derived fatty acid oils it assessed in 2017 and concluded they are safe as used in cosmetics (Burnett et al., International Journal of Toxicology, 2017). What is documented separately is the allergy reports described above, which is why a patch test is a reasonable step for anyone new to the oil.
Argan oil in Dope Skin Co products
Argan oil is listed in the Vitamin C Antioxidant Elixir with CoQ10 as Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil. It sits alongside hemp seed, sweet almond, jojoba, camellia seed and rosehip seed oils, squalane, ascorbyl palmitate, tocopherol and ubiquinone (CoQ10). The Elixir also contains sweet almond oil, so the product page's allergy information applies.
We make our products in-house in Sydney. See the product page for the full list and directions.
Not sure where to start? Take our skincare quiz.
Frequently asked questions
Is argan oil good for skin?
It's used as an emollient to soften skin and help hold moisture. One small study in postmenopausal women reported better skin hydration measures, with the limits described above. How it suits you depends on your skin and the full formula.
Can argan oil clog pores?
That varies by person and by formula, and there's no rating to quote here. If you're breakout-prone, patch test and introduce it slowly.
Can I use argan oil if I have a nut allergy?
Ask your allergist before using it. Argan oil has also been reported to cause contact allergy in some people, so patch test either way.
How does argan oil compare with jojoba oil?
Both are plant oils used as emollients. They differ in composition and feel on skin. See our jojoba oil guide for that ingredient. For another oil to compare, see our guide to marula oil for skin.
Can I use argan oil with acids or retinoids?
Apply water-based products first and oil after, and follow the directions for each product.
