--- title: "Argan oil in cosmetic care" description: "Argan oil comes from argan kernels. Explore cosmetic versus food grades, its lipid composition, and the limits of skin-elasticity research." --- # Argan oil in cosmetic care > Argan oil comes from argan kernels. Explore cosmetic versus food grades, its lipid composition, and the limits of skin-elasticity research. Source: https://cosmetic-labs.com/glossary/argan-oil Created: 2026-11-10T10:18:46+00:00 Modified: 2026-11-10T10:18:46+00:00 Author: Emilie SCHOL ## Definition of Argan oil in cosmetic care Argan oil is a vegetable oil from the kernels of Argania spinosa. Cosmetic argan oil is prepared from unroasted kernels and may be applied to skin or hair or incorporated into a cosmetic formula. ### Learn more ## Cosmetic oil versus culinary oil Argan oil comes from the argan tree, Argania spinosa. Cosmetic and culinary oils that plant origin but differ in kernel preparation. Cosmetic oil is prepared from unroasted kernels. Food oil is made by pressing kernels that have been roasted for a few minutes. This is a useful distinction when reading a label or a technical specification: the word argan alone does not explain which preparation was used. The cosmetic ingredient name is Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil. Cosmetic argan oil can be used directly on skin or hair or as an ingredient in another cosmetic preparation. A bottle of the oil and a cream containing the oil are therefore different kinds of products. Evidence about direct application of the studied oil should not automatically be used to advertise every cream, shampoo or blended oil that includes it. ## Composition and quality Oleic acid and linoleic acid are the major unsaturated fatty acids in argan oil. The oil also contains smaller components including tocopherols, sterols and polyphenols. These composition facts describe the material; they do not by themselves measure a visible improvement in the skin. Knowing that a constituent is present is a different question from showing that a finished product produces a particular result. Extraction and accompanying processing conditions can influence oil quality, stability and purity. That makes the preparation method and raw-material specification relevant when evaluating an ingredient. The sensible comparison is between oils or formulations with a clearly described identity, not between broad promises attached to the plant name. A chemical profile can help characterize the oil, but it is not a substitute for a test designed around the claimed cosmetic benefit. ## What human elasticity research tested A 60-day investigation involved 60 postmenopausal women divided into two groups of 30. One group consumed dietary argan oil and the other consumed olive oil. Both groups applied cosmetic argan oil to the left inner forearm. Skin elasticity was assessed with instruments on the forearms before treatment and after 30 and 60 days. Improvements in measured elasticity parameters were reported with topical application. This is a narrowly defined human result, not a universal claim about reversing skin aging. The combined dietary and topical design matters. The oral comparison was argan oil against olive oil, while both groups used topical argan oil. It was not a comparison of two finished face creams. The intervention was also short and involved a specific population and body site. These features limit transfer of the result to younger users, other application areas, different products or long-term wrinkle outcomes. No side effects were noted during the study period, but that observation does not guarantee tolerance for every user or establish safety for all future formulations. Sources ## Sources and references References supporting this page are listed below. Source access dates and supported claims are recorded in the evidence notes where available. [Argan Oil: Chemical Composition, Extraction Process, and Quality Control](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/webservices/rest/PMC8850956/fullTextXML) URL [https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/webservices/rest/PMC8850956/fullTextXML](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/webservices/rest/PMC8850956/fullTextXML) [Argan Oil: Chemical Composition, Extraction Process, and Quality Control](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/webservices/rest/PMC8850956/fullTextXML) URL [https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/webservices/rest/PMC8850956/fullTextXML](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/webservices/rest/PMC8850956/fullTextXML) [Argan Oil: Chemical Composition, Extraction Process, and Quality Control](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/webservices/rest/PMC8850956/fullTextXML) URL [https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/webservices/rest/PMC8850956/fullTextXML](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/webservices/rest/PMC8850956/fullTextXML) [Argan Oil: Chemical Composition, Extraction Process, and Quality Control](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/webservices/rest/PMC8850956/fullTextXML) URL [https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/webservices/rest/PMC8850956/fullTextXML](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/webservices/rest/PMC8850956/fullTextXML) [The effect of dietary and/or cosmetic argan oil on postmenopausal skin elasticity](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/webservices/rest/PMC4321565/fullTextXML) URL [https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/webservices/rest/PMC4321565/fullTextXML](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/webservices/rest/PMC4321565/fullTextXML) [The effect of dietary and/or cosmetic argan oil on postmenopausal skin elasticity](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/webservices/rest/PMC4321565/fullTextXML) URL [https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/webservices/rest/PMC4321565/fullTextXML](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/webservices/rest/PMC4321565/fullTextXML) [The effect of dietary and/or cosmetic argan oil on postmenopausal skin elasticity](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/webservices/rest/PMC4321565/fullTextXML) URL [https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/webservices/rest/PMC4321565/fullTextXML](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/webservices/rest/PMC4321565/fullTextXML) [The effect of dietary and/or cosmetic argan oil on postmenopausal skin elasticity](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/webservices/rest/PMC4321565/fullTextXML) URL [https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/webservices/rest/PMC4321565/fullTextXML](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/webservices/rest/PMC4321565/fullTextXML) [The effect of dietary and/or cosmetic argan oil on postmenopausal skin elasticity](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/webservices/rest/PMC4321565/fullTextXML) URL [https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/webservices/rest/PMC4321565/fullTextXML](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/webservices/rest/PMC4321565/fullTextXML) [The effect of dietary and/or cosmetic argan oil on postmenopausal skin elasticity](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/webservices/rest/PMC4321565/fullTextXML) URL [https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/webservices/rest/PMC4321565/fullTextXML](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/webservices/rest/PMC4321565/fullTextXML) [The effect of dietary and/or cosmetic argan oil on postmenopausal skin elasticity](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/webservices/rest/PMC4321565/fullTextXML) URL [https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/webservices/rest/PMC4321565/fullTextXML](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/webservices/rest/PMC4321565/fullTextXML) --- ## Site identity - Organization: Cosmetic Labs - Description: Cosmetic Labs is a directory and a platform to meet all your cosmetic product development needs. From sourcing raw material to finding the best CRO for your needs. - Website: https://cosmetic-labs.com