Argan Oil - Ethical Product and Gem From Nature!
Argan oil (AKA Moroccan oil) is an essential oil which is pressed from the kernels of the argan tree, native to southwestern Morocco.
The local people of the extremely small area where the argan tree grows are called the Berber Tribes or Berber People.
Historically the Berber people have used argan oil on the hair, skin and nails to moisturize, strengthen, repair and protect from harsh effects (like UV damage) of the hot climate in which they live.
They use it to care for the delicate skin of their infants and children, and they even put it to culinary use in salads or on bread.
Let's just say they believe in the benefits of this application so much they refer to the argan tree as "The Tree of Life"! For centuries all over Morocco, argan oil is well-known and popular, yet here in Canada (and in the USA), it's quite a new discovery.
I'd say those Moroccans have been hogging all the goods and with reason.
It's time for us to get our piece! However we will not and in fact can not take our piece as North Americans so often do, by moving on in and taking all they want until the resource is depleted, the Aboriginals of the land left with little compensation.
Let us keep in mind the growth area of this precious tree is very small, making argan oil one of the rarest oils in the world.
If production was not closely and respectfully monitored the tree would eventually die out and the oil would be no more.
This may bring to mind the question "is this an ethical product choice?" The answer, in my opinion, is 'yes'.
The harvesting and production of argan oil is largely done by members of women's cooperatives who are citizens of Morocco and belong to many of the Berber tribes.
They produce the oil in the ways and traditions that have been handed down to them and do so in a manner respectful to the tree itself.
The result is a high grade product, and the earnings go toward improving socio-economic conditions for local tribes with an emphasis on improving the lives and working conditions of women.
The truth is not all argan oil is produced by these cooperatives (though the majority is), and the oil of the cooperatives is generally more expensive than counterparts can be.
The fact is this: Argan oil produced by women's cooperatives is more expensive because it is better quality, higher grade, environmentally responsible, improves living for human beings, and is an ethical product choice you can feel good about even if your wallet is temporarily lightened.
I would also like to share that I have tried this product and indeed, I love it and I'm pretty sure it loves me! When I first heard of a high-priced line of argan oil products that had recently come to the market I said to myself "self, you can not afford to pay $40 for 100mL of hair product", at which point I promptly marched to the supermarket to purchase my $2.
99 old faithful hair care items.
What I didn't know then was that I literally could not afford to not have that marvelous fabulous gift from nature.
Days after this my mother came by my house with a small pill bottle.
In the pill bottle was a couple tablespoons of a golden liquid.
It was as argan oil.
My mother had coincidentally purchased just the thing I longed to try and decided to gift me a little bit of her treasure.
She said she had been instructed to use a pea-sized amount on damp hair after showering so that is what I proceeded to do.
Within ten minutes of the first application I knew...
I was in love.
The product smelled heavenly and glided through my starving strands spreading life and nourishment wherever it went! I have fine hair and I noticed after it had dried that my hair looked thicker and more voluminous.
My hair was shining but not greasy, light and full.
I have actually noticed since I have been using it that need to wash my hair less.
Where it used to take twenty-four hours to begin to look greasy it now takes days.
In truth it is the best hair product I have ever used and the quality of my hair is simply much improved.
In short I believe argan oil to be one of Mother Nature's greatest creations and am grateful for the opportunity through women's cooperative's to know my purchase is ethical and helpful in the world.
Try it for yourself and tell me I'm wrong!
The local people of the extremely small area where the argan tree grows are called the Berber Tribes or Berber People.
Historically the Berber people have used argan oil on the hair, skin and nails to moisturize, strengthen, repair and protect from harsh effects (like UV damage) of the hot climate in which they live.
They use it to care for the delicate skin of their infants and children, and they even put it to culinary use in salads or on bread.
Let's just say they believe in the benefits of this application so much they refer to the argan tree as "The Tree of Life"! For centuries all over Morocco, argan oil is well-known and popular, yet here in Canada (and in the USA), it's quite a new discovery.
I'd say those Moroccans have been hogging all the goods and with reason.
It's time for us to get our piece! However we will not and in fact can not take our piece as North Americans so often do, by moving on in and taking all they want until the resource is depleted, the Aboriginals of the land left with little compensation.
Let us keep in mind the growth area of this precious tree is very small, making argan oil one of the rarest oils in the world.
If production was not closely and respectfully monitored the tree would eventually die out and the oil would be no more.
This may bring to mind the question "is this an ethical product choice?" The answer, in my opinion, is 'yes'.
The harvesting and production of argan oil is largely done by members of women's cooperatives who are citizens of Morocco and belong to many of the Berber tribes.
They produce the oil in the ways and traditions that have been handed down to them and do so in a manner respectful to the tree itself.
The result is a high grade product, and the earnings go toward improving socio-economic conditions for local tribes with an emphasis on improving the lives and working conditions of women.
The truth is not all argan oil is produced by these cooperatives (though the majority is), and the oil of the cooperatives is generally more expensive than counterparts can be.
The fact is this: Argan oil produced by women's cooperatives is more expensive because it is better quality, higher grade, environmentally responsible, improves living for human beings, and is an ethical product choice you can feel good about even if your wallet is temporarily lightened.
I would also like to share that I have tried this product and indeed, I love it and I'm pretty sure it loves me! When I first heard of a high-priced line of argan oil products that had recently come to the market I said to myself "self, you can not afford to pay $40 for 100mL of hair product", at which point I promptly marched to the supermarket to purchase my $2.
99 old faithful hair care items.
What I didn't know then was that I literally could not afford to not have that marvelous fabulous gift from nature.
Days after this my mother came by my house with a small pill bottle.
In the pill bottle was a couple tablespoons of a golden liquid.
It was as argan oil.
My mother had coincidentally purchased just the thing I longed to try and decided to gift me a little bit of her treasure.
She said she had been instructed to use a pea-sized amount on damp hair after showering so that is what I proceeded to do.
Within ten minutes of the first application I knew...
I was in love.
The product smelled heavenly and glided through my starving strands spreading life and nourishment wherever it went! I have fine hair and I noticed after it had dried that my hair looked thicker and more voluminous.
My hair was shining but not greasy, light and full.
I have actually noticed since I have been using it that need to wash my hair less.
Where it used to take twenty-four hours to begin to look greasy it now takes days.
In truth it is the best hair product I have ever used and the quality of my hair is simply much improved.
In short I believe argan oil to be one of Mother Nature's greatest creations and am grateful for the opportunity through women's cooperative's to know my purchase is ethical and helpful in the world.
Try it for yourself and tell me I'm wrong!
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