FAQs About Argan Oil

What is argan oil?

Argan oil is an oil extracted from the kernels of the argan tree. The oil is highly valued for its many cosmetic, therapeutic and medicinal properties. Among other ailments, argan oil is an effective treatment for dry skin, psoriasis, eczema, wrinkles, stretch marks and acne.

One of the hottest sellers in the natural skin care industry, argan oil is particularly gentle on the skin, and for this reason, is recommended for consumers with naturally dry skin and/or sensitivities to common skin care products.

Where does argan oil come from?

Argan oil comes from a 10,000 square mile UNESCO-protected biosphere in southwestern Morocco, and can only be extracted from trees grown in this area.

Used for at least 3,500 years by the Berber people of this region, the oil was traditionally processed by hand, in a laborous process, in which a single litre of the oil took two days of manual labor.

In the early 1990s, argan oil production shifted from the Berber people to modern factories in Casablanca, though government agencies and NGOs have redirected much argan production back to the Berber women.

What's in argan oil?

Argan is high in antioxidants, squalene oil, polyphenols, essential fatty acids, oleic and linoleic acids and has at least 200% more vitamin E than olive oil.

What makes argan effective for anti-aging?

The antioxidants in argan oil fight free radical damage and can protect against aging from the sun. The fatty acids enhance cellular health, with the collagen and elastin required to keep skin young and healthy.

Does argan have other applications?

Argan oil makes an effective hair conditioner. You can add argan to your hair, whether wet or dry, and it's an ideal remedy for dry hair or split ends. Experiment a little; a few drops can add shine to hair and improve its appearance.

You can also use argan oil to strengthen your nails. Mix one part each argan oil and lemon juice, paint it on your nails with a brush and leave it on for fifteen minutes.

In addition, argan oil can be used for cooking, though cosmetic argan is made with a different process than product meant for cooking and should therefore be used for that purpose only.

Are there side effects with argan oil?

You'll find that argan oil is very safe. In fact, it's recommended for people with skin sensitivities and irritations to common skin care products. There are no known wide spread side effects with argan oil, but if you have specific concerns regarding argan, it's best to speak with your physician.

What's this about argan oil and fair trade?

Upon efforts from two German government agencies and several non-government organizations, much production of argan oil has shifted away from modern, foreign-controlled factories in Casablanca and large cities and back to the local Berber women who perfected the extraction process over thousands of years.

The issue of argan oil products manufactured in large-scale factories has not disappeared completely. In particular, argan products with preservatives and packaged by some major cosmetic brands have origins in such industrial workshops.

Fortunately, the global interest in ethical consumerism has contributed to fair trade cooperatives, in which women extract and process argan oil in their traditional manner, with competitive wages, flexible working conditions, health care and educational opportunities.

Should I buy pure argan oil or just an argan-based product?

Buy argan oil in its pure state. This preserves the integrity of the beneficial nutrients in argan oil, for maximum benefits, be they cosmetic or otherwise.

Additionally, pure argan oil is more likely to have been processed in a fair trade cooperative than a factory and by a manufacturer that claims to share the benefits of argan production with local Berber women but fails to do so.

Look for an argan oil product manufactured by a small or mid-sized skin care company. They're more likely to extract their products ethically, in a fair trade co-op, than the larger brands. Look for a commitment from the company that it's been processed in this manner. One example? Skinception Cold Pressed Cosmetic Argan Oil.

An Introduction to Argan Oil

Take a deep breath when you read this: there are over 10,000 industrial chemicals in common skin care products. The average American adult is exposed to 168 hazardous chemicals each day. And everything applied to the skin, be it lip stick or deodorant, sun block or general skin care products are absorbed by the body, just like they'd been eaten.

Remember that scene in the second season of The Simpsons, in which Mr. Burns ran for Governor, and a three-eyed fish, affectionately called "Blinky", mutated by the pollution from Burns's own power plant, came back to haunt him?

The natural skin care movement gets stronger by the day, folks. And one of the more prominent players in this industry is argan oil. From the deserts of Morocco.

What is Argan Oil?

Argan oil is an oil and popular natural skin care supplement, valued for its cosmetic properties and medicinal uses. Among other things, argan oil is used to:

• moisturize the skin
• fade wrinkles
• fight acne
• heal skin conditions, including eczema and psoriasis
• strengthen finger nails
• condition damaged hair

Argan oil is an extract of the Argania tree that once covered much of North Africa. Today the tree is endangered, and grows only in a UNESCO protected biosphere in Morocco. And considering that a litre of argan oil constitutes a full season of output from a single tree, argan oil is both rare and highly prized.

More over, the composition of argan oil is of particular interest to the anti-aging industry and to consumers looking for a natural alternative to common skin care products. With a hefty dose of fatty acids, antioxidants, polyphenols and a skin-loving 200% more vitamin E than olive oil, you can see why argan oil has been used for over 3,500 years, for health and for beauty.

A Closer Look at Argan Oil

Argan oil is versatile. In fact, many consumers dabble a small amount in their hair after a thorough cleanse, to treat split ends. You can also use argan oil to fade stretch marks, strengthen finger nails, reduce wrinkles and those fine lines from the sun.

A closer look at argan oil reveals traces of:

Vitamin E (Tocopherol) - A powerful antioxidant, vitamin E reduces harmful free radicals and protects the skin from sun damage. Vitamin E also improves the skin's ability to retain and use water.

Essential Fatty Acids - These keep your cells healthy and your skin plump, with the ability to re-form after stretching.

Oleic and Linoleic Acid - Essential for their anti-inflammatory properties and to help heal the skin.

Antioxidants - The body's warriors that protect the skin from free radicals, sun damage, chemicals and pollution. If Blinky the Fish had more antioxidants, he might have avoided that trademark third eye.

Polyphenols - Protection from UV rays and aging from sun damage, polyphenols are anti-inflammatories and fight free radicals.

Squalene Oil - With similar functions to olive oil, squalene oil is a natural moisturizer, a powerful healer and is ideal for people with eczema and psoriasis.

Should You Use Argan Oil?

If all this has your attention, and you're excited about argan oil and its many uses and healing properties, know this: you're looking for argan oil in its purest form.

Indeed, it's not uncommon for some of the larger skin care brands to dilute argan with additives and preservatives. Sometimes these products have in excess of 20 ingredients. All of which dilute the product and reduce the good things that argan can do.

Having said that, argan oil is called "liquid gold" for a reason. It's rare, it's potent, and with a track record over three millennia, it's proven.

If you have dry skin, sensitivities to common skin care products, frizzy hair, wrinkles or stretch marks, or a general interest in natural skin care, then yes, argan oil holds value and is worth your purchase.

But remember that you're looking for pure argan, undiluted with preservatives that degrade argan oil and the magic it does. Your best bet is to purchase argan oil in its pure form, from a major skin care name with minimal use of parabens and with discount packaging.

To that end, you might consider Skinception Cold Pressed Cosmetic Argan Oil, which offers the power of argan oil with the comfort of the Skinception name with a proven track record, live customer support, discount pricing and a firm, money-back guarantee.

Restore Youthfulness Within and Regain Looks, Health, and Energy

Getting older, although a undisputable fact of life, is still something that many of us relish. Although gaining experience and knowledge is a good thing, feeling older and looking older is not necessarily something that all of us look forward as we age. But why do we have to look and feel old? Who said we couldn't retain some of that youthful glow even as the calendar clicks by? Well the team of researchers who have been working on the revolutionary product GenFX couldn't agree more.

GenFX is an amazing anti-aging tonic that not only makes you feel younger, but it makes you look younger as well. GenFX is a unique anti-aging releaser that helps a myriad of symptoms of aging that we are susceptible to including:

• Memory loss
• Decrease in muscle mass
• Loss of libido
• Negative mood swings
• Slower metabolism
• Decrease in vision
• And looking older!

If these are things that are affecting your life and making you wish you were twenty again, then the GenFX anti aging tonic could be exactly what you are looking for. The Human Growth Hormone (HGH) is a naturally occurring hormone that starts to decrease in production around the age of 25. So as a result of your body's ability to produce less of this hormone, the adverse affects kick in, such as more wrinkles, more body fat, baldness, and osteoporosis among others.

The good news is that studies have proven that increasing the HGH production in your body actually has a positive effect on decreasing these symptoms of aging, meaning you will feel and look younger! HGH is a natural biological compound that is secreted by the human pituitary gland and so GenFX mimics that process and basically your body starts to replicate more HGH naturally.

So by taking the GenFX anti aging tonic you are essentially tricking your body into thinking you are still 25 years old. Soon a youthful glow will reappear, you will notice less wrinkles, your libido will increase dramatically, you will lose weight, and your confidence level will increase significantly. The side effects of GenFX will be so positive you will soon wonder what took you so long to start taking this supplement. The ingredients are a blend of amino acids and natural herbal components. This means that GenFX will work with your body to promote a safe and effective production of HGH. There are no side effects with this natural product and thorough clinical trials revealed no other adverse problems.

And now GenFX comes with a 90 day full guarantee, so if you give it try and are not fully satisfied with the results, you can return it for a full refund. So there is no risk and no obligation. But you will not even have to worry about that. Within weeks you will start to feel the results of this amazing product and start to look and feel younger. You will be thrilled with your increase in energy and your new outlook on life. You will look and feel great and wonder why you didn't try this amazing product before!

For more information, go to GenFX.com.

GKhair Styling Mousse

Healthy hair is important. Check this product out.

Styling Mousse - $9.50
from: TIBOLLI LLC

Why Does ClearPores Beat Out Other Acne Creams on the Market?

Everywhere you go and everywhere you look there is an overwhelming amount of information and products that offer huge, too-good-to-be-true claims on how they can rid your life of acne and blemishes forever. When you walk down the drug store isle you can't even count the number of bottles and jars of creams and pills that offer you clear skin for almost no money.

But usually if something is cheap, then it generally doesn't work. How many over the counter remedies have you tried that have just ended up in your bathroom cupboard, doing nothing more than taking up space and certainly not helping to clear up your skin? If you had the chance to recoup all that money and put it toward a skin cleansing system that really worked, wouldn't your rush out to do that?

Well unfortunately the majority of drug store brand acne products don't come with a money back guarantee. And haven't you often wondered why not? Well the answer is certainly clear — those products don't work and those companies are banking on your desperation to rid yourself of acne that they will sell any concoction whether it works or not just to capitalize on your situation. That certainly isn't very ethical and so not only are you left with a dent in your wallet you are also left with skin that is still riddled with blemishes.

Well luckily for you, the folks who have spent years researching and formulating the Clear Pores Skin Cleansing System really do not only know what they are doing, but put their money where their mouth is and fully guarantee their product.

The Clear Pores Skin Cleansing System is a unique approach that not only works to clear up your acne and blemishes but also works to eliminate them forever. Just imagine how your life will be once you no longer are embarrassed by the condition of your skin. Yes it is time to stop relying on drugstore products that don't deliver what they promise and put your faith and effort into a company that stands behind their products and their claims to clearer and healthier looking skin that is acne free.

The Clear Pores Skin Cleansing System is a three part, natural product that works from the inside and the outside to combat acne and blemishes. The facial cleansing product helps to remove dirt and irritants from the skin's surface and deep within the pores. The herbal supplement works from the inside to support your body's comprehensive systems to help reduce irritations and swelling of the skin and to ensure that the acne and blemishes do not reappear. The third component of the Clear Pores Skin Cleansing System is the protection cream which not only helps to keep pores clean but acts as a moisturizer as well, giving you that healthy glow that you so want to see.

So really there is no need to suffer from the adverse affects of acne any longer. You too can feel and see the benefits of the Clear Pores Skin Cleansing System almost immediately. There is no reason to wait to have your confidence return and your outlook on life improve. Order your Clear Pores Skin Cleansing System today and look forward to a healthier, happier tomorrow.

For more information, go to ClearPores.com.

Are you Sick of Blemished and Spotty Skin? Clear Pores is the Answer

There are some things that life throws at you that you can just learn to deal with and some things that you just can't. Suffering the effects of acne is one of those things that no matter how you try to ignore it, it just doesn't ever go away. Unfortunately many people see your blemishes before they see the real you and even if you know they appear not to, you always end up feeling self conscious. And when you feel self conscious you end up worrying more about what the other person is thinking, rather than what you are thinking or how you are feeling.

It's like a blemished view of the world and it does affect how you act. So really there comes a point where severe acne is no longer conducive to a happy or healthy life and you need to do something about it. But where do you start? Doing your homework is always the best place to begin. You really want to find a product that has a few key components and a few key effects. First of all, finding a product that is made from natural ingredients is really important. Adding chemicals to the mix when your skin is already challenged would not be the first route to take.

Secondly, you should look for a product that is fully guaranteed. If a company is selling a product and doesn't stand behind it, then that is a good reason to be weary. There is less reason to believe the claims and testimonials if the company is not willing to offer you your hard earned money back if it doesn't work for you. Not every product made works the same for each person, so a company has to realize that and be willing to put their money where their claims are.

Thirdly, look for an organization that clearly spells out what the ingredients are and what the effects of these ingredients will have on your skin condition. You really want to know what you are putting on your skin or what you're putting in your body. Chemical laden products can have adverse side effects that can actually end up irritating your system even more, causing more stress, which in turn can create more acne.

Finally for an acne product to really be effective, it should work internally and externally. Acne is not just caused by external forces such as dirt; it also can be affected by what you take into your body. Some things that you eat can have a detrimental affect on your skin, so taking a product that can help balance out the adverse internal effects will ultimately be more effective.

Clear Pores is a three-part skin cleansing system that does all the above and more. It works effectively internally and externally to help reduce blemishes, reduce inflammation and swelling, and remove debris and impurities, leaving your skin clean, blemish free and clear. So there is no need to look any further. Clear Pores really is the one stop shop for blemish-free skin and a clearer future.

For more information, go to ClearPores.com.

Illuminatural 6i Skin Brightener Review

Skin products do very well at the cash register. Let's face it, skin is sexy. And one of the top sellers in this lucrative industry are skin brightening products, which, as you'd expect, brighten the skin.

The problem with most skin brightening products is that they're laden with dangerous chemicals and toxic agents, including steroids, hyrdoquinone and especially mercury. Enter the natural skin brightener, a skin lightening product formulated with botanicals and natural exfoliants.

Illuminatural 6i by the Skinception line of skin care products is one of the few skin brighteners available today with no toxic ingredients or dangerous chemicals in its formula. Customer reviews thus far, as with most products by Skinception, have been positive.

What Illuminatural 6i Does

A skin lightener is designed to lighten the skin, for a more even complexion and with reduced visibility of skin blemishes. With that in consideration, Illuminatural 6i is designed to reduce the appearance of:

• moles
• age spots
• freckles
• birth marks
• sun damage
• acne scars
• melasma

To achieve this, a skin lightener must inhibit the tyrosinase enzyme that stimulates the melanocyte skin cells that produce melanin – the dark pigment. Excessive melanin is responsible for skin blotchiness, uneven skin tone and dark spots. Excess melanin can also be called hyperpigmentation.

In addition, a skin lightener needs to exfoliate the dark pigmented cells to encourage newer, bright skin cells to reach the outermost layer of skin, the epidermis.

Illuminatural 6i is designed to perform both of these functions – inhibit the enzyme responsible for hyperpigmentation and exfoliate the skin in a safe yet effective manner. Thus far, consumer reviews indicate it's a less painful and more convenient way to exfoliate the skin than by using a chemical peel.

The Formula

Illuminatural 6i is a natural skin lightener. As such, it consists primarily of gentle skin lighteners, plant-derived active ingredients and natural exfoliants. Of the more notable ingredients in its formula, you'll find:

Niacinamide – A form of vitamin B3, niacinamide is involved in over 200 enzymatic reactions and can significantly reduce hyperpigmentation, often in less than a month.

Alpha-Arbutin – Derived from berries and fruits, alpha-arbutin is proven to reduce melanin by up to 70% and is a safer, more natural alternative to common skin bleachers. In a chinese study, researchers found that women who used alpha-arbutin experienced 60% more skin lightening effects than achieved with hydroquinone.

Beta Glucan – Considered a natural alternative to Botox, beta glucan helps natural turn over of dead skin cells and promotes health of macrophages, which are the cells that destroy dead or mutated skin cells.

Customer Feedback

Thus far, reviews and customer feedback of Illuminatural 6i have been very positive. Consumers have embraced the product as a safer alternative to skin brighteners with hydroquinone and particularly mercury, which is linked to neurological, psychological and kidney problems.

Adding to that last point, it's not uncommon for consumers to apply a skin lightening product to the entire body, for months and even years, in an effort to lighten the complexion and reduce visibility of skin blemishes, including blotchiness, sun damage, acne scars and age spots.

Engaging in this practice with a conventional skin lightener with mercury – and estimates suggest that one in four skin lightening products sold in the Unites States is formulated with this toxic agent – elevates risk of mercury poisoning, which, in pregnant women, can be passed along to their unborn child.

With Illuminatural, customer surveys indicate that many consumers continue to bleach most of their skin, yet appreciate that, being without mercury, hydroquinone, steroids or harmful chemicals, appears to be much safer than with common skin brighteners.

Should You Buy Illuminatural 6i?

If you have skin blemishes, dark spots, uneven complexion and you'd like to do something about it, you might consider Illuminatural 6i as a safe and natural alternative to most skin lightening products on the market today.

You might also take comfort in knowing that it's offered by Skinception, a well-known brand of popular skin care products that blend natural ingredients with patented peptides and that keep paraben content to a minimum.

Reviews will be ongoing with Illuminatural 6i, of course, and it remains to be seen whether consumers will flock to Illuminatural or continue with common, if not riskier skin lightening products.

But it is encouraging to know that there is now a natural skin lightening product on the market, that delivers what it claims, with a notable reduction in skin blemishes and brighter, more even complexion, and that reviews so far are very positive about Illuminatural 6i.