Argan Oil and the Ethical Marketplace

What does ethical mean to you? To many consumers, this oft-used term is a generic catch phrase for products and technologies that are deemed sustainable, itself a common phrase, that are made with minimal exploitation of humans, animals or the environment.

Argan oil is an oil extracted from the argania tree of Morocco, prized for its cosmetic, therapeutic and medicinal properties. Argan oil is a multi-player in the natural skin care industry, and is used to treat a variety of ailments, including acne, wrinkles, dry skin, psoriasis and eczema. Additionally, argan makes an effective hair conditioner and is a common treatment to strengthen finger nails.

And yet, beyond its many uses, the production of argan oil and how it ends up in your bathroom cabinet makes an interesting story unto itself.

How it's Made

Argan oil has been used for at least 3,500 years in what is today Morocco. In ancient times, the argania tree, from which it derives, covered much of North Africa, and the Berber people developed a process to extract argan that changed little until the 20th century.

To extract argan, the Berber women would collect the ripe argan fruit from the base of the tree, and peel back the layers and collect the valuable pits within. Next they would grind the pits between two stones to extract the fruit kernels from the pits.

If the argan was to be used for cooking, the women would roast the kernels to enhance the flavor of the oil (argan for cosmetic use often skips this step), which they would grind in a stone quern to produce an oily paste.

Until recently, Berber women would typically kneed the paste to extract the oil, and would then decant and filter the oil to remove impurities. But in the early 1990s, the European cosmetics industry noted the high antioxidant content of argan and its many beauty and skin applications, automated the extraction process and set up factories in Casablanca that monopolized production.

Argan Oil and Fair Trade Production

The growth in popularity for argan oil as a cosmetic treatment in the late 20th century shifted production from the Berber women and traditional extraction methods to modern factories, hundreds of miles from the arganeraie region. And with this shift, a loss of quality control, to say nothing about the lost benefits of argan oil to the Berber peoples who performed the process over thousands of years.

Around this time, a study by the German Government Development Agency (GTZ) chronicled the plight facing the Berber women, often portrayed by major argan oil producers as having a large role in and benefiting from argan production, when in reality, the women received little benefit from surging argan sales, and the product became diluted in the process.

In 1995, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the GTZ outlined a strategy with Moroccan authorities to shift argan oil production back to Berber women in a series of fair trade cooperatives with competitive wages, flexible working conditions, health and education opportunities for the women and their families.

In addition, another objective was to develop a sustainable production process, in which the argan tree was protected, and the region designated a nature reserve, to prevent further degradation of the relatively small growing area.

As a result, UNESCO designated the arganeraie region as a protected biosphere in 1998. And much production of argan oil, through trial and error, has shifted back to Berber women, now active in these co-ops that provide economic protection and benefits to the traditional makers of this rare oil.

How You Can Help

Be aware that some of the larger skin care manufacturers dilute argan oil with preservatives that degrade the product of its antioxidant content. This not only makes it less effective as a cosmetic treatment, it's not unlikely that production of these argan treatments are made in factories in Casablanca, with little benefit to the Berber women and their families.

In that light, and to increase the likelihood that the argan oil you've purchased was produced ethically, by Berber woman, it's advisable to purchase argan oil in its pure form, undiluted, without additives or preservatives.

Buy cosmetic argan oil from small or mid-sized skin care companies. Yes, they may be more expensive than products from the big labels, but if it's undiluted, and it's not one of the large brands, it's more likely that the product was made by the knowledgeable Berber women, in a fair trade co-op, with the economic benefits to reflect that endeavour.

As a suggestion, you might try Skinception Cold-Pressed Cosmetic Argan Oil, which meets the prerequisites listed above, and which offers the cosmetic benefits of this revered oil product with the promise that it was made ethically, by the Berber women, in a fair trade co-op.

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.

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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.

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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.