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Argan oil is the little oil that could. It wasn’t that long ago that it was totally under-the-radar in the U.S. beauty market (despite the fact that it’s been a go-to beauty secret for Mediterranean women for years). Now, it's found in a litany of different products across the hair and skincare categories—and with good reason.
Derived from the kernels of the argan tree, it’s packed—and we mean packed—with a slew of antioxidants, vitamins, and essential fatty acids that can work wonders for both hair and skin. For the former, it’s often used for its top-notch smoothing and shine-boosting prowess; for the latter, it offers deep hydration and antioxidant protection without clogging pores. In short, it’s one oil that's most definitely worth adding to your beauty routine.
Not sure where to start? Check out the best argan oil treatments below.
Best Overall
SheaMoisture 100% Pure Argan Oil
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ULTA Beauty
Multipurpose oil
Inexpensive
Absorbs quickly
Strong scent
There’s one ingredient and one ingredient only in this bottle. That’s right, you get straight-up argan oil, without any other oils or fillers. This makes it a choice multi-tasker; Use a few drops on damp hair pre-blowdrying, layered under your face moisturizer, dabbed onto rough cuticles—it's totally up to you. Plus, at such an affordable price, you can afford to slather it on with reckless abandon.
Price at time of publish: $11
Active Ingredients: Argan oil | Dosage: 1 pump | Free of: Sulfates, parabens, silicones, fragrance | Size: 1.6 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Budget
The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Moroccan Argan Oil
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Sephora
Inexpensive
Easy to use
Multipurpose oil
Can be a little heavy
The Ordinary is our go-to for concentrated formulas of singular ingredients—at insanely low prices—and argan oil is no different. This contains an organic version that’s cold-pressed to ensure all of its attributes —those fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and more—stay in their purest and most effective form. The convenient dropper makes it easy to dispense, no matter whether you want to use it on hair or skin.
Price at time of publish: $7
Active Ingredients: Argan oil | Dosage: A few drops | Free of: Sulfates, parabens, silicones, fragrance | Size: 1 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Drugstore
OGX Extra Penetrating Moroccan Argan Oil
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Amazon
Smooths hair
Tamps down frizz
Lightweight
Not Byrdie Clean or cruelty-free
If you’re not quite sure if argan oil will work for your hair (or if you're just a devoted drugstore shopper), pick up this hair treatment. It combines argan oil with other strand-smoothing ingredients to impart moisture, smoothness, and softness. FYI, this is a pretty rich formula, so it will work best on dry, coarse, or thick tresses.
Price at time of publish: $10
Active Ingredients: Argan oil | Free of: Sulfates, parabens, silicones | Size: 3.3 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: No
Best for Hair
Moroccanoil Treatment Original
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Sephora
Tamps down frizz
Hair looks shinier and healthier
Smells great
Not Byrdie Clean
Arguably the product that kick-started the stateside Moroccan oil craze, this OG is a serious strand-saver (and a favorite of Byrdie Editorial Director Faith Xue). There’s no shortage of ways to use the lightweight styler. Try it on damp hair to make for a smoother, sleeker blow-dry, or apply a tiny bit on dry tips to tamp down flyaways and minimize the look of split ends.
Price at time of publish: $48
Active Ingredients: Argan oil | Free of: Sulfates, parabens, silicones | Size: 0.9 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Runner-Up, Best for Hair
Hask Argan Oil 5-in-1 Leave In
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ULTA Beauty
Hair looks shiny and smooth
Lightweight
Provides heat protection
Larger bottle than other options
Not Byrdie Clean
Just a few spritzes of this formula conditions the hair, tames frizz, and adds mirror-like shine. We like that it works equally well on dry or wet strands. Plus, unlike many other argan oil hair products, it comes in a spray, which is particularly great if you have fine hair since it’s almost impossible to overdo it and end up weighing down your strands by mistake.
Price at time of publish: $9
Active Ingredients: Argan oil | Free of: Sulfates, parabens, silicones | Size: 6 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Curly Hair
Alaffia Curl Hydrating Oil
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Alaffia
Softens and defines curls
No silicones
Fragrance is naturally derived
Blend of oils may not be for all
Argan oil is a great pick for all hair types. That being said, as any curly haired girl will tell you, curly textures do require a little bit of extra TLC and careful product selection. That’s where this oil, which is specifically formulated for all curl types, comes up huge. It pairs argan oil with castor and baobab oils to impart mega-moisture to your curls, leaving them soft and manageable yet still defined.
Price at time of publish: $11
Active Ingredients: Castor, baobab, and argan oils | Free of: Sulfates, parabens, silicones | Size: 2 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Face
ITEM Beauty Overdew Xtra Intensive Cream Moisturizer with Argan Oil
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Item Beauty
Antioxidant-rich formula
Very lightweight, yet intensely hydrating
Clean, vegan, and cruelty-free
May be too heavy for oily skin types
For those whose complexions crave moisture but aren’t necessarily fans of facial oils, this is the product for you. Lightweight yet incredibly hydrating, this cream moisturizer is infused with argan oil, murumuru butter, tiger grass extract, and magnolia berry extract for a supremely nourishing treatment with antioxidant protection.
Price at time of publish: $20
Active Ingredients: Argan oil, murumuru butter, tiger grass, magnolia berry | Free of: Sulfates, parabens, silicones, fragrance | Size: 4 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Stretch Marks
Poppy Austin Pure Argan Oil
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Amazon
Multipurpose oil
Vegan
Organic and ethically sourced
Expensive
Long story short, there are very few topical ingredients or treatments that have been scientifically proven to get rid of stretch marks. That being said, there is a ton of anecdotal evidence (read: word of mouth) that says vitamin E can help fade the tell-tale marks that show up as a result of pregnancy or weight changes. Since argan oil is loaded with vitamin E, it gets buzz as a stretch mark treatment worth trying (it also may help skin retain its elasticity). Our pick, here, is a completely pure version that’s also ethically sourced.
Active Ingredients: Argan oil | Free of: Sulfates, parabens, silicones, fragrance | Size: 1.69 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Lightweight
Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil Light
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SEPHORA
Absorbs quickly
Ideal for acne-prone skin
Multipurpose oil
Can leave skin looking a little shiny
If oils just aren’t your thing but we’ve now sold you on the fact that argan oil is worth trying, consider this formula. The brand is known for its array of awesome argan oil options, but this one uses a proprietary process to pull out the lightest elements of argan oil. The result is an uber-featherweight formula that soaks into the skin within seconds and will convert even oil-haters. In related news, it’s also a great option for oily or acne-prone skin; Byrdie senior editor Lindsey Metrus even credits it for helping clear her complexion.
Active Ingredients: Argan oil | Dosage: 2-4 drops | Free of: Sulfates, parabens, silicones, fragrance | Size: 0.5 / 1.7 / 4 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Lotion
The Body Shop Wild Argan Oil Body Butter
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The body shop
Rich and hydrating
Not greasy
Smells great
Not Byrdie Clean
Still can’t get on the oil train? No worries. Argan oil can easily be incorporated into hydrating creams, and this rich body butter is proof positive. It combines argan oil with the brand’s signature community fair-trade butter in a lusciously thick formula that’s ideal for knocking out even the driest of dry skin. We especially love it in the winter for combating parched patches on areas like elbows and knees.
Active Ingredients: Shea and cocoa butter, argan oil | Free of: Sulfates, parabens, silicones | Size: 6.8 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Meet the Expert
Dr. Geeta Yadav is a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Skin Science Dermatology in Toronto. She practices general, medical, and cosmetic dermatology.
Michael Dueñas is a celebrity hairstylist and founder of Veluer Creative.
How We Researched
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used this research to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.
What to Look For in an Argan Oil Treatment
Cold-Pressed
Whether you’re using argan oil on your skin, scalp, or hair, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Geeta Yadav recommends opting for a cold-pressed formula. “This means the raw material has been gently, mechanically extracted to ensure its quality and efficacy,” she says.
Paired With Other Beneficial Ingredients
Dr. Yadav explains that on its own, argan oil has hydrating properties that help strengthen the skin barrier and also has a high concentration of antioxidants and polyphenols, which can help protect against UVB-induced damage and photoaging. While plenty of pure formulas exist, she also recommends finding a formula that pairs argan oil with other ingredients that may be beneficial for your skin or hair type.
For example, she recommends those who are prone to breakouts looking for a formula that also includes tea tree oil, which had sebum control properties and can further improve skin clarity. She also suggests castor oil, especially for use on the hair, as its also rich in fatty acids and has a nourishing effect.
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