Argan oil has recently been fawned over as the new fad in skincare. Harvested from the Moroccan argan tree, argan oil is supposed to be magical for your skin, hair, and nails. It softens your skin, resolves split ends in your hair, and supports healthy nail growth and shine.
Basically, argan oil can be the golden touch to your beauty routine.
I decided to give it a try for myself with Josie Maran’s Holiday 2013: Escape to Morocco Argan Oil Set from Sephora. It came with generous sample sizes of 100% Pure Argan Oil, Argan Illuminizer, Argan High Gloss Lip Quench in Pink Honey, and an Argan Color Stick in Spice.
Photo courtesy of www.beautyeditor.ca.
Josie Maran is a relatively new name to me in terms of the high-rollers in makeup. But I was pleasantly surprised to add a new favorite skincare brand to my collection!
Josie Maran is an American model who started her own cosmetics line in 2007. She was briefly on the 2007 season of Dancing With the Stars as well, but this makeup company is her sole business venture nowadays. She describes herself as an environmentalist and aims to make her cosmetics as socially and environmentally friendly as possible.
Josie Maran’s products are advertised as “Luxury With a Conscience” because they’re vegan, cruelty-free, and all-natural. Each product is made from pure argan oil – so if the fable is true, the soothing, cleansing oil is bound to be a magic touch all around!
I tried the 100% Argan Oil as a facial moisturizer – although it can also be used as a cleanser or on your hair. It was refreshing and made my skin super soft without leaving behind residue. It’s the perfect moisturizer to apply after I use a scrub or face mask because it replenishes all the hydration without being too heavy.
The Argan Illuminizer has already made its way onto my daily makeup regimen. The lightweight, easily-spread formula allows me to use just a few drops around my cheekbones and under my eyes to brighten my skin and give it an authentic glow.
Unlike other cheek highlighters I’ve tried, the Illuminizer moisturizes my skin instead of drying it out with powder or concentrated cream. So it’s an amazing way to cover up any dark circles (for all you hardworking students out there!) and add some extra glow on top of your usual foundation/powder face makeup.
The Argan High Gloss Lip Quench is pretty much everything the name says about it: it’s a lip gloss that makes your lips super shiny, but also super moisturized. It’s basically a lip gloss and a lip balm all in one!
I was happy to learn that once I wore this lip gloss, I didn’t feel the need to apply chapstick underneath because my lips were already hydrated from the argan oil in it. I just wish this product had a more pigment – even the colored pink one that came in the Holiday pack didn’t color on my lips.
The Argan Color Stick, on the other hand, DOES have the pigment I was looking for! The color stick is also made with – you guessed it – argan oil, so it’s very hydrating. Powder blush tends to dust off my cheeks or make my skin feel dry, so I preferred the simple roll-on, stay-on process of this color stick.
The Spice color is a light pink that goes well as a subtle rosy tint on daily makeup, and I might experiment with the brown shades for a bronzer. Another cool fact about the Color Sticks is that they can also be used as lip tint! So I guess the lip gloss gets away with its lack of pigmentation after all….
Overall, I’m amazed by the magic of argan oil as a moisturizer and a makeup product, and I’m happy to report that the rumors ARE true! Argan oil is truly a godsend for anyone suffering with dry skin or searching for a long-lasting way to keep their skin hydrated and refreshed.
I highly recommend Josie Maran’s argan oil products – you’ll truly feel like your skin has been on a rejuvenating vacation!
Photos courtesy of www.josiemarancosmetics.com.