Info on Cosmetic and Culinary Argan oil

About Argan Oil

Contributor

By Amy Jorgensen
eHow Contributing Writer

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Argan oil is an oil that is obtained from the nuts of the argan tree. The argan tree grows in the southwestern part of Morocco. The oil has become increasingly noticed for its nutritional value and the effects that its specific nutrients seem apt to impart.

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Nutrition

1. Among the major nutritional values of nuts is their contribution to fat intake. Fat intake, and specifically a well-balanced fat intake, can be very important to good health. Similar to peanut oil, argan oil provides a fairly healthy fat intake. It is high in monounsaturated fats with omega-6 fatty acids. Monounsaturated fats actually help to reduce bad cholesterol making this, in general, a healthy fat. That is the predominant fat in argan oil. Argan oil also has high contents of oleic acid, which works to regulate cholesterol. Other components in the oil aid with rheumatologic and cardiac conditions.The oil is also high in vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals in an individual's system. The buildup of "oxidation" is believed to be one of the elements of what we recognize as the "aging process".

Skin Treatment

2. The high levels of vitamin E and other components, such as phytosterols, are some of what make this oil seem very useful in the treatment specifically of the skin. Phytosterols are known to be good for scar tissue. In Morocco argan oil is believed to be useful in treating a variety of skin conditions. Uses that have been going on for some time in Morocco include using the oil as a skin treatment. Some of the conditions that it is used to treat are dry skin and skin that has lost its luster. Conditions that involve irritation of the skin, such as acne and conditions as extreme as eczema, are also treated with argan oil. Wrinkles also continue to be treated with this oil there.

Women's Co-op

3. There is another benefit other than the scientifically verified nutrition and the effects and benefits that these components have been shown to create. There is a social benefit in the place where the oil is produced that is resulting from the manufacture of this oil. The individuals who have been harvesting and producing argan oil for their own use for some time. That group is the Berber women. In a nation where women's rights is not developed to the level of equality, this group of women is being allowed to operate a cooperative, and they are doing it responsibly. They are receiving backing from multiple governments and consumers, and they are using the opportunity that support is allowing to create a sustainable business that is supplying women from neighboring villages the opportunity to earn fair wages. They are taking care to use sustainable agriculture techniques. They are also working to plant new argan nurseries.

The Process

4. To procure the oil is a labor-intensive process. According to reports, the same process that was perfected by the Berber women is still being used. This includes cracking the nuts' shells by hand. The result is a highly nutritive oil that is cold pressed. It is also a process that renders approximately one liter from a few days' work. This quantity coupled with the promising contents of the oil is resulting in a pricey product.

Significance

5. It is a product that is creating an opportunity that remains rather rare for women in Morocco. It is also a product that has been tested to verify the nutritional value that it holds. The forward-looking planning that is being put into the manufacturing of this product will likely result in lower prices in the future. The responsible agricultural practices have merit in today's environment. It may be something you'll want to purchase at least once simply to support the ideas of it.

Benefits of Moroccan Argan Oil

Cosmetic Argan Oil - Top 10 Reasons to Buy Argan Oil Beauty Products

1. All-natural, organic beauty product that actually works!

If you're looking for a chemical-free and economical solution to your beauty needs, that works, all I can say is buy argan oil. Commonly referred to as liquid gold, you will soon discover why as you use it from head-to-toe with amazing results.

2. Softens dry skin

If you suffer from dry skin or dry patches, argan oil's naturally high concentration in vitamin E and essential fatty acids goes to work to alleviate your problem from the very first application.

3. Gives skin a dewy look

With only 2-3 drops, your face will achieve a wonderful glow and give you that much sought after dewy look.

4. Helps reduce the appearance of crinkly under-eye area

You can apply it under your eye on its own or beneath your regular eye cream. End result: reduced appearance of "crepiness" and dryness.

5. Helps to heal acne blemishes and red marks

With regular use, argan oil is widely reported to heal existing acne blemishes and prevent the occurrence of new breakouts. Red marks left by blemishes are also reduced.

6. Softens cuticles

Argan oil isn't just for use on the face, it can also be used to soften scraggy-looking cuticles and nails.

7. Tames hair frizz and dry ends

With just 1-2 drops, you can say goodbye to hair frizz forever.

8. Great for use under mineral makeup

If you love mineral makeup but find it a little too drying for your skin, argan oil comes to the rescue again. Simply apply 1-2 drops to your face, wait 5 minutes, then apply your makeup as usual.

9. Safe enough for use on your baby

If you buy argan oil in its 100% natural state (raw and organic), it's safe enough to use on your baby's delicate skin to help clear up dryness and soothe any redness.

10. Fair-trade

Best of all, when you buy argan oil from a fair trade source, you are helping to support the women who make the oil in southwestern Morocco.

If you're interested in buying cosmetic argan oil and want to know what the best argan oil beauty product is for your needs, go to http://www.squidoo.com/ArganOil to discover the top argan oil picks and how to use them.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Georgina_Sweeney

Sleeping Better

10 Solutions for a Good Night’s Sleep

posted by Robyn, selected from Prevention magazine Aug 15, 2009 6:02 pm

filed under: Health & Wellness, Healthy Mind, insomnia, sleeping

By Laurie Tarkan, Prevention

Don’t be robbed of a good night’s sleep! Use our strategies to get the rest you need.

Is a good night’s sleep the first thing you sacrifice when life gets too full and busy? If so, this is your wake-up call: You’re not just sabotaging your next day’s performance (news to none of us), but you’re actually harming your health.

“Sleep deprivation is a serious medical risk, but few people are aware of that,” says Joyce Walsleben, PhD, an associate professor of medicine at NYU School of Medicine. “You have to pay as much attention to your sleep as you do to eating a nutritious diet.”

A spate of studies is turning up clear links between inadequate sleep and obesity, as well as several related conditions: heart disease, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes. The good news is that with adequate shut-eye, these conditions may be reversible, our experts say. Drawing on studies about what robs us of quality sleep, they have devised strategies that can help you get the rest you need. Here’s a lineup of the most insidious sleep thieves–and the latest recommendations on how to bar them from your bedroom forever.

Next: What Keeps You Awake?

1. You Think Too Much
The reason you sometimes obsess over a tricky work project or an argument with your best friend when you’re trying to fall asleep: “You can’t refocus your thinking at the edge of slumber the same way you can when you’re alert,” says Colleen E. Carney, PhD, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the Insomnia and Sleep Research Program at Duke University Medical Center. “People have little control over their thoughts, because they may be going in and out of a light stage of sleep, even though they think they’re awake,” she says.

Fix It: When fretful, get up and go to another part of the house (but leave the lights off). “Your anxious thoughts will usually stop right away. Then you can go back to bed and fall asleep,” Carney says. This well-studied strategy, called stimulus control, also prevents you from associating your bed with anxiety. Another tip: Set aside time early in the evening to problem solve. Write down your pressing concerns, along with a possible solution for each, a few hours before retiring.

2. You Overdoze on Weekends
Late nights followed by extra sack time the next morning throw off your internal clock, which is controlled by a cluster of nerve cells in the brain that also regulate appetite and body temperature, says Lawrence Epstein, MD, medical director of Sleep Health Centers in Brighton, MA, and author of The Harvard Medical School Guide to a Good Night’s Sleep. When Sunday rolls around, you’re reprogrammed to stay up past your bedtime, and you feel like a zombie on Monday morning.

Fix It: Even if you’ve been up late, don’t sleep in more than an hour longer than usual, Epstein says. To make up for lost slumber, take an afternoon catnap (no more than 30 minutes, though, because an extended daytime snooze can keep you awake at night).

3. Your Spouse Chops Wood
A snorer’s sawing can reach 90 decibels–as loud as a blender. Even if you can get to sleep, his snoring will likely wax and wane through the night and wake you up during REM sleep, the most restful phase.

Fix It: Ask your partner to sleep on his side instead of his back. Try the FDA-approved Sona pillow ($69.99), developed by a Harvard-trained neurologist. It’s specially shaped to tilt your head and open your airways. Moreover, the pillow decreased or eliminated snoring in nearly every patient studied and reduced sleep interruptions from an average of 17 an hour to fewer than 5.

If that doesn’t work, earplugs will–but only if they stay in, says Meir Kryger, MD, director of research and education at Gaylord Sleep Center at Gaylord Hospital in Wallingford, CT, and author of A Woman’s Guide to Sleep Disorders. Try Hearos Ultimate Softness ($1) or Howard Leight MAX ($1); both are made of flexible, washable polyurethane.

4. Your Hormones Change
Fluctuating levels of estrogen and progesterone before or during your period or throughout perimenopause can sabotage sleep, says Walsleben. You may notice problems–mainly waking up during the night–long before you start having hot flashes, she says.

Fix It: A hot bath a couple hours before turning in and, if you’re often awakened by cramps, an over-the-counter pain reliever at bedtime may be all you need to counter premenstrual insomnia. For a stubborn case, ask your physician whether a short-acting sleep medication, taken two or three nights a month, would make sense.

During perimenopause, stay on a consistent sleep-wake schedule, exercise at least 20 to 30 minutes a day, and avoid caffeine after lunch and alcohol within 3 hours of bedtime (a cocktail helps you nod off, but its rebound effect will wake you up, Epstein says). For hot flashes and night sweats, try sleeping in a cool room and wearing light clothing (several companies make pajamas that wick away moisture). If you’re still tossing and turning, consider hormone therapy, Walsleben says. Recent research suggests that it may be safe for many women in their 50s (particularly the new low doses) when used for fewer than 5 years.

5. Your Stomach Growls
Going to bed hungry interferes with sleep–hunger pangs simply wake you up–and some evidence suggests that people trying to lose weight may wake up frequently, says Peter Hauri, PhD, a professor emeritus at the Mayo Clinic and author of No More Sleepless Nights.

Fix It: Hauri suggests saving some of your calories for a high-protein bedtime snack, such as a small serving of cheese or a hard-boiled egg. Protein produces greater satiety than carbohydrates and fat.

6. Your Bedroom Is a Mess
You keep a messy pile of papers on your nightstand…and your desk…and the floor. A cluttered sleep environment makes for a cluttered mind–the kind that churns well into the night. Stress is the number one cause of short-term sleep problems such as frequent middle-of-the-night waking and insomnia, according to the American Psychological Association.

Fix It: Grab a basket, toss in any unfinished work–bills, spreadsheets, that half-done scrapbook–and promptly remove it. “When you eliminate the stuff in your bedroom that isn’t related to sleep, your brain starts to associate the room only with sleep and intimacy,” says Lawrence Epstein, MD, medical director of Sleep Health Centers in Boston and coauthor of The Harvard Medical School Guide to a Good Night’s Sleep.

Also keep your computer in another room, or at least place it in a cabinet that can be closed. You’ll be shutting the door on stress and late-night screen gazing, which has been proven to hinder sleep, according to a Japanese study in the Journal of Applied Physiology. The monitor’s bright display may inhibit your production of melatonin, the hormone responsible for telling the body it’s time for bed.

7. Your Room Glows in the Dark
Believe it or not, ambient light from street lamps, alarm clocks, and DVD players could be keeping you awake. “Even a small amount of brightness can be strong enough to enter your retina when your eyes are closed,” says Amy Wolfson, PhD, author of The Woman’s Book of Sleep: A Complete Resource Guide. “At night, it sends a signal to your brain that upsets your internal clock and makes you feel awake.”

Fix It: If there is light in the hallway, shut the bedroom door. Also, turn your alarm clock toward the wall (or opt for the nondigital variety), and eliminate night-lights. Wearing an old-fashioned eye mask ($4 to $7; drugstores) helps signal your brain that, yes, it really is nighttime, as well. To block outside brightness, hang blackout shades and curtains, such as Euro Premium Blackout Drapery Liners (starting at $37.99 a pair; Target.com). You can either attach them to the backs of your existing window treatments or hang them on their own.

8. You Can Hear a Pin Drop
For some people, any sound (the television, rowdy neighbors, traffic) keeps them up at night. Other folks–namely, city dwellers–are creeped out in super quiet places.

Fix It: Surprisingly, it’s not the sound or lack thereof that’s keeping you awake, “it’s the inconsistency of sound or silence that’s disruptive,” says Thomas Roth, PhD, director of the Sleep Disorders and Research Center at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. Turn on a nearby ceiling or exhaust fan. “This will act as white noise, both blocking out disruptive sounds and providing just enough noise for those who can’t stand total silence,” Roth says. A white-noise machine will do the trick, too–the devices help patients sleep in the busy, active intensive care units of hospitals, according to a report in Critical Care Nursing Clinics of North America.

9. You Sleep Tight With Dust Mites
You could be sharing your bed with anywhere from 100,000 to 10 million dust mites, says Alan Goldsobel, MD, a fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology in San Jose, CA, and the residue they leave behind can trigger mild to very severe allergies.

Fix It: To reduce allergens, vacuum and dust regularly; use linens that block mites, such as American Lung Association-approved AllerRest bedding (starting at $19.99; JC Penny.com); and replace mattresses that are more than 10 years old. Finally, crack the windows and doors. Increasing a room’s airflow is one of the most effective ways to cut down on dust mites, finds a recent study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

10. You Let Fido In
We know–you love your pet, but more than half of dog and cat owners admitted that their animal disrupted their sleep every night, according to a small survey done by the Mayo Clinic.

Fix It: “Put a crate next to your bed and have your pup sleep there,” says Daisy Okas, a spokesperson for the American Kennel Club. Dogs like to sleep in a safe, protected space. Do you have a cat? Lock her out but keep her entertained with special nighttime-only toys that get put away in the morning. (Deter door scratching by putting double-sided tape on the bottom edge; cats hate the stickiness.)

More from Prevention:
Find cures for insomnia and other sleep concerns here.

Don't forget to apply some Argan oil to give you skin that healthy look before you go to sleep.

Health Tip from EdenAllure

Argan Oil Cooperative

A peek inside an argan oil cooperative

July 2, 2009

As I have come to discover recently, Moroccan women are a special kind of beautiful. I have long studied their indigenous beauty rituals and have found them fascinating, so I jumped at the chance to visit an argan oil co-op while on my visit to Asni. While this isn’t a raw material we currently use at Bella Luccè, I was excited to study it further and have begun to build relationships which will allow us to procure responsibly harvested oil of the highest quality for future product development. A little background, if you please:

Argania Spinoza trees are a hearty species that is native to south Morocco. They have long been utilized by local Berber women and it’s not uncommon to find gifts left under the trees by villagers in recognition and thanks of the role these vital trees play in their everyday lives. Remarkably, the roots of the tree stretch 25 meters deep into the earth, which is more five times the height of the average Argan tree itself. With a life expectancy of 150-200 years, these resilient trees typically provide up to two crops of nuts per annum.

Argan oil is used for both cooking and cosmetic production. Berber women have long used the oil for healing properties and it is often given to newborn babies before they even suckle. It’s said that argan oil has ten times more natural vitamin E than olive oil (which is also native to the region) and ingesting it is reported to help guard again cardio-vascular disease. In traditional medicine, argan is used to treat burns, psoriasis, arthritis, swollen legs and alopecia.

There are approximately 800,000 hectacres of Argan trees in the southwest region of Morocco and each tree produces an average of 10-30 kilos of fruit per year. The region produces between 2,500- 4,000 tons of finished oil per annum, most of it created entirely by the hands of more than 2,000 people working in various argan oil cooperatives in Morocco. Now that you’ve had your math lesson for the day and I have sufficiently clogged your brain with numbers… how about some pictures?

This is Hafida and I; she runs an argan oil coop operated by local Berber women in a village just outside Asni, Morocco. She was the sweetest, dearest thing and (I suspect) a bit of a rebel. Notice the skulls-and-crossbones sweater? Love it.

Hafida taught me the process of obtaining argan oil, which usually involves four women who sit together to form an informal assembly line of sorts. After the raw fruit is harvested, the hard shell is removed by centering the fruit on a large rock and smashing it with a smaller one. Shelled nuts got into a basket and the outer shells themselves later become animal feed (hellooooo eco-friendly!). I even got into the swing of things and cracked a few nuts myself.

A second woman cracks the nut again using the same process to remove the second shell, which is softer than the first, but still not used in the oil processing. This process reveals the inner kernel, where the good stuff is. A third woman roasts the almond-like kernels, as roasting intensifies the naturally nutty flavor. This step is performed for kernels which will be made into cooking oils; however, cosmetic oils do not need require roasting and, thus, this step is skipped. Roasting or not, all kernels are eventually passed to the fourth woman who uses a large circular stone to grind the kernels into a paste.

God bless her- that has to be hard work. If you look closely, you can see the paste dribbling into the large bowl. She inserts a handful of nuts into the opening at the top, grinds in a circular motion, and the paste dribbles through. There is one additional step to this process: the paste is then squeezed by hand to remove the oil. The remaining paste (seen in the basket on the left) is made into black soap, which is used in hammams (traditional Moroccan and Turkish bath houses). Hafida tells me that it takes four women eight hours per day to transform 80 kilos of raw fruit into 8 kilos of actual kernels which then yield 1 liter of oil. Having seen the painstaking process with my own two eyes, I can tell you that I’ll never look at a bottle of argan oil in the same way.

These are my goodies from the visit, as photographed in my hotel room in Dubai (where they’d already been put to good use). The black item on the far left is a traditional kese mitt, used to aggressively exfoliate the skin in hammams. On top of the kiese is a large jar of Amlou, a culinary spread made from roasted argan oil, crushed almonds, honey and a dash of cinnamon. It’s insanely delicious and I plan to smother it onto every piece of bread I can find when I get home. On top of the Amlou is a jar of jasmine hand cream, then a bar of soap and a jar of black soap paste (again used in hammams). The final item on the right is a body oil, scented with neroli orange blossoms, that feels positively divine on every square inch of skin where I have spread it thus far. These cosmetics are also made by local women, with the profits being returned to their village. The whole lot of it costs me 610 Moroccan Dirhams, or just shy of $75 USD.

Bella Luccè does use another raw material that’s native to Morocco: Rhassoul Clay. This super-fine clay comes from deep below the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Utilized for centuries by the ancient people of Rome and Egypt and renowned for its mineral-rich content, Rhassoul deep cleans and detoxifies pores. You can find it in our Sea Kelp & Green Tea Masque. Unfortunately, the Atlas Mountains span far and wide in Morocco and there was no Rhassoul processor close to where we were, but there’s always a next time!

Story from - http://www.bellalucce.com/thebuzz/archives/000730.php

Our Latest Press Release

Eden Allure Argan Oil Based Natural Skin Care

Posted by Sandy

July 19, 2009

Cultural Connections LLC today released its Fall line of Eden Allure argan oil based natural skin care products (Eden Allure). Featuring a new Lavender scented argan oil soap and an argan oil and papaya exfoliating face masque, this new product line reflects the green reputation that the company has earned.

Argan Oil is a rare and difficult oil to obtain. This wonderful natural oil is found exclusively in southwestern Morocco. It is known as “liquid gold” and has been used by the Berber women of Morocco for hundreds of years for its beneficial use in skin, hair, nail, and therapeutic treatment. Deemed the new “It’ beauty ingredient of 2009 research has shown that argan oil helps diminish fine lines and wrinkles, protects skin and hair from free radicals, and gives skin and hair a healthy, glowing appearance.

“We donate part of our income to Global Fund for Women,” said James Moore, owner of Cultural Connections, LLC, an Orlando, FL based manufacturer of fine argan oil based skin and hair care products. The production of argan oil is controlled by women’s cooperatives in Morocco. He says that through fair trade, argan oil provides the Berber women with a dependable source of income and opens better access to health care and education. It has been estimated that over three million people derive their incomes from the economy created by argan oil and its products.

Global Fund for Women is an international network of women and men committed to a world of equality and social justice. They have granted over $73 million in 168 countries to improve the lives of women, and will donate to 123 women’s rights organizations over its next funding cycle.

Cultural Connections has continued its commitment to green, natural, Earth-friendly policies by buying carbon offsets to stay carbon-neutral, and by making sure that all imported products have been fair-trade certified. In a commitment to transparency and honesty, their website contains many written reviews and video reviews so that potential customers can hear from previous customers.

Eden Allure sells pure argan oil in 2.2 fl. oz. bottles for $30. The Argan Oil and Papaya Face Masque is currently on sale for just $22. The argan oil soap is certified organic and comes in Grapefruit and Lavender varieties, $8.

For more information about Eden Allure argan oil based skin care products, visit http://www.edenallure.com or call James Moore at (866) 403-1421.

New York Times on Argan Oil

By AMY LAROCCA

Published: November 18, 2007

The road from Marrakesh to Essaouira is craggy and bleak, an arid moonscape dotted only by a few roadside towns and the occasional Berber village. In the ’60s and ’70s, Essaouira was a stop on the hash-filled hippie trek — land in Marrakesh, load up your magic bus and head west for the windswept beaches and clear blue waters of this former Portuguese fishing village. Back then, Jimi Hendrix made the pilgrimage, as did Bob Marley and Cat Stevens. Essaouira still has remnants of its boho past: crocheted Rasta beanies are sold alongside fezzes in the souk; surfers come to lap up the waves in what is now one of the world’s top windsurfing and kiteboarding spots; and a dilapidated fort, which legend has it was the inspiration for Hendrix’s “Castles Made of Sand” (he actually recorded the song nearly two years before touching down here), is just south of town.

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The Oil of the Argan Tree

Tara Darby

Sometimes you can spot goats up in Essaouira’s argan trees, feasting on the fruit. More Photos »

In recent years, well-heeled Europeans have started to flee the more touristy Marrakesh for Essaouira, where they stay in luxurious riads in the medina and sunbathe on the pristine white beaches. The town has also developed a vibrant cultural life, with galleries, music festivals and souks filled with high-end artisanal crafts. You can pick up everything from carved wooden instruments to inlaid boxes here. The real find, however, is argan oil, made from the nuts of the argan tree, which grows almost exclusively in this region. The oil, which is said to have restorative and age-defying effects, has become one of the latest miracle ingredients in the beauty industry. High in vitamin E and essential fatty acids, it is believed to help all sorts of skin conditions: dry skin, acne, psoriasis, eczema, wrinkles. Moroccans slather it on their skin, hair, nails and even their babies. They eat it, too — drizzling it over salads and couscous, or using it to make amlou, a tahinilike spread of the oil, almonds and honey.

Approaching Essaouira’s sandy-colored ramparts, passing the olive groves and grazing donkeys, you see signs announcing women-run argan cooperatives: Argan Co-Op, Women’s Argan Collective, Miracle Oil. And so on. If you pull over to a cooperative, the Berber women — and it is only women who make argan oil — will often invite you in to watch them work. In most of the cooperatives, the older village women sit in the courtyard and work as the younger bilingual girls walk you around, giving a tutorial about the process. (Pull over too many times, though, and be prepared to hear all about the process again. And again.)

The nuts, which look like a cross between a walnut and an almond, are picked out of the fruit of the squat, gnarled argan trees that dot the yellow hills above Essaouira. Depending on the season, there might be goats up in the branches, munching on the fruit. The nuts destined for salad oil are roasted on an open flame over a large steel drum, like chestnuts, which brings out their distinctive peppery flavor; those that will be used for skin- and hair-care products are left raw.

The women first crack the shells with sharp stones. They then place the kernels between two Flintstone-size slabs of rock, grinding them into a brown paste, which resembles chunky peanut butter. The paste, kneaded by hand to extract the oil, transforms into a solid hunk and is sent to nearby factories, mainly in Agadir, where more oil is extracted by a press. Some is made into soaps, creams and shampoos, but it is the pure oil that is most sought after.

The souks of Essaouira are filled with little jars of argan oil that have suspicious locals rolling their eyes. “Vegetable oil,” they’ll warn you. (Check the bottle for provenance; if it has a cooperative’s name on the label, it’s probably authentic.) The best way to find the real deal is to follow the smell of roasted nuts that will lead you to the cooperatives.

Argan is not so new in Europe: English and French tourists have been bringing it back from Moroccan seaside vacations for years, and it’s all over the markets of Provence, lined up next to the lavender and olive oils. But now, thanks to the substantial efforts of the Moroccan King Mohammed VI (who has been praised for his efforts to promote women’s rights) and the local government, the oil is being exported worldwide, moving from the mud-and-stone co-ops into spas and Sephoras around the world.

Because the extraction of argan oil is a labor-intensive task perfected by the Berber women native to the area (it takes a few days to produce one liter), the government has established a fund for the cooperatives. Outside groups, like the government of Monaco, have gotten involved as backers. Women from the villages nearby are invited to work half days (so they can still tend to their families) in exchange for fair wages and good working conditions. Eventually, the cooperatives should pay for themselves. Unesco has designated the 10,000-square-mile argan-growing region as a biosphere reserve.

Meanwhile, more Western cosmetic companies are starting to distribute this “liquid gold,” as it is often called. Liz Earle, who runs an organic skin-care line in England, uses argan oil that she buys from two of the cooperatives in Essaouira in her Superskin Concentrate. “When I first found argan oil, I brought it back to the U.K. to have it analyzed,” says Earle, who forages the globe for raw ingredients. “It was so remarkably high in vitamin E and had these very interesting phytosterols, which are good for scar tissue and so many other things” — including, she says, that hard-to-define problem of lackluster skin.

But what Earle likes most about the oil is that the production passes the sustainability test and directly benefits the women who make it. “Culturally, what it does is good,” she says. “It provides income to a group that wouldn’t otherwise have it.”

VISITOR INFORMATION

Getting There:
To reach Essaouira, fly into Marrakesh and then rent a car at the airport; Avis (www.avis.com) and Sixt (www.e-sixt.com) have offices there. The drive is well marked and, depending on tractors and livestock, should take no more than two and a half hours.

Hotels:
L’Heure Bleue Essaouira’s first luxury hotel, with a heated pool. 2, rue lbn Batouta; 011-212-24-78-34-34; www.heure-bleue.com; doubles from about $397. Villa Maroc The oldest of the city’s riad hotels has a spa with argan treatments. 10, rue Abdellah Ben Yassine; 011-212-24-47-31-47; www.villa-maroc.com; doubles from $120.

Restaurants:
After Five Sophisticated fusion food using local ingredients. 5, rue Youssef El Fassi; 011-212-24-47-33-49; entrees $13 to $18. The fish stalls along the sea are ideal for lunch.

Buying:
Local cooperatives sell a range of products. You can pick up oils in the souks, but check the label for authenticity.

http://www.edenallure.com

Albuquerque Journal Article

PERSONAL STYLE

Beyond beautiful

Rare argan oil sales beneficial to women in many ways

By Debra Dominguez-Lund

Anna Michelbach says her beauty regimen has become a lot richer since she became the proud owner of a bottle of “liquid gold” — argan oil.
“I’ve been using the oil for about five months, and I just love it,” says Michelbach, a 40-year-old Albuquerque insurance agent employee. “I use it on my hair and it’s really helped get rid of my split-ends, and I use it on my skin. It has anti-aging benefits and has helped reduce puffiness around my eyes.
“I’ve tried other beauty products but (I) like that this is all-natural. I’m addicted.”
The exotic and rare organic oil is produced exclusively in southwestern Morocco and has traditionally been used as a natural beauty product by the women of the Berber tribe for centuries. Distributors say the oil is commonly used on the skin, but users of the product boast it also works wonders for hair and nails and is rich in antioxidants, fatty acids and vitamin E.
James Moore, owner of Albuquerque’s fairly traded goods specialty business Cultural Connections, LLC, says Albuquerqueans like Michelbach and others throughout the United States can now purchase the oil — marketed as “Eden Argan Oil” — in its purest form from edenallure.com.
In its tradition of staying “green,” Moore says Cultural Connections only buys “Eco-Cert” or certified organic argan oil, which guarantees that the oil is produced in an ecologically beneficial way. He says the oil he sells is available in environmentally safe, recyclable packaging.
He added that Cultural Connections donates a portion of its argan oil proceeds to the Global Fund for Women, a charitable organization based in San Francisco that helps impoverished and abused women around the world.
The production of argan oil, Moore says, is controlled by women’s cooperatives in Morocco. He says that through fair trade, argan oil provides the Berber women with a dependable source of income, a means of improving their financial independence, and it opens better access to health care and education.
Unfortunately, Moore adds, the argan tree is a victim of its richness as well as urbanization.
“Its over-exploitation by European cosmetic companies has led to the near extinction of the tree that once spanned across North Africa,” he says. “In less than one century, more than half of the argan trees have disappeared. The importance of protecting the argan tree has become a key issue for local and international authorities.”
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) has designated the 10,000-squaremile Argan-producing region in Morocco as a biosphere reserve. Moore says there are restrictions on how much fruit can be harvested at any given time from an argan tree.
Moore claims argan oil helps diminish fine lines and wrinkles, protects skin and hair from free radicals, and gives skin and hair a healthy, glowing appearance.
The company’s owner should know. After all, he says he uses argan oil everyday.
“I use it at night for my face, and twice a day I apply it to my body,” says Moore, who added his mother has family in Morocco and Israel that have been using argan oil for decades. “It gives my skin an amazing healthy, glow.”
To buy argan oil
For more information on purchasing ecologically friendly Moroccan argan oil, visit EdenAllure.com

Secondary metabolites of the argan tree (Morocco) may have disease prevention properties

The argan tree (Argania spinosa L. Skeels) is native to Morocco, where after the Holly oak it constitutes the second most common tree in the country. Recent studies suggest that dietary argan oil, an endemic seed oil from argan fruits, may have a relevant role in disease prevention, and its consumption could protect against atherosclerosis and cancer. Unfortunately, in less than a century, more than a third of the forest has disappeared. It is therefore imperative to improve the tree's production potential so that it can regain its key position in the agricultural systems of the region. On the basis of ethnobotanical knowledge, researchers are screening metabolites of this rare plant to identify bioactive compounds for the development of new therapeutic agents and food supplements. This includes studies on secondary metabolites with chemopreventive activities. In this review, a complete outline of components (triglycerides, unsaponifiable, phenolic antioxidants and aroma constituents) are described. Finally, a discussion of the biological functions of the polar and non-polar A. spinosa products which have been evaluated using a range of in vitro bioassays are described.


Read the whole article here

Earth-Friendly Moisturizers

By Solvie Karlstrom

December 1, 2008

One month it's green tea, the next it's pomegranate. "New" ingredients, the same ones that peoploe have been using on their skin for centuries, are revolutionizing the skin care industry. But venerated as they may be, they may not be the solution to all your skin care woes. It's not that natural ingredients don't work—in fact, plant ingredients can be more effective than the synthetics we've all become used to. It's that they don't all do the same thing. To help choose the right moisturizer for you, we've put together a guide explaining just what these plant-based ingredients do for your skin.

Jojoba Oil: Anti-blemish and Anti-aging

Jojoba oil is a skin softener that behaves almost the same way as the oil your skin produces naturally, balancing oil levels and preventing moisture loss. It’s ideal for mature skin, which generates less moisture with age. If breakouts happen only occasionally, the mild antibacterial properties in jojoba oil can help prevent the few blemishes you do get.

GG Product Picks

Nurture My Body Regenerating Creme ($22.11/1.75 oz. www.nurturemybody.com)

Weleda Men's Facial Moisturizer ($15/1 oz.; www.weleda.com)

Balm Balm Face Balm ($12/30 mL; www.balmbalm.com)

Green Tea: Anti-blemish, Anti-inflammatory, and Anti-aging

Green tea is full of antioxidants—those wonder nutrients that battle the free radicals produced by cells in our bodies when they use oxygen. Free radicals cause damage that can lead to heart disease, diabetes and cancer. A 2001 study published in the Journal of Carcinogenesis found that topically applying green tea limited UVinduced damage to the skin. Green tea is also an anti-inflammatory that can relieve acne, redness and rashes, which are common with sensitive skin.

GG Product Picks

Humphreys Organic Botanicals Oil-Controlling Daily Moisturizer ($7.30/2 oz. www.humphreysusa.com)

Mod Skin Labs Weightless Lotion Oriental Green Tea & Peru Balsam ($46/3.4 oz.; www.modskinlabs.com)

Argan Oil: Deep Moisturizer, Anti-blemish, Anti-inflammatory, and Anti-aging

Extracted from the nuts of Morocco’s argan trees, which grow on the edge of the Sahara, argan oil is high in vitamin E and essential fatty acids. Although its effectiveness has not yet been scientifically proven, Moroccan women use this “liquid gold,” as it is commonly called, to treat a multitude of skin ailments, including acne, dry skin, psoriasis, eczema and wrinkles. Today, the tree faces extinction. To preserve the threatened species, a Moroccan professor and an international aid group established all-women cooperatives to extract the oil, providing an economic incentive for preservation of the tree and a much needed income to rural women.

Eden Allure Organic Argan Oil

Shea Butter: Deep Moisturizer, Anti-inflammatory, and Anti-aging

Another African import, shea butter comes from the karite tree in the tropical regions of West Africa. Full of essential fatty acids, shea butter is a potent moisturizer and provides relief from itching, sunburn, eczema and allergies and can diminish wrinkles. Though shea butter doesn’t clog pores, raw shea butter creams are very thick and too heavy for oilier skin, says Dr. Leslie Baumann, author of The Skin Type Solution. Look for products containing fairly traded shea butter, like the ones below.

GG Product Picks

Alaffia Rooibos & Shea Butter Antioxidant Face Cream ($14/2.3 oz. www.alaffia.com)

Evan Healy Shea Butter Face and Body Cream with Olive Leaf ($26.95/1.9 oz.; www.evanhealy.com)

Pomegranate: Anti-aging

Pomegranate is rich in antioxidants and is the primary ingredient in many moisturizers formulated to slow down signs of aging. Its oil may even diminish existing wrinkles. In 2005, the University of Michigan Medical School found that pomegranate oil repaired skin cells and promoted collagen production, which keeps your skin elastic.

GG Product Picks

Juice Beauty Oil-Free Moisturizer($28/2 oz. www.juicebeauty.com)

Desert Essence Pomegranate Face Serum ($11.99/2 oz. www.desertessence.com)

Pomega5 Revitalizing Treatment for Skin ($30/30 oil capsules www.pomega5.com)

Aloe Vera: Anti-inflammatory

Because of its soothing and restorative properties, aloe vera is ideal for sensitive skin and is common in anti-inflammatory products. Clinical studies have also found that aloe vera effectively reduces symptoms of psoriasis and seborrhea, a common skin condition that causes oily, red and scaly eruptions. Baumann says aloe vera can be as soothing as hydrocortisone creams, which are used to treat itching, rashes and irritation caused by everything from poison ivy to cosmetics.

GG Product Picks

California Baby Calming Botanical Moisturizing Cream($9.99/2 oz. www.californiababy.com)

Lily of the Desert Aloe 80 Organics Aloe Vera Liquid Moisturizer ($10.69/8 oz. www.lilyofthedesert.com)

Eden Allure in Plenty Magazine

Anytime cosmetics makers use natural plant oil instead of petroleum distillates is a reason to rejoice. One intriguing ingredient that’s been cropping up lately is extract of Argania spinosa, or argan oil, from the leaves and bark of eponymous Moroccan trees. A traditional Berber skin-soother high in vitamin E, it’s harvested without damaging the trees in a desert biosphere preserve.

Even without tickets to Morocco, there are many ways to experience this ancient remedy. Argan smoothes wrinkles in an eye cream from Aveda’s new Green Science line, packaged in post-consumer recycled (PCW) and Forest Stewardship Council–approved materials ($45, aveda.com). It nourishes pouts in Dr. Hauschka’s BDIH-certified Stone Colours lip tints ($21, drhauschka.com). Pangea Organics features organic argan oil in its Egyptian calendula and blood orange facial cleanser ($24, beautorium.com); the PCW box, when planted, sprouts medicinal herbs. “Very few oils in the world compare to the restorative, anti-inflammatory properties that argan offers,” says Pangea founder Joshua Onysko. If you prefer your oil straight up, Cultural Connection sells a version endorsed by Eco-Cert ($40, edenallure.com); dab liberally and dream of the Casbah.

Story by Alexandra Zissu. This article originally appeared in Plenty in October 2008.

Care2 Review of our Argan Oil

Every year a new crop of super miracle beauty ingredients pops up–recently, argan oil has been making the rounds. Generally I pay little attention to these kinds of trends, but I have to say, I find argan oil hugely intriguing.
Made from the nuts of the argan tree, which grows almost exclusively in Morocco, the oil is said to have restorative and age-defying effects. It is high in vitamin E and essential fatty acids, it is believed to help all sorts of skin conditions: dry skin, acne, psoriasis, eczema, wrinkles.
In a New York Times article, Liz Earle, who runs an organic skin-care line in England, said, “When I first found argan oil, I brought it back to the U.K. to have it analyzed … it was so remarkably high in vitamin E and had these very interesting phytosterols, which are good for scar tissue and so many other things” including, she says, that hard-to-define problem of lackluster skin. I know we’ve heard these claims before, but still.
Argan oil is pretty new in America, but English and French tourists discovered it in Morocco years ago and it’s all over the markets of Provence, along with the lavender and olive oils. Now, due to the efforts of the Moroccan King Mohammed VI, who has been praised for his efforts to promote women’s rights, the oil is being promoted and exported worldwide. What does women’s rights have to do with argan oil? Well, that’s one of the reasons I am so intrigued by it.
It is Berber women who are solely responsible for harvesting the nuts and producing the oil, and they are doing so in fair trade working cooperatives. Outside groups, like the government of Monaco, are also financially backing a system whereby women can work half days (so they can still tend to their families) in exchange for fair wages and good working conditions. This has allowed an income for women and families where before there was little.
The cooperatives have initiated an ecosystem reforestation project to help preserve the argan forest. The cooperatives are working in partnership with the Moroccan Water and Forests Authorities to allow optimal tree growth, plant argan nurseries, and create education programs. The community realizes the value of the argan tree and they are involved with its protection. In fact, Unesco has designated the 10,000-square-mile argan-growing region as a biosphere reserve.
Even without the beauty claims I think I’d be clamoring for argan oil in support of the cooperatives–but as it turns out I think I am beginning to believe the hype. I first tried products featuring argan oil when I tried the Aveda Green Science line–but as much as I love the Aveda products, it was hard to tell what the argan oil was like since it is just one ingredient of many.
More recently I have tried pure argan oil from a company called Eden, and boy oh boy is it something else. I have always been a huge fan of using jojoba oil on my skin, and this is even better. It is lustrous and rich, but very quickly absorbed. Now I suppose I’ll have to try it for a few weeks before I notice a difference, but at this point an improvement feels inevitable.
Now here’s the rub–the cost of pure argan oil isn’t cheap–not like olive oil, for example. But a little bit goes a long way–it is no more expensive than many high-end moisturizers, and it earns terrific marks in terms of sustainability and supporting women’s rights. Only time will tell if it honestly does perform any miracles for my skin, but I know for sure it is doing a world of good for the numerous women who now have a livelihood from it. Miracle enough for me.
You can find pure argan oil at EdenAllure.com

By Melissa Breyer at Care2.com

Natural Mosquito Repellents

Care2 has posted a great article on how to repel mosquitoes naturally. You all know that you should stay as far away from DEET as possible.

Instead, use the pure essential oils of citronella, soy or catnip. Another natural option is neem oil which comes from an Indian plant and has been shown to be more effective than DEET. Lavender is another natural scent that mosqitoes hate. Wash with our organic argan oil and lavender soaps before you go outside this summer.

The last option is to eat lots of fresh garlic- but you may repel more than just mosquitoes!

Original Care2 article

The New "IT" Products

Preserve your skin from the onslaught of years with a multiprong approach. Eat organic food, exercise regularly, don’t smoke—the usual. Then slow the aging process with these up-and-coming plant-based ingredients:

Argan oil. Made from the nut (pictured above) of a Moroccan tree species, argan oil contains twice as much vitamin E as olive oil. Like other antioxidants, vitamin E slows the damaging effects of free radicals—molecules in your body that when exposed to environmental stressors, such as ultraviolet rays and car exhaust, start attacking and breaking down healthy cells.

Astaxanthin. This carotenoid antioxidant harvested from micro-algae and found in salmon packs a double punch: Not only does it protect cells from future sun damage when applied before sun exposure, but it also shores up skin after a day outside by fighting off the oxidative damage of free radicals.
Red tea. Recent studies performed by the Institute for Medical Science of Aging in Japan show that red tea, also called rooibos (pronounced “ROY-boss”), contains nearly 50 percent more skin-salvaging antioxidants than green tea. Bonus: This South African tea is caffeine-free and packed with zinc, a mineral that helps the body metabolize fatty acids and keep cells plump.

Turmeric. Curcumin, a naturally occurring chemical in this yellow-colored spice, slows down the aging process by fighting inflammation-causing, hormone-like proteins called cytokines.

Omega-3 fatty acids. Research shows that the omega-3s in coldwater fish, such as wild salmon, sardines, and herring, prevent cellular inflammation—which, when unregulated, can damage collagen and cause wrinkles. Omega-3s also mitigate water loss from the skin, keeping cells plump and your complexion dewy. Take 1,000 mg of pure, mercury-free fish oil up to three times daily.

By Cheryl Meyers from Delicious Living

Delicious Living is the go-to resource for the natural and organic lifestyle, helping readers eat well, live green, and stay healthy. Visit deliciouslivingmag.com for more articles and free recipes.

Exchange for Green

Check out this website - Exchange For Green (http://www.exchange4green.com) which promotes green living and provides people a platform to easily exchange and giveaway items they are finished with, for the ones they want, all for free. The ultimate goal for this website is to help families and individuals to help our environment by reducing living expenses, reducing waste and keeping good things away from landfills.

Moroccan Argan oil in Skin Care

It's kind of funny to me that argan oil first gained its popularity in hair use. Argan oil is an amazing product for the hair(you see better results when it's used by itself, and without silicones). Argan oil is a even more amazing skin care product.

Fast-absorbing, rejuvenating, and moisturizing argan oil is the ideal product to give your skin the beauty and youth it deserves. I believe this year will be the year argan oil gets recognition for being one of the world's best skin care products around.