The legend says that, a long time ago, a boy and a girl lived in two villages in Morocco. Just a look was enough for the two to fall in love, but unfortunately their love was hindered by their respective families because they belonged to two villages at war with each other. Unable to fulfill their dream, the two lovers wept all their tears that, as if by magic, were collected by the earth that used them to create two lakes. The girl and the boy immersed themselves in the lakes and so they could live forever together because every night, as the Bedouins of the desert tell, they can get out of the waters and spend the hours that separate them from the day finally reunited. These two lakes exist and can still be admired today, they are called Tislit, which means bride in the Berber language, and Isli, which means bridegroom. Here is a legend that tastes of distant lands, of magic and echoes of stories brought with them by the torrid ghibli, the desert wind. So why not close our eyes and enter the realm of dreams and fairy tales, a realm where everything is possible, where there are no boundaries and obstacles, where fantasy and reality merge. We can do it with a few simple steps, such as letting ourselves be guided by the images that emerge in our mind, or spreading the elixir of life for the skin on the face, the same cosmetic that the women of Morocco, including the girl of our legend, used and still use today to protect themselves from atmospheric agents and from the ghibli, a few drops of argan oil, the desert oil extracted from the Moroccan tree, Argania Spinosa.
Argan oil and its precious cosmetic properties
Applying argan oil on the skin has a well-proven anti-aging effect, with an improvement in the elasticity and hydration of the skin and an increase in the collagen of the skin tissues, even in post menopause where estrogen reduction causes a loss of skin elasticity (Boucetta et al, Clin Interv Aging., 2015 - Boucetta et al, Prz Menopauzalny, 2014). Not only that, thanks to its tocopherol content, argan oil also helps to keep the complexion luminous and to counteract dark spots on the skin, since this special oil helps to keep melanin production under control (Villareal et al , Evid Based Complement Alternat Med., 2013). But all skin types can benefit from argan oil, even young and acne-prone ones. In fact, this oil also has anti-inflammatory properties, useful in case of skin irritation and acne, repairs the damaged skin barrier and is healing (Lin et al, Int J Mol Sci, 2018).
Cosmetics with argan oil
The easiest way to benefit from the rejuvenating properties of argan oil is to use it pure on the skin. Spray some rose water. In this way, moist skin will more easily absorb the oil. Then, gently massage a few drops of argan oil on your face, slide back and forth over wrinkles and expression lines, in an anti-aging facial massage. Don't forget the eye area and crow's feet area as well. But argan oil can also be used to cleanse and at the same time renew the skin, counteracting the aging process and inflammation. In a small bowl combine a tablespoon of clay, green or white, and two teaspoons of warm water. Pour in a teaspoon of argan oil and mix. Apply to the face, massaging for a minute, then leave on for five minutes, then rinse and continue with your daily beauty routine. For a less cleansing and more moisturizing treatment the idea is to mix 2 tablespoons of yogurt, which makes the skin more elastic, radiant and hydrated (Yeom et al, J Cosmet Sci, 2011), 1 teaspoon of honey, antimicrobial and healing, capable to delay the formation of wrinkles (Burlando et al, J Cosmet Dermatol, 2013), and a teaspoon of argan oil. You can add two drops of carrot essential oil, powerful anti-aging, capable of combating skin blemishes and rejuvenating tissues (Singh et al, J Cosmet Laser Ther, 2019). Mix and apply on your face for ten minutes, then rinse and continue with your usual treatment.
