Essential oils have been used in many forms of therapy since thousands of years. Only recently have they been scientifically proven to carry pretty much all the benefits that ancient herbalists claimed them to have. This is why, in recent years, almost all kind of therapeutic fields make use of essential oils; From different massage techniques to skincare products.

Lavender Oil

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Lavender oil easily tops the list when it comes to essential oils that are good for your health. It is widely known for its healing properties and is therefore used as an antiseptic in cuts and wounds.

Lavender oil also has a distinct scent which makes it great for use in aromatherapy. Apparently, it helps relax your mind and body and therefore is good for curing anxiety, stress, and depression.


Tea Tree Oil

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One of the most widely hyped essential oils in the market, you will find many skincare products boasting of having tea tree oil included as one of their ingredients. Tea tree oil has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties which makes it great for use on skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.

Tea tree oil is also great for use on acne-prone and oily skin. Many people who have had terrible acne breakouts at some point in their life swear by this oil.
Chamomile Oil

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Chamomile oil is used far and wide to cure insomnia. It is easily the most potent natural cure for the sleepless condition.

Other than insomnia, chamomile oil is also used as a stress reliever. Getting a massage with chamomile oil or brewing yourself a cup of chamomile tea will melt away the stress and tension you have accumulated throughout the day and you will feel at complete ease.
Frankincense Oil

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Lemon Essential Oil

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Lemon essential oil can be added to foods and drinks as it acts as a cleansing and detoxifying agent for your body. It aids in efficient digestion and breaking down toxins inside the body.

Alternatively, lemon essential oil is also a really effective agent in calming our nerves and making us feel relaxed and refreshed.


Myrrh Essential Oil

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Myrrh essential oil has antiseptic properties which protect you from skin infections and diseases. You can also sterilize wounds with the help of this oil.

Adding this essential oil to teas and drinks and using it as a massaging agent also keeps your hormones balanced.

Rose Essential Oil

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I believe we are all familiar with the lovely smell of roses. This smell is the reason why rose essential oil is so widely used in aromatherapy.

Rose oil is also widely used as a massage agent. This is because it improves blood circulation to the skin. This makes the skin soft and gives you a healthy glow.

After my moment with a falsely marketed "100% pure" argan oil (review here) I started using a 100% legitimate argan oil and my facial routine to be honest has never been the same again. Whilst I was using that particular argan oil, I still searched for other options available in the Philippines.

There are a number of brands all claiming authenticity, most of them found in online shops but I haven't found any that personally rung my feminist heart as much as Wellspring of Morocco has.

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Wellspring of Morocco Argan Oil comes from the argan oil cooperatives in Essaouira region in southwestern Morocco. Their argan oil is extracted from argan nuts through traditional means by tribes of Berber women.

Every purchase made contributes to a worthy cause and consumers indirectly take part in the fair-trade movement by supporting and empowering the women cooperatives and tribes that produce the argan oil.

Apparently extracting the oils is extremely labor intensive. It can take up to eight hours for one woman to crush enough nuts for one liter of oil. Being as labor intensive as it is, these women do it proudly and confidently as this provides them the social and economic freedom they wouldn't have otherwise.

Medina, Essaouira - Image via travelchannel.com

Not only that, Wellspring of Morocco Argan Oil is also sourced directly from traditional, government - authorized, Ecocert and USDA organic certified Argan oil cooperatives in Essaouira Morocco.


EXPERIENCE | SCENT | TEXTURE

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Argan oil according to discerning beauty articles, is supposed to smell "nutty" or "popcorn-ey" which rings true for this particular brand. It's thin, watery and clear. It doesn't have that yellow-tinge some oils have.

I use it as my night moisturizer and sometimes as my day moisturizer. It feels light on the skin and hasn't given me any problems when used under makeup or mixed with makeup. I'll gladly continue using argan oil or facial oils for that matter as a healthier more natural and organic alternative to chemical-based moisturizers.

This 10 ml starter bottle retails for Php 280 and I've had this bottle for a little over three weeks. I'm currently down to half. My usual amount is three to four drops so I'm sure after a month I'll be out of it. If you limit yourself to two drops nightly (skip during the day) I'm sure this will last a lot longer.

If want to get into facial oils or want to try out argan oil, this 10 ml noncommittal bottle is a good start. Oily or acne-prone skin need not be alarmed with putting oil on the face as these are supposed to help soothe the skin. For the record I have sensitive skin with dry patches and mild rosacea and I've had no problems with it.

Have you tried argan oil? What other facial oils have you tried?


xx,
CJ


PS. My friend who owns/sells this contacted me if I wanted to give it a try. Naturally I said yes! They also have 30 ml bottles for Php 800.
PPS. Make sure the Argan oil you buy comes in a tinted bottle. Argan oil shouldn't be exposed to light as it changes its composition. Comparing to my other argan, that one didn't come in a tinted bottle so I have to make sure it's always in a dimly-lit area in my room. As for other comparisons, they both smell and perform the same to me.

EDIT: Argan oil CAN come in un-tinted bottles, so people can see the golden colour of the oil. Argan oil that come in untinted bottles are supposedly of higher quality so it's deemed ok for light to pass through them but just to be safe, choose the tinted ones. They're usually in amber or blue bottles. 

Bottom line it can come in clear or colored bottles but it should be glass (more eco-friendly and plastic also disturbs/changes the property of the oil). Wellspring of Morocco comes in a blue glass bottle just for branding consistency. :) 

PPPS. For GOT fans, the series filmed some (or most) of their scenes in Morocco. Cool eh?

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Further reading

• http://arganoilworld.com.au/10-argan-oil-benefits-for-hair-and-skin/
• http://skincare.about.com/od/skin101/a/Argan-Oil-Benefits-For-Skin-Hair-And-Body.htm
• http://draxe.com/argan-oil-benefits-skin-hair/
• https://www.arganfarm.com/blog/
• https://mirashand.wordpress.com/2013/05/23/the-truth-about-argan-oil/
• https://saadiaorganics.com/7-warning-signs-that-your-argan-oil-is-impure/
• http://www.essentialsyou.com/11-tips-to-buy-good-argan-oil/ 

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