Feeling a little confused in the oil aisle of your favorite beauty store? Choosing between argan oil and marula oil is something many people struggle with. We all know what it's like to be swamped with labels promising a better complexion, hair that shines, and dinner-time upgrades. It can feel as if you're stuck at a fork in the road with both paths looking pretty great.
Picking one isn't simple because both oils bring different great things to the table. They're full of good stuff that can really change up your skincare routine, add shine to your hair, and make cooking a little more fun.
In our article, we're going to break down these awesome oils. We'll look at their past and how they're made. We'll also compare what they're made of, chat about which one might be better for your hair or cooking, and flag up any downsides.
What is Marula Oil?
Marula oil is a nourishing oil, full of nutrients, that comes from the Sclerocarya birrea tree, also known as the marula tree. This tree is native to Africa and has been cherished for countless years because of its fruit and healing qualities.
Extracting this valued oil needs careful selection and cracking of each marula nut, followed by a process of cold-pressing to derive the unadulterated, unrefined marula oil. This time-intensive task results in an extremely potent extract full of antioxidants and fatty acids.
Now, you might question the reason behind this laborious process. But, enriched with oleic acid, which is a monounsaturated fat known for its skin advantages - marula oil is also high in vitamin E concentrations. Bearing immense antioxidant power, vitamin E helps protect your skin against environmental threats and increases hydration levels.
Marula oil has an emollient nature that can relieve dry skin; just applying a few drops can moisturize without leaving a greasy feeling. Over time, our body produces less collagen, but the abundance of vitamins C & E in Marula Oil can stimulate collagen production, rendering your skin healthier and more youthful-looking.
Marula oil, known as a wonder oil, exhibits anti-inflammatory qualities, which makes it perfect for people with sensitive or irritated skin. Don't worry about the fear of blocked pores if you're reluctant to use oils on your face. Unlike many other facial oils, marula oil is non-comedogenic, meaning it won't block your pores, thus no breakouts.
Marula oil wears many hats, from being a hydration powerhouse to an anti-aging champ. But don't forget that everyone's skin is unique, and what works miracles on one person might not be the perfect solution for another. So, before you replace all your skincare products with this wonder oil from Africa, be aware that each skin type responds uniquely to different products.
What is Argan Oil?
Argan oil, often called "liquid gold," comes from the seeds of the argan tree (Argania spinosa) in Morocco. Its golden color isn't just for looks; it's full of helpful nutrients.
This special oil has been used for beauty for a long, long time because it has lots of essential fatty acids and strong antioxidants like vitamin E. But what makes it different? Well, it's the way all these parts work together. It's kind of like having a really great basketball team - each player is really good on their own, but their real strength shows when they play together on the court. That's argan oil.
Vitamin E helps keep skin safe from bad free radicals that can make you look old faster, while fatty acids provide all the good stuff to keep your skin looking full and young (ScienceDirect). This two-part team makes argan oil a must-have in any skincare routine.
Making pure argan oil isn't quick or simple—it needs lots of care and old-fashioned methods.
To start, ripe fruits are picked by hand during harvest season, which lasts from July to August. The next step is to break open hard shells around the seeds—a job usually done by hand using stones.
After taking out the seed kernels from the pulp, they're gently roasted before being mashed into a paste. This paste is then mixed with water by hand to get the oil— this process takes about 12 hours to make just one liter of argan oil.
You see, with its strong nutrient list and a lot of work to get it out of the seeds, it's no wonder argan oil has become a loved part of skincare.
Marula and Argan Oil: Which is Best For Skincare?
Skin oils are hot stuff in the beauty game. You know, like the use of marula or argan oil for skin is something a lot of people are talking about. Honestly, both oils have good stuff they can do for your skin that are worth talking about. To recap:
- Argan oil comes from the kernels of the argan tree, a tree that you can only find in Morocco. This oil, a bit like gold in color, is pretty good at keeping your skin hydrated. Packed with vitamin E and a lot of needed fatty acids, argan oil can give your skin a little bit of moisture while also fighting off worry about skin irritation. Plus, get this - it helps your skin make just the right amount of sebum oil. This keeps your skin from getting too dry or flaky.
- Now, let's talk marula oil. Marula trees from South Africa give us this oil, and people really like it because it is full of antioxidants, particularly vitamins C and E. These vitamins are fighters; they attack signs of age like wrinkles and dark spots on the skin. The omega fatty acids in marula oil will feed your skin deep down, giving your skin a natural shine. What makes marula oil stand out from the crowd is how quickly your skin drinks it up. You won't be left with a greasy feeling.
If you've been looking for a super moisturizer that also cools down skin irritation, argan oil may be your jam. But if you're into antioxidants and want an oil that vanishes fast without leaving a shiny finish pretty quickly, marula oil could be your thing.
Believe it or not, if your skin is oily, marula oil might help you by controlling your skin's oil-making. Perhaps this could meet what your skin needs. If your skin is dry or if you're worried about aging, marula oil's deep-feeding qualities may be a huge plus for you to think about.
So, at the end of the day, both of these oils bring something great to the table. To be honest, whether you like one better than the other depends on what exactly your skin needs.
Marula and Argan Oil: Which Is More Nutritious?
If you're trying to find a really good oil to take care of your skin, marula and argan oils are both really good choices. But let me clarify: we definitely need to look a little deeper into what nutrients they have.
Marula oil has lots of stuff that's good for your skin. It has a lot of oleic acid, which gives your skin a deep moisturizing effect. This natural stuff even has antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, which protect against damage.
A certain acid (linoleic acid) in marula oil helps keep cell walls healthy, while another acid—palmitic acid—creates a cover on the surface of your skin. Just to be clear, it's like an unseen shield that protects your skin from harmful stuff outside.
Switching over to argan oil, this is often called "liquid gold" because it has so much vitamin E - even more than olive oil. Believe it or not, Vitamin E is really good at reducing swelling and fixing damaged cells.
In addition, argan oil has fatty acids like linoleic and oleic acids. These provide deep moisturizing without blocking skin pores. On top of that, there's another thing found in it—sterol—that helps make skin metabolism better.
Marula and Argan Oil: Which is Better For Your Hair?
Which one should you opt for? Let's dive deeper.
Sourced from the nuts of African marula trees, marula oil has high levels of antioxidants and oleic acid. This combination nourishes dry hair strands while also protecting them against environmental damage.
But it doesn't stop there. The light texture of marula oil lets it seep into your scalp quickly without leaving a greasy feel - great news if you struggle with an oily scalp or fine hair.
Made from kernels harvested from Moroccan argan trees, argan oil, often referred to as "liquid gold," packs in hefty amounts of vitamin E and fatty acids. These components help hydrate frizzy locks while mending split ends.
A bonus point for argan oil? It acts as a fantastic heat protectant before styling tools touch your precious tresses.
To answer the question honestly of which is better for you (Marula or Argan oil), it depends on what exactly your needs are. For example, if your hair is dry, then the deep moisturizing properties of marula might be just what you need. But if heat styling is your thing, argan oil can offer a protective layer against damage.
Regardless of which oil takes the crown in this face-off, remember that moderation is key. Using too much might weigh down your hair instead of giving it the love and care it needs.
Marula and Argan Oil: Which is Best For Cooking?
Alright, let's get to the point. When you're cooking, both marula and argan oil bring their own special touch to your meals.
Argan oil, which people sometimes call "liquid gold," comes from Morocco. They've used it in their tasteful dishes for hundreds of years. Its unique, delightful, nutty flavor adds a wonderful touch to your salads or dishes like couscous and tagines. But don't just take my word for it. BBC Good Food also gives it high praise.
Now, Marula oil adds a cool African twist to your food. It has a light, nutty taste that doesn't make food overly tasty, but rather, it makes them even better. The locals in Southern Africa have been using this handy ingredient not just on their skin but also in their meals. Zatural provides interesting information on how they do this.
Just to be clear, if you're considering the healthy stuff while making your meals (which we all should do), let me make these oil benefits simpler for you:
- Vitamin E: Both these oils are packed with Vitamin E, which helps keep us from getting sick – really helpful during flu season. But argan oil is slightly better than marula in this.
- Monounsaturated fats: These heart-friendly fats are in both oils. But again, argan wins as it has a higher percentage of monounsaturated fats compared to marula oil.
By the way, this isn't to turn you off from using marula oil. Remember, a little variety is the spice of life, and switching up your cooking oils can give you different nutrients.
Note: Remember that Argan Oil burns more easily than Marula Oil, so if you're thinking about frying or sautéing something, please keep this in mind.
Potential Side Effects
Well, both marula and argan oils are safe for most people. But you know, like all things that come from nature, they may not work with everyone's skin or food needs.
The main worry with marula oil is that it could cause allergies. If you're already sensitive to plants like poison ivy or mangoes (known as the Anacardiaceae family ), you might react in the same way to marula oil.
This reaction could make you itch, turn red, and maybe even swell up. Therefore, before using it a lot on your face or head, make sure to test it on a small area first.
Argan oil, in the same way, can also cause allergies. This is more crucial if you're allergic to tree nuts. The signs of an argan oil allergy could be as little as skin irritation or as bad as struggling to breathe.
If you choose to eat it instead of putting it on your skin, argan oil could maybe mess with your stomach because of its high fat.
Choosing the right brand of these oils is serious business. You should aim for pure versions, which are free from things that might cause additional bad side effects. Studies show that some essential oils aren't what they claim to be - that's why we should know what we're buying when it comes to skin care.
There might be bumps in the road in the world of natural beauty products, but we can navigate through them confidently with all this knowledge.
You bet; carefully listen to what your body is telling you. Everyone is different; what works for one person might cause problems for another. Always test new products on a small area of your skin, and if you're unsure, it's always a good idea to talk to a health professional.
Take Care of Your Skin and Hair!
So, picking between marula and argan oil mostly depends on what you need because each oil has different benefits that fit different needs. If you're looking for an oil that's full of stuff that's good for your skin, like vitamins C and E, marula oil is the one. It's really good at fighting the stuff that can hurt your skin. On the other hand, argan oil has a lot of fatty acids, making it a great pick for putting moisture back into dry and flaky skin.
Both oils work well for hair care, and they help fix different hair problems. Marula oil isn't heavy and works well for untangling hair and keeping it from getting frizzy. Right? Argan oil is filled with something called oleic acid that's helpful for fixing hair that's been damaged.
When looking at cooking uses, there's a clear difference between these two oils. Marula oil doesn't get used in cooking much because it has a slight taste that doesn't add much. Unlike marula oil, argan oil is edible and adds a unique, nutty flavor to foods like traditional Moroccan tagine or couscous without taking over the taste of other flavors.
It's important not to use too much of either marula or argan oil to avoid problems like allergies or skin problems, especially for people with skin that gets irritated easily. Test a small bit on your skin first before using it all over your face or body.
The choice isn't really about which oil is better but about figuring out which oil works best for you. Both marula and argan oil have many benefits and are full of nutrients that are good for your skin, hair, and even cooking needs.
Marula oil is great for your skincare routine. It isn't heavy and soaks into the skin quickly, plus it's known for its high amount of stuff that's good for your skin. Argan oil is great for everything in your natural routine. It's known for helping dry hair and making hair that's lost its shine look good again. And it makes food taste better.
So, think about what you need and what you like before deciding which oil to use, because each oil has a lot of beauty benefits!
Our Teami Bright Dark Spot Serum can be used to lessen dark spots, hyperpigmentation, acne scars, or dullness. We also recommend our Teami Hibiscus Infused Vitamin C Serum! To maximize these serums' benefits, apply them twice a day, every morning and night. Another important thing to keep in mind is that the last step is to seal in all these nutrients with your moisturizer. This robust combination will aid in revealing the natural beauty of your skin, providing the appearance of health, hydration, and rest.