You must have heard about argan oil by now. Argan oil is the latest darling of not just top chefs around the world but it’s also highly recommended by natural health and cosmetics specialists. From moisturizing your cuticles, conditioning your hair to acting as an effective anti-aging moisturizer, there are many reasons why argan oil is also known as the ‘liquid gold of Morocco’.

We got curious about this strange wonderful little oil and decided to do some research on it ourselves.

This extremely rare and precious oil is exceptionally rich in natural tocopherols (vitamin E), phenols and phenolic acid, carotenes, squalene as well as essential fatty acids. It consists of 80% unsaturated fatty acids, and depending on the extraction method, is more resistant to oxidation than olive oil. All of these nutrients are essential for healthy skin, hair and nails, and are basically part of the building blocks for the cellular structure of the skin. They are also highly potent antioxidants which neutralize free radicals (the second biggest cause of aging after sun exposure).

The oil is extracted from the nut of the argan tree (argania spinosa), which grows only in the argan forests in the southwest of Morocco where the argan forests cover approximately 1.5 million acres at the northern border of the Sahara. The forest was designated a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1999. lt takes several days and about 32 kilograms of fruit – roughly one season’s produce from a single tree – to make only one precious litre of argan oil. The good news is, not only is it all sustainably extracted, all argan oil sold today is produced by a women’s cooperative that shares the profits among the local women of the Berber tribe. The cooperative has established an ecosystem reforestation project so that the supply of argan oil doesn’t run out and the income that is currently supporting the women will not disappear. The money is providing healthcare and education to the local women and helping to support the entire community as a whole.

Thank goodness we don’t have to break our nails fighting for a few precious bottles of argan oil and nor do we have to deal with wrinkles that come from a guilty conscience using products that have been unethically churned out.

While some have pointed out that argan oil contains oleic acid, an ingredient that may clog pores, we found that the benefits of this oil far exceed any potential problems that it may cause. Unlike fatty vegetable oils like shea butter, macadamia, avocado and sweet almond, it contains 80% unsaturated fatty acids making it suitable for oily and combination skin; and the bonus is it doesn’t feel greasy on the skin.

Pure Lochside treatment oil products from Scotland contain argan oil thus making it perfect as an anti-aging ingredient in skincare products for all skin types.  Pure Lochside products are carefully handmade (upon ordering) in Scotland, making the content completely fresh and highly potent. Fiona Tutte recognized the lack of anti-aging products for ladies with oily or combination skin in their 30s and 40s and thus formulated her range such that every ingredient is jammed pack with anti-oxidant properties yet healing and purifying for oily or combination skin. Use all their products together and you will be amazed at the results.

Did I also mention that argan oil helps in psoriasis too? Perhaps I should throw in a few recipes snitched from Michelin restaurants using argan oil as well. But we can leave that for another day. It is enough to just hear from people who have used argan oil products and who swear by it.


Read reviews from our customers who have used Pure Lochside products.

User of Pure Lochside Organic Orange Cleansing Oil and Purifying Facial Spritz.

This Cleansing Oil is suitable even for my combination congested skin – amazing!
It doesn’t clog the pores and cleanses well. After using it to remove makeup, use your normal cleanser to get a thorough refreshing clean feeling. The cloth that comes with it is useful to even out rough patches or for cleansing the area around the nose. I love it for its natural ingredients with no harmful chemical stuff in it. This bottle will last you for more than a couple of months as I only needed 2 pumps each time.

As for the spritz, I love its anti-bacterial yet soothing spray. The anti-bacterial function also comes from a natural ingredient. Though it’s a toner, I use it to spray even on body areas that are blemishing due to time of the month. As it’s completely natural, I am happy to use it on any parts of my body without worrying that it’s being absorbed into my skin/body. Wish it’s more affordable because one bottle finishes so soon, too soon.

Siok Chin, 38, January 2010
Skin Type: Combination and easily clogged
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User of Pure Lochside Organic Orange Cleansing Oil, Purifying Facial Spritz, Siberian Eye Gel, Revitalizing Treatment Oil and Invigorating Bath & Body Oil

My first encounter using the Orange Cleansing Oil is that it' is not so easy to use. However once I got a hang of it, it is not difficult at all. The muslin cloth that comes with it helps to remove makeup thoroughly and leaves the skin clean without the oily feel.

The Purifying Facial Spritz serves as a double cleanse and leaves the skin squeaky clean.

For the Siberian Ginseng Eye Gel, it is actually oil and not gel. A little drop of it goes a long way.  In fact, one drop is more than required. As the oil is readily absorbed into the skin, there is no oily feel.

I also use the Revitalizing Face Treatment Oil & Invigorating Body Oil occasionally.

My skin does not dried up easily after using body oil, even though I did not apply moisturizer after that. It leaves my skin soft to touch.  

For the facial treatment oil, although the oil is very rich, it doesn’t feel sticky or oily & readily absorbed by skin. Most importantly, m skin does not flare up after that.

Ng Wing Meng, late-30s, January 2010
Skin Type: Combination and easily clogged.
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User of Siberian Ginseng Eye gel

I bought the Siberian Ginseng Eye Gel. Most of the time I use it as a face serum. So far, I find it good. Though it is an oil, it is not as oily as other oil serum and as long as you do not use too many drops of it. Considering that I am quite particular to oiliness, this oil serum is acceptable to me. I am quite happy with it. However I do not quite like the scent but the efficacy and quality make up for it. It will be good if they could switch the dispensing pump to drop type for better dispensing control.

May Lee, 38, January 2010
Skin Type: Normal