Is This Ancient Oil the Fountain of Youth?

Josie Maran, model and beauty entrepreneur, swears by the stuff. It's nothing new, seeing as it's been around for centuries, but it's new to the beauty circuit and causing a big buzz: Argan oil.

You'll see it soon, if you haven't already, popping up in everything from face cream to hair conditioners, because we all know, once something's hot, it's everywhere (White tea eye cream and pomegranate balsamic come to mind, no?).

The oil, as described by DaySpa magazine, has earned it's "luxe reputation" because of the difficulty in cultivating this face-saving elixir (it's high in essential fatty acids and vitamin E,  safe for all skin types, and can treat everything from burns to acne to diaper rash). Argan trees, which produce the oil from its seeds, only grow in a 10,000-square-mile region of southwestern Morocco. To extract just one liter of the precious oil can take up to a week after harvesting, shelling, grounding, straining and pressing the seeds.

It's hefty price tag might make it seem like Creme de la Mer: it's good in theory, but maybe not so much in practice.  Though if you are intrigued, exercise a little patience. Once the influx hits the marketplace, there are sure to be brands that aren't so taxing on your pocketbook. Maran has her own which sells at a rather reasonable $48, as well as an Argan moisturizing stick for $22.

Photo: JosieMaranCosmetics