Argan Oil: Evidence, Safety and How It Is Used
Argan oil is a carrier oil, not an essential oil: what small studies show for skin and hair, and the documented skin allergy reports to know before using it.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Natural products can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read essential oil safety before you use anything on this page.
Safety first: skin allergy is reported. Case reports describe allergic contact dermatitis from argan oil, including in an infant, and one case report is titled "Anaphylaxis after cutaneous application of argan oil." [4][5][6] We could read only the titles and records of these reports, not full texts, and case reports cannot tell us how often this happens. Poison Control says a rash is the most common allergic reaction to an oil, and that any allergic reaction with trouble breathing is a medical emergency. [1] If anyone swallows an oil and you are worried, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 or your local emergency number. [1]
Argan oil is a carrier oil, which is a plain plant oil. It is not an essential oil. This page keeps three things apart: what lab findings show, what human trials show, and which route was tested (eaten, on skin, or on hair).
What argan oil is
Argan oil is pressed from the seeds (kernels) of the argan tree. [8][14] The tree is long written as Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels, in the family Sapotaceae. GBIF, a plant name database, lists that name as a synonym of Sideroxylon spinosum, so you may see either. [3] A review says the oil is mainly unsaturated fatty acids, mostly oleic and linoleic acid. [8] Another review says argan oil is rich in tocopherols (vitamin E compounds) and that only about 19 g in every 100 g of its fatty acids is saturated. [14]A carrier oil is used to dilute an essential oil before it goes on the skin. The National Cancer Institute describes aromatherapy massage as essential oils diluted in a carrier oil. [2] Poison Control says dilution in a carrier oil is the best way to avoid a bad reaction from direct skin contact with a potent essential oil. [1] A carrier oil does not make an unsuitable essential oil suitable. See carrier oils explained and essential oils versus carrier oils. The sources we read give no argan-specific figure for how much to dilute. Charts differ between sources: see why dilution charts differ. This is information, not a prescription.
Safety by group
- Skin and allergy: see the warning above. Cases include an infant [4], a second report titled allergic contact dermatitis caused by argan oil [5], one case titled protein contact dermatitis [7] and a case titled anaphylaxis after skin use. [6] Allergy to oils in general is possible, and Poison Control says to stop use and wash the oil off if a rash appears. [1] See patch testing and stopping a reaction and skin reactions, allergy and sensitization.
- Nut allergy: argan is not a botanical tree nut; GBIF places it in Sapotaceae. [3] We searched for any source saying argan oil cross-reacts with nut or peanut allergy and found none. Not described is not proof of none. Ask an allergist if you have a nut allergy.
- Sun: the sources we read do not describe sun sensitivity from argan oil. Not described is not proof of none.
- Pets (cats, dogs, birds): not described in the sources we read. See essential oils and pets.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: not described in the sources we read. See pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Babies and children: Poison Control says children's thin skin and immature livers may make them more susceptible to toxic effects of oils in general. [1] One of the allergy reports is in an infant. [4] Ask a clinician. See around babies and children.
- Seizures and breathing: not described for argan oil in the sources we read.
- Swallowing: Poison Control says swallowing some essential oils is poisonous and swallowed oil can be breathed in, causing pneumonia. [1] It names essential oils, not argan oil, and we found no poison-center statement about argan oil. Trials of argan oil used as a food (below) are not advice to swallow cosmetic oils. See what poison centers say.
- Medicines: not described for skin use in the sources we read. If you take cholesterol medicines, ask a pharmacist before adding argan oil to your diet, because the trials below were of eaten oil.
- Freshness: we found no source measuring how long argan oil keeps or whether an old oil irritates skin. For storage of oils generally see storing oils and shelf life.
What research shows
| Question | What the source found | Strength of evidence | Route, form and who was studied |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skin elasticity | In 60 postmenopausal women over 60 days, those who ate argan oil (compared with olive oil) had better instrument-measured skin elasticity. Both groups also put argan oil on a forearm; the abstract we read does not describe a comparison for that part alone. [9] | Promising but limited | One small trial; eaten oil plus skin use; measured stretch of skin, not appearance or any skin disease |
| Blood cholesterol | A pooled analysis of 5 randomized trials (292 people) found lower total cholesterol (about 17 mg/dl), LDL (about 12 mg/dl) and triglycerides (about 14 mg/dl) and slightly higher HDL (about 4 mg/dl) with argan oil. [10] | Promising but limited (blood-test markers only) | Eaten oil, not skin use; heart attacks and strokes were not measured in the abstract |
| Hair growth, hair quality, lice | A 2022 systematic review of 22 articles on coconut, castor and argan hair oils found argan oil had no significant evidence for hair growth, hair quality or infestation. [11] | No good evidence of benefit | Hair oils; the review focused on people with skin of color |
| Eczema and acne | A 2024 review of 83 articles says argan oil may help the skin barrier and ease eczema and acne, but says the mechanisms are not fully understood. [12] | Lab or animal only (as far as the sources we read show) | Review of mixed studies; human trials for these conditions were not found |
Limits: the human trials are few, small and short, people can see and feel an oil so blinding is hard, and the skin trial mixed eaten and skin use. Proper evidence not found in the sources we read for argan oil as a treatment for acne, eczema, hair loss or wound healing in people, and none for any anti-aging claim beyond the single small elasticity trial.
How it is used and what the sources say about quality
- Argan oil is used on skin and hair, in cooking, and as a carrier oil in massage blends. [8][2]
- A 2023 review says argan oil is often blended with cheaper vegetable oils, which lowers quality and may harm consumers; laboratory methods exist to detect this. [13] A blend adds oils you may not know about, which matters if you react to oils. A label cannot tell you what is in the bottle. See reading an essential oil label and purity and adulteration.
- Store as the label says; see storing oils.
Related pages
Uses studied and safety checks for Argan Oil
Read the safety checks first. Each card says whether a finding comes from people or only from the lab, which way the oil was used (scent, on skin or swallowed) and how strong the evidence is. A finding for one way of using an oil does not carry over to another.
Check before you use (5)
- Skin allergy to argan oil (case reports). Case reports describe allergic contact dermatitis from argan oil, including in an infant, and protein contact dermatitis. A rash that appears after use can be an allergic reaction. These are case reports, so they do not tell us how often it happens.
- Anaphylaxis after skin use (one case report). A case report is titled 'Anaphylaxis after cutaneous application of argan oil'. It is a single case; we could not read the abstract, so we state nothing beyond the title. Poison Control says any allergic reaction with trouble breathing is an emergency.
- Blends and quality (adulteration). Reviews say argan oil is sold at high prices and is sometimes blended with cheaper vegetable oils; laboratory methods exist to detect this. A label or price cannot tell you which you have.
- Cats, dogs, pregnancy, babies, seizures, medicines. The sources we read do not describe argan oil for pets, pregnancy or breastfeeding, seizure disorders or medicine interactions on skin. Poison Control says children's thin skin and immature livers may make them more vulnerable to toxic effects of oils in general, and an infant case of allergy to argan oil is reported. Not described is not proof of none.
- Swallowing and aspiration. Poison Control says swallowing some essential oils is poisonous and that swallowed oil can be breathed in, causing pneumonia. It names essential oils, not argan oil. We found no poison-center statement about argan oil as a carrier oil. If any oil product is swallowed in a worrying way, call a poison center (US 1-800-222-1222) or your local emergency number.
Argan oil and skin elasticity
Preliminary or mixedIn 60 postmenopausal women over 60 days, the group that ate argan oil (compared with olive oil) showed better instrument-measured skin elasticity, and both groups also put argan oil on a forearm. The abstract we read does not describe a comparison group for the skin application alone.
Supplements: One small trial; no good evidence yet for any anti-aging claim.
Eaten argan oil and blood cholesterol
Preliminary or mixedA pooled analysis of 5 randomized trials (292 people) found lower total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides and slightly higher HDL with argan oil that was eaten. This is a food use and a different route from skin use or use as a carrier.
Supplements: Eaten oil only. Not an instruction to swallow an oil; findings do not carry over to skin use.
Argan oil for hair
Not enough evidenceA systematic review of coconut, castor and argan hair oils found argan oil had no significant evidence for hair growth, hair quality or lice.
Supplements: No good evidence of benefit found in the review we read.
Eczema, acne and other skin claims
Lab or animal research onlyA 2024 review of 83 articles suggests argan oil may help the skin barrier and have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that could ease eczema and acne, but says the mechanisms are not fully understood. Human trials for these conditions were not found in the sources we read.
Supplements: Lab and review findings only.
What argan oil is (a carrier oil, not an essential oil)
Established roleArgan oil is a fixed (fatty) oil pressed from argan tree seeds, mostly oleic and linoleic acids. It has no essential-oil aroma use; it is used as a cosmetic and cooking oil, and as a carrier oil to dilute essential oils.
Supplements: Fatty oil; see the carrier oil pages.
Connected topics
Open a group to see how each topic connects and how strong the evidence is.
Health goals (2)
- Cholesterol BalancePreliminary or mixed
Pooled randomized trials of eaten argan oil found lower LDL and triglycerides; this is the eaten food oil, not skin use.
- Healthy SkinPreliminary or mixed
One small trial (60 postmenopausal women) found better instrument-measured skin elasticity with argan oil; broader skin claims are not backed by human trials in the sources we read.
Body systems (2)
- Integumentary SystemPreliminary or mixed
Same evidence as for skin: one small elasticity trial.
- Skin, Hair & BeautyPreliminary or mixed
Used as a skin and hair oil; the human evidence is one small elasticity trial and a hair review that found no evidence for growth.
Body parts (1)
- SkinPreliminary or mixed
One small trial of skin elasticity; allergy to the oil is also reported in case reports.
Biomarkers (3)
- LDL CholesterolPreliminary or mixed
In pooled trials (5 trials, 292 people), eaten argan oil lowered LDL by about 11.7 mg/dl on average.
- TriglyceridesPreliminary or mixed
Pooled trials found a fall in triglycerides (about 13.7 mg/dl) with eaten argan oil.
- HDL CholesterolPreliminary or mixed
Pooled trials found a small rise in HDL (about 4.1 mg/dl) with eaten argan oil.
Conditions & symptoms (2)
- Contact DermatitisDocumented risk
Case reports describe allergic contact dermatitis caused by argan oil, including one in an infant.
- AnaphylaxisDocumented risk
One case report is titled 'Anaphylaxis after cutaneous application of argan oil'. Single case; abstract not available.
Frequently asked questions
Is argan oil an essential oil?
No. It is a fatty plant oil pressed from argan seeds, used on skin and hair and as a carrier oil to dilute essential oils. [8][2]
Can argan oil cause an allergic reaction?
Yes, case reports describe it, including in an infant, and one report of a severe reaction after skin use. [4][5][6] They are case reports, so they show it can happen, not how often. Patch test first, and stop and wash off if a rash appears. [1]
Does argan oil work for hair or skin?
For skin, one small trial found better instrument-measured elasticity in postmenopausal women. [9] For hair, a systematic review found no significant evidence of benefit. [11] A review of eczema and acne says mechanisms are not fully understood. [12]
Is it safe for cats, dogs, babies or pregnancy?
The sources we read do not describe argan oil for pets or pregnancy. Poison Control says children's thin skin and immature livers may make them more susceptible to toxic effects of oils. [1] Ask a clinician or vet.
Should I swallow it?
No advice to swallow cosmetic oils is given. Poison Control says to call a poison center (US 1-800-222-1222) if an oil has been swallowed and you are worried. [1] The cholesterol trials used argan oil as a food. [10]
References
- Poison Control (National Capital Poison Center). Essential oils: Poisonous when misused. Undated. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Cancer Institute (US). Aromatherapy and Essential Oils (PDQ). 2024. First part of the page read. Read 2026-10-23.
- GBIF Secretariat. GBIF species match: Argania spinosa. Read 2026-10-23.
- Barrientos N, et al. Allergic contact dermatitis caused by argan oil in an infant. Contact Dermatitis. 2014. Case report; title and record read, no abstract. Read 2026-10-23.
- Veraldi S, et al. Allergic contact dermatitis caused by argan oil. Dermatitis. 2016. Case report; title and record read, no abstract. Read 2026-10-23.
- de Las Marinas Alvarez MD, et al. Anaphylaxis after cutaneous application of argan oil. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2021. Case report; title and record read, no abstract. Read 2026-10-23.
- Protein contact dermatitis caused by argan oil. Dermatitis. 2023. Case report; title and record read, no abstract. Read 2026-10-23.
- Mechqoq H, et al. Ethnobotany, phytochemistry and biological properties of Argan tree (Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels) (Sapotaceae): a review. J Ethnopharmacol. 2021 (abstract read via Europe PMC). Read 2026-10-23.
- Boucetta KQ, et al. The effect of dietary and/or cosmetic argan oil on postmenopausal skin elasticity. Clin Interv Aging. 2015 (abstract read). Read 2026-10-23.
- Ursoniu S, et al. The impact of argan oil on plasma lipids in humans: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Phytother Res. 2018 (abstract read). Read 2026-10-23.
- Phong C, et al. Coconut, castor, and argan oil for hair in skin of color patients: a systematic review. J Drugs Dermatol. 2022 (abstract read). Read 2026-10-23.
- Serrafi A, et al. The importance of argan oil in medicine and cosmetology. Nutrients. 2024 (abstract read). Read 2026-10-23.
- El Maouardi M, et al. Quality control and authentication of argan oils: application of advanced analytical techniques. Molecules. 2023 (abstract read). Read 2026-10-23.
- A comprehensive review of plant-based cosmetic oils (virgin coconut oil, olive oil, argan oil, and jojoba oil). ACS Omega. 2024 (abstract read). Read 2026-10-23.