Back in the Game!

I had completely forgotten about this blog... well, sort of! I can't even forget about beauty products, apparently. I just got back from vacation in Morocco, and I wasn't even thinking about seeing the sites or eating some good tajine... I was too preoccupied with finding an abundant supply of argan oil!

Argan oil, in case you aren't familiar, is made from the nut of a tree that grows only in Morocco. The nut is about the size of an almond - maybe a tad bigger. In the process, the women (this is a woman's job, similar to the Shea butter production in other parts of Africa) form a small assembly line. The first woman picks off the outer shell. Then, the second woman breaks out the interior nut. The third woman grinds the nut into a paste that looks like milky peanut butter. The fourth woman forms the paste into cakes and squeezes out the oil The resulting "mush" is then made into soaps, added into lotions, or other products.

I went to several different places to find argan oil. The first was a berber pharmacy in the medina in Marrakesh. I bought 3 bottles of the ones for cosmetic use. (There is also a thicker "extra virgin" version that can be eaten with bread.) The second place was in the Ourikah Valley at the foot of the Atlas Mountains, where the women made all sorts of argan products. The third was in the government sponsored (price-fixed) store in the souk of Marrakesh. Needless to say, I had loads of fun trying all these products.

The place in the Ourikah Valley also offered scented argan oil. The oil has a nutty taste and smell, so they are offered in "perfumed" versions as well. There is Jasmine, Almond, Musk, Amber... the whole gamut.

So what are the benefits of argan oil? Well, aside from jumping into the trend (as Kiehl's and Josie Maran Beauty have) -- it is supposed to be very good for the skin. It purportedly helps with the fading of stretch marks and discoloration, and also helps to soothe and moisturize the skin.

I just started using my bottles, so I will definitely keep you posted.

On a more commercial note (and going back to my 2-year old post):

NARS came out with "Super Orgasm" blush last month. I tested it at Sephora and couldn't decide if I wanted to get it. It just seems to be teeming with too much gold glitter, although I think the base color is quite lovely. We shall see...