Product of The Week: VoilaVe Argan Oil

VoilaVe Organics Argan Oil - $18.95 US

Recently Everything Beauty and Beyond was given a full size sample of this organic argan oil by the company VoilaVe.  To be honest, when they first contact me I was surprised as I had never heard of them.  However I have found many times that much smaller companies tend to provide better quality products.

This arrived to my house a little over two weeks ago and I was totally surprised by the size of the bottle.  It was a 4 oz size bottle which is considered massive (in my opinion) compared to the other companies that sell argan oil.  It came in a dark opaque glass bottle with a pump which was a first for me!  I actually loved the idea of the pump because it was great in not allowing unnecessary air, light or bacteria into the bottle.  This argan oil is also 100% certified Organic & ECO and USDA Certified.  So you know you are buying the real thing when you purchase this.  

When I first applied this serum, I was impressed by the texture.  This serum was so silky.  This for sure was something I have never felt before.  It didn't feel heavy weight or greasy (though we know its an oil) and adsorb really quick on to the skin.  It didn't have any rancid smell and no settlements so far have come out the bottle.  It was a yellow clearish color (if that makes sense) and wasn't runny or watery.  

I decided first to try this on my hands as a moisturizer because of the pump.  I tell you I was freaking in love with this pump.  I first applied it to my hands, arms and elbows and it really helped with the dryness with no greasy feeling left behind.  I then moved on to my face at night when it was time for night time skin care routine.  I normally use argan oil at night as my final step when I wash my face.  I loved how great it felt on my skin and no heavy or oily residue was left behind.  However I did have one issue.  Since this is a pump; I normally only use 2-3 drops of agran oil on face, neck and chest and this gave me way to much.  I had to rub the rest on my arms and elbows.  In this case I think the pump backfires by giving you more product then what you need if you plan to apply it to your face.  So try pumping it less then half way in order to get the right amount of oil you need for smaller areas of your body.  After that, I applied some more on my hair since I had just washed it in the shower.  I love the fact that it didn't leave it greasy or weighed down and really smelled and looked beautiful when blow dried my hair the next day.

To be honest I am in awe of the size of this bottle and the handy little pump it comes with.  When I first tried argan oil, it was a sample I received from my beloved Sephora from Josie Maran 100% argan oil.  However the price for that 1.5 oz bottle was outrageous and I refused to pay almost $90 for a bottle of that size let alone for a product I was unsure about.  I then went and hit the internet and found what argan oil needs to have in order to be considered 'real' and what the actual price ranges would be and trust me they were way more reasonable then Josie Maran.

So far this company has impressed me and I plan to keep using their product for all my argan oil needs!

Keep Smiling!

Dayana 

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Review of The Week: Organic Morocco Argan Oil Hair Treatment Mask!

Pure & Essential Minerals Morocco Argan Oil Hair Treatment - $15.99 US 

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.  

Recently, Pure & Essential Minerals contacted everything Beautiful and Beyond to review their Organic Morocco Argan Oil Hair Treatment Mask!

I love Argan oil anything as long as it pure and organic.  I currently use Poppy Austin's Argan Oil for my face and just love it.  So when I realized that I was going to be able to review this product, I was just gleaming with delight. 

When I received the package, I noticed that the jar was very small. I thought it was going to be your average run of mill size jar where all special conditioners come in.  Nonetheless, they say "good things come in small packages" so I figure I not judge it by its size.  This jar has organic and natural ingredients in it that make up the conditioner which really caught my eye.  This company is also part of the 100% pure fair trade which states "Our organic Moroccan Argan oil is sourced from Berber women's co-operatives in the Argan region of Morocco. Your purchase directly benefits these women's cooperatives, who receive fair trade prices for their hand-crafted 100% pure Argan oil."

The product has a nice smell to it that is not to strong.  The conditioner inside is not to thick but not watery either.  Its a smooth creamy texture that feels nice on your hands.  I applied to my hair with no big fuss.  Normally when conditioners are thick, they are hard to comb through your hair, however this was awesome!  I even put it on my scalp to see if it would help with my dandruff.   When it comes to specialized conditioners, I normally apply them to my hair the night before in order to get the real benefits.  Truth is, if you apply a conditioner in the shower for 2-3 minutes and then wash it out, you are really just pouring money down the drain. 

I was working from home the day I decided to try this product out.  So I woke up early and applied it to my hair and left it on for about 2 hours.  I then washed it out, shampooed and conditioned again.  I allowed it to air dry for about an hour before I used my flat iron.  

The first thing I noticed was that this left a slight lovely smell to my hair.  The second thing I noticed was just how soft and shiny my hair really was.  I normally have wavy to curly hair.  However for manageability reasons, I flat iron it so that its combable.  The third thing I noticed was that even when curly it left my hair feeling hydrated.  Lastly, when I was flat ironing it, it was quick and easy and my hair felt light weight and not greasy or weighed down.  My hair had good body and just felt oh so smooth!  I couldn't stop touching it!!  I noticed that for every time I used this hair mask, I achieved the same results on my hair.  I have to say I was really impressed by this conditioner.    

I have to say, though I hate the fact that this conditioner comes in a very small jar, however I do plan to purchase this product once it runs out (which will probably be pretty soon).    

Keep Smiling!

Dayana

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

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Argan Oil! What is it and What's it Really Worth?

Argan  oil lately has been the craze on everyone's lips, skin, hair and nails.  Argan oil can be used for personal care and culinary as well.  You can find this oil in just about any and every type of beauty and haircare product on the market.  However the question is, what exactly is it and why all the fuss?  

Argan oil is produced from the kernels of the Argan tree also known as Argania spinosa L. that is mostly found in the country of Morocco.  The majority of all Argan oil is processed by hand by the Berber women of Morocco until the point of oil extraction which is done by a machine for sanitary reasons.  It is highly rich in antioxidants, oleic, linoleic, palmitic, stearic and linolenic.  It has essential fatty acids and vitamin E which are good for dry skin and inflammation.    Based on these proponents of the Argan seed, many companies have jumped on the bandwagon and started selling this oil from a very reasonable price to a straight up outlandish cost.   So here are a few things to consider when buying Argan oil in order to make sure you are getting the proper benefits and your monies worth.

   

Ingredients

When buying Argan oil, a few things need to be considered before purchasing a bottle of this golden nectar.  First, check the ingredients on the back of the label and make sure it says 100% Argan oil or Argania Spinosa (nut) oil which is organically certified, cold press and filtered.  If the ingredients say anything else but 100% Argan oil; walk away.  Any bottle of Argan that has other ingredients listed means its being added with fillers and is not 100% Argan oil.  Again put the bottle down and walk again...fast.

Packaging

Another thing to consider is the bottle that the Argan oil comes in.  The bottle should be dark and opaque in glass form in order to not allow light to disintegrate the antioxidants.  Antioxidants breakdown when exposed to light and air.  So make sure the bottle is dark and tightly close the cap when not in use.  It should also come with a droplet in order to not allow the bacteria for your hands to transfer into the bottle.  Part of keeping your skin clean and clear is having good hygiene with the skincare products we use.

Scent

Argan oil has a slight nutty smell to it that is very distinct.  When buying a bottle of Argan oil, make sure the smell is there but slightly.  It should not be strong or overpowering but more on the natural side.  Also, any Argan oil that has an orderless scent, means its probably been roasted and filtered so walk away.  Once the proponents of this oil has been heated and changed it is now probably good for cooking and not something you want to apply to your body let alone your face.

Cost    

Once you have found a good bottle of Argan oil that fits the descriptions laid out, expect to pay anywhere from $10.00 and up depending on size.   Argan oil isn't cheap meaning don't expect to find a good bottle for a few short pennies, however a 2oz bottle isn't worth $80 dollars either.  Lately a lot of makeup companies and celebrities have been manufacturing Argan oil.  However if the product is 100% Argan oil, organic, cold pressed and filtered; then why the exaggerated prices on many of these bottles?

When buying Argan oil, there are a few places you can consider.  Right now on the market, one of the most famous individuals' selling this product is Josie Maran and Poppy Austin.  However you can also find thesse products in whole food stores and places where organic oils are sold.  Happy Hunting!

Keep Smiling!

Dayana

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