Josie Maran talks about argan oil, one of the most buzzed-about ingredients in cosmetics right now

Sourced from argan trees in southwestern Morocco, argan oil is fast becoming de rigueur in many of today’s cosmetics, and for good reason. The healing properties of the oil come from its main ingredients, which nourish and hydrate skin and hair. “It has twice as much vitamin E as olive oil and it’s loaded with essential fatty acids, which are important to the health of the skin—and our bodies don’t produce them,” says Josie Maran, model and founder of an eponymous cosmetics line, much of which is now infused with argan oil. “We have to get [fatty acids] somewhere, and there’s no better source than my 100% Pure Argan Oil.”

Maran has been a major proponent of the oil for years now, infusing her products with the miracle substance, which is cold-pressed from argan nuts to preserve the nutrients. “I was on a modeling trip in the south of France a few years ago when I met an older woman with the most beautiful skin. I asked her for her secret,” says Maran. ”She told me about argan oil, and I’ve been a believer ever since.” However, she cautions that there are many products called “argan oil” and “Moroccan oil” on the market, so consumers should be mindful of the actual ingredient list.

Highly concentrated in antioxidants, argan oil protects skin “like nothing else,” claims Maran. “We’ve actually had Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil lab-tested, and the testing showed that it can help cure skin diseases like rosacea and eczema. It minimized fine lines, restores elasticity, improves skin tone and reduces inflammation in just four weeks. It also helps balance the skin’s oil production, so it can even help treat acne.” It also helps diminish calluses and repairs split ends, she adds. And it’s gentle enough to use on any complexion, including those of children. (“I put it on my daughter Rumi all the time,” says Maran.) You can also improve the texture and shine of your hair with Shu Uemura’s Silk Bloom Restorative Treatment and Number 4 Lumiere d’hiver Fluoro5 Elixer Restore & Repair Oil, both of which contain argan oil, while Larenim’s new-for-spring Purifying Argan Cleanser mixes organic wildflower, honey and vanilla with the miracle oil to leave skin glowing.

“I believe in beauty without the baggage,” says the model, “so I wanted to create a line of cosmetics that were luxurious, but also good for your body and the planet. Once I found out about argan oil’s great benefits for the skin, and that it could be grown organically and harvested sustainably, I knew that Argan Oil and Josie Maran Cosmetics were a match made in heaven.”