Autumn skincare: what your skin needs
The days are getting shorter, temperatures are dropping, and the first cold winds are making themselves felt. In summer, dry or tight-feeling skin may barely cross our minds. The arrival of autumn can soon change that.
Lower temperatures and humidity can cause skin to lose more moisture and feel drier. Add the dry indoor air from central heating, and skin may begin to feel dry, tight or rough. Research shows that low temperatures and low humidity in particular can affect the skin's barrier function. [1]
It is little surprise, then, that the need for nourishing skincare often increases in autumn and winter.
Argan oil has held an important place in traditional Moroccan skincare for centuries. But what makes it so interesting for the skin? And what might it offer dry, sensitive or mature skin?
What makes argan oil special?
Argan oil is extracted from the kernels of the fruit of the argan tree (Argania spinosa), which grows naturally in Morocco. The oil consists mainly of fatty acids and naturally contains various bioactive compounds, including tocopherols (vitamin E-like antioxidants), phytosterols and other substances. [2], [3]
Oleic acid and linoleic acid account for a large part of its fatty acid composition. These fatty acids contribute to argan oil's caring properties and make it particularly suitable for cosmetic skincare. [3]
What does that mean for your skin in practice?
1. Argan oil for dry skin
One of the most familiar uses of argan oil is caring for dry skin.
Dry skin can feel rough or tight and often needs both hydration and nourishing lipids. Oil and water have different roles: an oil supplies lipids and can help keep the skin's surface supple and limit moisture loss.
Research into the topical use of argan oil has found evidence of improved skin hydration. In a clinical study involving postmenopausal women, applying cosmetic argan oil daily for 60 days reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased the water content of the epidermis. The researchers concluded that its use improved hydration and the skin's barrier function. [4]
This makes argan oil an interesting option when your skin primarily needs to feel more comfortable, softer and more supple.
2. Argan oil and the skin barrier
The skin barrier is, in effect, our skin's protective outer layer. A well-functioning barrier helps keep moisture in the skin while providing an important first line of protection against external influences.
Cold, dry conditions can put this barrier under strain. Research into temperature and humidity shows that low temperatures and low humidity can reduce the skin's barrier function. This can leave skin more sensitive to mechanical stress and irritation. [1]
That is why an oil such as argan oil can be a valuable addition to a skincare routine during the colder months. Its fatty acids complement the skin's lipid-rich structure and can help skin feel cared for and supple. [3]
3. For skin that feels rough or flaky
When skin loses a lot of moisture, it can feel rough, dry or flaky. This is often noticeable on the hands, elbows, knees or face during the colder months.
Argan oil can be used as a caring oil to help skin feel softer and more supple.
4. Argan oil for sensitive skin
Sensitive skin often benefits from a simple, consistent skincare routine. The more ingredients and products you use, the harder it can be to work out what your skin may be reacting to.
Pure argan oil can fit into a minimalist routine because it contains just one ingredient.
That does not mean every sensitive skin will automatically respond well to argan oil. Everyone's skin is different. If your skin tends to react to cosmetic products, it is sensible to test a new product on a small area first.
The skin's barrier function plays an important role in dry and sensitive skin. A disrupted barrier can be associated with increased sensitivity and dryness. [5]
5. Argan oil for mature skin
Our skin's needs change as we age. It can become drier and feel less supple.
Alongside the fatty acids mentioned above, argan oil naturally contains tocopherols and other antioxidant compounds. [3]
Research also indicates that regularly applying argan oil to the skin can affect not only hydration but certain skin properties, such as elasticity. [10]
Why use argan oil in autumn?
The change of season can be an ideal moment to take a closer look at your skincare routine.
A light routine may feel perfectly adequate in summer. As temperatures fall and the air becomes drier, however, your skin's surroundings change too.
Cold outdoor air
Cold, dry air can cause skin to lose more moisture and feel drier. [1]
Wind
Wind and cold can place extra strain on the skin, particularly on the face and hands.
Dry indoor air
When the heating comes on, indoor humidity often drops. This can also contribute to skin feeling dry and tight. Research into humidity suggests that a dry indoor environment can be associated with changes in the skin barrier and the development of dry-skin symptoms. [1], [6]
Hot showers
A long, hot shower can feel wonderful when it is cold outside, but it can also dry out the skin. A short, lukewarm shower is often a gentler choice.
How to use argan oil in your autumn routine
A few drops of pure argan oil are easy to add to your existing skincare routine.
One practical approach is to apply the oil after cleansing your face and using a hydrating product. Follow with a small amount of argan oil, gently massaging it into the skin.
You usually need very little. Start with a few drops and see how your skin responds.
Argan oil can also be used on other dry areas of the body, such as hands, elbows and cuticles.
A simple autumn routine could look like this:
- Cleanse your skin with a gentle cleanser.
- Apply a hydrating product.
- Use a few drops of argan oil as a caring final step.
- Protect your skin from the sun during the day, including in autumn and winter.
The aim is to give your skin what it needs at that moment, without using more products than necessary.
Essential or Heritage: our two expressions of argan oil
For us, what goes into the bottle matters, and so does the story behind the oil.
Our Essential and Heritage lines both contain 100% pure argan oil. The main difference lies in how the oil is produced.
Essential
Our Essential oil is produced using industrial methods. This approach allows argan oil to be produced efficiently and consistently.
Heritage
Our Heritage oil is produced by hand using traditional methods at a women's cooperative in Morocco.
Heritage therefore represents both argan oil and the craftsmanship and people behind it. The traditional processing of argan oil by women in Morocco has a long history and forms an important part of the cultural context surrounding the argan tree. [7]
The strength of simplicity
Perhaps this is what makes argan oil so appealing.
No complicated ingredient list. No endless steps. Simply a natural oil that can become part of your everyday care routine.
As autumn arrives and your skin faces more cold, wind and dry air, that simple moment of care can feel especially welcome.
Pure argan oil can help skin feel soft, supple and cared for — just what it may need during the colder months.
Sources
[1] Engebretsen, K. A., Johansen, J. D., Kezic, S., Linneberg, A., & Thyssen, J. P. (2016). The effect of environmental humidity and temperature on skin barrier function and dermatitis. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 30(2), 223–249.
[2] El Monfalouti, H., Guillaume, D., Denhez, C., & Charrouf, Z. (2010). Therapeutic potential of argan oil: A review. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 62(12), 1669–1675.
[3] Gharby, S., & Charrouf, Z. (2022). Argan oil: Chemical composition, extraction process, and quality control. Frontiers in Nutrition, 8, 804587.
[4] Boucetta, K. Q., Charrouf, Z., Derouiche, A., Rahali, Y., & Bensouda, Y. (2014). Skin hydration in postmenopausal women: Argan oil benefit with oral and/or topical use. Przegląd Menopauzalny, 13(5), 280–288.
[5] Fluhr, J. W., Moore, D. J., Lane, M. E., Lachmann, N., & Rawlings, A. V. (2024). Epidermal barrier function in dry, flaky and sensitive skin: A narrative review. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 38(5), 812–820.
[6] Goad, N., & Gawkrodger, D. J. (2016). Ambient humidity and the skin: The impact of air humidity in healthy and diseased states. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 30(8), 1285–1294.
[7] Charrouf, Z., & Guillaume, D. (2008). Argan oil: Occurrence, composition and impact on human health. European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology, 110(7), 632–636.
[8] Lin, T. K., Zhong, L., & Santiago, J. L. (2018). Anti-inflammatory and skin barrier repair effects of topical application of some plant oils. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 19(1), 70.
[9] Vaughn, A. R., Clark, A. K., Sivamani, R. K., & Shi, V. Y. (2018). Natural oils for skin-barrier repair: Ancient compounds now backed by modern science. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 19(1), 103–117.
[10] Boucetta, K. Q., Charrouf, Z., Aguenaou, H., Derouiche, A., & Bensouda, Y. (2015). The effect of dietary and/or cosmetic argan oil on postmenopausal skin elasticity. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 10, 339–349.