Argan oil is one of those beauty products that looks almost suspiciously simple.
One bottle. One ingredient. Somehow people are using it on their face, body, cuticles and hair.
But the difference between argan oil that feels beautifully silky and argan oil that just sits on your skin usually comes down to how you use it.
The easiest rule? Start with less than you think you need.
For your face, 2–3 drops is usually enough. Press it into slightly damp skin or use it as one of the final steps of your skincare routine. For the body, smooth it over damp skin after bathing. For nails and cuticles, massage in a tiny amount before bed.
The ritual is actually much simpler than it sounds. And no, you don’t need a 10-step routine.
How Much Argan Oil Should You Use?
Argan oil is concentrated, so more does not automatically mean more hydration.
In fact, using too much is one of the main reasons people decide they "don't like facial oils." The skin feels greasy, makeup starts sliding around, and suddenly a product that should feel elegant feels heavy.
A better starting point is:
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Face: 2–3 drops
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Neck: 1 additional drop if needed
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Hands: 1–2 drops
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Nails and cuticles: roughly 1 small drop spread across a few nails, adding more only if necessary
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Body: several drops per section, adding as you move over the arms, legs and torso
The exact amount depends on your skin, the weather and what else is already in your routine.
Dry winter skin may want slightly more. Humid summer skin may need much less.
Here’s where it gets interesting: argan oil works particularly well when there is already a little water in the skin.
Instead of pouring oil over completely dry skin, apply it after cleansing, showering or moisturizing while your skin still feels slightly damp. The oil acts primarily as an emollient and barrier-supportive layer, helping reduce moisture loss rather than supplying water to the skin by itself.
Research on topical argan oil has found improvements in measures of skin hydration and barrier function, although the available clinical evidence remains relatively limited compared with extensively studied conventional moisturizers.
How to Use Argan Oil on Your Face
If you have never used facial oil before, don't build your entire routine around it.
Start by adding a few drops to the routine you already have.
Step 1: Cleanse
Wash your face as usual.
You don't need your skin to feel squeaky-clean. Over-cleansing can leave the skin feeling tight before the oil even goes on.
Step 2: Apply your hydrating steps
If you use toner, essence, serum or another water-based product, apply those first.
Let them settle briefly, but don't wait until your face feels completely dry.
Step 3: Moisturize if needed
If you normally use moisturizer, keep using it.
Argan oil does not have to replace your moisturizer.
This is the part most people miss.
Traditional moisturizers usually combine water, humectants, emollients and occlusive ingredients. A pure facial oil is different: it primarily supplies lipids and helps soften the skin while reducing moisture loss.
Step 4: Press in 2–3 drops of argan oil
Dispense a few drops into your palm.
Rub your hands together lightly, then press the oil over your face instead of aggressively rubbing it in.
Concentrate on areas that tend to feel dry first, such as the cheeks and around the mouth.
If your T-zone already gets oily, you don't necessarily need the same amount everywhere.
You can also mix one drop of argan oil into your moisturizer in your palm before applying it.
That is often the easiest introduction for people who are nervous about facial oils.
Should Argan Oil Go Before or After Moisturizer?
In most skincare routines, use argan oil after moisturizer.
Think of your routine from lighter, water-based layers to richer, oil-based layers.
A simple nighttime order might look like:
Cleanser → hydrating serum → moisturizer → argan oil
The moisturizer brings hydration and moisturizing ingredients to the skin. The argan oil then adds an emollient lipid layer that helps the skin feel softer and reduces water loss.
Zawina's existing argan oil guidance similarly recommends using argan oil on slightly damp skin or over moisturizer to help retain moisture.
There is one exception.
If you are using a very lightweight moisturizer and prefer mixing your oil directly into it, combine one or two drops in your palm and apply them together.
Skincare does not need to become chemistry homework.
The most important thing is that your skin feels comfortable — not coated.
Can You Use Argan Oil Every Day?
For most people who tolerate it well, argan oil can be used daily.
You don't have to use it twice a day, though.
If your skin is dry, you might enjoy using a small amount every evening.
If your skin is combination or oily, you may prefer using it only at night, during colder weather or on areas that become dehydrated.
Daily application was also used in clinical research examining topical argan oil and skin hydration, with improvements measured over the study period.
Still, "natural" does not automatically mean irritation-proof.
Patch-test any new oil first, especially if your skin is reactive. Stop using it if you develop persistent redness, itching, burning or breakouts that seem connected to the product.
And if your skin is cracked, infected or severely inflamed, a cosmetic oil shouldn't replace appropriate medical care.
Morning vs Night: When Should You Apply Argan Oil?
You can use argan oil in the morning or at night.
But nighttime is usually the easiest place to start.
At night, there is no makeup slipping over the top, no need to worry about looking overly dewy, and you can experiment with the amount your skin actually likes.
Using argan oil at night
Apply 2–3 drops as the final nourishing step after your moisturizer.
This works particularly well when your skin feels dry, tight or depleted after cleansing.
Using argan oil in the morning
Keep the amount tiny.
One or two drops may be enough for your entire face.
Allow the oil to settle before applying sunscreen and makeup. Your sunscreen should still form an even layer, so avoid saturating your skin in oil beforehand.
And remember: argan oil is not sunscreen.
If you're using it during the day, your usual broad-spectrum sun protection still belongs in the routine.
How to Use Argan Oil on Your Body
Argan oil might be even easier to use on the body than on the face.
The best moment is right after a shower or bath.
Pat your body with a towel until it is no longer dripping but still slightly damp.
Then massage argan oil over your skin.
Focus on areas that lose moisture easily:
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elbows
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knees
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hands
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arms
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legs
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heels
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décolletage
Starting on damp skin makes a surprisingly big difference.
Instead of trying to rescue skin once it already feels dry, you are helping retain some of the water left behind from bathing.
Zawina's Moroccan shower and hammam guides use this same approach, finishing the ritual with argan oil on damp skin after cleansing and exfoliation.
For very dry skin, try layering rather than pouring on more oil.
Apply a body lotion first and follow with a light layer of argan oil over particularly dry areas.
That usually feels more comfortable than covering the body in a heavy coat of oil.
How to Use Argan Oil on Nails & Cuticles
Your cuticles might be one of the easiest places to see why oils are useful.
Frequent handwashing, sanitiser, cold weather, manicures and acetone can leave the skin around the nails looking dry or rough.
Massage a small amount of argan oil around each cuticle and across the nail.
Nighttime is ideal because the oil can remain undisturbed for longer.
You can make it part of an extremely low-effort routine:
Hand cream → argan oil around the cuticles → bed.
That's it.
The main realistic benefit here is conditioning the dry skin surrounding the nail and improving its softness and appearance.
Be careful with claims that an oil will suddenly make nails grow dramatically faster. There is far less direct clinical research on argan oil specifically for nail growth than there is on its use as a skin emollient.
What it can do very practically is keep the cuticle area from feeling so dry and neglected.
Using Argan Oil After a Moroccan Hammam
This is where argan oil makes the most sense in its cultural context.
In a Moroccan hammam ritual, body care doesn't finish with exfoliation.
The sequence traditionally revolves around preparing, cleansing, exfoliating and then replenishing the skin.
At home, that might look like:
Warm steam → Moroccan black soap → rinse → kessa exfoliation → optional treatment → rinse → argan oil
After exfoliation, gently rinse the body and pat away excess water.
While your skin is still slightly damp, massage a thin layer of argan oil across the body.
You don't need to drown your freshly exfoliated skin in oil.
A light layer is enough to leave the skin feeling supple and comfortable.
Zawina's current hammam guides follow the same basic philosophy: remove buildup first, then replenish the skin instead of leaving freshly exfoliated skin bare.
And culturally, argan oil is much more than an ingredient that appeared because facial oils became trendy.
The argan tree and its oil are deeply associated with Morocco, particularly communities living within the country's argan-growing region. Research literature on argan oil also documents the longstanding relationship between the argan tree and Amazigh communities in Morocco.
That context matters.
The hammam philosophy isn't about finding another viral ingredient to add to a crowded shelf.
It is about using a few purposeful ingredients in the right order.
Common Argan Oil Mistakes
Argan oil is difficult to use completely wrong.
But a few habits can make it much less enjoyable.
Using far too much
If your face looks coated rather than softly luminous, scale back.
Two drops often work better than six.
Applying oil to dehydrated skin and expecting it to provide water
Oil and hydration aren't exactly the same thing.
If your skin feels dehydrated, apply argan oil over slightly damp skin, hydrating skincare or moisturizer rather than expecting pure oil to do everything alone.
Replacing sunscreen with argan oil
No.
Argan oil is not an alternative to SPF.
Assuming every product labelled "argan oil" is identical
Check the ingredient list.
Zawina Morocco's Pure Organic Argan Oil contains 100% Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil and is described by the brand as cold-pressed and unrefined.
Blended hair serums containing argan oil may behave very differently from pure cosmetic argan oil.
Using the same amount on your face as your body
Your face needs surprisingly little.
Start with drops, not droppers.
Expecting instant transformation
Argan oil can make dry skin feel softer very quickly because oils change the way the skin surface feels.
Longer-term improvements in dryness and skin comfort depend on consistency, the rest of your routine and what is causing the dryness in the first place.
Think supportive skincare, not overnight miracle.
FAQs About How to Use Argan Oil
How do you use argan oil on your face?
Apply 2–3 drops of argan oil to clean, slightly damp skin, ideally after water-based skincare and moisturizer. Warm the drops between your palms and gently press them over the face.
Do you apply argan oil before or after moisturizer?
Usually after moisturizer. Moisturizer helps hydrate and soften the skin, while argan oil can be used afterward as an emollient layer to help reduce moisture loss.
Can I use argan oil directly on my face?
Yes, pure cosmetic argan oil can be applied directly to the skin if you tolerate it. Start with 1–3 drops and patch-test before incorporating it into your regular routine.
Can I leave argan oil on my face overnight?
Yes. Argan oil is commonly used as a leave-on facial oil. Apply a small amount at the end of your evening skincare routine and leave it on overnight.
Can argan oil be used every day?
Yes, many people can use argan oil daily. How often you need it depends on your skin type, climate and the rest of your skincare routine.
Is argan oil better in the morning or at night?
Either works, but nighttime is often easier because you can use it as the final step of your routine without worrying about makeup or an overly dewy finish.
Should argan oil be applied to wet or dry skin?
Slightly damp skin is ideal for body application and can also work well on the face. The oil helps soften the skin and reduce moisture loss after water or hydrating products have been applied.
How do you use argan oil on your body?
After showering, pat your body until slightly damp and massage a small amount of argan oil over the skin. Add more only where necessary, especially on dry areas such as elbows, knees and legs.
How do you use argan oil on cuticles?
Massage a very small amount into the skin around the nail and over the cuticle. Applying it before bed gives the oil time to condition dry skin without being immediately washed away.
Can argan oil be used on hair too?
Yes, but hair deserves its own routine because the amount and application technique depend heavily on hair type, texture and whether you're using the oil on wet or dry hair. Read our dedicated guide to using argan oil for hair for the full method.
The Simple Way to Make Argan Oil Part of Your Routine
You do not need to redesign your entire skincare shelf around one little bottle.
Use a few drops.
Apply it where your skin actually needs it.
And, whenever possible, use it after water or moisturizing products rather than pouring it over completely dry skin and hoping for magic.
For the face, that might mean 2–3 drops after moisturizer at night.
For your body, it could be a thin layer massaged over damp skin after your shower.
For your nails, it may be nothing more complicated than a drop massaged around dry cuticles before bed.
And after a Moroccan hammam?
That final layer of argan oil makes even more sense.
Cleanse. Exfoliate. Rinse. Replenish.
Sometimes the beauty secret isn't adding another step.
It's knowing exactly where the ingredient belongs.
Discover Zawina Morocco Pure Organic Argan Oil, a 100% argan kernel oil that is cold-pressed and unrefined, and bring one of Morocco's most enduring beauty ingredients into your everyday ritual.