If you're interested in beauty, there's no doubt you’ve come across the term of the moment, "argan oil," at some stage in the last couple of weeks.

It seems the whole world is going bananas over this little gem, and celebs are swearing by it left, right and centre.

But what is it really, and what does it do? We've got the low-down on the ingredient-of-the-moment…

So what is argan oil and where does it come from?

Argan oil comes from the nut of the argan tree, which only grows in Morocco and (on a far smaller scale) in Israel.

Though it’s only recently come into the spotlight, this oil has been used by traditional Berber women for decades, both for cosmetic purposes as well as for cooking. Made up of four fifths fatty acids, it also contains Vitamin E and antioxidants.

So why the exclusivity? Not only are the trees and oil rare, but it also takes several hours (or up to a day) to extract a litre of oil from the nuts, making the production super labour-intensive. It takes a whole 30kg of argan tree nuts for one litre of argan oil!

What are the benefits of using it?

One of the reasons argan oil is loved by so many people, is because it has multiple uses and multiple benefits. Unroasted, it’s a traditional favourite in the treatment of skin ailments, but because of its hydrating properties, it’s a favourite in hair and skincare too.

The benefits include:

• - Intense moisturisation and hydration for skin and hair
• - It helps heal scars, burns and chapped lips, thanks to its recovery-properties
• - The fatty acids and Vitamin E help fight the common signs of ageing
• - It helps improve skin’s texture

How do you use it?

The argan oil market is constantly growing, with more and more brands getting their hands on this precious ingredient.

Our favourite? We can’t get enough of the range of Issahra argan oil products, which includes everything from pure argan oil to moisturisers and scrubs.

To experience the pure benefits of argan oil, we recommend Issahra Perfect Oil- suitable for hair, skin and body, this miracle-in-a-bottle can be applied to clean skin for hydration, anti-ageing and healing. All it takes is a little massaging into the skin and you’re done!

Struggle with dry hair? Apply the oil as a mask to hair before shampooing for intense nourishment.

Interested in a larger range? Why not opt for the full Issahra skincare routine? All their products contain argan oil as their main ingredient, so you get the benefits no matter which product you opt for.

Our favourites? For a flawless complexion, try Issahra Radiance Grain Gentle Face Scrub- extremely gentle but still effective, this must be one of our favourite scrubs yet. Need a hydrating moisturiser? We recommend Issahra Age Control Day Care for a youthful, radiant complexion.

Our verdict:

We simply cannot deny the benefits of this ingredient- from anti-ageing to hydration and healing, it really is an all-rounder, and for that, we give it a ten-out-of-ten!