Josie Maran was a world-renowned model, musician and actress – who used her exposure to the finest makeup artists and beauty experts to develop her own, eponymous skincare line. She speaks on air about her ah-ha moment: meeting a beautiful French lady “d’un age certain” who chalked up her good looks to the use of argan oil, a nut oil grown in Morocco. Josie Maran’s is grown by women cooperatives. That chance encounter lead to an empire of rich and healthy products for skin. I was happy to be hosted to experience it!
I am no teenager, but I have highly sensitive skin after having been in an accident many years ago. What many skincare lines don’t understand about sensitive complexions is that they differ. They still need a thorough cleansing and special, careful exfoliation. Well-moisturized skin softens wrinkles and takes makeup better. If you’re going to take the time and effort to apply moisturizer, you want results. That only comes with high quality ingredients.
Pineapple Enzyme Pore Clearing Cleanser isn’t just delicious smelling, though it is that. Pineapple naturally works it! Bromelain is the enzyme found in pineapple; it’s said to help remove dead and damaged skin, as well as calm inflammation. Those of us with wrinkles and crinkles – some of them can be washed down, if you haven’t made a habit of exfoliating! The gel is refreshing.
If you’re wanting to step up your exfoliation, you’ll enjoy the ease of the Skin Dope 5 Minute Facial. It comes in two floral scents and unscented, which is what I tried. This is the French “gommage” style of exfoliating – gentle, in a creamy base, with fruit enzymes and argan oil. Big results payoff in just a few minutes! It doesn’t scratch, sting or burn. It gets its name from the addition of hemp seed protein, for skin resiliency and strengthening.
Central heat, outdoor exposure, hot showers, swimming, wooly sweaters, allergies, eczema can all contribute to parched, irritated, rough, flaky and awful body skin. How to get rid of that red, itchy look and uncomfortable feeling when it’s just about time for the little spring and summer outfits? Argan Apothecary Intensive Daily Repair Body Butter is serious business! Argan Apothecary is a line that harnesses plants to solve real skin problems. This rich, but non-greasy or goopy butter spreads easily. It promotes a healthy skin microbiome, which means it won’t strip your skin and cause it to get micro-infections through cracks and tears.
Divine Drip Honey Butter Balm combines several natural ingredients and oils, including argan oil and honey. They’re mixed into a rich consistency that’s not sticky – almost balm meets a gelee’. It comes in two different scents; honey almond has a warm note, but won’t interfere with your perfume. Because it’s so rich, I do like the idea of using it at night, after a bath or shower.
Here is some important information they have about it: “Free from steroids, cortisones, petroleum, fragrance, or harsh synthetic ingredients, this daily moisturizer borrows from nature’s mastery and uses prescription-grade colloidal oatmeal to relieve irritation and itching, as well as skin-memetic Argan Oil which helps repair and protect skin.” It also incorporates fatty acids, Vitamin E and aloe vera leaf juice. It is unscented.
It is an important part of the Josie Maran skincare protocol that you use a serum, then a moisturizer, then oil . . .always. I didn’t find this too oily, except for maybe my chin a little bit. But I definitely woke up with a plumper complexion. So, just sort out what combination works for you.
For those over the age of 18, there’s Skin Dope CBD Face Recovery Cream. If you have red, irritated skin that’s freaking out, give this a go for your night cream. It has a soothing and interesting formulation, almost gelatin-like. Keep that in your face rescue box!
So, what to use as your must-must-must use oil? Josie Maran has many options. Well, you can go with the ingredient that started it all: Pure Argan Oil. What can’t you use it for, is really the question. After all, it’s useful for face, mixing with cosmetics, hair, cuticles. It doesn’t have a discernible scent. It absorbs quickly, so you don’t have to be afraid of makeup melting or hands getting paper greasy. Plus, you get all the nourishment of a nut oil!
Sometimes, whether due to stress, lack of sleep, harsh weather or lack of self-care, you might be having a full face freak-out, but you don’t necessarily have the driest complexion. You need help, you need soothing and hydration, but not necessarily something occlusive. Fortunately, Josie Maran has some heavy hitters to come to your rescue:
Pure Argan Milk Intensive Hydrating Treatment is a “pre-serum,” but you can consider it as your serum. It’s good stuff. It pumps out in a comforting, rich milk consistency. Whether you have sensitive, dry or oily skin, this is for you. Isn’t it good to know what to use in any 911 situation? It’s argan oil that’s naturally combined with purified water. Massage 3-5 drops on cleansed skin, day and night.
Whipped Argan Oil Face Butter is like having your cake and eating it, too! It comes unscented and in a couple of natural scents. Have you noticed patchy areas on your decollete’, on the tops of your cheeks or other surprising areas? But you don’t want something gloopy. You need care, not a wax-like product. They say you can use it day and night. If you’re working from home or not much on cosmetics, day’s fine. But nighttime is when you’ll really appreciate it!
So, Josie Maran-style, what kind of oil will you top your routine with, when you need the very VIP TLC? Argan Reserve Healthy Skin Concentrate takes everything to the next level. This special and rare product comes from argan oil, leaves and press cake, harvested but once a year! It has a higher content of active molecules, lipids, saponins, flavonoids, and polyphenols, compared to 100% Pure Argan Oil and is tested to be 11 times as powerful. What doesn’t it do? It helps with visible pore size, dark spots, clarity and smoothness. It helps “dry, dull and fatigued skin.” You know if you’ve got it! More affordable, easier and longer lasting than a spa day. You take 2-4 drops in your hands and press into skin as a final step.
Josie Maran has a number of hand creams, because you should be treating your hands as well as your face! I’ll let you in on a secret: putting on the heavy cream one time with a pair of gloves overnight isn’t gonna cut it. With the layers of skin, age and sun spots, raw cuticles, wrinkles, it just makes sense to keep up with it several times a day. I know. Easier said than done. Maybe put hand care on your to-do list at the same time you’re drinking your water. I mean, you are working on drinking more water, right? Argan Milk Smoothing Hand treatment is in a tube, but it’s pretty fluid – that milk consistency. It has a faint fresh peach fragrance. It incorporates argan oil, pineapple enzymes (eating up that dry, dull skin) and niacinamide, that helps with moisture and firmness, just like in your favorite firming creams. It absorbs well – you won’t have to fan your fingers before typing on devices!
Josie Maran also has products for your hair’s well-being! Argan Oil Hair Serum is alcohol and artificial fragrance free. Only the good stuff! Along with argan oil, it has jojoba oil, avocado oil, and vitamin E, geranium and bergamot oils. There used to be a custom oil place near my home, she’d always make this blen – calming and sweet. With this hair serum, you only need a few drops emulsified between your palms: it’s not the 90’s anymore!
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