A few years ago, I reviewed Melvita‘s Naturalift Youthful Skin Cream, and, since then, the brand has continued to grow in terms of global visibility. Today we will be looking at Argan+ Face Care Oil, which was launched in the UK in January.
The products marketed as oils by Melvita fall into two categories: those with 100% oils and those with oils and non-oil ingredients. Argan+ Face Care Oil (30ml, £32) is in the latter category. (Melvita also carries Argan Oil (50ml, £22), which is 100% argan oil.) The product has a watery consistency. It feels relatively lightweight but it still imparts occlusivity on the skin. It is absorbed decently well.
The product features a dropper dispenser. (I personally prefer a pump dispenser as it is less fiddly to use.)
Some of the main moisturizing ingredients in this product include octyldodecanol (first on the ingredient list), helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil (second on the list), argania spinosa (argan) kernel oil (third on the list), caprylic/capric triglyceride and palmitic acid. Both sunflower seed oil and argan kernel oil contain skin-benefiting fatty acids such as linoleic acid.
It contains tocopherol (vitamin E), which is an antioxidant.
It doesn’t contain alcohol or parabens. It contains fragrance (parfum) and other scenting agents. (No fragrant plant oil is on the ingredient list, although “fragrance (parfum)” may include it.)
According to the instructions on the outer packaging, it can be used alone (as a moisturizer), underneath a moisturizer or as a mask. If your moisturizer is less occlusive than this product, then it may be a better idea to apply it over your moisturizer.
Overall, this is a decently formulated product. (It would be a better product without the fragrance and the scenting agents.) It is likely to appeal to those with normal or normal-to-dry skin. If you are interested in this product, do bear in mind that, despite its name, it contains more octyldodecanol and sunflower seed oil than argan oil. This is not necessarily a bad thing in terms of formulation, as argan oil is not necessarily superior to sunflower seed oil, but the name of the product could lead customers to think that it contains more argan oil than it does or that it contains no other oil.
The concept of “oil care” has been very popular in the last couple of years, and there has been a large number of new products for face, body and hair that are marketed as “oils”. (Of course, the concept is far from ingenious.) Products with pure (100%) non-fragrant plant oils can be very beneficial for the skin (if they suit your skin type). If you are looking for an oil-based product, do remember to read the ingredient list to see how much of the product is actually oil. Also, avoid products with fragrant plant oils as they can cause skin irritation.
(Some ingredient information is from Paula Begoun’s Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary.)
(The product featured in this article is provided by Melvita.)
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
This is something worth checking out. I am impressed that it has no harsh ingredients.
Hi Jess,
The product is indeed decently formulated, but do bear in mind that some people are sensitive to fragrance in skincare products.
Thank you very much for your comment! :)