Today my fiance looked at me and said, “you have a glow about you.” I was in a crappy mood, so it couldn’t have been my sunny disposition. No, it was definitely just my complexion, the result of using Josie Maran’s kick-ass products. Regardless of my skin-deep beauty in that moment, it made my day. So rarely is a luxury price tag actually worth it, and his comment totally justified my splurge.
Let’s back up a little. My skin is dry and finicky. Lately I’ve been adding a little argan oil to my skincare regimen to compensate for how extra dry it is during the winter months. I happened upon a sample of Josie Maran’s 100% pure argan oil, and it just… worked better. It absorbed faster, it moisturized for longer, it smelled nicer. It was overall just great in general and I wanted more. When I turned to Sephora to see what Josie Maran was all about, I was shocked by all of the options. Apparently JM’s whole concept centers around using argan oil. 100% pure, responsibly-sourced argan oil that supports and empowers women in Morocco. I immediately needed to try all of the things.
I figured the best way to dive into Josie Maran products was by purchasing her Argan Dreams Winter Skincare Collection from Sephora. At $39 (plus a whopping 8% back from Ebates), it included a deluxe sample of each of the following: Argan Cleansing Oil, Pure Argan Milk Intensive Hydrating Treatment, 100% Pure Argan Oil, Argan Infinity Intensive Creamy Oil, Argan Daily Moisturizer with SPF 47, and Whipped Argan Oil Intensive Hand Cream. These were not small samples, they are at least an ounce each, and you don’t need much of each when you use them.
The cleansing oil (180mL, $32) and daily moisturizer (120mL, $54) have become part of my daily routine. The cleansing oil is similar to the oil cleansing method (if you’re familiar with washing your face with oil, it’s pretty great), but it foams and smells SO GOOD. The oil rinses clean and leaves my skin so soft and moisturized. I pair that with the daily moisturizer, which requires very little, absorbs quickly, and keeps my skin perfectly smooth and supple. I have noticed that my skin tone has been more even and, as Brian mentioned, glowing. Every few days (or when my skin is especially dry for some reason), I dab a little of the argan milk intensive hydrating treatment and my skin feels downright orgasmic. (Lauren’s note: Jill and I had this hilarious conversation about this cleansing oil when I mentioned to Jill that I didn’t like the taste of it because whenever I would use it I would get it in my mouth. Jill was like, “You don’t like the taste of your face wash? Weird.” And we laughed a lot. I don’t know why I had that issue so specifically with this cleansing oil but that’s what happened. I really liked this product as well. Except, you know. The taste.)
I have fallen completely in love with JM’s products because she knows what the hell she’s doing. She knows that argan oil is hot right now, but she’s using the good stuff – and the good stuff is legitimately awesome. She’s developing products that are thoughtful and useful and worth the price tag. She’s being responsible about her sources, and she’s helping women in the process.
As if the skincare line wasn’t enough, she also produces makeup. My next splurge is going to be on some of her Argan Infinity Lip and Cheek Cream Oils ($18), which are meant to be super moisturizing and colorful. That’s not a typical combination that makeup companies are super truthful about, but she has earned my trust. Plus the colors are goooooorgeous.
If you’re interested in trying Josie Maran’s skincare, I would highly recommend picking up the Argan Dreams Winter Skincare Collection from Sephora. They quickly run out of the full sized products, but they are totally worth the splurge if you catch them at the right time. Additionally, there is always cash back available from Ebates when you buy from Sephora (unless you hate free money).
xo,
Jill