PICK UP STICK

Taking a swipe in the name of perfect skin.

Beauty trends are nothing new - we've seen the rise of green tea, pomegranate, and even white pepper at the makeup counters.

Now the hype seems to be argan oil, a plant extract found in Northern African trees.  But the buzz isn't just for show - argan oil has already been used for years in traditional Berber remedies, and in the 1500s, the Dutch imported trees to make their own European version.

A quick Sephora search shows the ingredient in skincare from Laura Mercier and DuWop, plus haircare from Moroccan Oil (which, as you might remember, we love).  The latest product comes from Josie Maran, who started using argan oil while globetrotting as a model.  Already a main ingredient in her makeup line, she's just introduced a new product called the Argan Oil Stick, which brings the panacea into solid form.

For $6 on sephora.com, you can have a cure-all for dry skin, chapped lips, stinging bikini lines, flyaway hair, or - our favorite use - as a sealant for dark or bright lipstick.  You'll also have a version of the oil that can't get you stopped at the airport - another way the product soothes its fans.
--FARAN KRENTCIL



This story was published on October 27, 2009.