: It should be light and absorb into the skin within minutes without leaving a greasy or sticky residue.

: Cosmetic-grade oil should be clear, golden-yellow . Culinary oil is a darker amber.

Buying argan oil in Morocco —often called "liquid gold"—can be a highlight of your trip if you know where to look and how to spot a fake. Authentic oil is endemic only to southwestern Morocco, and its labor-intensive production makes it one of the world's most expensive vegetal oils.

: Anything priced suspiciously low, such as 40 MAD (~$4 USD) for a standard bottle, is likely mixed with cheap sunflower or olive oil.

Prices have risen significantly due to drought and global demand.

: These are the best places for guaranteed quality and ethical sourcing. Located mostly between Essaouira and Agadir , these cooperatives allow you to watch Berber women traditionally crack kernels and extract oil. Coopérative Marjana (Essaouira) Tighanimine Cooperative (Agadir) Coopérative Huile D'Argan (Télouet, near Ait-Ben-Haddou)