Two Precious African Ingredients Behind Our Organic Body Care Rituals

Argan Oil & Shea Butter - Nature’s Liquid Gold

At terre d’Oc, we believe that true beauty begins with nature. Our organic body care collection is created with carefully selected natural ingredients from around the world: ingredients that honour the land they come from and the people who cultivate them. Through long term partnerships with fair trade farmers, we support traditional knowledge, help preserve traditional craftsmanship, protect local ecosystems and reinvest in local community projects.

Today, we invite you to discover two extraordinary ingredients often called “liquid gold”: fair trade Argan Oil from Morocco and fair trade Shea Butter from Burkina Faso, West Africa.

Argan Oil: A Precious Gift Passed Down by Moroccan Women

In Morocco, Argan Oil is affectionately known as “a treasure for women.” For centuries, Moroccan women have relied on this precious oil as an essential part of their daily beauty rituals.

Argan trees grow exclusively in Morocco and are considered a true natural heritage. Extracting the oil is a meticulous and labour-intensive process; it takes 30 kilograms of argan fruit to produce just 1 kilogram of oil—making it one of the rarest plant oils in the world.

Lightweight yet deeply nourishing, Argan Oil is naturally rich in Omega 6 and Omega 9 fatty acids, along with antioxidant and soothing properties. It helps replenish moisture, calm dryness and discomfort, and strengthen the skin’s natural barrier. The silky texture absorbs easily without feeling greasy or clogging pores, making it suitable for all skin types.

Shea Butter: Gentle Protection from the Heart of Africa

In West Africa, Shea Butter is far more than a skincare ingredient, it is a lifelong companion.

Extracted from the fruit of the shea tree, often called the “butter tree”. The trees take 15–20 years to bear fruit and can take up to 50 years to fully mature, growing wild rather than in plantations.

Shea Butter is traditionally produced through a careful process of removing the pulp, drying the nuts, and hand crafting the butter. Solid at room temperature, it melts slowly upon contact with the skin, releasing its nourishing properties.

In Burkina Faso, it is customary for women to apply Shea Butter to newborn babies from their very first day of life, a powerful testament to its gentleness and reliability, passed down through generations.

Highly moisturizing, Shea Butter forms a soft protective layer on the skin’s surface, helping to lock in hydration and restore comfort and elasticity to dry or fragile skin. It is also an ideal ingredient for caring for dry hair, leaving it smooth, supple, and naturally radiant.

A Commitment to Nature and Sustainability

At terre d’Oc, we choose these ingredients not only for their exceptional benefits, but for the values they represent.

By working directly with fair trade farming communities, we ensure that every ingredient comes from land and hands that are respected, while actively supporting biodiversity and local ecosystems. Each bottle of our organic body oils and creams carries the spirit of Provence, enriched by the ancestral skincare wisdom of Africa and Morocco.

Let Argan Oil and Shea Butter become part of your daily body care ritual, and experience the gentle power of nature on your skin.