Oils are a common ingredient in many products sold in the skincare and haircare industries, with jojoba oil becoming a staple ingredient for many consumers. But what is jojoba oil, and what do we know about it?
Jojoba oil is a wax that appears as an oil, derived from the jojoba plant that is native to North America. Many people around the world use jojoba oil to help improve skin concerns such as acne and dry skin, as well as to keep hair smooth and shiny.
There are many interesting facts about jojoba oil – let’s take a deep dive and find out all there is to know about this interesting oil product.
What Jojoba Oil is Made From
Jojoba Oil is made from the jojoba plant (otherwise known as Simmondsia shinensis), a perennial shrub native to North America. The oils are then extracted from the seeds of the plant and later sold to make jojoba oil products that are popular in the skincare/haircare industries.
While the plant is native to America, jojoba plants are now grown and farmed all around the world in countries such as Australia, Peru, Argentina, and Israel.
How Jojoba Oil is Used
Oils from the jojoba plant are used in a range of different ways – predominantly in the skincare industry. Jojoba oil is very moisturizing, making it perfect for nourishing dry skin. It’s also antibacterial, which is why many consumers that suffer from acne choose to use it as it can prevent ongoing growth of bacteria.
Its moisturizing benefits mean jojoba oil is also a popular product in the haircare industry, helping to reduce split ends and encouraging hair to grow.
Benefits of Jojoba Oil
There are many benefits to jojoba oil, with its moisturizing and anti-bacterial qualities.
We’ve compiled a short list of the primary benefits of jojoba oil below:
- Moisturizing – keeps skin well hydrated
- Antibacterial – works as an antioxidant in the skin
- Hypoallergenic – won’t irritate skin
- Anti-inflammatory – relieves symptoms of eczema, psoriasis, etc.
- Non-comedogenic – won’t block pores
- Controls build-up of sebum – prevents acne
As you can see, there are many benefits to jojoba oil, which is why it’s such a popular product among consumers. Coconut oil has a lot of similar properties to jojoba oil, but one key difference is that it IS comedogenic.
Appearance and Scent of Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil is clear and golden in color. It isn’t heavily scented, however, it does have a slightly nutty fragrance. If your jojoba oil smells bad or is overly cloudy we wouldn’t recommend using it.
When refined, jojoba oil has no color or scent. Consumers that prefer their products to be unscented may prefer to use refined jojoba oil instead of standard jojoba oil.
What are Alternatives to/Substitutes for Jojoba Oil?
If you’re looking for good alternatives to jojoba oil, there are some beneficial substitutes out there. The most similar product to jojoba oil is sweet almond oil, as it provides a moisturizing effect that can be likened to that of jojoba oil. It should also stabilize oil production, reducing excess sebum and potential acne.
Other alternatives to jojoba oil besides sweet almond oil include (but not limited to):
- Hazelnut oil
- Primrose oil
- Avocado oil
- Rosehip oil
- Soybean oil.
FAQ
There’s a lot of information to know about jojoba oil, so we’ve compiled a list of some of the most frequently asked questions.
Check out our FAQs below to learn more about jojoba oil!
Jojoba oil is good for several skin conditions, particularly acne, psoriasis, chapped skin, and burns. It has also been said to reduce the impact of aging on your skin, improving the appearance of wrinkles and fading age spots.
Alongside skincare, many consumers like to purchase jojoba oil to improve the condition of their hair. It can promote hair growth and make your hair look/feel healthier.
Jojoba oil is also used in many makeup ingredients such as lipsticks to give a moisturizing effect on the lips.
Jojoba oil can be used directly on the face without any need for diluting.
Many people use jojoba oil in the evenings after removing makeup to target any dry areas or other skin concerns.
It can even be used to remove makeup as it’s safe for use around the eye area – simply rub it into your face and remove it with a warm flannel to take makeup off at the end of the day.
It can be used anywhere on your body to give a beautifully moisturizing effect.
You can use jojoba oil on your face/body every day – some people with particularly dry skin may wish to use it in the morning as well as at night before bed.
If your skin is naturally oily it may be better to use jojoba oil once/twice a week to see how your skin reacts with it before trying to use it every day.
Jojoba oil isn’t overly expensive, with 100ml coming in at $15.59 (Face Theory), or less than $5/oz.
There are cheaper oils on the market however jojoba oil isn’t as expensive as premium oils such as marula oil or retinol oil products.
As jojoba oil is anti-inflammatory, it can be used on sensitive skin without producing irritation.
It’s a very gentle oil and is safe to use on all skin types.
Jojoba oil isn’t recommended for eating as it’s not digestible by the human body. While it’s likely non-toxic if eaten, it does contain erucic acid which can be detrimental to organs such as the heart.
Application topically to the skin or hair is the safest way to use jojoba oil, and will also provide the best effects.
Jojoba oil is known to have a long lifespan, and will not expire/go bad for 2 – 3 years on average.
When a bottle of jojoba oil is exposed to the air it is more likely to start going bad, so we recommend keeping it in a bottle with a tight lid in a cool area away from direct sunlight.
We don’t recommend using jojoba oil if you’ve had it for over 3 years, or if it has discolored/changed in any way.
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