A look at the label: jojoba oil

Image courtesy of Unsplash

When it comes to natural skincare, there are a number of ingredients known as carrier oils which act as bases for products as they can carry other oils and extracts.

Jojoba oil is one such product, and can be a bit of a miracle worker on our skin. Whether used as a carrier oil or entirely on its own, it can be a gentle yet powerful ingredient.

Where does jojoba oil come from?

Jojoba is a type of shrub often found in dry desert land in North America, with the oil extracted from its seeds (Tinto, Elufioye and Roach, 2017).

The seeds are often cold pressed, meaning the oil - which can also be referred to as a wax - retains many of its nutrient rich benefits for our skin to enjoy (ibid.).

What benefits does jojoba oil contain?

Vitamins A, D and E are naturally found in jojoba oil, all of which are necessary for healthy skin and often added to skincare products.

Jojoba oil also contains omegas 6 and 9, which can help skin repair and renew, as well as antioxidants that are able to be absorbed deep into our skin.

Pure jojoba oil has a long shelf life and is suitable for every skin type. Image courtesy of Unsplash

Is is suitable for sensitive skin?

Just because a product is natural doesn’t mean sensitive skin will like it. But jojoba oil is suitable for use on dry, delicate or damaged skin, including eczema, burns and acne.

Everyone’s skin is different, so it’s important to test a product first. But research has shown that jojoba oil is one of the kindest naturally derived ingredients around (Lin, Zhong and Santiago, 2017).

How can jojoba oil be used?

The beauty of jojoba oil is that it can be used in a number of different ways. From an oil-balancing moisturiser to a skin-healing topical treatment.

As it contains a high amount of wax esters (ibid.) it can be beneficial for oily skin by balancing the sebum levels, whilst its protecting properties are known to help relieve itchiness and redness in damaged or aggravated skin.

The best way to apply pure jojoba oil is simply by massaging a few drops into the skin. A little tends to go a long way, so start with one or two drops, then add more if you need.

Is there anything else I should know?

Because jojoba’s wax esters are so similar to our skin’s own, it can be absorbed quickly and leave no grease on the skin's surface. This makes it a powerful product that can help our skin heal and protect it in ways other oils cannot.

On top of this pure jojoba oil is known to have a long shelf life if stored correctly, so can become a safe, multitasking addition to your skincare routine.

Sources:

Lin, T., Zhong, L. and Santiago, J., 2017. Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 19(1), p.70.

Tinto, W., Elufioye, T. and Roach, J., 2017. Waxes. Pharmacognosy, pp.443-455.