Plant oils are preferable to synthetic products for skin care and maintaining healthy, shiny hair. Besides being noncomedogenic, which means they do not clog pores, they also contain a powerful antioxidant that protects hair and skin from damage and premature ageing. Among the wide variety of plant oils tagged as clean ingredients on the labels of a variety of skincare and haircare products, jojoba stands out as one of the best. Just a few drops of jojoba oil will go a long way towards producing soft and glowing skin. Read on to learn about the key benefits and uses of jojoba oil.
But, first, let's look at what jojoba is not.
It Isn't Oil
Jojoba is pronounced as “ho-ho-bah”. It has come to be widely called an oil but is in fact a liquid wax ester, a chemical composition produced by replacing any hydrogen atom of a fatty acid with an alkyl. Jojoba wax ester comes from a shrub called Simmondsia chinensis. Jojoba was traditionally grown and used in North America, but it is now grown in Australia, with large plantations thriving in inland regions. It is a well known anti-inflammatory, moisturiser and restorer. The structure of jojoba, particularly the pure golden jojoba, is perfect for use as a carrier for skincare products as it is very similar to the natural wax esters in the natural sebum produced by the human skin's sebaceous glands. This makes it great for the skin, nails and hair.
As well as being a common carrier for skincare products, it is also used as a carrier oil for essential oils that are used in aromatherapy. Additionally, jojoba is the main base carrier for cosmetic products.
Health Benefits of Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil contains vitamins A, B1, B2, D and E, as well as minerals like phosphorus, iron and copper, all of which help to maintain healthy skin. Its many health benefits include anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidants to combat free radicals. Jojoba oil can be used on the hair and scalp, in place of expensive commercial products like serums and thick conditioners. Its vitamin A content is great for strengthening the hair strands and preventing split ends and breakage.
Other active ingredients in jojoba oil include phytosterols, which help reduce inflammation associated with skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. Golden jojoba oil is especially beneficial for acne-prone skin. The following paragraphs go into greater detail about the key benefits of jojoba oil.
Source: simplyorganicbeauty.com
Massage
Long chain carbon molecules contained in the golden liquid of jojoba give it a smooth and silky feel on the skin. It is the premium lubricant for all types of massage. Beyond adding to the soothing effect of massage, jojoba leaves the skin feeling soft and moisturised.
Unlike massage oils, liquid wax esters such as jojoba do not stain towels.
Jojoba and Skin Care
Jojoba oil has many uses when it comes to skin care thanks to its moisturising properties and essential vitamins. The monounsaturated fatty acids in jojoba oil absorb quickly into your skin cells, keeping them hydrated throughout the day, which prevents dry skin while improving its flexibility and elasticity.
Making jojoba oil a regular part of your skincare routine and adding it to your body lotion or oil slows the loss of water from the skin and promotes cell regeneration. Jojoba stabilises and maintains the intercellular structure of the skin and penetrates deeply into the skin – keeping the bacteria out and allowing the skin to maintain and heal itself without having to battle the problems that are caused by poor skin health.
The vitamin E content and antioxidant properties of jojoba are also worth mentioning as they do a great job of preventing sun damage and keeping skin hydrated.
The oil from jojoba seed mixes readily with skin sebum and dissolves dried sebum that may clog skin pores as blackheads. Golden jojoba can be used as a pure ingredient or as a component to other natural ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, for best results. Because it gives the skin better elastic properties, it is good for treating and preventing stretch marks. Golden jojoba is also good for reducing skin inflammation and stopping the skin from flaking. Even though it is not an oil, jojoba is great for oily skin as it penetrates deeply and merges with the skin sebum, tricking the skin into regulating its own production of sebum. What's even wonderful is that it doesn't leave any greasy residue on the skin.
A jojoba bead cleanser is a great way to exfoliate skin without ripping its its natural oils. As jojoba makes for a great base carrier in cosmetics and natural skincare products, a few drops of oil serves as an outstanding make-up remover. It instantly mixes with itself and even eye make up just wipes away! It is a great moisturiser for the hands and nails as well.
Jojoba and Hair Care
Many scalp problems are caused by the accumulation of (dried) sebum, which stops the capillary follicles of the hair from breathing properly. This can cause scalp problems such as scaling and, if this is not treated, the hair follicles can become retarded to the point where they release the hair, which can eventually lead to hair loss. Jojoba can quickly penetrate the scalp and loosen and dissolve the hardened accumulation of sebum. It can also be used to remove any buildup of hair products. It is also very hydrating to the hair. Regular massage with organic jojoba oil for hair is stimulating and refreshing, not to mention nourishing to the scalp, which leads to a stronger hair shaft.
Medicinal Applications for Jojoba
Jojoba is becoming a popular carrier for medications that need to penetrate through the skin in order to work correctly. It is also important in the application of band aids, helping the band aids to not stick to healing skin. Jojoba also helps to reduce the appearance of scars. It can be used to treat skin conditions such as psoriasis, acne, cold sores, rashes, chafing, dermatitis, eczema and rough skin. This is because it has strong antibacterial and antifungal properties. It is also great for treating bruises.
Jojoba Meal
The fruit of the jojoba shrub is a bean that comes from the flower of the female jojoba plant. It ripens in the sunshine before maturing and falling to the ground where it dries naturally. About 50 percent of the mass of the bean is the golden wax, which is released when the bean is cold pressed. The remaining solid material is called jojoba meal, which has a semi-dry, fine, granular texture, and contains two to three percent of residual liquid wax. The residual wax gives jojoba meal a pleasant feel on the skin, and is a much sought after skin scrub. It is used as a skin scrub or added as an ingredient in manufactured skin products such as soaps.
Contact an aromatherapist or a beauty therapist in your area if you want to learn more about jojoba oil and its numerous benefits.
Originally published on Jul 19, 2008
