- Counteracts free radicals, helping prevent premature skin aging
- Non-comedogenic and antibacterial
- Prevents water evaporation from the skin, preserving moisture
- Works to reinforce the protective barrier
Jojoba oil is that hard-to-say-no ingredient that literally all skin types can benefit from. So with this post, we’re deep-diving into all jojoba oil benefits for skin and what concerns it targets. Take a peep:
What is jojoba oil?
Jojoba oil is a natural oil produced from the seed of the Chinensis plant that has been long used in skincare due to its manifold benefits and versatility. Interestingly, jojoba oil is technically not an oil but a polyunsaturated wax or, simpler said, a wax ester. And how wax esters are the primary component of sebum means that jojoba oil mimics natural sebum, which has a key role in trapping moisture into the skin and conditioning it without clogging pores. As such, jojoba oil is similar to sebum, making it great for dry and mature skins. But jojoba oil can also be used by oily skin types as it helps balance oil secretion, plus it’s great for breakout-prone folks since it’s non-comedogenic and due to its antibacterial benefits.
Jojoba oil in skincare
Foremost, jojoba oil is rich in fatty acids, making it an emollient, aka an ingredient that smooths and softens skin.[1] Additionally, jojoba oil is excellent at preventing transepidermal water loss, and it’s a go-to for dermatitis, eczema, or a broken skin barrier, also thanks to the minerals it contains (zinc and copper).[2]
Due to its content of phenolic compounds, jojoba oil acts as an antioxidant, defending the skin against oxidative stress and early aging signs.[3] Moreover, jojoba oil is rich in vitamin E, which is one of the most potent antioxidants out there.
As aforementioned, jojoba oil makes a good pick for whoever struggles with acne since it has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities.[4] And yes, jojoba oil is non-comedogenic. Despite the popular belief that oils aren’t good for acne skins, some of them, like jojoba oil, are actually. Because it’s similar to human sebum, jojoba oil can help balance excess oil. When skin is moisturized, it prevents the sebaceous glands from going into overdrive, so less oil is secreted hence fewer chances for pimples to appear.
Jojoba beads
I’m sure you’ve seen jojoba beads on at least one of your exfoliators. That is because spherical jojoba beads are commonly used in natural physical exfoliators that aim to be gentle on the skin. They offer a gentle exfoliation while being environmental-friendly, unlike plastic microbeads, and are not as abrasive as crushed seeds are.
- Matsumoto, Yutaka & Ma, Sihui & Tominaga, Takaki & Yokoyama, Keiko & Kitatani, Kanae & Horikawa, Kazumasa & Suzuki, Katsuhiko. (2019). Acute Effects of Transdermal Administration of Jojoba Oil on Lipid Metabolism in Mice. Medicina. 55. 594. 10.3390/medicina55090594.
- Lin TK, Zhong L, Santiago JL. Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils. Int J Mol Sci. 2017;19(1):70. Published 2017 Dec 27. doi:10.3390/ijms19010070.
- Gad HA, Roberts A, Hamzi SH, et al. Jojoba Oil: An Updated Comprehensive Review on Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Uses, and Toxicity. Polymers (Basel). 2021;13(11):1711. Published 2021 May 24. doi:10.3390/polym13111711.
- Al-Obaidi JR, Halabi MF, AlKhalifah NS, Asanar S, Al-Soqeer AA, Attia MF. A review on plant importance, biotechnological aspects, and cultivation challenges of jojoba plant. Biol Res. 2017;50(1):25. Published 2017 Aug 24. doi:10.1186/s40659-017-0131-x.