Jojoba Oil: What it is and How to Use it

Jojoba Oil is expressed from the seed of the jojoba plant, it is a shrub found in southern California, Arizona, and northwest Mexico. The oil has a long shelf-life which makes it ideal for use in body care products.

It's actually not an oil, but a liquid wax.

The great thing about jojoba is that it closely resembles the oil (sebum) produced naturally by our skin which makes it suitable for most skin types.

It's also considered non-comedogenic which means it does not clog pores. It's also well-suited to sensitive skin.

An excellent moisturizer, jojoba oil penetrates the skin easily and does not leave an oily residue. It moisturizes and hydrates extremely well.

Jojoba oil has a long shelf-life (two to three years) and does not need to be refrigerated; this makes it ideal for use in body care products. It's light texture and scent means it mixes well with many other oils and natural body care ingredients too.

Jojoba is a clear liquid that has a golden color. It has a nutty scent when unrefined. Many consider Jojoba to be a naturally occurring fungicide. It has a high level of iodine and vitamin E, so can be good for treating skin conditions.

Uses for Jojoba Oil

Face moisturizer
Use a few drops alone or mix with other skin nourishing oils

Facial Cleanser – can be used alone to wash the face or mixed with other oils (as in the Oil Cleansing method)

Lip conditioner
Apply a few drops directly to lips to soften and soothe or mix with other oils, beeswax, and butters to create more of a chapstick type of lip balm (here is an easy lip balm recipe that includes jojoba oil).

Face mask
Mix 1 teaspoon jojoba with 2 teaspoons of kaolin clay or bentonite clay (see the different types of clay here) to make a paste. Spread over the skin and leave for 10-20 minutes. Remove with warm water and a washcloth.

Acne Treatment
Many have used jojoba to treat mild to moderate acne. This can be done by mixing with aloe vera and using as a face wash, adding to a mask, or using as a moisturizer.

Scalp Treatment
Mix 2 teaspoons jojoba with 3 drops rosemary essential oil, massage into scalp. Leave for 30 minutes before washing out with shampoo.

Hair Conditioner
Enhance your regular condition by adding a few drops of jojoba and mixing well. Condition as usual. Another option is to create a type of leave-in conditioner by rubbing a few drops of jojoba between the palms of your hands and gently distributing through damp hair after showering.

Hair Detangler
Add 2 teaspoons of jojoba to 4 ounces distilled water and 10 drops lavender essential oils or 5 drops rosemary essential oil. Pour into a spray bottle and spray on hair before combing.

Cuticle Oil
Rub a few drops on cuticles to soften skin and condition nails

Foot Cream
Use alone to soften and hydrate feet or mix with other oils and butters and create this nourishing foot cream

Makeup Remover
Use straight jojoba on a cloth to gently wipe away makeup

Shaving Gel
Mix equal parts jojoba and aloe vera gel, use as a shave gel (can also use jojoba alone). Also works well as an aftershave lotion.

Make Headache Relief Roller Bottle
Jojoba's light scent makes it an excellent choice for use in essential oil blends. This headache relief roller bottle is one example of how to use it for this purpose.

Note:

I usually purchase Jojoba oil from Mountain Rose Herbs. Check out Mountain Rose Herbs Jojoba Oil here.

Jojoba oil is on sale at Mountain Rose Herbs this month. Get some in October!

Aloe vera gel and rosemary essential oil are also available from Mountain Rose Herbs – both of these items are used in DIYs mentioned in this article (Rosemary to make hair and scalp treatment and aloe vera gel to make shaving gel).