Jojoba is a shrub that grows in dry regions of northern Mexico and the southwestern US. Jojoba oil and wax are produced from the seeds and used for medicine. Jojoba is applied directly to the skin for acne, psoriasis, sunburn, and chapped skin. It is also used topically to encourage the regrowth of hair in people who are balding. In manufacturing, jojoba is used as an ingredient in shampoo, lipstick, makeup, cleansing products, and in face, hand, and body lotions.
Positive:
- Jojoba oil is a natural fungicide, which makes it resistant to mold. This quality makes for a superb ingredient for those interested in making homemade beauty products.
- Jojoba oil is different from other natural oils in that it closely mimics our skin’s own natural oils. In fact, it’s close to sebum, which the skin secretes to stay moisturized. Jojoba oil is an emollient, ideal for skin and hair care. It’s also noncomedogenic—a long way of saying it doesn’t clog pores.
- Jojoba is super nourishing, moisturizing, it cleans like a boss, it has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant properties, and more.
Negative:
- Jojoba is LIKELY SAFE for most people when applied to the skin. It can cause some side effects such as rash and allergic reactions. Jojoba is LIKELY UNSAFE for anyone when taken by mouth.
- There is insufficient evidence for the effectiveness of jojoba oil in treating Alzheimers disease.
Ingredients or materials:
- Jojoba oil is made up of almost 98% pure waxes, as well as hydrocarbons, sterols, and vitamins with few triglyceride esters. Jojoba oils waxy consistency, due to its chemical composition, gives it a long shelf life. While many other oils like olive and vegetable oils grow rancid after a time, jojoba oil stays fresh even without the use of refrigeration.
- The terms "jojoba oil" and "jojoba wax" are often used interchangeably because the wax visually appears to be a mobile oil, but as a wax, it is composed almost entirely (~97%) of mono-esters of long-chain fatty acids (wax ester) and alcohols (isopropyl jojobate), accompanied by only a tiny fraction of triglyceride esters.
- Components like tocopherols reduce wrinkles, stretch marks, lighten and heal scars. It’s biomimetic, meaning jojoba’s chemical composition is similar to sebum, which is secreted by human sebaceous glands to lubricate and protect skin and hair. It is nontoxic and hypoallergenic. It has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-degenerative properties.
In summary, jojoba is a shrub that produces oil and wax from its seeds, which are used for medicine and manufacturing. Jojoba oil is applied directly to the skin for various skin conditions and is used as an ingredient in many cosmetic products. Jojoba oil is a natural fungicide, closely mimics our skin’s own natural oils, and has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-degenerative properties. However, it can cause some side effects such as rash and allergic reactions, and it is LIKELY UNSAFE when taken by mouth.
