Jojoba Oil

Jojoba

Jojoba oil is extracted from seeds of the jojoba plant, scientifically known as Simmondsia chinensis, which are indigenous to southern United States and northern Mexico. The pure version of the jojoba oil has a bright, golden color whereas the processed version is clear and transparent. It has a high shelf life and can be stored for long periods as it is a relatively stable liquid. It does not oxidize easily and will not turn rancid compared to other oils because it does not contain triglycerides, unlike most other vegetable oils such as grape seed oil and coconut oil. Jojoba oil is actually not an oil, but a liquid wax. It’s a melted type of vegetable wax and is found in the seeds/nuts of jojoba plant, which is an evergreen woody shrub plant that grows in hot areas, such as desert areas of California, Arizona and Mexico. It’s colourless, odorless and has a number of beauty benefits. It has a very long shelf life, so it can sit on your shower shelf for years!

Special Precautions of Jojoba Oil

• Compared with many other (nut based) oils, allergic reactions are believed to be relatively uncommon although there have been reports that some people may have some sensitivity to jojoba oil (although these are rarer if you use a 100% pure brand from a reputable producer). Some claimed side effects from using jojoba oil may not be a reaction to the jojoba itself, rather other oils that it may have been combined with. With any product you are considering applying to your skin, it is worthwhile carrying out a patch test just in case you do have a reaction of any kind.
• There have been some reports that some people may be affected by contact dermatitis, particularly with prolonged exposure (such as a massage therapist who is using jojoba oil as a carrier oil when massaging).
• Oral consumption of jojoba oil is not recommended by most health care professionals (this is particularly relevant during pregnancy or when breast feeding). However, there are no specific recommendations not to use jojoba oil on the skin during pregnancy and many massage therapists do use it as their massage oil when performing prenatal or maternity massage.
• If you start using jojoba oil (or jojoba oil products) directly on your skin and you observe changes to your skin that cause concern, then please stop applying the product and consult your health care professional.

Health Benefits and Uses of Jojoba Oil

The jojoba oil is the only oil that closely resembles human sebum – an oily substance naturally produced by the oil glands below the skin surface, so its uses and benefits to the skin and hair are high. It is a perfect choice for those who want to use natural products for their skin, hair and face care. The best thing about Jojoba Oil is that it is packed with almost all of the vitamins and minerals essentially needed for healthy hair and skin, namely, vitamin E, B-complex, copper, zinc, selenium, iodine, and chromium. It normally does not have any harmful impact and can be used by even those who are having sensitive skin without worrying for any allergic reaction.

• Skin :
  • Jojoba oil helps retain moisture in the skin thereby keeping the skin hydrated and looking fresh. Jojoba oil helps moisturize the skin, without clogging the pores, allowing for a healthy skin type. In addition, it also prevents the buildup of bacteria in the pores of the face, which tend to cause blackheads and breakout of acne
  • Acne : Jojoba oil has anti-microbial properties and contains iodine that prevent harmful bacteria growth, which otherwise causes pimples, blackheads, and acne breakouts.
  • Lips : Jojoba oil contains essential vitamins such as Vitamin B, E and key minerals such as zinc, copper which are beneficial for soft lips and skin.For fresh and soft lips, jojoba oil can be gently massaged on the lips to ensure no dryness and cracks.
  • Reduces wrinkles : The essential vitamins present in Jojoba oil help greatly reduce wrinkles and the visible effects of ageing. Since jojoba contains no harmful chemicals it can be used as part of one’s daily grooming routine.
  • natural sunscreen : The harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun can cause various problems. One of the primary victims of these harmful rays are our skin. But there are enough ways to prevent your skin from the nasty sun burns too. Jojoba oil applied on full body makes it a good natural alternative to harsh sun screen creams.
  • Treats skin burns : Jojoba soothes any burnt skin by going deeper into the tissues and healing them, this helps the pain after a sunburn or tan. With its natural healing properties Jojoba oil is helpful in reducing skin burns during shaving.
  • Removing make-up : In addition to all its amazing all round applications jojoba oil can be used as an effective and natural makeup remover. All you need to do is take a few drops of the oil on a cotton sob and simply glide it to remove stubborn eye shadow and kohl.
• Hair :
  • It deeply moisturizes your scalp. Your scalp needs to be moisturized well just like your skin. Dry scalp is usually mistaken as dandruff, causing flaky and “tight” skin and also severe itching. Using jojoba oil moisturizes your scalp deep down to its pores and doesn’t evaporate, unlike other water-based moisturizers, thus sealing in the moisture. This causes an effective, deep and lasting moisturizing effect and balances the pH levels of your scalp. If you constantly have dull and dry hair, jojoba oil is definitely the way to go. Also, if your hair is weak and brittle, it can also help by strengthening the follicle shaft. Since it’s 100% natural, you can reuse it over and over again without the danger of harsh chemicals further irritating your scalp.
  • It prevents hair from looking greasy or oily : Oily scalp problems are hard to deal with, especially if you have long hair. Most of the products that promise you grease-free hair usually ends up over-drying them instead. Shampooing also doesn’t help, as it dries out your hair and makes it look dull and unhealthy, and conditioning may make your hair greasier than ever. So what’s the solution? This is where jojoba oil steps in. Jojoba oil helps control the sebum production of the scalp, which was already mentioned in the acne page. It helps to balance the sebum production in the scalp and helps promote a healthy shine to your hair and also regulates the flow of sebum in clogged pores. This way, it balances the amount of oil on your scalp perfectly.
  • prevents and stops hair loss and thinning of hair : Washing hair with jojoba oilHair loss is actually often caused by blocked hair follicles, which causes it to break off. Hair growth can also be adversely effected if too many pores are clogged with sebum. As stated above, jojoba oil can dissolve and clear these blockages which in turn reduces hair loss. Conditions like psoriasis and scalp dematitis which may cause hair loss can also be treated with jojoba oil because of its antifungal properties. Besides that, jojoba oil helps stimulate and promote new hair growth because it encourages the development of new hair cells and helps improve micro-circulation in the scalp.
  • Dandruff : The most common cause of “oily dandruff” is excessive sebum secretions and accumulation on the scalp. Since Jojoba oil is similar in structure to sebum, massaging the oil onto the scalp can effectively dissolve and clear the encrusted scales created by sebum over-accumulation, providing relief from dandruff.
  • Dry, itchy and flaky scalp: Jojoba oil is non-allergenic and noncomedogenic, which means that it will not irritate your scalp or clog the pores. Due to its anti-inflammatory and mild antiseptic properties, Jojoba oil has a soothing effect on irritated and inflamed scalp conditions. If you suffer from a dry, itchy and flaky scalp in the winter, apply the oil to the affected areas and massaged it in. To control scalp acne, massage Jojoba oil into your scalp and leave it in for 10-20 minutes, then shampoo.