The Natural Wisdom of Jojoba
Jojoba oil is a beloved ingredient for skincare products, with very good reason: jojoba oil has so many great benefits for the skin. But be warned, if what you are looking for is a “quick fix” to “solve” your skin problems, you’re looking in the wrong place. This isn’t about fixing or manipulating your skin. Jojoba is a great example of what can happen when we work with the skin.
So what is jojoba oil? Well, for starters, it’s not actually an oil, but rather a liquid wax ester. This means that it’s makeup is actually quite different than a typical plant-based oil. The makeup of wax ester is much more stable than other oils, leading to less oxidative damage and stress.
Why is jojoba oil special? Because jojoba oil very closely resembles human skin sebum. This means that it absorbs and integrates so seamlessly into our skin without leaving a thick, greasy feel behind.
What’s so special about jojoba oil?
If you have used jojoba oil on your skin, you probably have noticed how quickly it absorbs into your face, integrating seamlessly without leaving a greasy feel behind. This is one of the beautiful things that we love so much about jojoba oil: it very closely resembles human skin sebum.
This is one of the reasons why jojoba oil is so commonly used in products that are going after lightweight moisture. It’s neutral scent and universality make jojoba oil a perfect base for many of our products, all of which are made with non-toxic skincare ingredients.
Balancing oil production
Because jojoba so closely resembles human skin sebum, it has a superpower that other oils don’t have. Jojoba is able to “trick” the skin into thinking that it has produced enough natural oils, which slows the skins natural production.
You can see why this would be extremely helpful for oily and acne-prone skin. By signaling to the skin that oil production is in check, jojoba oil helps to bring the skin sebum back into a natural flowing balance.
Anti-inflammation
We’ve been hearing about “inflammation” for years now when it comes to food, diet, and the body. But inflammation also happens on the skin. Inflammation on the skin can look like:
- redness or discoloration
- eczema
- itchiness and swelling
- flaky, dry patches
An important cause of inflammation of the skin is from environmental stressors. If you live in a dry, windy environment (like I do in the PNW), that wind damage and dehydration could be causing inflammation without you even noticing.
Enter: jojoba oil. This oil is high in Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that helps to:
- soothe that inflammation
- protect the skin against oxidative
- fight environmental damage
- bring moisture to the skin
- strengthen the skin barrier
Jojoba oil is considered to be very gentle and safe for most skin types.
Jojoba and Tallow: the dynamic duo
If you are new to tallow skincare, check out our article all about the benefits of using tallow on the skin.
We love to pair grass-fed tallow with jojoba oil for a couple reasons. Tallow provides such deep, penetrative nourishment and locks in moisture. But on it’s own, it can be a bit overwhelming for many people. Jojoba oil balances all that great moisture with an absorbable, breathable layer that brings that antibacterial support for extra cleansing.
We’re not just throwing random ingredients together for no reason; we’re creating intentional formulas with ingredients that work in harmony to strengthen your skin barrier.
How to Use Jojoba Oil in Your Ritual
While you could use jojoba oil all on its own, we recommend using it in an intentional formula with other ingredients that create something even more powerful. Whether that is a face balm or a serum, your skin will thank you for layering on some jojoba.
- Dampen skin. We always recommend starting with damp skin (a couple spritzes of a hydrosol or rose water will do). This helps the oils to be more easily absorbed and integrated into the skin, especially with a balm.
- Apply jojoba oil. Then, you’ll apply your balm or serum and massage it into your skin. With a serum, you’ll notice that lightweight feel, and after a little bit of rubbing it in, your skin should she moisturized and soft, but not greasy or heavy.
It’s not a complicated protocol or a 10-step nighttime routine. It’s simple. When you use real ingredients that are natural and biocompatible with your skin, it doesn’t need to be complicated.
This is the beauty of working with the skin with ingredients that it understands.
For more on how to use balms and serums, read our step-by-step ritual with our Hera and Artemis.
Looking for products that highlight the natural beauty of jojoba?
Rhea is a natural line out of the PNW making handmade skincare with non-toxic ingredients. You can shop our tallow and jojoba oil face balm, our antioxidant serum, and our balancing serum, all of which highlight the natural goodness and healing power of jojoba oil.
Does jojoba oil clog pores?
No, jojoba oil is non-comedogenic, meaning it is not likely to clog pores. It also has antibacterial qualities that will actually help to cleanse the skin and keep bacteria from getting into the pores or spreading during a breakout.